Douglass Township will receive $300,000 in state funding to purchase a new vehicle for its public works department as part of more than $1.2 million in public safety grants announced by state Sen. Tracy Pennycuick.Pennycuick said the grants, totaling $1,275,000 across the 24th Senatorial District, w
Approximately 50 residents were displaced Thursday night after a fire heavily damaged an apartment building at the Oak Forest Apartments complex in Muhlenberg Township.Emergency crews were dispatched at around 8:53 p.m. to Building G at Oak Forest Apartments, 2271 Hampden Blvd., following reports of
A 152-acre farm in Lower Heidelberg Township will remain farmland permanently under a state program aimed at protecting Pennsylvania’s agricultural landscape from future development.The Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board approved the preservation of the property owned by Cynthia J. Mo
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
The City of Reading Planning Commission spent 2025 reviewing projects and updating policies that will help shape the future of Reading for years to come.Over the past year, the Commission reviewed and approved projects that support housing, business growth, education, recreation, and neighborhood re
At Penn State Berks, students are conducting research that makes an impact, from emotional regulation in children to microbial life in the Blue Marsh Watershed. Students have presented their work at local and national conferences and co-authored scholarly articles with faculty, while building their
A 31-year-old Reading man was killed Wednesday morning in a workplace accident involving a bucket truck and an electrical power line in Exeter Township, according to the Berks County Coroner’s Office.Emergency crews were dispatched at 10:54 a.m. to the rear of a private residence in the 4000 block o
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.TEMPLE — Erasmo Zavala grasped a prison-issued orange mesh bag as he stepped into
Berks County Treasurer Mitchell R. Darcourt has announced that Shillington Borough (District 77) is now able to pay outstanding annual and interim real estate tax bills online with credit/debit cards. Shillington Borough joins the City of Reading (Districts 01-19) and other townships and boroughs in
Safe Berks has announced that Erica Caceres has officially accepted the role of Permanent Director of Development, bringing her passion for the mission and dedication to serving survivors into this permanent leadership position.Since joining Safe Berks, Caceres has embraced the organization’s missio
A Reading man has been arrested after videos circulating on social media allegedly showed him engaging in reckless driving near the Pagoda on Sunday evening.According to the Reading Police Department, officers identified the driver as 37-year-old Jean Muniz-Hernandez shortly after the videos began a
Hundreds of families connected to Berks County-based CHOR Youth & Family Services spent Sunday creating memories at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom as part of the amusement park’s annual Day of Giving.The event brought together more than 4,600 children and family members from across eastern Pennsylv
A longtime downtown farmers market tradition will continue this summer under a new name and location as GoggleWorks Center for the Arts prepares to launch the Reading Roots Market.The weekly market will open June 11 at GoggleWorks, located at 201 Washington St., after uncertainty surrounding the fut
Two men are facing multiple felony charges after law enforcement agencies seized large quantities of narcotics, firearms and cash during coordinated search warrants executed in Reading and Shillington, Pennsylvania State Police announced.According to a public information release issued by State Poli
A group of young soccer players from Berks County and surrounding communities is preparing to represent Pennsylvania on the national stage after capturing a state championship this spring.The PA Classics Reading Academy 2011 Girls Fury team won the Pennsylvania State Cup Championship on May 17, defe
A reimagination of William Shakespeare’s tale has Juliet wanting to fall in love while fighting for her independence. She treads through deepening waters over romance and relationships, among and between families, but can she live with the consequential decisions she is making?Playwright Kimberly Pa
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.Editor’s note: Community Spotlight is on vacation for the summer. Check out all o
The Berks County Coroner’s Office has positively identified human remains discovered in Windsor Township, Berks County, more than three decades ago, bringing long-awaited answers to a family who never stopped searching for their loved one.On June 3, 1992, a farmer working in a field along Christman
The Reading Parking Authority announced Friday evening that it has permanently closed the 5th & Cherry parking lot in downtown Reading, effective immediately, citing future development plans for the property.The lot, located at 29 S. 5th Street, will no longer be available for public parking. Motori
The Berks County Latino Chamber of Commerce (BCLCC) has announced the launch of the 222 Corridor Summer Soccer Series, a regional initiative aimed at celebrating culture, promoting tourism, supporting small businesses, and building excitement ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.The initiative was offic
Historic military vehicles, World War II reenactors, period music, and spectators filled Downtown Reading on Friday as the annual World War II Mid-Day Parade officially launched the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum’s 35th Annual World War II Weekend.The parade traveled through the 500 block of Penn Street be
The Innovation Fund of Berks County Community Foundation recently awarded $101,956 to local organizations for projects that will improve environmental health across Berks County. Funded projects include small-scale construction, such as community gardens, educational programs, large-scale planning e
The City of Reading Revitalization and Improvement Zone Authority (CRRIZA) is providing information to property owners, business owners, and developers regarding the process for requesting changes to the City’s CRIZ map. Requests for consideration during the 2026 map change cycle must be submitted t
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 — In July 2025, Albright College announced it had ended its most recent f
