Geoff Rushton
-

State, Local Officials Visit Centre County Farm to Talk $10M Fund for Pa. Fruit Growers Devastated by Spring Freeze
in Local News—
by
State and local officials gathered at Way Fruit Farm in Halfmoon Township on Wednesday to discuss a new $10 million fund to help Pennsylvania growers recover from a late-spring freeze that devastated fruit crops. The funding included in the 2026-27 state budget will be used by the state Department of Agriculture to develop Freeze Disaster…
-

State Games of America to Bring Thousands of Athletes to Centre County
—
by
Centre County will welcome more than 8,000 athletes from across the country starting this week for an Olympics-style multi-sport festival. The State Games of America will be held Friday, July 24, through Sunday, Aug. 2, with participants from 40 states competing in more than 30 sports — ranging from hockey to MMA to track and…
-

As Strike Looms, Negotiations Between Mount Nittany, Unionized Workers Remain Deadlocked
—
by
With a planned strike less than a week away, Mount Nittany Medical Center’s unionized workers and hospital management failed to reach a contract agreement in their latest round of negotiations on Tuesday. Mount Nittany’s revised proposal, which a hospital spokesperson said was aimed at avoiding a strike, included a one-year contract extension with 3% across-the-board…
-

Mount Nittany Elementary Expansion and Renovation Nearing Completion
—
by
A $21 million project to renovate and expand Mount Nittany Elementary school is nearly finished and is expected to be ready in time for the start of the 2026-27 school year, according to a presentation to the State College Area School Board on Monday. Since the start of work in early 2025, the project has…
-

State College Amends Responsible Contractor Ordinance After Struggling to Get Qualified Bidders
—
by
Borough Council on Monday approved amendments to the State College’s Responsible Contractor Ordinance after failing to get bidders who met its requirements on nearly every project it applied to since it went into effect in 2025. Council voted 4-2 in favor of changes to the cost value and types of projects that trigger the ordinance…
-

Waste Management Discontinuing Residential Trash Collection in Centre County
—
by
Some Centre County households will need to find a new garbage hauler in the coming weeks as Waste Management ends residential trash services in Centre County. The company plans to end residential trash and recycling collection in Centre County by the end of August, according to a letter recently sent to customers. A Waste Management…
-

Centre County Schools to Implement ‘Handle With Care’ Program for Students Who Experience Traumatic Events
—
by
State College Area School District is working with other Centre County districts to implement a statewide program aimed at supporting students who experience traumatic events. The SCASD School Board on Monday night heard an overview of Handle With Care, an initiative supported by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office that allows police to send a confidential…
-

Attendance Grows for 2026 Arts Fest, People’s Choice
—
by
Festival week in Centre County brought another boost to the local tourism industry with increased visitations for two major events. Marking its 60th year, the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts in State College was once again the biggest draw with 163,700 visits from July 8-12, an 8% increase over 2025, according to data collected…
-

Centre County Dining Scene Veterans Partner for New Restaurant at Gamble Mill
—
by
Two familiar names in the Centre County dining scene are teaming up to bring a new restaurant to the Gamble Mill in Bellefonte. Hublersburg Inn owner Andi Heidt and Happy Valley Chef’s Thomas Novosel Jr. are partnering on Grist Woodfired, with a planned opening in late September. It will fill the restaurant space last occupied…
-

Penn State Trustees Approve 15% Performance Bonus for Bendapudi
—
by
Penn State’s Board of Trustees on Friday approved a $210,000 performance bonus for university President Neeli Bendapudi. Under the terms of her contract amended in September 2025, Bendapudi is eligible for a bonus of 15% of her base salary for meeting annual performance goals mutually agreed upon with the board. During its meeting at Penn…