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The latest news from Berks Weekly
Houlahan leads Pennsylvania colleagues in introducing bill to prevent plastic pipeline tragedies

Houlahan leads Pennsylvania colleagues in introducing bill to prevent plastic pipeline tragedies

Tuesday, on the third anniversary of the deadly explosion at the R.M. Palmer Company chocolate factory in West Reading, Pennsylvania, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) led nine bipartisan Pennsylvania colleagues in introducing the Preventing Future Vintage Plastic Pipeline Tragedies Act. The Pr

Reading names Robert Leonard as new fire chief

Reading names Robert Leonard as new fire chief

Reading officials on Tuesday morning formally introduced Robert Leonard II as the city’s new fire chief during a press conference at City Hall, following his approval by Reading City Council the night before.Mayor Eddie Morán called the appointment “a really important moment for the City of Reading

Conrad Weiser Theatre Company to present Les Misérables: School Edition in April

Conrad Weiser Theatre Company to present Les Misérables: School Edition in April

The Conrad Weiser Theatre Company will bring a well-known musical to the local stage this spring as it presents Les Misérables: School Edition at Conrad Weiser High School.The production will run from April 17 through April 19, 2026, inside the school’s newly renovated auditorium, which organizers s

New restaurant Thorn Alley Kitchen to open at GoggleWorks this April

New restaurant Thorn Alley Kitchen to open at GoggleWorks this April

GoggleWorks Center for the Arts announced today the upcoming opening of Thorn Alley Kitchen, a new restaurant located at its downtown campus, blending culinary creativity with the spirit of art, community, and craveable food. The restaurant will officially open on Friday April 10, 2026 and offer a v

Senators introduce legislation to establish task force on child protection in the digital age

Senators introduce legislation to establish task force on child protection in the digital age

Sens. Tracy Pennycuick (R-24), Wayne Langerholc (R-35) and Scott Martin (R-13) introduced bipartisan legislation creating the Task Force on Child Protection in the Digital Age, a new statewide effort to ensure Pennsylvania’s laws keep pace with rapidly evolving technology and the risks it poses to c

Residents, officials voice concerns over proposed ICE detention facility at Upper Bern town hall

Residents, officials voice concerns over proposed ICE detention facility at Upper Bern town hall

Residents, local officials, and community advocates gathered Sunday at the Shartlesville Fire Company for a town hall meeting focused on a proposed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Upper Bern Township.Organized by the group Ice Out of Upper Bern (IOUB), the event

Employee stabbed at Reading Dollar Tree; suspect in custody

Employee stabbed at Reading Dollar Tree; suspect in custody

A woman was hospitalized after being stabbed inside a Dollar Tree store in Reading on Saturday morning, according to initial reports and the Reading Police Department.Emergency responders were dispatched around 10:24 a.m. to the Dollar Tree located in the 1100 block of Rockland Street for a reported

Daniel Boone Homestead to host ‘Revolutionary Children’s Day’ in May

Daniel Boone Homestead to host ‘Revolutionary Children’s Day’ in May

The Daniel Boone Homestead will welcome families for an afternoon of hands-on history during its upcoming “Revolutionary Children’s Day,” scheduled for Sunday, May 3, from 12 to 4 p.m.The event is designed to give children an interactive look at colonial life in the Oley Valley, with activities insp

Brush cutting, bridge repairs, ongoing construction: PennDOT upcoming roadwork March 20, 2026

Brush cutting, bridge repairs, ongoing construction: PennDOT upcoming roadwork March 20, 2026

PennDOT crews are scheduled to carry out a series of roadwork projects across Berks County in the coming days, with brush cutting, bridge repairs, and ongoing construction expected to impact several major roadways. Drivers may encounter lane restrictions, shoulder closures, and overnight work zones

PETA “Hell on Wheels” pig truck stops in downtown Reading

PETA “Hell on Wheels” pig truck stops in downtown Reading

A traveling exhibit organized by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) made a stop in downtown Reading on Friday afternoon, parking outside Mofongo Restaurant at 124 S. 5th St.The exhibit, known as the “Hell on Wheels” pig truck, is designed to resemble a livestock transport vehicle and

The Ultimate Athletic Complex rebrands as The Yards Athletics and expands programming

The Ultimate Athletic Complex rebrands as The Yards Athletics and expands programming

The Ultimate Athletic Complex (UAC), a premier 48-acre sports destination located at 1592 Wyomissing Road in Mohnton, PA, today unveiled its evolution into The Yards Athletics – a name that reflects its growing strength, expanding influence, and bold vision for the future of sport.The facility will

Reading School District unveils new Innovation Academy with ribbon cutting ceremony

Reading School District unveils new Innovation Academy with ribbon cutting ceremony

