2022 in Review
Discover the top stories we've covered so far
A new go-to source in the Lehigh Valley was born
Since our launch on Oct. 4, 2022, LehighValleyNews.com's mission has been to bring great local journalism to the Valley as the only digital-focused nonprofit news website in the area.
From the Allentown School Board's controversial ouster of Superintendent John Stanford to the tragic fire that claimed the lives of two Lehigh County firefighters, we strive to be curious, seek truth and build trust within the local community.
In these three months, we hope we have fulfilled your want-to-know, need-to-know and of course, your right-to-know. Enjoy our one-of-a-kind 2022 in review.
October's big story: Allentown School Board ousts the superintendent
In mid-October, LehighValleyNews.com reporter Sarah Mueller exclusively broke the story that the Allentown School Board was negotiating a separation package for Superintendent John Stanford.
Stanford started work in the district’s top job in November 2021 and signed a five-year contract that was intended to carry through June 2026. His first-year salary was $230,000.
The school board did not have a timeline for the negotiations but a string of controversies had shaken its confidence, said sources who spoke to LehighValleyNews.com on the condition of anonymity. The sources requested anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the negotiations.
Stanford was Allentown’s fifth superintendent since 2010 and the district’s second Black superintendent after Thomas Parker. Read more here.
The school board ousted Stanford on Oct. 20 after a contentious debate played out in a public vote.
Stanford appeared to grow emotional as students pleaded with the board not to let him go.
On the same day, several of the students were attending their first board meeting, as they were being voted in as student representatives to various board committees. Many said Stanford was the only superintendent they'd ever met in person.
Many of the meeting attendees who spoke up asked for clarification on why the board was letting Stanford go but board members didn't cite a reason. Learn more here.
Community members supportive of Stanford protested his firing at the Lehigh County Courthouse on Oct. 26.
About a dozen people gathered around 8 a.m. in the area of North Fifth and Hamilton streets, including members of the Allentown and Bethlehem NAACP. They said they were upset they were given no explanation by the board for why Stanford was let go less than a year after he started work. Read more here.
The next day, Carol Birks was named as the new acting superintendent.
At the time, Birks served as regional superintendent and chief schools officer with Booker T. Washington Academy in New Haven and Hamden, Connecticut. Her first day in Allentown was Monday, Oct. 31.
Birks was the only candidate to apply for the position, according to school board member LaTarsha Brown. Learn more here.
Oct. 11: Dozens treated after carbon monoxide exposure at Allentown day care
Dozens of people were hospitalized after exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide at an Allentown day care facility on Oct. 11.
Oct. 13: Allentown doctors share challenges and gratitude after saving carbon-monoxide-poisoned children
Two doctors who helped treat more than a dozen carbon monoxide-poisoned kids shared their stories with LehighValleyNews.com.
Water and Wings Estate: the main house, which was built from 2000-2005.
Park Lane: this home has six bedrooms and seven bathrooms
November: Midterm mania
The big takeaways from the 2022 midterm election.
2022 Election Coverage
Josh Shapiro elected next governor of Pennsylvania
Democrat Josh Shapiro, the two-term attorney general from Montgomery County, defeated Republican state Sen. Doug Mastriano, a retired U.S. Army colonel. Read more.
Wild a winner in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional race
Democratic incumbent Susan Wild won the Lehigh Valley's hotly contested congressional race. Read more.
Boscola beats Merhottein, winning 7th term for Senate District 18
Democrat Lisa Boscola easily won a seventh term representing state Senate District 18. Read more.
Republican Jarrett Coleman wins 16th District Senate seat
Republican Jarrett Coleman won Pennsylvania's 16th District state senator, defeating Democrat Mark Pinsley to replace longtime incumbent Pat Browne. Read more.
Gen Z turned out for the midterms -- and may have inspired one young organizer to run for office
Young voters turned out big for Democrats in the midterm elections. Read more.
Northampton County celebrates a boring post-election audit
Unlike other recent elections, there was little to no controversy over the results. Read more.
On Election Day, our team provided up-to-the-minute results and updates on key local races.
We also rolled out an election results page that offered up-to-the-minute returns on all the key races.
Nov. 1: A makeover for Bethlehem's Christmas City Village
The Downtown Bethlehem Association changed the design of the village’s huts and increased the number of vendors heading into the holiday season.
Nov. 17: Residents evacuated after fuel truck crash and spill in Bethlehem
An overturned tanker truck spilled around 6,000 gallons of fuel, prompting the evacuation of a West Bethlehem neighborhood.
Nov. 22: Bethlehem Area School Board hired a former judge to conduct an investigation involving the school district
Superintendent Joseph Roy said he was the target of an unfounded and false allegation.
December: Two area firefighters made the ultimate sacrifice
On Dec. 7, two volunteer firefighters from Lehigh County perished in a fire in West Penn Township, Schuylkill County. The fire was immediately investigated as "suspicious," according to the township police chief. Read the story.
The close community of New Tripoli was in mourning over the deaths of Marvin Gruber and Zachary Paris.
On the afternoon of Dec. 8, state troopers along with other first responders escorted hearses carrying the bodies of Gruber and Paris from the Schuylkill County Coroner’s office in New Philadelphia to the Lehigh County Coroner's office in Allentown. Fire companies throughout the Lehigh Valley joined together during the procession to salute their fallen brothers. Learn more.
Hundreds of mourners gathered at Northwestern Lehigh Middle School on Dec. 17 to pay their final respects to the fallen firefighters. Read the story here.
Dec. 18: Christkindlmarkt's final day marred by antisemitic hate speech
Men wearing white T-shirts with the words “It’s Okay To Be White” were among a group at the Christmas market at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. It was the latest in a string of antisemitic incidents in the area and across the nation.
Holiday storm brought plumber, power problems instead of plows
A powerful storm tore through the area and then raked the Northeast, which led to power outages and other damage.
'I would rather be right than be first': Meteorologists weighed in on the challenges of winter storm forecasting
Allentown's New Year's Eve plan includes a giant, 1,000-pound hockey puck. Here's how it was made.
Allentown officials revealed a crane would suspend a half-ton illuminated hockey puck to drop at midnight and welcome in 2023.
Ring in 2023 in the Lehigh Valley
LehighValleyNews.com has handpicked a list of events for you to celebrate the past and ring in the future. Here’s to the new year!
Thank you!
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