Environment & Science

The start of Lehigh Gap Nature Center’s annual hawk watch is just over a month out, and preparations are well underway. A tradition in its 64th year, volunteers count birds of prey as they migrate along the raptor "superhighway" in the Lehigh Valley’s backyard.

Funding was awarded through the Lehigh Valley Greenways Mini Grant Program. The program aims to protect and promote natural resources through the implementation of ready-to-go, single-year projects.

With other communities around the state adopting bans on plastic bags, Lower Saucon could be on its way to something similar. if approved, it would involve a transition process to show shoppers the bigger picture and give time for businesses to properly offload plastic bags on hand.

Allentown and Easton have been paired with an engineering company to reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. It's Allentown's first time, but Easton's second, in the program.

Environmentalists say the Lehigh River is the cleanest its been in 175 years. A river snorkeling program at Lehigh Gap Nature Centers encourages residents to explore their local waterways and track river health.

This week Watching the Skies explores the ice giant, Uranus.

Another heat advisory has made its way to the Lehigh Valley, accompanied by an air quality alert. While temperatures aren't expected to be as high as the last heat wave, the heat index could still hit triple-digits Monday and Tuesday.

Cars were running and appeared ready to roll Saturday morning at the site of Friday's multi-car derailment.

More than two dozen dinosaurs are on display at the Allentown Fairgrounds Agri-Plex through Sunday night.

Possible showers and thunderstorms will provide little relief from the humidity over the next several days, according to the National Weather Service.

Officials urge hunters to get vaccinated.

Some Republican state lawmakers are pushing to overhaul how appointments to an air quality advisory board are made in response to Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf's attempt to join a regional cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gas emissions.

Fracking has been a dividing line between the 4 Democrats in the race.

Measures claiming to promote “energy choice” in Pennsylvania appear to be gaining momentum in the legislature.

The PAC with ties to the Bethlehem Landfill in the township pumped at least $75,000 into the race.

Some insects like mosquitos are thriving later in the season as temperatures reach well into the 70s.

More than 81,000 documented oil and gas wells across the U.S. have been left unplugged by former owners — far exceeding the previous estimate of 56,000, according to a new report by the Environmental Defense Fund.

Pennsylvania has a new, tech-savvy option for hunters and anglers: digital licenses. The Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission’s new web platform allows people to apply for and download licenses in PDF form.

Get Outside for Good is a monthly hike aimed at raising awareness — and money — about and for Lehigh Valley nonprofit organizations. The hike, held the first Sunday of each month at the South Mountain Preserve in Allentown, is bringing local women together.

A new report says Lehigh Valley residents breathed in heavily polluted air for more than 50 days last year.

Texas-based pipeline builder Energy Transfer faces 48 criminal charges related to construction of its Mariner East pipeline project, including a felony count of failing to report pollution.

Electric vehicles are having a moment at the state capitol.