The Reading School District officially unveiled its new Reading High School Innovation Academy on Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 817 N. 9th St., marking a major investment in the future of the city’s students.District leaders, elected officials, staff, students and community members gath

46-year-old man killed in early morning crash on I-78 in Berks County

46-year-old man killed in early morning crash on I-78 in Berks County

A 46-year-old man from Carlisle died early Thursday morning following a crash on Interstate 78 in Berks County, according to Pennsylvania State Police and the Berks County Coroner’s Office.The crash occurred around 4:45 a.m. on March 19, 2026, on I-78 eastbound near mile marker 34.2 in Windsor Towns

Dog Wardens to conduct license, rabies compliance checks in Berks County

Dog Wardens to conduct license, rabies compliance checks in Berks County

Dog wardens will canvass homes in Berks County several times during the spring to summer months to ensure all dog owners have current licenses and rabies vaccinations for their dogs.It’s the Law – A dog license is a legal responsibility of owning a dog in Pennsylvania and the best way to ensure that

Raw food in refrigerator stored open with no covering: Restaurant Inspections, March 19, 2026

Raw food in refrigerator stored open with no covering: Restaurant Inspections, March 19, 2026

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has posted an updated list of recent Retail Food Inspection Reports for restaurants and food handlers in Berks County. Inspections are a “snapshot” of the day and time of the inspection. Violations are recorded but are often corrected on the spot prior to t

Foundation for the Reading Public Museum voluntarily returns ancient Khmer sculpture to the Kingdom of Cambodia

Foundation for the Reading Public Museum voluntarily returns ancient Khmer sculpture to the Kingdom of Cambodia

The Foundation for the Reading Public Museum announced the voluntary return of a 10th- or 11th-century Cambodian Khmer stone sculpture to the Kingdom of Cambodia. This repatriation was conducted in close cooperation with the Cambodian government and the nation’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, fa

Kutztown University awarded state grant to help prepare more special education teachers

Kutztown University awarded state grant to help prepare more special education teachers

Kutztown University has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to help address the statewide shortage of special education teachers.The grant is part of a nearly $1 million investment awarded to 11 colleges and universities across Pennsylvania to create faster, m

Deadly West Reading chocolate factory explosion prompts PUC safety complaint against UGI

Deadly West Reading chocolate factory explosion prompts PUC safety complaint against UGI

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s (PUC’s) independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement (I&E) has filed a formal complaint against UGI Utilities, Inc. – Gas Division (UGI) following a detailed investigation into the March 2023 natural gas explosion at the R.M. Palmer Company chocola

Two found dead inside Cumru Township home; investigation ongoing

Two found dead inside Cumru Township home; investigation ongoing

Cumru Township police are investigating the deaths of two individuals found inside a home Tuesday following a welfare check request from family members.According to the Cumru Township Police Department, officers were dispatched March 17 to a private residence in the 500 block of Church Road. Upon ar

Berks officials grappling with ICE’s warehouse plans want assurances from the feds

Berks officials grappling with ICE’s warehouse plans want assurances from the feds

This story was produced by the Berks County bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom. Sign up for Good Day, Berks, a daily dose of essential local stories at spotlightpa.org/newsletters/gooddayberks.UPPER BERN — Local officials say they are working to ensure Berks County taxpayer

Berks County projects receive over $1 million in state grant funding from multiple lawmakers

Berks County projects receive over $1 million in state grant funding from multiple lawmakers

More than $1 million in state grant funding has been awarded to projects across Berks County, with multiple state lawmakers announcing investments aimed at improving public safety, infrastructure and community resources.The funding comes through Pennsylvania’s Local Share Account (LSA) programs, whi

Pickup truck driver killed in head-on crash with trash hauler in Cumru Township

Pickup truck driver killed in head-on crash with trash hauler in Cumru Township

A Berks County man was killed in a head-on crash involving a trash hauler along Philadelphia Avenue (Route 724) in Cumru Township, according to authorities.Emergency responders were dispatched to the area of Valley Stream Road for a reported crash with possible entrapment and fire. Upon arrival, off

Berks universities receive more than $70K in state funding for sexual violence prevention programs

Berks universities receive more than $70K in state funding for sexual violence prevention programs

Berks County colleges are set to receive more than $70,000 in state funding as part of a broader $1.7 million investment aimed at combating sexual violence on college campuses across Pennsylvania.The funding, announced by the Shapiro Administration through the third round of the “It’s On Us PA” init

Berks County Board of Assessment Appeals moves to in-person hearings

Berks County Board of Assessment Appeals moves to in-person hearings

The County of Berks Board of Assessment Appeals has voted to resume in-person property assessment appeal hearings beginning in April 2026, ending the practice of conducting hearings by telephone that was implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.Prior to 2020, appeal hearings were routinely held in p