Environment & Science

Craig Pfeiffer, Bethlehem's assistant director of planning and zoning, gave a presentation Thursday on the city's new subdivision and land development ordinance, more commonly known as a SALDO.

The baby alpaca was born Oct. 23. The zoo is taking suggestions for a name.

A Wednesday night storm brought damaging winds to the area, with gusts reaching up to 47 mph. The National Weather Service warned of damage to trees and utilities, and a wildlife center in Berks County suffered just that: A tree fell on an enclosure housing three African servals that have since escaped.

Mackenzie, along with officials from Wildlands Conservancy, the Appalachian Mountain Club and the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, on Wednesday morning hiked a portion of the property, lauding the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund that helped preserve it.

Easton's Environmental Advisory Council is continuing to work on an ordinance aimed at decreasing light pollution throughout the city.

For this year’s event, set for Sunday, officials are cutting out single-use water bottles and trading plastic medal packaging for paper, among other sustainability initiatives.

More than three dozen law enforcement professionals from the Lehigh Valley and beyond took part in the first training at the newly opened Joni Berner Esq ‘75-Expert Witness Training Center & Crime Scene Laboratory.

This month is a peak time to view comets in the nighttime sky. "Watching the Skies" host Brad Klein and Bethlehem's "Backyard Astronomy Guy" Marty McGuire review what astrological visitors to keep an eye out for as they pass through Earth's backyard.

A group of demonstrators called on Congress Friday to permanently protect the Arctic from drilling, as well as drum up support from Lehigh Valley residents.

“Creating a Micro-Forest: A Step by Step Guide" is available free on the city's website. Officials said it's a tool to help municipalities, schools or other organizations interested in building a micro-forest.

The initiative consists of a partnership between Northside Alive and PPL — the latter donating 500 special lightbulbs to the community.

PennEnvironment released data showing Pennsylvania ranks near the bottom when it comes to the growth of wind energy, solar power, energy storage and other renewable energy metrics over the last decade.

A powerful storm system expected to bring heavy rain to the region this weekend might not be a total washout, forecasters say.

After Lafayette College cleared more than 40 trees for a $1.2 million walkway without city approval, no trees will be replanted on the hillside where they were removed, the city forester said. Instead, several dozen trees were planted across campus and in Easton.

An agreement between Bethlehem Landfill and the people suing them, reached Tuesday, limits the landfill’s work to expand while a series of lawsuits aimed at stopping the expansion go forward.

"This is something in winter a few months from now … this is a Miller B system [or nor’easter]. The difference is, temperatures are too warm for snow," EPAWA meteorologist Bobby Martrich said.

Brad Klein reviews the week's astronomical highlights with Bethlehem’s "Backyard Astronomy Guy."

Have you been following the news in the Lehigh Valley this week? Find out how many of these questions about happenings and news around the Lehigh Valley you can answer correctly.

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

Becky Bradley, executive director of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, was one of three speakers in a Friday morning webinar focused on local climate action planning.

WLVR's Megan Frank talks with reporter Phil Gianficaro.

Bethlehem is earmarked to get a $500,000 infusion from the state to close the gap in the South Bethlehem Greenway. It's one of eight projects in the Lehigh Valley being funded.