Environment & Science

Jared Isaacman, a Lehigh Valley entrepreneur who recently conducted the first commercial spacewalk as part of SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission, stopped by Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown Sunday to answer questions about his trip.

Join Megan Frank every Friday at 9:30am and 6:30pm for Insights with LehighValleyNews.com on WLVR. This week, she's joined by Allentown reporter Jason Addy and Environment and Science reporter Molly Bilinski.

State officials announced the awards this week. Grants are earmarked for improving local parks to expanding trails and river access points, and creating more green space in local communities.

Mayor J. William Reynolds attributes the progress so far to the community’s belief in the mission and their “enormous buy-in,” stemming from 125 “Climate Action Champions” and over 30 area organizations.

It’s going to cost an estimated $100 million over the next decade to replace pipes made of lead, galvanized steel and unknown materials throughout the Lehigh County Authority’s service area.

Rodale Institute on Veterans Day celebrated $500,000 in state funding awarded for its Veteran Farmer Training program. The program draws trainees from across the U.S.

That endowment will help improve parks across the city by providing long-term funding for the Parknership’s work.

Inversion is a natural phenomenon that causes bottom water to flow up to the top surface and surface water to drop to the bottom. It's causing some households' drinking water to smell and taste different.

Participants in this year's D&L RaceFest, the largest yet, took to Lehigh Valley streets and trails Sunday. The day's top prizes both went to Easton residents.

The Lehigh Valley is parched, again. Here's what the region needs to get out of the drought that has led to burn bans and voluntary water conservation measures.

The Unidos Foundation was one of 12 community organizations across Pennsylvania to receive the grant. Money is earmarked to ensure that historically marginalized and underserved communities have access to information and resources about environmental protection.

More than a year after the federal government held its first hearing on unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAPs, two more were held within a week in November.

The Lehigh Valley is expected to see snow showers this week. Starting Tuesday evening, snow showers will move through the area, with more impactful showers Wednesday night through Thursday, including high winds.

Lehigh Township volunteer firefighters shared the obstacles they faced fighting a 600-acre fire that erupted on Blue Mountain. Almost a month later, it's still not technically out.

A NASA robotic mission that is exploring the inner reaches of our solar system will literally ‘touch the Sun’ on Christmas Eve.

The Lehigh Valley is in a 9-inch rain shortfall. The prolonged dry spell has raised concerns about the longevity of fresh-cut Christmas trees this year. And, it's thinning out the trees planted this year to grow for future holiday seasons.

The township's Shade Tree Commission was awarded 15 trees from a statewide nonprofit dedicated to improving the tree canopy in urban areas.

Listings will include risks for flood, wildfire, wind, heat and air quality, as well as interactive maps and insurance requirements.

Highs in the 30s and lows mainly in the 20s are forecast for the weekend and well into next week, which could be jarring on the heels of one our warmest Novembers on record.

With no quick cure for the fast-moving, but slow-to-kill disease, experts said American beech trees could be functionally extinct throughout the state within 10 to 15 years.

Guidance “continues to trend towards a warmer solution for Thursday’s storm,” the National Weather Service said, meaning it's going to be a wet, not white, Thanksgiving.

Said Edward Boscola, Bethlehem water and sewer resources director: “It’s important for everybody to know that the lead levels in the city’s drinking water system are very low."