Centre Access

Saturday, March 21, 2025 (Season 1 | Episode 1)

This week on Centre Access: a bureaucratic snag threatens Pennsylvania's $700 million broadband plan, Penn State's president faces lawmakers over campus closures, ICE operations stir tension in Bellefonte, a new University of Pittsburgh initiative takes on the rural dental care shortage, a Millheim barber shop marks 75 years, and a roundup of what's still ahead for Women's History Month at Penn State. 

🔗 LINKS TO THIS WEEK'S STORIES

• Pennsylvania's broadband plan hits a snag, reporting by Charlotte Keith, SpotlightPA
• Penn State president faces lawmakers over campus closures, reporting by Geoff Rushton, StateCollege.com
• Recollections May Vary: Penn State President Bendapudi Goes to Harrisburg, opinion by Barry Fenchak Substack
• Community members protest ICE reporting/photography, reporting Geraldine Cruz-Hernandez, The Daily Collegian 
• ICE protest in downtown Bellefonte, reporting by Jacob Michael & photography Esteban Marenco, Centre Daily Times 
• University of Pittsburgh launches rural dental training centers, reporting by Marley Parish, Spotlight PA
• New Pitt centers will aim to address rural dental needs, reporting by Maddie Aiken, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 
• Keene's Barber Shop marks 75 years, reporting by Julie Noal, Centre Centre County Gazette

📋 CENTRE DOCUMENTERS
Full notes from this week's public meetings are at centredocumenters.org. 

This week's meetings: 

• Spring Township Planning Commission meeting — cancelled
• State College Area School District board meeting —
• Penns Valley Area School District board meeting —
• College Township Planning Commission —
• University Area Joint Authority —

🎁 OTHER RECOMMENDED READING
The AI boom has plunged a small Pennsylvania town into chaos Reporting by Rebecca Egan McCarthy, Grist

Centre Access is coming! A weekly podcast bringing you a recap of news from Centre County. You can expect to hear from us every Saturday morning with 6 stories and a Centre Documenters local government update. Our first episode drops Saturday, March 21st. Along with it, we're releasing five pre-season back episodes so you can get a sense of what we bring you each week.

Centre Access serves YOU, the roughly 158,000 residents of Centre County, Pennsylvania — by bringing you the most important news of the week. Powered by The News Lab at Penn State, our podcast also partners with Centre Documenters to deliver the latest from local government meetings each week. 

Centre Access is produced by the News Lab at Penn State, recorded in the Bellisario Media Center and supported by the Curt Chandler Storytelling Fund, the Arthur P. Miller Newsroom Fund, and the Hearst Foundations.

Saturday, March 7, 2026 (Season 1 | Pre-Season Episode)

This week on Centre Access: Penn State moves to sell the State College Regional Airport to the Centre County Airport Authority, a collaborative solar energy project years in the making collapses amid tariffs and shifting economics, Happy Valley Casino launches a paid dealer training program ahead of its spring opening, new details emerge on where more than 1,500 Rockview inmates went after the prison closed, a Snow Shoe woman is arrested after hiding in a State College residence, and a rare Governor's Tag elk hunt draws attention to Pennsylvania's conservation success story.

🔗 LINKS TO THIS WEEK'S STORIES

• Penn State moves to transfer full ownership of State College Airport — Reporting by Jack Anderson-Jussen, Onward State
• Penn State plans to sell State College Regional Airport — Reporting by Geoff Rushton, StateCollege.com
• Board approves proposed acquisition of the State College Regional Airport by the Centre County Airport Authority — announcement by Penn State University
• Centre County's long planned solar project falls apart — Reporting by Jacob Michael, Centre Daily Times
• Centre County solar power purchasing project unravels — Reporting by Geoff Rushton, StateCollege.com
• Happy Valley Casino brings first gambling hub to Centre County — Reporting by Maggie Alderisio, Onward State
• Pa. Casino launches free dealer school — Reporting by Daniel Urie, PennLive
• SCI Rockview inmates dispersed across Pennsylvania after closure — Reporting by Bret Pallotto, Centre Daily Times
• With SCI Rockview and Quehanna Boot Camp closures, effects on mats, staff and communities remain uncertain — Reporting by Sofia Costa Miranda, The News Lab at Penn State for WPSU
• State College woman arrested after hiding in residence — Reporting by Derek Cestone, WTAJ
• Two special tags lead to two huge bull elk for Pennsylvania hunters — Reporting by Mark Nale, Outdoor News & Centre Daily Times

📋 CENTRE DOCUMENTERS

With meeting cancellations, we don't have a Documenters roundup this week — but stay tuned. In two weeks, we'll hear directly from our Documenters about what happens when public meetings get cancelled or changed without much notice, and get an update on the Documenters on the Bus project. Full notes from recent public meetings are available at centredocumenters.org.

Saturday, February 28, 2026 (Season 1 | Pre-Season Episode)

This week on Centre Access: a judge recommends a forced sale of Rock Spring Water Company after years of infrastructure failures, College Township gets ahead of a state bill by updating its zoning ordinance for potential AI data centers, Centre Safe launches its annual Twilight Dinners fundraiser with a $20,000 goal, the People's Choice Festival announces its return to Boalsburg after three years away, inmates transferred following the Rockview closure are being charged to ship their belongings, and Centre County wrestlers make their mark at the District 6 Championships.

