Lehigh County News

With rising rents and limited inventory, the Lehigh Valley housing crunch is making it harder for many people to find affordable apartments or even think about buying a home.

Jessica Ortiz and Paulette Hunter filed an objection to the petition state Rep. Ana Tiburcio's campaign submitted last week in her bid for a full term representing Pennsylvania's 22nd House District.

The full story, to publish Wednesday, will explore why newly available apartments are attracting large numbers of applicants and what that reveals about the balance between housing supply and demand.

PPL Electric said it expects electric demand on its system could triple over the next decade. That growth is being driven largely by expansion of advanced manufacturing, new data centers and other large industrial electricity users.

Thirteen of the Lehigh Valley's seats in the General Assembly look like they'll have a contested November election. State Senate races in Lehigh and Northampton counties will have contested primaries, as well.

“Political affiliation has become a barrier,” Ron Beitler said on this week's "Political Pulse." “It’s become a barrier when you’re talking to someone one-on-one. It’s become a barrier particularly on social media.”

Bob Brooks, Ryan Crosswell, Lamont McClure and Carol Obando-Derstine have filed petitions for the Democratic nomination in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District. The winner is expected to take on Republican incumbent Ryan Mackenzie in the November election.

Gas prices are rising across the country as global tensions push oil markets higher and lawmakers raise concerns about possible price gouging.

Municipalities should work to plan for data centers that can cover millions of square feet and reshape local economies, according to regional officials.

Appearing this week on Lehigh Valley Political Pulse with host Tom Shortell, Carol Obando-Derstine framed her resume as a contrast with other Democratic primary contenders.

This weekend is the 27th annual Lehigh Gap Area Feeder Watch. Officials are calling for volunteers.

North Whitehall Township Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Monday to grant approval to the final plan for the township building renovations.

South Whitehall received a grant of about $555,000 from PennDOT to modernize the intersection of Hamilton Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue. The intersection is next to Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom and has seen major traffic delays.

A class action lawsuit is in the works alleging Lehigh Valley Health Network and others falsely accused people of child abuse, a legal filing says.

With its workspace drastically reduced at the proposed Bethlehem Cultural Arts Center at the current site of the Banana Factory, the Pennsylvania Youth Theatre's search for a new venue continues

Given expected shortages, Allentown high schools and others are connecting the county elections staff with students in hopes of beefing up the number of young and bilingual poll workers.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, state parks across Pennsylvania were inundated with visitors.

The Brookside Meadows apartments land development plans were rejected in a 2-1 vote citing stormwater and traffic concerns

Nowhere Coffee Co. co-owners Juan and Lauren Vargas spoke at the Upper Macungie Township supervisors meeting Thursday about their frustration over what they said was a system not set up for small business owners.

The Lehigh Valley Town Center's Topgolf got final land development approval during Lower Macungie Township meeting Thursday.

Campaign finance reports show Republican Kevin Dellicker outraised the rest of the GOP field combined in his bid for PA-7. But Democratic incumbent Susan Wild raised twice as much as all of the Republicans put together.

In addition to two Lehigh County fatalities, three people have died in Northampton County crashes since Saturday, according to the Northampton County Coroner's Office.