State & Regional News

The Walking Purchase, a 1737 land grab perpetrated by William Penn's sons, shaped the Lehigh Valley as residents know it today. But, the land wasn’t actually purchased, as the name might suggest — it was swindled from the Lenni-Lenape.

More than 130 people attended the panel, which focused on efforts across the state to tamp down on light pollution, not only to benefit star-gazers, but for fireflies and migrating birds, too.

Lehigh Valley Political Pulse host Tom Shortell wants to hear from you. Readers are encouraged to submit questions through the link in the article. They may be addressed on a future episode of the program.

As the system moves off the Carolina coast and begins to strengthen and lift northward, impacts farther inland — particularly in the Lehigh Valley — are not expected to be overly hazardous.

PennDOT has decided to convert a normally empty parking lot off William Penn Highway into 30 or more truck parking spots. While warehouses have boomed across the Lehigh Valley, truck parking has failed to keep up.

Political scientist Chris Borick joined Tom Shortell again this week to try to make sense of the government shutdown and what it all means.

Senate Democrats have refused to fund the federal government unless Republicans agree to extend tax subsidies for the Affordable Care Act. U.S. Ryan Mackenzie supports the tax subsidies but echoed Republican demands that no deal can be struck until the federal government is funded.

A reinforcing cold front has triggered a freeze watch in the Lehigh Valley from Thursday evening through Friday morning, bringing our coldest overnight temperatures since mid-April.

State environmental officials are calling on residents to nominate their favorite waterway to be 2026 River of the Year. The effort aims to elevate public awareness of specific rivers and recognize important conservation needs and achievements.

The filings, which occurred over the past few days in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New Jersey, are individual filings of LLCs, including the location that was based at the Lehigh Valley Mall Lifestyle Center.

Wolf said he supports several bills aimed at helping refugees and financially isolating Russia for its invasion.

Pennsylvania is losing a seat in the U.S. House because of population losses in the 2020 Census.

The price of defending Ukraine means some investors may lose money.

The company declared construction complete; folks along a section in Delaware County say otherwise.

Democrats running for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania will debate April 3.

The change involves Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield universities.

Sanctions need to make Vladimir Putin, 'pay a price he cannot afford,' Sen. Pat Toomey said.

COVID-19 has caused health care to adapt to changing conditions.

Says U.S. Sen. Bob Casey: 'Both parties are united in pushing back against Mr. Putin.'

Inflation that leads to a jump in interest rates could be lurking, as well.

Russia is responsible for about 40 percent of Europe's natural gas supply.

The invasion was a surprise, says a local expert, because, "it goes against Putin's playbook of incrementally destabilizing and playing within acceptable norms."