Nathan Thomas, Ph.D., professor and founder of the theatre program at Alvernia University, was recognized with the Innovative Teaching Award from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) Region 2.The award honors one college or university faculty member each year for excellence
Three men have been charged following a months-long investigation into illegal drug sales from two local smoke shops, Berks County officials announced Monday, saying the case was prompted by community complaints that high-potency THC products were being sold — including to juveniles.According to the
The County of Berks invites residents, community leaders, and partners to join in celebrating the kickoff of Berks 275, commemorating the 275th anniversary of the incorporation of Berks County, at a special public event on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at the Miller Center at Reading Area Community Col
Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) of Reading, a program of VOiCEup Berks, is once again challenging Berks County youth to turn creativity into compassion through the annual YVC Canstructure Contest. Now in its ninth consecutive year, the youth-led structure-building competition returns on Saturday, March
What began as a class project at Governor Mifflin School District’s Brecknock Elementary has gained fourth graders a state title at the PA Invention Convention, a ticket to the RTX Invention Convention’s National Competition, and attention from a leader in the construction industry.On Wednesday, Feb
The Reading Police Academy is marking 50 years since being commissioned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (MPOETC).The Academy began its 2026 training year with a full class of forty-two police cadets. Thirteen of those cadet
Berks Women2Women, a special program of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA), has announced the 2026 ATHENA Leadership Award and EmpowHER Award winners.The ATHENA Leadership Award celebrates the exemplary leadership of a woman leader who demonstrates excellence, creativity and initiative in t
Route 143 will be closed for one night next week as part of the ongoing I-78 Lenhartsville Bridge Replacement Project, PennDOT and Bridging Pennsylvania Constructors (BPC) announced.According to PennDOT District 5, the contractor plans to close and detour Route 143 on Tuesday, Feb. 10, to allow crew
Reading Hospital is looking for community members to volunteer for the No One Dies Alone (NODA) program, which ensures hospice patients do not spend their final moments alone.No One Dies Alone connects volunteers with Reading Hospital patients who are nearing the end of life. Volunteers receive comp
As Super Bowl LX approaches on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, local law enforcement and federal transportation safety officials are reminding Berks County residents to plan ahead and avoid impaired driving.The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is partn
Berks County is under an Extreme Cold Warning and a Wind Advisory beginning Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey.The Wind Advisory is in effect from 4 a.m. Saturday through midnight Saturday night. Forecasters expect northwest winds of 20 to 3
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
Penn State Berks is showing support for the members of Berks Benefitting THON who are representing the college at THON, the University’s dance marathon which benefits families battling pediatric cancer. There will be a dancer send-off from 1 – 3 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026 in Perkins Student Cente
Desiree Reasoner has been named vice president of Student Affairs at Kutztown University, announced Tuesday by university president Dr. Philip Cavalier. Reasoner has served KU for 26 years, most recently as assistant vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs for Residence Life, Ho
The Reading Science Center is continuing to strengthen its learning environment and educational programming thanks to support through Pennsylvania’s Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP). Through NAP , businesses receive state tax credits for supporting approved community improvement projects. These
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 — The Trump administration this week finalized the $87.4 million purch
Mayor Eddie Morán and Alan Shuman of Shuman Development Group announced Thursday a major milestone for downtown Reading with the signing of a letter of intent (LOI) to redevelop the Fifth and Penn buildings, one of the city’s most prominent intersections. The signing announcement took place at a pre
A Pennsylvania Lottery retailer in Berks County sold a winning Powerball with Power Play ticket worth $2 million for the Wednesday, February 4 drawing. The ticket matched five of the five white balls drawn, 27-29-30-37-58, to win $2 million, less applicable withholding. Without the $1 Power Play opt
The Reading Police Department has announced that an arrest has been made in connection with the shooting that occurred at the 3rd and Spruce Recreation Center.An arrest warrant was obtained for Roylin Cabral-Villa, 18, who faces charges including Aggravated Assault, Risking Catastrophe, Firearms Not
Mayor Eddie Morán announced today that snow removal operations continue throughout the City of Reading, with Public Works crews working extended hours to clear priority corridors, Snow Emergency routes, and neighborhood streets.Crews Currently Working: Public Works crews are actively clearing snow i
Lower Heidelberg Township and Berks County authorities are investigating the death of a 53-year-old Wernersville woman found unresponsive in her home over the weekend.According to the Berks County District Attorney’s Office, officers from the Lower Heidelberg Township Police Department were dispatch
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 — The Trump administration has quietly purchased a nearly 520,000-squa
Police in Reading are investigating a shooting that occurred Sunday evening at the 3rd and Spruce Recreation Center, an incident that left a 12-year-old boy and a 23-year-old man with gunshot wounds and prompted a temporary closure of the facility.According to the Reading Police Department, officers
PA Humanities has announced the recipients of its first-ever Rain Poetry Grants, a new round of funding that will support youth-centered public poetry projects in 10 Pennsylvania communities — including one in Berks County.The Boyertown Community Library was selected as a 2026 Rain Poetry Grant reci
