Update – 7/12/26: Berks County Coroner Matthew J. Stitzel has identified the victim as Alex B. Rosado-Laboy, 45, of Reading.An autopsy is scheduled for Monday, July 13, 2026, at Reading Hospital and will be performed by forensic pathologist Dr. Neil Hoffman. The cause and manner of death are pending
The City of Reading reported seizing a large quantity of illegal fireworks and responding to dozens of fireworks-related incidents during its annual Fourth of July enforcement efforts.According to the city, the Reading Police Department responded to 69 incidents involving illegal fireworks over the
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.READING — This spring, a group of advocates asked Reading City Council to adopt a
A $20.3 million expansion by Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials in Reading will create 42 new jobs and retain 441 existing full-time positions, according to an announcement Wednesday from Gov. Josh Shapiro.The expansion will take place at the company’s facility at 2120 Fairmount Ave. in Reading.
Two men were taken into federal custody after Pennsylvania State Police discovered active immigration removal warrants during a traffic stop on Interstate 78 in Berks County over the Independence Day weekend.According to a Pennsylvania State Police public information release, troopers from the Hambu
A 31-year-old Reading man is facing multiple felony charges after Berks County detectives arrested him in connection with the alleged sexual abuse of a 7-year-old child.The Berks County District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday that Matthew D. Anoka, of Reading, was charged with rape of a child
Berks Pride Fest will mark its 20th anniversary on Sunday, July 19, with a daylong celebration at Jim Dietrich Park in Muhlenberg Township.Hosted by Reading Pride Celebration, the festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and commemorate two decades of LGBTQ+ pride, visibility and community in
The City of Reading has extended the application deadline for its Downtown Housing Development Grant Program, giving eligible property owners an additional month to apply for funding aimed at creating new residential housing in the city’s downtown.Applications for the City of Reading Downtown Housin
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.READING — Albright College has been warned that continued poor budgeting and fina
A Reading man is facing felony drug charges after investigators allegedly seized approximately four pounds of methamphetamine, drug trafficking materials and more than $10,000 in cash during an investigation by the Berks County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force.According to the Berks County Distri
The 2026 Berks County Field of Heroes concluded July 6 after welcoming visitors to Wyomissing Stone House Pond for a weeklong tribute honoring military members, first responders, healthcare workers, educators, community leaders, and other local heroes.Presented by the West Reading-Wyomissing Rotary
CASA of Berks County has announced the appointment of Laura Biancone, MSW as its new Executive Director.Biancone brings a wealth of nonprofit leadership experience, community engagement, and a deep commitment to serving vulnerable populations. Most recently, she served as Executive Director of the L
Update – 7/11/26: Berks County Coroner Matthew J. Stitzel has identified the victim as Felipe Solis Rodriguez Jr., 16, of Hampden Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.An autopsy was conducted on Monday, July 6, 2026, at Reading Hospital by forensic pathologist Dr. Neil Hoffman. The cause and ma
Motorists in Berks County should expect several roadway work zones this week as PennDOT and a local utility complete maintenance and infrastructure projects. The work will include crack sealing, shoulder widening, and waterline installation, with daytime lane restrictions and flagging planned at sev
City officials and regional tourism leaders officially opened the Pennsylvania World Cup Fan Zone in downtown Reading on Friday morning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Santander Arena, kicking off a weekend of free events centered around the FIFA World Cup 2026.The ceremony featured Reading Ma
Law enforcement agencies across Berks County are reminding motorists to celebrate responsibly this Independence Day weekend as they join a nationwide campaign to crack down on impaired driving.The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is partnerin
Reading Theater Project will present a staged reading of “Just What the Doctor Ordered,” a farce by local playwright Judd Lear Silverman, on July 18 at 1 p.m. at the Wyomissing Library, 9 Reading Blvd. A post-performance Q&A with the playwright will follow. In this Moliere-meets-Orton farce, a Jewis
The Berks County Fair will celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with a free, family-friendly event led by its Junior Fair Board on Friday, July 10.The “Celebrating America’s 250th” event will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the fairgrounds in Leesport. Organizers say the patriotic celebration
Thousands of railfans gathered at Reading Outer Station in Muhlenberg Township on Thursday for a rare opportunity to see Union Pacific’s legendary Big Boy No. 4014 as it made its only scheduled whistle stop in Berks County during the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad’s Semiquincentennial Ste
Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank Thursday received a gift of $1 million from singer-songwriter and Berks County native Taylor Swift and her fiancé, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.Swift has a history of supporting organizations that work to combat food insecurity. In December 2025, she dona
Reading is getting representation in selecting the winner of one of the most distinguished awards in American literature.Marissa Guidara, Youth Services District Consultant with Reading District Libraries, has been named to the 2027 Caldecott Committee to help name the next recipient of the esteemed
A team of Berks County 4-H members earned top honors during the annual Pennsylvania 4-H Animal Judging Contests Day, held recently at Penn State’s University Park campus.The Berks County senior dairy judging team of Wyatt Lehner, Alexis Servin and Connor Servin captured first place in the statewide
As Wyomissing prepares to celebrate America’s 250th, the Borough is proud to announce that Morris Rahn, better known to many as “Whitey,” will serve as Grand Marshal of the 2026 Wyomissing Independence Day Parade.Mr. Rahn, a 99-year-old World War II veteran and current resident of Berkshire Heights,
A consumer firework ignited a throw pillow in seconds Wednesday as thick black smoke quickly filled the air, illustrating the dangers city officials hope residents will remember before Fourth of July celebrations begin.The demonstration, held at the Berks County Fire Training Center, brought togethe
