For more than a century, the East Broad Top Railroad has been a lifeline for central Pennsylvania. Built in the 1870s, it is the oldest surviving narrow-gauge railroad east of the Mississippi — and it still runs on its original track and steam locomotives.

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On October 6, as part of a partnership with the Dauphin County Bar Association, Keep Our Republic (KOR) will host a public forum titled “The Independent Court: What It Is and Why It Matters” at Widener Law School in Harrisburg. The panel will feature former United States Court of Appeals Judge Andre Davis, former District of New Jersey Federal District Court Judge Robert Kugler, and President Judge Emerita Bonnie Leadbetter of the Commonwealth Court. Together, they will discuss why judicial independence is a cornerstone of democracy.

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Anders Beck, the dobroist for acclaimed bluegrass-americana band Greensky Bluegrass, recently shared the story of how he stumbled into the instrument that would define his career. “I was a guitar player, getting into bluegrass, and realized flat-picking guitar just wasn’t my thing,” Beck said. “Then I found the dobro—played with a slide, lots of sustain—and I just fell in love. I played six hours a day.”

Beck also reflected on the band’s longevity as they celebrate their 25th anniversary. “The reason we’re still going strong? We didn’t stop,” he explained. “We keep pushing ourselves creatively, evolving our sound, and trying new things. Our live shows are like a psychedelic rock odyssey, but on bluegrass instruments.”

Over the years, Greensky Bluegrass has blended traditional bluegrass roots with innovative sounds. Beck described the evolution: “We started with the classic setup, one mic, traditional instruments. Now we’ve got amps, pedals, and experimental sounds—but the instruments are still at the core.”

The band’s journey, Beck says, has been as much about friendship as music. “We’re five best friends. The band has always been constant, no matter the challenges.”

Greensky Bluegrass will be bringing their signature sound to Harrisburg on October 2, marking another milestone in a career defined by creativity, innovation, and a love of bluegrass in all its forms.

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Theatergoers in Lancaster are in for a unique experience this October as Creative Works of Lancaster presents the world premiere of Dead Inside, a new play by local playwright Gwen Tulin. Known for its innovative approach to performance, Creative Works specializes in nomadic theater, bringing productions to unconventional spaces around the city.

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Visitors to Lititz may find themselves twisting their own pretzel while stepping back in time at the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, America’s oldest commercial pretzel bakery. Founded in 1861, the bakery’s origins are said to be a happy accident.

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As schools across Pennsylvania welcome students back to classrooms, mental health experts are using Suicide Awareness Month to highlight a growing concern: youth suicide and the importance of supporting students’ social-emotional well-being.

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For fans of classic comedy, the Three Stooges have long been a source of laughter, from their slapstick antics to their timeless humor. In Ambler, Pennsylvania, one man has turned that love into a museum experience unlike any other. Gary Lassin, founder and executive director of the Stoogeum, has curated the world’s only museum dedicated entirely to the Three Stooges.

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Pancreatic cancer is among the deadliest forms of cancer, and Pennsylvania has one of the nation’s highest rates. For families like the Crosbys of Cumberland County, the disease has left a lasting mark — one they hope can spark more awareness, early detection, and support.

The beginning of the school year is an exciting time, but many children will fall behind academically, developmentally and socially because of undetected vision issues.  That is the concern of the Pennsylvania Optometric Association, POA, and the reason state lawmakers are sponsoring the Children’s Vision Bill. It calls for optometrists and ophthalmologists to perform vision exams at milestone years for students: kindergarten, fourth and eighth grades.  The National Parent Teacher Association has reported that more than 10 million children in the U.S. suffer from undetected vision problems that can hamper learning success. Identifying those students who have vision-related deficiencies early on and getting them an effective diagnosis and treatment will make a significant impact on their overall quality of life and future. 

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For decades, WPSU has been a trusted public radio and television station for central and northern Pennsylvania. But now, the NPR and PBS affiliate based at Penn State University is facing a wind-down plan that would close its doors by June 30, 2026—a decision that has left staff and community members shocked.

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As students head back to school this fall, many families are celebrating new beginnings—but for some children, undiagnosed vision problems can create hidden barriers to learning, development, and social growth. That is the concern behind the Pennsylvania Children’s Vision Bill, which calls for mandatory eye exams at key educational milestones.

For Laura Koenig of Pennsylvania, the issue hit close to home. Her son, Nathan, struggled with reading from the time he entered kindergarten. Despite interventions and an Individualized Education Program (IEP) implemented in second grade, Nathan continued to lag behind his peers. Teachers and specialists initially attributed his difficulties to a learning disability.

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