Northampton County News

As 2023 draws to a close, lehighvalleynews.com offers a retrospective of a variety of stories about people, places and things that make the Lehigh Valley special.

Northampton Area Board of Education said it would have been on the hook for about $9.5 million if construction contracts were cancelled for a new elementary school.

Chances are, you'll still be able to find a tree, it just might take a little extra work — and you might want to get it soon. Roger from Unangst Tree Farms explains the ins and outs of why this problem, a decade in the making, is now causing tree farms and stands to sell-out when it's barely December.

The Upper Nazareth Township Board of Supervisors Wednesday voted against rezoning land for a new industrial park next to Nazareth Area Intermediate School. Representatives for the developer said they may try again in the future.

Three Republican school board members are now part of the panel governing Nazareth schools, including two endorsed by the Moms for Liberty Northampton County chapter.

A state mandate requiring schools to identify sexual content in books could cost Lehigh Valley school districts significant time, money and resources.

Jeff Dailey was a 2004 graduate of Notre Dame High School and held its all-time scoring record for almost 20 years. He died in a fire in 2007 while attending East Stroudsburg University. On Friday night, hundreds turned out to pay homage to his legacy and family.

On display are Baez's guitars, artwork, personal letters and other items on loan from the singer.

Most unofficial election results remain the same in Northampton County, but one school board race has shifted after nearly all emergency ballots were counted Thursday.

While moderate Republicans and Democrats prevailed in most races, two Moms for Liberty candidates won seats on the Nazareth Area school board in Northampton County.

The 17-year-old Allentown Central Catholic senior has been monitoring the creek's surface lead concentrations, and plans to continue researching.

Republicans have long demonized mail-in voting in Pennsylvania, and experts say it's cost the party elections. Win Again PAC, formed by rivals Dean Browning and Lisa Scheller, is attempting to get irregular GOP voters to embrace the method and swing close races.

Northampton County Council rejected amendments to county 'responsible contracting' rules Thursday, blocking a bid to make county construction contracts more friendly to non-union firms

This first round of designations included 483 tracts across the country, with only one in the Lehigh Valley. Officials said additional designations are slated for the next 12 to 18 months.

Parents accused of medical child abuse, formerly known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy, criticized the doctor they say is behind the false claims against them, and asked Northampton County to intervene.

The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission is seeking public comment for its 25-year, $4.39 billion Long-Range Transportation Plan until October 6

Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh, has proposed a law that would require developers to conduct detailed impact studies on major projects. Supporters acknowledged it needs work while opponents argued it would hamper economic development.

Volunteer pedestrians crossed Main Street in Northampton Borough over and over Wednesday afternoon as local police watched to catch drivers failing to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

After a vote by the Bethlehem Twp. Board of Commissioners Tuesday night, developers behind a parking lot for Amazon's delivery vans have another year to meet conditions of the project's approval.

The kits were being handed out for free by the Northampton Co. Government's "Fake is Real" campaign, in response to the opioid crisis.

Majestic Realty fielded questions and commentary from concerned citizens over their proposed 3.2 million square foot development set to be constructed near Airport Road, with the public citing worries over traffic, additional warehouses and pollution.

The $3.05 million in federal funding comes on behalf of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program. The Easton Avenue project is one of five across the state.