More than 500 volunteers gathered Friday evening at the Beaver Athletics and Wellness Center at Penn State Berks to pack 250,000 meals for Berks County families facing food insecurity during the 10th annual Big Cheese event hosted by United Way of Berks County.Volunteers spent the evening assembling
Ten thousand dollars a month can buy a lot of lettuce, especially for produce lovers like Alfred Behney. The 87-year-old Berks Country resident was presented today with a commemorative check from the Pennsylvania Lottery for winning a top prize on the $10,000 a Month for Life Scratch-Off ticket. Tod
Centro Hispano Daniel Torres was recognized on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives this week as it celebrates 60 years of service to Reading and Berks County. Watch VideoDuring remarks delivered June 8, U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan honored the organization’s six decades of work supporting L
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 Apartment Complex in Muhlenberg Township.Muhlenberg Township Fire & Rescue was dispatched at approximately 6:50 p.m. on June 11 to a reported structure fire at the apartment
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
