State & Regional News

This week on Watching the Skies, WLVR's Brad Klein and Bethlehem's Backyard Astronomy Guy, Marty McGuire talk about the planet Venus and its role as the "morning star."

Ryan Mackenzie, the Lehigh Valley's freshman congressman, cast an essential vote to move President Donald Trump's signature bill through the U.S. House last week. His would-be Democratic opponents say he's sold out poor families to give billionaires a tax break.

State Treasurer Stacy Garrity said her department has returned 500 military medals and pieces of memorabilia to veterans and their families since 2021.

The state Department of Environmental Protection announced $1 million in grants to promote environmental education and stewardship across the state. Four Lehigh Valley programs received funding.

The LVPC on Thursday hosted a workshop, “Planning + Pizza: Deploying Electric Vehicle Infrastructure,” aiming to collect feedback about where best to deploy EV infrastructure throughout the region.

Overall, 31 of the region’s 35 major climate sites were wetter than normal, with 22 of them experiencing one of their 20 wettest May 1-15 periods. Allentown took the top spot, experiencing its wettest May 1-15 ever.

The Lehigh Valley's public transit system says it will have to cut service by 20 percent and boost fares by 25 percent without additional state funding — something that Gov. Josh Shapiro has called for but that lawmakers will have to approve.

Tuesday, May 20, is Primary Election Day in Pennsylvania. Several high-profile local races are on the ballot in Lehigh and Northampton counties. Check out our procrastinator's guide and Q&A.

Drivers who have been ticketed for school bus camera violations say the process to contest them needs to change. PennDOT said thousands of citations across seven Lehigh Valley school districts are still awaiting hearings.

Republicans Roger MacLean and Mike Welsh have spent less than $8,000 combined on their race. Meanwhile, their Democratic opponent Josh Siegel has amassed more than $180,000 in his war chest. The primary election is Tuesday, May 20.

Both DUI arrests and speeding citations were up over last year.

An environmental law expert says the EPA retains substantial authority to regulate emissions.

If passenger train expansion can happen in western Pennsylvania, can it also happen here?

Muhlenberg College has been polling on the topic of climate change since 2007.

The Supreme Court’s ruling is likely to galvanize abortion rights voters in Pennsylvania, an expert says.

Said one woman: 'I keep crying every couple of minutes because I can't believe this is actually happening.'

States that place restrictions on abortions will prompt women to travel for the procedure, health workers say.

Reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision was strong and swift.

Legislators are looking for ways to ease the situation.

Most angers will be OK with the small jump in prices, according to one bait shop owner.

Lehigh County will certify both the 2021 general and the 2022 primary elections on Wednesday.

The proposal would waive the state's gas tax between the July 4th and Labor Day weekends.