Local News for State College and Central Pennsylvania

Participants at a Pasa Sustainable Agriculture workshop highlighting an agroforestry project at Wild Fox Farm walk past a planting of black locust trees in October 2023. (Dan Sullivan)

Farmers lose climate assistance as Trump administration freezes and cuts spending

Rachel McDevitt | StateImpact Pennsylvania

A Pennsylvania nonprofit that helps farmers increase sustainability is getting ready to furlough 60 of its 82 employees if federal money is not released by the end of this month.

Campers and volunteers at Camp Dreamcatcher in Chester County, Pennsylvania. (Photo submitted)

PA Local Heroes: A summer camp where HIV stigma stops

Colin Deppen of Spotlight PA

Camp Dreamcatcher in Chester County, launched at the height of ‘90s stigma around HIV, has served thousands of children living with or affected by the virus.

Fez, a band from Central Pennsylvania, is the winner of the 30th Battle of the Bands and band will perform as the opening act for Movin' On 2025.

50 years and counting: How Penn State's Movin’ On is shining a spotlight on Pa. musicians

Abigail Chachoute

This year Movin’ On is celebrating its 50th anniversary of bringing local and national acts to the stage. For the last 30 years, Movin’ On’s Battle of the Bands — which took place Tuesday — has offered local performers the opportunity to compete for the opening spot in the annual Movin’ On Festival on May 2.

The Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, says it is canceling the leases of federal offices in central Pennsylvania, including the Internal Revenue Service office in Altoona. It's unclear when this closure will happen and how employees will be impacted. Tax season is underway, with filings due by April 15.

Questions remain for future of federal offices in central Pa. marked for closure by DOGE

Sydney Roach

Questions still remain for the future of several federal government facilities in central Pennsylvania marked for closure. The Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, says it is canceling the leases of federal offices in Altoona, Williamsport, and State College.

Aging Secretary Jason Kavulich (left) speaks as Gov. Josh Shapiro looks on. (Commonwealth Media Services)

More elder abuse transparency, accountability is coming as Shapiro admin denies ‘crisis’

Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

The Department of Aging will soon disclose county compliance data related to elder abuse investigations. Failing agencies could face harsher penalties.

Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt (Commonwealth Media Services)

Overhaul of Pa.’s glitchy voter registration system moves forward after contract cancellation, delays

Carter Walker of Votebeat

The state’s voter registration system will be revamped and integrated with other election systems under a new $10.6 million contract.

A street in Tyrone, a borough in Blair County, Pennsylvania. (Georgianna Sutherland / For Spotlight PA)

Reviving rural Pa. should start with shoring up local governments, says state commission

Marley Parish | Spotlight PA State College

The Rural Population Revitalization Commission wants to streamline grant requirements and improve technical support to help rural areas overcome development challenges.

Tim Heaphy, author of "Harbingers: What January 6 and Charlottesville Reveal about Rising Threats to American Democracy."

Opinion

Democracy Works: Lessons from Charlottesville and January 6

Jenna Spinelle

Tim Heaphy, the lead investigator on the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville and the January 6 insurrection, makes the case that a disengaged citizenry is the biggest threat to American democracy.

The baby stingray in the Discovery Space's Marine Life Center on March 4, 2025, the day she arrived. She will adjust to her tank for about 10 days before the public can visit her.

Discovery Space in State College is welcoming a baby stingray. You can help name it

Emily Reddy

Voting is now open to choose a name for a baby stingray that will soon be a part of the Marine Life Center at Discovery Space in State College.

Nearly a hundred people registered for Tuesday's town hall. Several had to stand because the community room in Schlow Centre Region Library had reached capacity.

Community members share worries about Trump administration at State College town hall

Sydney Roach

Community members from Centre County and beyond packed the community room Tuesday in Schlow Centre Region Library to share concerns and questions regarding the Trump administration.