🔗 LINKS TO THIS WEEK'S STORIES

• Judge recommends forced sale of Rock Spring Water Company — Reporting by Marley Parish, Spotlight PA
• College Township updates zoning ordinance ahead of potential data centers — Reporting by Jacob Michael, Centre Daily Times
• Centre Safe's Twilight Dinners fundraiser aims for $20,000 — from Staff Reports at The Lock Haven Express
• People's Choice Festival returns to Boalsburg — Reporting by Lloyd Rogers, Centre County Gazette
• Transferred Rockview inmates charged to ship personal belongings — Reporting by Sydney Roach, WPSU
• District 6 Wrestling Championships — Reporting by Ryan Risky, WTAJ
  • Official Data from the PIAA District 6 
• Update: If you're interested and more on District 6 wrestlers headed to State watch this After the Whistle episode [6:35]

📋 CENTRE DOCUMENTERS
Full notes from this week's public meetings are available at centredocumenters.org.

Saturday, February 21, 2026 (Season 1 | Pre-season Episode) 

This week on Centre Access: Pennsylvania's rape crisis centers will see no budget increase under Governor Shapiro's latest proposal — including Centre Safe right here in Centre County; State College Borough Council tables a resolution calling for ICE reform after a heated debate; an immigration judge denies bond for Subu Vedam, the State College man held at Moshannon Valley Processing Center; state officials monitor fish at Benner Spring Hatchery following chemical contamination linked to airport firefighting foam; Centre County PAWS reports a sharp rise in unhoused dogs tied to housing insecurity; and a free pop-up clinic from Remote Area Medical is coming to Bellefonte in March.

🔗 LINKS TO THIS WEEK'S STORIES

• Pennsylvania rape crisis centers face flat funding — Reporting by Geoff Rushton, StateCollege.com
• ICE concerns prompt Lycoming County residents to form mutual aid networks  — Reporting by Marley Parish, Spotlight PA 
• State College Borough Council tables ICE reform resolution — Reporting by Geoff Rushton, StateCollege.com
• Federal immigration judge denies Subu Vedam's release, Reporting by Sydney Roach, WPSU
• Previous reporting mentioned: Cold case brings Indian community together —  Reporting by Milan Varia, The News Lab
• Benner Spring Fish Hatchery monitored after chemical contamination — Reporting by Gary Sanderson, WJAC
• Centre County PAWS sees rise in unhoused dogs — Reporting by Anne Danahy, WPSU
• Remote Area Medical free clinic coming to Bellefonte March 28–29 — Reporting by Oscar Orellana, WPSU
  • You can volunteer your times and services to the free clinic by registering here.

📋 CENTRE DOCUMENTERS
Full notes from this week's public meetings are available at centredocumenters.org. 

This week's meetings:

• State College Area School District board meeting — 
• Penns Valley Area School District board meeting — 
• College Township Planning Commission — 
• University Area Joint Authority — 

Saturday, February 14, 2026 (Season 1 | Pre-Season Episode)

This week on Centre Access: Subramanyam Vedam, the State College man who spent more than four decades in prison on a now-overturned murder conviction, remains in ICE custody as his legal fight shifts to immigration court; a Penn State student is on life support after a hit-and-run in downtown State College; three Centre County townships pool resources to protect 49 affordable housing units in Ferguson Township; Keystone Central School District nears completion of its 2026–2029 comprehensive plan; a psychiatrist and attorney confirmed to Pennsylvania's Board of Pardons draws pushback from clemency advocates; and Bellefonte Area High School alumna Bailey Little earns the American FFA Degree — one of the highest honors in agricultural education.

🔗 LINKS TO THIS WEEK'S STORIES

• Subu Vedam remains in ICE custody after wrongful conviction overturned — Reporting by Brett Pallotto, Centre Daily Times
  • Update: Pennsylvania man cleared after 43 years denied bail  — Reporting by, The Associated Press & NBC
  • Update: He spent 40 years in prison...  — Reporting by Elizabeth Wolfe and Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN
• Penn State student Sophia Ruscillo on life support after hit-and-run — Reporting by Geoff Rushton, StateCollege.com
  • GoFundMe for Sophia Ruscillo and her family
• Centre region townships on 'creative solution' to save affordable units — Reporting by Jacob Michael, Centre Daily Times 
• Townships collaborate to preserve affordable housing in Ferguson Township — Reporting by Centre Daily Times staff with AI summarization
• Keystone Central School District finalizes three-year comprehensive plan — Reporting by Laura Jameson, Lock Haven Express
• Pennsylvania Senate confirms Dr. John O'Brien II to Board of Pardons — Reporting by Danielle Ohl, SpotlightPA
• Bellefonte alumna Bailey Little earns American FFA Degree — Reported by staff at the Lock Haven Express

📋 CENTRE DOCUMENTERS
Full notes from this week's public meetings are available at centredocumenters.org. 

This week's meetings:

• Gregg Township Board of Supervisors — 
• Documenters on the Bus project launch — 30 CATA Bus routes 🚌