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.

Mail-in ballot counting kicked off in Lehigh County this morning just before 9 a.m. WLVR’s Tyler Pratt was there, along with poll watchers as the first ballots were opened and the first “naked ballots” were found.

Pennsylvania US Senator Bob Casey says a rushed confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett could impact healthcare for tens of thousands of people in the Lehigh Valley.

This week more than 50 Black Lives Matters supporters gathered peacefully in Whitehall Township - to bring attention to a lawsuit against the area police and the school district. The event was also attended by counter-protestors, after an alert was sent out by a local gun shop.

The Whitehall-Coplay School District is being sued over an incident involving a police altercation with students at a high school basketball game earlier this year.

Lehigh County’s proposed budget for next year includes no new property taxes.

If you get a package of seeds in the mail that you didn’t order, take a closer look. According to the state Department of Agriculture, this may be part of a scam known as brushing—and those seeds have the potential to hurt Pennsylvania’s ecosystem.

The Lehigh County Board of Elections has found credible evidence that an Allentown judge of elections committed fraud and tampered with ballots during the primary on June 2nd.

As Allentown officials discussed what the future of policing may look like in the city Wednesday night, many people gathered outside council chambers - which were closed to the public.

A vigil for Black Trans Lives was held in Allentown yesterday to remember transgender people who have been murdered across the country, and raise their profile amid social justice protests.

This weekend, a community group in Allentown is hosting a special relief drive for residents in need. The event offers residents home-cooked meals, clothes, toiletries and more.

For the first time, Penn State University Lehigh Valley students can pursue a degree in cybersecurity.

The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office is not planning to investigate a police use-of-force incident in Allentown.