Lehigh County News

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.

Rain doesn't appear to have dampened spirits as Macungie Halloween Committee shifts its plans for festival.

The first new building on Muhlenberg’s campus in more than a decade, the Fahy Commons for Public Engagement and Innovation, 2400 W. Chew St., has racked up three different sustainability awards and certifications.

The commission no longer has an investigator, forcing it to refer discrimination complaints about housing, employment and public accommodations to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.

Upper Macungie's proposed 2024 budget does not include a tax increase, but would increase the refuse and recycling fee.

Lehigh Valley Breathes is a Valley-wide effort to monitor air quality amid emissions from trucking and warehousing. The project is expected to run for a year.

Data released by the Pennsylvania State Department Wednesday shows Democrats made up more than 72% of mail-in ballot requests this November. Despite efforts by the RNC and local Republicans to promote mail-in voting, that's actually worse than the divide in 2022.

Lehigh County commissioners will likely delay their investigation into potential reforms to the county’s Office of Children and Youth Services. The delay comes after the Greater Lehigh Valley Parents’ Medical Rights Group appeared to take steps toward litigation.

In an audit, Controller Mark Pinsley alleged Lehigh Valley Health Network may be over-diagnosing cases of medical child abuse. The attorney selected to pursue a lawsuit over the matter donated $50,000 to Pinsley's political action committee in October.

South Whitehall Township's proposed 2024 budget does not include a real estate tax increase or an increase of water and sewer fees.

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs showed off renovations and upgrades to Coca-Cola Park that were mandated by Major League Baseball. They're the first minor league team in the Phillies organization to complete the necessary updates, General Manager Kurt Landes said.

20-year-old Penn State student Jacob Roth is running for a full term on South Whitehall's Board of Commissioners.

Northampton County is approved to join other municipalities and residents who have a legal standing in opposing the proposed landfill in Lower Saucon Township.

The specialty flight company MedEscort says it has "repatriated" over 6,000 patients to more than 100 countries. Critics say they're profiting from "medical deportations." The company challenges the phrase, and denies pressuring the family.

The Lehigh Valley Transportation Study is revising its regional transportation plan for Lehigh and Northampton counties and is seeking public input.

Candidate for South Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners Ben Long wants to work with developers to make their plans into the best possible development for the township rather than trying to stop them.

The North Whitehall Planning Commission tabled one waiver for the Strawberry Acres 55-plus residential development plan and recommended denial for another.

Patient advocates protested Wednesday outside Lehigh Valley Health Network's Cedar Crest Campus.

Rep. Susan Wild will host a webinar Friday, March 10 with groups across District 7 about how to apply for grants under the Community Project Funding program.

A Dominican woman who is undocumented faces medical deportation in the Lehigh Valley. She was placed in a medically-induced coma after a procedure for an aneurysm. Now her family is fighting to keep her in the Allentown area.

Local state lawmakers are reacting to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s call for $1 billion in new public education spending for the state’s students and schools.

Candidates filed petitions ahead of Tuesday's deadline to appear on primary ballots in Lehigh and Northampton counties.