State & Regional News

The Hotel Hampton boarding house had not undergone fire inspections since at least 2017, despite a history of code violations, fire alarm problems and prior safety concerns, according to a newly completed federal investigation.

Three of the Democrats running in this May's primary for Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District criticized President Donald Trump's war with Iran and worsening relations with traditional allies.

Police in the Lehigh Valley say the size of these gatherings presents a difficult operational challenge: how to respond without escalating already dangerous conditions involving fast-moving riders and large crowds.

Former Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure became the first candidate to attack one of his Democratic rivals, criticizing Bob Brooks for old social media posts that drew national headlines this week.

Lehigh County Commissioner Sarah Fevig is pushing to change how the county oversees elections, arguing the current system is too partisan and no longer reflects today’s voters.

“This is a proactive step in getting this out of firefighting foam,” Sen. Nick Miller, D-Lehigh/Northampton, one of the co-sponsors of the legislation, said in a phone call Tuesday.

World Xtreme Wrestling is set to relaunch in Allentown, returning to Mountainville Memorial Hall, the longtime base of the promotion founded by the late WWE Hall of Famer Afa Anoaʻi Sr.

Campaign spending in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District already is trending ahead of the $30 million record set in the 2024 election.

The $27,731,984 raised this year tops last year's record of $26,231,833. When including donations to United Way’s Critical Support Fund and contributions through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit program, United Way raised $30,436,542 this year.

President Donald Trump’s latest target, Pope Leo XIV, could present political risks that differ from his past high-profile attacks, particularly among Catholic voters in key swing states.

Staff at the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study are reviewing more than 600 suggested projects for the region's Long Range Transportation Plan. Planners anticipate getting $4.3 billion in funding, which isn't enough to meet all the needs.

Regional and national news outlets Thursday left out an important detail about the return of the Canadian wildfire smoke — it was nowhere near the ground.

Gov. Josh Shapiro put the reconstruction of Interstate 95 in Philadelphia front and center on Thursday, launching a livestream of the progress that will run online 24/7 until the job is finished.

Held June 7 in Bethlehem, the Lehigh Valley Environmental Advisory Council Network’s “Funding Municipal Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Programs,” focused on federal and state funding opportunities available to organizations across the region.

There’s one major question as we approach the summer solstice in the Lehigh Valley – where’s the warmth?

The House budget recently passed on a party-line vote increased school maintenance funding to $350 million from $100 million proposed by Gov. Josh Shapiro

Few, if any, bridges in Pennsylvania insulate the steel beams in their decks, PennDOT Deputy Secretary Mike Rebert said Wednesday. High-intensity fires capable of destabilizing those bridges are rare, but do happen.

Democrats in Pennsylvania are optimistic that Republicans will finally agree to raise the state's minimum wage after years of debate. A Republican member of the state Senate's leadership team is leading a bill to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour, providing hope for a resolution, although challenges remain in the GOP-controlled state Senate.

The late William Jacob Heller founded The American Flag Manufacturing Co. in Easton in 1887, helping popularize the U.S. flag nationally. Heller is credited as being instrumental in having flags hung at schoolhouses throughout the nation.

Local experts say the Lehigh Valley is well prepared to knock down wildfires, but state data show those blazes are becoming much more common across Pennsylvania.

The Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors reported home sales dropped 22% in May — normally a busy season. Increased interest rates and tight inventory in Lehigh and Northampton counties were driving the figures, according to GLVR.

State Rep. Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh, is the architect of a bill that would allocate $100 million of federal American Rescue Plan funding for mental health programs. It passed the House last week and is under state Senate consideration.