Lehigh County News

Allentown officials were able to balance the 2025 budget proposal without raising taxes because the city is set to bring in $6.2 million more than projected this year, according to Finance Director Bina Patel.

U.S. Rep. Susan Wild leads state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie by six points, according to a Muhlenberg College/Morning Call poll released Thursday. However, the results are still within the margin of error for the toss-up district.

Lessons in hands-on healthy eating — and growing food locally — are in the near future of some younger students in Lehigh County.

U.S. Rep. Susan Wild hosted U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., for a tour of Center City Allentown on Wednesday. The local Latino community is growing up and could decide the course of the United States' political future, the pair said.

The Pennsylvania Senate passed a resolution Tuesday giving Revenue Secretary Pat Browne three days to come before the body and explain why he hasn't turned over records regarding the Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone.

The Hamilton Square development in Lower Macungie will be a 1.628-acre parcel with one 6,850-square-foot building and one 3,150-square-foot building, both dedicated to retail and dining space.

TGI Fridays at The Shoppes at Cedar Point in South Whitehall Township on Monday had a sign on its doors saying the restaurant closed effective Sunday, Oct. 6.

Longtime state Rep. Gary Day, a Republican, throws his hat back into the fray against political newcomer Stefanie Rafes, a Democrat, for the 187th House District seat in the Pennsylvania Legislature.

North Whitehall Township is opting to introduce a fire tax and raise its general services tax to meet cost pressures on the municipality.

City and police officials in Allentown are eyeing a property on North Ninth Street to convert into a temporary police station, but the police union's president said officers have numerous concerns about the building's security.

The funding — totaling $3.4 million across 23 counties — is part of the Fresh Food Financing Initiative. It follows the cancellation of $13 million in contracted funding through the USDA’s Local Food Purchasing Assistance program.

Cuts to Medicaid reimbursements could harm Lehigh County residents and create a budget gap, a new report from the county controller's office found.

Two area community colleges are expanding their dual enrollment programming, which enables high school students to better prepare for college and careers. The Pennsylvania Department of Education awarded $14 million in Dual Credit Innovation Grants to 15 public institutions of higher education to increase their programming.

Lehigh County's board of commissioners voted narrowly Wednesday to grant a LERTA tax break for a property in Emmaus set to become 144 apartments.

Republicans Roger MacLean and Mike Welsh contend they're each the best person to end their party's 20-year losing streak in the Lehigh County executive race. The winner of the May primary will take on Democrat Josh Siegel in the November race.

PennEnvironment's State of Renewable Energy 2025 ranks every state for the production of wind energy, solar power, energy storage and other metrics over the last decade, tracking growth.

Lehigh County Executive Phil Armstrong joins Tom Shortell on this week's episode of Political Pulse to explain how county government fills vital social service roles and what duties come with the county executive role.

Gemma, a fisher, has died, zoo officials announced Monday. She was an animal ambassador at the zoo for more than a decade.

Registered voters have until 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, to request a mail-in ballot for the May 20 primary election. In Lehigh and Northampton counties, the primary will be limited exclusively to registered Democrats and Republicans.

With passengers at Lehigh Valley International Airport and at other local airports, the compliance rate for REAL ID "has been extremely high," officials said. But for those without it, the phased enforcement "won't last forever."

State Sen. Lisa Boscola and and state Sen. Nick Miller, both Democrats, voted in favor of legislation that would prevent transgender athletes from competing in girls' sports. State Sen. Jarrett Coleman, R-Lehigh/Bucks, also supported it.

Elijah Patterson, 19, of Allentown, was found guilty of first-degree murder and other charges after a three-day Lehigh County Jury trial in March.