Penn State, State College Noon News & Features: Wednesday, May 25

State College, Penn State and Centre County are in the news — locally, nationally, internationally and in cyberspace. We post the latest sampling of stories of note, with links, from our site and across the Web every weekday in Noon News & Features.

Here is Wednesday’s offering:

News

• State College Teachers’ Union Has Sought Same-Gender Partner Benefits, Leader Says (StateCollege.com)

• Rainfall Rushes Toward Record 17.66 Inches in Centre County (Centre Daily Times)

• THON 2012 Dates Announced (Onward State)

• Report: Driver Doesn’t Remember Nittany Mall Crash (StateCollege.com)

• Center for the Performing Arts Announces 2011-12 Lineup (Penn State Live)

• Slowing Growth Tables 814 Area Code Changes (Centre Daily Times)

• Bellefonte High Seniors Forgo Class Trip, Work Election Day Instead (StateCollege.com)

• As Penn State Continues Fight Against Elm Diseases, New Trees Debut (Penn State Live)

Columns/Opinion

• Joe Battista – Pegula, Salzburg Share ‘Characteristics for Success’ with Penn Staters (StateCollege.com)

• Rich Kerstetter – Bob Dylan Turned 70 on Tuesday; His Connection to State College is Remembered Fondly (StateCollege.com)

Sports

• District 6 Class AAA Volleyball Championship: Little Lions Keep Focus in Title Sweep (Centre Daily Times)

• District 6/9 Softball Playoffs: Lady Little Lions Eye Fifth Straight Title (Centre Daily Times)

• Baseball: Penn State Opens Up Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday (GoPSUsports)

• Three Nittany Lions Earn All-Big Ten Baseball Honors (GoPSUsports)

• Lacrosse: Matt Bernier Set to Play in USILA Division I-II North/South All-Star Game (GoPSUsports)

• Storify: Reactions to DeChellis’ Naval Departure (Onward State)

• New NCAA Data Shows Penn State Student-athletes’ Success in Classroom (Penn State Live)

• Penn State-Purdue Homecoming Game Set for Noon on Oct. 15 (Penn State Live)

• Alabama Football: Bama’s All Right with Penn State’s All White, White-Out Game (Bleacher Report)

• Navorro Bowman: Breakout Player Profile (NFL Mocks)

• Fit Kids First – Matt Freeman – Penn State’s Featured Twirler (WTAJ TV)