Health & Wellness News

The American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania is asking people to consider donating blood over the 4th of July holiday. This time of year, the organization says donations drop off, but the need stays the same.

The notice was offered to affected individuals about a cybersecurity attack by a ransomware gang known as BlackCat and associated with Russia. The incident occurred in January and was later found in February.

Experts say this latest round of Canadian wildfire smoke in the Lehigh Valley will not be the last, and that millions should prepare for this new normal.

Booze, Belts, and Burns: Police officers and fire fighters want people to be responsible when drinking, wear a seatbelt, and be safe when lighting fireworks this holiday weekend.

After an outbreak earlier this month among the Humane Society's shelter dogs, the organization says it's now safe to adopt their animals. They are set to re-open to the public on July 1.

The Stocker family sold their house and hit the road in an RV. They are seeing the country and educating others about Type 1 diabetes.

A 12-year-old from Bethlehem is in a national design competition. Her idea for a Love Your Melon beanie is one of three finalists.

Pools around the Lehigh Valley participated in the World's Largest Swim Lesson with free sessions Thursday. Kids jumped in the wave pool at Dorney Park and Cedar Beach Pool in Allentown.

The Parkland School Board renewed a sports medicine and school health needs agreement with St. Luke's after state Sen. Jarrett Coleman urged them not to. He suggested the health network should find better ways to spend the money.

Making healthy choices easier and more accessible is the goal of a new project in Allentown. The city has teamed up with Lehigh Valley Health Network and a company called Blue Zones to improve the well-being of those who live there.

Officials with St. Luke's University Health Network on Tuesday said the children's hospital designation is the culmination of a coordinated effort within the system to reorganize pediatric care.

The next two Wednesdays in June, Ott will be hosting "Breathe Easy" Lunchtime Plant Therapy workshops at A Little Bit of Local at ArtsWalk, 21 N. Seventh St. in Allentown.

Families in the Allentown School District will be on the receiving end of new computer monitors. Capital Blue Cross teamed up with other area organizations to get the technology into the hands of those who need it.

Latino Connection will hold its annual health summit April 19 -20 at Wind Creek Event Center.

Dr. Jay Talsania is an orthopedic hand surgeon at OAA Orthopedic Specialists in Upper Macungie. In April, the physician will head to Guatemala once again to offer free health care to children in the third-world country.

The Northeast part of the country is seeing a surge in norovirus cases. A doctor in the Lehigh Valley explains what it is, how to avoid it, and ways to get through it.

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.

CVS and Walgreens pharmacies announced they will begin offering mifepristone, an abortion drug, through their brick-and-mortar locations in certain states, including Pennsylvania, starting in March 2024.

WLVR's Megan Frank talks with journalists Ryan Gaylor and Brittany Sweeney.

Last month, U.S. Rep. Susan Wild introduced legislation that would codify access to IVF treatments across the country. Following a controversial Alabama Supreme Court ruling, the bill finds itself at the center of debate in the nation's capital.

The president and CEO of Miller-Keystone Blood Center sent an email to staff about what he calls the "truth" about Lehigh Valley Health Network's change in blood supplier. The blood bank leader wrote of misconceptions about the situation and what he feels are the facts.

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation announced a new program to train long-term care nursing aides. Those who enroll will get paid while training and will be hired at the health care provider upon completion.

After going into cardiac arrest, a Catasauqua woman is thanking the team of EMS, fire and medical professionals that helped to save her life. After nearly 12 months in recovery, she reunited with her life-savers to say “thank you.”

As cases of sexually transmitted diseases spike, health experts urge people to get tested. The Allentown Health Bureau is offering free walk-in testing to anyone, including those who do not live in the city.