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
A 16-year-old has been charged as an adult with criminal homicide following a fatal shooting late Saturday night in Reading that claimed the life of another 16-year-old.According to the Reading Police Department, officers were dispatched to the 1000 block of Windsor Street at approximately 11:32 p.m
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
Vic and Dena Hammel present Through Darkness to Light: Photographs Along the Underground Railroad, an engaging photography exhibit now open at the Reading Public Museum. The exhibit will be on view in the Meinig Family Gallery and the Works on Paper Gallery through August 11, 2026. The presenting sp
A Bern Township man died Tuesday evening after a tree limb struck him while he was trimming a tree from a ladder, according to the Berks County Coroner’s Office.Berks County Coroner Matthew J. Stitzel said the incident occurred at 5:09 p.m. on June 30, when the Berks County 911 Center received a rep
The Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU) has announced the appointment of Robert C. Farina as Director of the Office of Professional Learning, effective July 1, 2026.Mr. Farina’s appointment was approved by the BCIU Board of Directors following a comprehensive search and interview process. He succe
Update: To accommodate more residents during the Extreme Heat Warning, city officials say Schlegel Pool will now operate with two admission sessions on Thursday, July 2, and Friday, July 3.Mayor Morán has authorized FREE admission for City of Reading residents during the following sessions:Session 1
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has upgraded the harmful algal bloom status at Blue Marsh Lake from a Watch to an Advisory, warning visitors to use caution around areas of the lake where blue-green algae may be present.The advisory, issued Wednesday, July 1, follows the detection of moderate levels
The Animal Rescue League of Berks County has issued a Code Red for the City of Reading due to a sustained heat index above 95 degrees from July 1 – July 5, 2026.Under Bill #22, an amendment added to the City Code, Chapter 141, Part 2 Animals, Section 205 Caring for Animals in 2015, any person who ow
With one of the busiest travel weekends of the year approaching, law enforcement and public safety officials gathered Tuesday at Blue Marsh Lake to remind residents that impaired driving and boating are entirely preventable and that enforcement efforts will be stepped up throughout the Independence
