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.

A Northampton County Council candidate called for "civility and compassion" Monday in response to screenshots that appear to show a Northampton County Council member and Easton School District nurse administrator write that conservative activist Charlie Kirk's family is better off since he was assassinated.

Like last year, the Valley’s cool temperatures, coupled with a lack of precipitation, could cause an earlier and shorter fall foliage season. But, it's still expected to be vibrant.

It will offer affordable spay and neuter surgeries, wellness visits, vaccines, TNR services and more, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Wednesday by appointment only.

A Northampton County Councilwoman and Easton Area School District employee has drawn the ire of many parents and individuals for her criticism of media personality Charlie Kirk, who was killed on Wednesday.

Gas prices are going up for UGI customers in the near future, but the rate hike will be lower than expected after a settlement announced Thursday with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

Plainfield Township's board of supervisors voted Wednesday to exempt landfills from steep slope rules to allow Grand Central Landfill to expand. The body voted down a measure allowing dumps by right in the township's waste processing zone.

Robert Marley, of North Wales, was struck by a vehicle around 10:09 a.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Steely Hill and County Line roads in Williams Township, state police said.

Officials behind the Lehigh Valley Breathes project have announced an Aug. 31 data cut-off date, ending the data collection phase. The project was launched in August 2023.

Brian McCulloch resigned from his seat representing Region 3. He also is suing the school board for an alleged Sunshine Act violation.

The $1,204,400 award through the Carbon Reduction Program will help LANTA make the most of its limited stops along the Enhanced Bus Service’s Blue Line and Green Line routes, according to LANTA Executive Director Owen O’Neil.

Members discussed ways the council could help advance priorities in the city’s Climate Action Plan. With dozens of goals and tasks to tackle, members voted to prioritize those that aligned with existing committees or garnered volunteer interest.

Northampton County Council adopted a resolution Thursday urging state lawmakers to adopt a budget as soon as possible. It's part of a wave of similar resolutions across the state, calculated to present a united front and put pressure on Harrisburg.