State & Regional News

With Memorial Day behind them, lawmakers are heading toward summer recess amid questions about what, if anything, they will be able to accomplish before voters return their attention to the fall elections.

Pennsylvania lawmakers moved closer to establishing a statewide restriction on student cell phone use in public schools, as the state House passed legislation requiring "bell-to-bell" phone bans during the school day.

The study, released late last week by the Delaware River Basin Commission, detected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in surface water, sediment, fish and blue crab tissue collected throughout the basin, including along the tidal Delaware River.

On this week's Lehigh Valley Political Pulse, host Tom Shortell and political scientist Chris Borick break down the 2026 primary election results.

Electric customers across Pennsylvania will see higher supply rates beginning June 1, adding new pressure to household budgets just as air conditioning demand starts to climb.

Firefighter union boss Bob Brooks swept each municipality in Lehigh County and nearly each one in Northampton County en route to his nearly 20-point victory in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District's Democratic primary Tuesday.

Jack Pletz, 24 and his father, Matthew Pletz, have been arrested. Seventeen explosive devices were found inside their pickup truck.

The district, now represented by Sen. Jarrett Coleman, a first-term Republican, covers much of Lehigh County's rural and suburban communities and the northern part of Bucks County.

Bob Brooks has declared victory in the Lehigh Valley's Democratic primary for Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District.

Tuesday is Primary Election Day in Pennsylvania. Lehigh Valley Democratic voters will cast ballots in the 7th Congressional District, 16th District state Senate, the 22nd District state House of Representatives and 187th District state House. Republicans have no races for those seats; GOP candidates in them are unopposed.

Denver Riggleman spent 8 months as an adviser to the Congressional committee investigating the January 6th Capitol Riot. Now he's written a book about his experience — called, "The Breach."

Divorced borrowers who have been on the hook for their ex's student debt are finally getting the fix they need. But the Education Department's radio silence makes the win bittersweet.

A Red Cross volunteer from Danielsville is heading to Florida to help after Hurricane Ian. She will assist people with mental health needs, helping them to "process the immediate aftermath" following the category 4 storm.

At a roundtable discussion, legislators in Washington sought new ways to support vocational training programs in light of President Joe Biden's efforts to help students reduce their student loans.

Douglas Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, will stop in Allentown on Thursday as part of a tour around parts of the country with U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona.

Acting Secretary of State Leigh Chapman says more than 5 million residents have used mail-in voting since 2020.

District Attorney Jim Martin says someone should be stationed at the five drop boxes to ensure the law is followed.

Lawmakers this year approved an additional $79M for high-quality preschool programs.

Staff vacancies are the most pressing issue affecting Pa. schools, according to the PSEA.

Gov. Tom Wolf this week unveiled a plan to provide pardons for people who have been convicted of minor, non-violent marijuana crimes. It could affect thousands in the Lehigh Valley

Residents in affected areas are being asked to voluntarily conserve water.

Founded in 2017, the company develops semiconductors for several applications.