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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.
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 […]
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.
Three states still have money moving to residents before the year ends: New York energy rebate checks of $100 to $200 are in the mail, Alaska has two more Permanent Fund Dividend payment dates on Nov. 19 and Dec. 17, and Pennsylvania seniors have until Dec. 31 to apply for a property tax or rent […]
A plate of crispy haddock and fries at one Pennsylvania seafood house can stretch into two full meals. That is a lot of fish for a place hundreds of miles from the nearest lobster boat. The whole idea started on a Massachusetts harbor, years before the doors ever opened. Today...
As the holiday season approaches, local markets offer community members an opportunity to support small businesses while still shopping for unique gifts. The Rivet Winter Market, held Nov. 7 to 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Discovery Space and The Rivet, brought together a variety of local vendors who offered handmade goods and seasonal items, along with food stands serving homemade meals and treats. The event provided shoppers with an opportunity to explore local businesses, meet vendors and experience the creativity of the State College community.
Buffalo gets the credit for inventing the chicken wing, but Pennsylvania has quietly built a wing scene that can hold its own. From Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, neighborhood bars are tossing wings in sauces that range from classic hot to flavors you have never heard of. Some spots offer more than...
One Lancaster County fabric store opens its doors at 7:30 in the morning, which means some sewists are browsing bolts before most people finish their coffee. Another shop in the same county stocks more than 6,000 bolts, and I can’t decide if that sounds like heaven or a very pleasant trap.
Some campus traditions involve cheering in a packed stadium. Others involve standing in a long line for a cone so big it needs its own plan. In State College, Pennsylvania, the second kind of tradition has been going strong since the 1800s, and it draws students, alumni, families, and road trippers alike. There is one size, one flavor per order, and a waiting line that somehow moves faster than you expect.
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 […]
It's been 15 years since Paterno's historic tenure came to a sudden end, yet his legacy is just as in question as it was then.
Drivers on the Pennsylvania Turnpike will pay more again starting Jan. 3, 2027, when a 3.5% toll increase takes effect across the system. It is the 19th year in a row that tolls have gone up on what is often called America’s first superhighway. The increase is the smallest...
Senior homeowners in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Illinois and New York can cut their property tax bills if household income stays under a cap, and those caps run from $48,110 in Pennsylvania to $112,000 for Massachusetts couples. The biggest single payout among the four is Massachusetts’ senior circuit breaker credit, which maxes out at $2,820 for tax […]
Plant garlic 3 to 6 weeks before the soil freezes. November planting can still succeed, especially early in the month. Growing garlic indoors only yields green edible shoots (green garlic) but no sizeable bulbs. Alternatively, plant in spring after the soil thaws, but expect smaller bulbs and lower yields. Fall...
Four New York men are accused of turning counterfeit cash into real money through a retail theft scheme spanning 16 Pennsylvania counties, Attorney General Dave Sunday announced on Thursday, Nov. 5. The group allegedly used fake bills to purchase merchandise at major retailers, then returned the ite…
The Pennsylvania cross country season culminated Saturday with the PIAA Championships held at Big Spring High School. Individual champions were crowned in Peters Township sophomore Kathryn Froelich (3A), Wellsboro senior Lauren Kosek (2A) and Our Lady Of Sacred Heart senior Mira Mosca (1A). Team championships were earned by Norwin (3A), Cathedral Prep (2A) and Our Lady Of Sacred Heart (1A).
West Virginia homeowners who are 65 or older, or permanently and totally disabled, have until Dec. 1 to file for an exemption that takes the first $20,000 off a home’s assessed value. Pennsylvania’s property tax and rent rebate of up to $1,000 closes Dec. 31. Maine and Texas set their dates in spring, April 1 […]
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...
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.
