Widespread Power Outage Affects Thousands in Centre County, Disrupts Traffic Lights on North Atherton Street

STATE COLLEGE — Parking at the University Park will take less out of your wallet. The Centre County Airport Authority’s board of directors recently approved a new economy parking rate of $6 per day and will take effect this week. “The costs of travel have been increasing and...

The real estate arm of a Pennsylvania-based auto dealer is looking to develop two parcels on Shiloh Road near I-99 for commercial uses and is hoping to get a tax abatement program for a portion of the properties to assist with the cost of basic infrastructure for the site. Ron...

The State College Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance as it investigates an alleged act of trespassing and criminal mischief in College Township. Someone drove a motor vehicle onto the ball field at Spring Creek Park off of Balmoral Drive in College Township and caused “substantial” damage to the turf sometime between Saturday and Monday, police wrote in a media release.

A current State College Transportation Commission member is joining the race for State College Borough Council in this year’s election. Democrat Matt Herndon became a regular attendee and public commenter at council meetings after witnessing a driver strike a cyclist on Allen Street, a crash he believed was compounded by faulty road design. His participation at meetings eventually led to his appointment to the transportation commission.

STATE COLLEGE — Elizabeth Hitchcock Arrington died Dec. 12, 2022. She was 77. Arrangements were under the direction of Wetzler Funeral Service Inc., Bellefonte. SPRING MILLS — Joyce M. Bressler died Jan. 21, 2023. She was 89. Arrangements were under the direction of Steven R. Neff Funeral Home Inc., Millheim.

Two current Centre County commissioners are teaming up as they seek a return to the board in this year’s election. Democrats Amber Concepcion and Mark Higgins announced on Monday they will run a joint campaign to retain their seats. Higgins, the current chair of the board, will be seeking...

A longtime local business owner announced a campaign for Centre County commissioner on Monday. Marie Librizzi, the retired co-owner of the Old Main Frame Shop and Gallery, is running for a Republican nomination as county commissioner in the May primary election. If elected in November, she intends to encourage local involvement and increase economic development in Centre County, particularly in more rural areas.

BELLEFONTE — SpringBoard, a coworking space and small-business innovation center, is set to open in a new location in the heart of downtown Bellefonte. The community is invited to Open Coworking hours from noon to 4 p.m. with a kick-off party from 4 to 6 p.m. on Feb. 8 at SpringBoard’s new location, 221 W. High St., No. 1300, Bellefonte. Cocktails and snacks will be provided by The Cakeshop by Tati and Gourmet Girl.

STATE COLLEGE — The students of State College Area School District’s Delta Program Middle School created 150 Jared Boxes. The Delta Community Service Committee held a toy drive and a coin drive to collect supplies to create the boxes. Kat Hoffman, Delta Community Service Committee advisor, stated, “The...

This story first appeared in The Investigator, a weekly newsletter by Spotlight PA featuring the best investigative and accountability journalism from across Pennsylvania. Sign up for free here. At least three Pennsylvania counties are not checking new probation officers against a statewide police misconduct database or uploading current misconduct records,...

The man who shot and killed a Pine Grove Mills woman in her home seven ago was sentenced on Wednesday to life in prison without the possibility parole. Christopher G. Kowalski, 36, was found guilty but mentally ill on the charge of first-degree murder in November for the death of 60-year-old Jean Tuggy on Jan. 20, 2016 at her Irion Street home. Centre County Judge Brian Marshall handed down the life sentence on Wednesday at the Courthouse Annex in Bellefonte.

Doris Eileen Longwill Carter, 91, of State College, passed away Saturday, January 28, 2023 at Foxdale Village surrounded by family. She was born November 27, 1931 in Indiana, PA to parents Horace S. Longwill and Louise Miller of South Fork and Clymer respectively. She attended several public schools as the family moved multiple times finally settling in Hershey, PA where she graduated from Hershey High School and Hershey Junior College. She transferred to Penn State and completed a B.A. degree in Commerce in 1954.

State College Council member Nalini Krishnankutty will run for a new two-year term on the borough’s governing body in this year’s election, she announced on Tuesday. Krishnankutty, a Democrat, was appointed to council in June 2022 to fill the unexpired term of Richard Biever, who stepped down seven months after he was elected when he took a job out of state. Council members typically serve four-year terms, but because the vacancy occurred less than 18 months from the start of Biever’s elected term, the borough’s charter required the position to be on the ballot in the 2023 election for the remaining two years.

The Penn State Transparency Tracker is an ongoing effort by Spotlight PA to document and share the ways in which the university is, and is not, being transparent with the community. Due to its special “state-related” designation, Penn State is not subject to open records laws beyond the public disclosure of basic financial information.

PHILIPSBURG — Philipsburg-Osceola became the second Centre County school and the 96th school in the state to add girls wrestling after a school board vote Jan. 26. P-O joined Bald Eagle Area in adding the sport. The PIAA announced in 2020 that 100 schools with a girls wrestling program would be needed in order for it to sanction the sport. That means, as of Monday, only four more schools were needed to get to 100.

Downtown State College community arts space 3 Dots is preparing to expand its entertainment offerings to a much younger demographic. From 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, 3 Dots will host a family-friendly “baby rave” dance party aimed at young children and their families. The event will help smaller party-goers “dance their diapers off in a secure environment,” according to a news release from the nonprofit.

An up-and-coming, Grammy-nominated rapper is bringing his next tour to the Bryce Jordan Center this spring. The Kid Laroi’s “Bleed For You” tour will stop at Penn State’s premier arena for a concert on Monday, March 27, as announced on Tuesday. The performance will mark the Australia native’s first visit to Happy Valley.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — A 31-point third quarter wasn’t enough to bring the Penn State women’s basketball team back after a rocky first half as the Lady Lions fell at No. 8 Maryland, 87-66, on Jan. 30. It was the Lady Lions’ fourth loss in five games...

Penn State senior guard Jalen Pickett has been named to the John R. Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 Watch List it was announced this week. Heading into February, Pickett is the only player in the country averaging at least 17 points (17.6) per game, eight rebounds per game (8.0) and seven assists (7.0) per game. Not a single men’s college basketball player in at least the last 30 years has finished a season averaging 17/8/7. So far in Big Ten play, Pickett is averaging 19.4 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game and 6.1 assists per game through 10 conference contests. He’s shooting 54.9% from the field, 40.7% percent from 3-point range and 75.8% from the free throw line in conference action.