Beavertown
In 1983, a fire wrecked the upper floors of a beloved restaurant building, and it was marked for demolition. Then one man stopped the bulldozers. He claimed the burned-out shell and saw an Italian dining room where everyone else saw rubble. His whole family spent ten years rebuilding it and...
Some dinners are just dinner, and some get circled on the calendar weeks ahead. Across Pennsylvania, certain steakhouses have become the go-to spots when a family wants to mark a birthday, toast an anniversary, or simply make a night feel bigger than usual. This list covers nine of them, from...
What started as a planned rally to protect election results against potential challenges turned into a celebration Saturday morning, as about 18 local residents gathered outside the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte following Tuesday's election. The gathering was one of more than 10 rallies planned across Pennsylvania, with organizers celebrating the results while calling on elected officials to follow through on promises to working families. Robert Zeigler, an organizer with Central PA United, said the rally was originally planned because of concerns that the election results might be challenged. But after strong voter participation and an election process he said went smoothly, organizers decided to shift the focus. Zeigler credited poll workers, election observers, volunteers and voters for helping make that possible. "Just because a certain political party has won doesn't mean that you can't hold them accountable," Zeigler said. Tuesday's election gave Democrats a projected 26–24 majority in the Pennsylvania Senate . The party also retained and expanded its majority in the state House, while Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro won reelection over Republican Stacy Garrity. Maren Larsn speaks at a rally celebrating 2026 election results on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, in front of the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte.
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. A version of this story first appeared in The Investigator, a weekly newsletter by Spotlight PA featuring the best investigative and accountability journalism from […]
Pennsylvania American Water announced Friday that it recently applied a fourth credit to water customer accounts from settlements with manufac
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s Lake Erie Regional Grape Program has announced the 2026 Survey of Unsold Grapes. The Lake Erie Regional Grape Program surveyed growers in 2025 to find out how many grapes were not sold after harvest. This data was used to show the economic impact of the current market conditions on grape growers in Pennsylvania and New York. Data was collected, analyzed, and can be found in this article: 2025 Unsold Grapes Survey Results.
By Anna Gustafson for the Pennsylvania Independent . Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Keystone State News Connection reporting for the Pennsylvania Independent-Public News Service Collaboration For Scranton resident Katie Ezdebski, trips to the grocery store look a lot different these days. Each shopping excursion takes far more preparation than in years past: What can she afford to buy? What meals won’t cost too much to make? Which stores have the best prices? Grocery costs are rising amid President Donald Trump’s tariffs and the war in Iran . Cash-strapped Pennsylvanians say surging prices are leaving their families reeling. “As far as how I shop, it’s led it to become much more involved as far as planning before you go to the store,” said Ezdebski, the mother of an 11th grader and the full-time caregiver for her husband, who has had several strokes and has early-onset dementia. “The process of making sure my budget’s going to fit what I need, and having that list and sticking to that list where, you know, three or four years ago I didn’t really do that as much.” Ezdebski was one of a group of Pennsylvanians who shared their experiences grappling with rising food costs
HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania reached a $7.8 million settlement with Walmart for violations of the state’s Child Labor Act at stores across the Commonwealth. Under the settlement, Walmart will pay $7.68 million in administrative penalties, in addition to $142,785 in fines previously paid following the state Department of Labor and Industry’s initial investigations in the case, the governor’s office said in a news release.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is making public safety a central priority of his second term, promising to expand police presence while investing in community-based programs designed to prevent violence before it occurs. In a November 7 statement, the Democratic governor argued that elected leaders should focus on protecting residents rather than creating fear, outlining a […]
In the next legislative session, Democrats in Pennsylvania will not necessarily have to compromise with Republicans to pass laws. Voters handed both chambers in the General Assembly and the governor’s office to Democratic candidates. The results were part of a nationwide “blue wave” that ousted GOP lawmakers on the...
State environmental officials say an earthquake struck Allegheny Township last month, but it was so small it’s likely no one but seismologists noticed. On Oct. 4, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) was alerted to a seismic event near EQT’s Porter well pad in Allegheny Township off Willowbrook Road.
In July 1863, Union soldiers marched across a wooden bridge with a roof on their way to one of the most famous battles in American history. A few days later, retreating Confederate troops crossed those very same planks. That bridge is still standing, and you can walk across it today.
Pennsylvania singers have an opportunity to take center stage each day of the 2027 Pennsylvania Farm Show. Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding recently invited individuals and groups across the Commonwealth to enter “Oh, Say, Can You Sing?”, the annual contest selecting singers to perform the national anthem live each morning of Pennsylvania’s State Fair.
Looking for humble Pennsylvania restaurants where the food hits different with every visit?. These 8 places serve up big flavors, warm vibes, and meals worth driving across the state for!. 1. Hardena (Philadelphia) Standing outside Hardena in South Philadelphia, the first thing that hits you is the enormous mural covering...
Submitted By: Ashley Bigge, Ph.D., Penn State Extension, Poultry Educator. Wild birds are migrating south for the winter, and cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have been reported in the United States. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) maintains lists of HPAI confirmations in various species. In the...
A single chrysanthemum plant in Pennsylvania gets trained to hold more than a thousand matching blooms at once. One plant. A thousand flowers. I still can’t get over that. Gardeners start growing it in January, and the planning for its big show begins two years ahead. That kind of patience feels wild to me, especially for a display that lasts only a few weeks in fall.
Claims close Nov. 9 in $533 million of generic drug price-fixing settlements with Sandoz, Sun/Taro, Apotex and Heritage for purchases from 2009 to 2019.
A planned "bike ride boycott" in Philadelphia was met with a large counterprotest in Rittenhouse Square on the morning of Nov. 8. The boycott targeted six businesses in an Instagram post that organizers said are owned by "zionists." The planned boycott drew condemnation from Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, both Democrats. "This bike ride, masquerading as a protest to advance the cause of justice, is nothing more than blatant antisemitism designed to intimidate and drive Jewish businesses out of our communities, and there is no place for that in our Commonwealth," a post from the Shapiro administration's press secretary's X account said on Nov. 5. Cyclists participating in the boycott were quickly outnumbered by counterprotesters supporting the businesses and Israel more broadly, many carrying Israeli flags. As the gathering swelled beyond the tree-lined park and spilled onto 18th Street, a heavy police presence occasionally broke up crowds using motorcycles and scooters. There was at least one arrest at the protest amid the yelling matches and occasional shoving between protesters on both sides. Rick Zietelman arrived at the protest with his bike, but he was there in support of the listed businesses and of Israel. He dressed
A family bakery can begin with a recipe, a dream, or a love that refuses to fade. In Pennsylvania, one family created a baking business to honor their daughter, Paige, after losing her to cancer. Founded in 2015, the business grew around a personal mission: bringing her memory into the...
HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Turnpike is preparing to expand Open Road Tolling statewide in January 2027, eliminating traditional tollbooths. The cashless system allows drivers to pay tolls electronically without stopping or slowing down. Overhead structures equipped with sensors and cameras identify vehicles and calculate tolls. Drivers with E-ZPass receive the lowest rates, while others receive bills through the mail based on their license plates.
