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
The City of Reading has announced holiday operations and schedule changes ahead of the Independence Day weekend, including the closure of City Hall and adjustments to street sweeping.City Hall will be closed on Friday, July 3, in observance of the holiday. Normal business hours will resume on Monday
A Reading man is facing felony and misdemeanor charges following an investigation by the Berks County District Attorney’s Gun Violence Reduction Task Force into alleged straw purchases of firearms.According to the Berks County District Attorney’s Office, Joel Mendoza-Diaz, 26, of the 1500 block of P
Berks County seniors are being encouraged to seek relief from the ongoing heat wave by visiting local senior centers that are serving as cooling sites during normal business hours.According to the Berks County Area Agency on Aging, the county’s senior centers offer air-conditioned spaces where older
A 56-year-old Pottstown man died following a single-vehicle crash Saturday morning in Amity Township, according to the Berks County Coroner’s Office.The crash occurred at approximately 6:08 a.m. June 27 in front of 1832 Old Swede Road, authorities said. A preliminary investigation determined the man
A 49-year-old Exeter Township man died following a motorcycle crash involving a minivan early Saturday morning, according to the Berks County Coroner’s Office.Emergency crews were dispatched at 12:11 a.m. Saturday, June 27, to the intersection of St. Lawrence Avenue and Shelbourne Road in Exeter Tow
The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Watch for Berks County and surrounding areas, warning that dangerously hot conditions are possible from Wednesday afternoon through Saturday evening, with the most intense heat expected Thursday and Friday.Forecasters say daytime heat index val
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Alfredo Cardona Padilla, age 48, Ceferino Charles Hernandez, age 49, both of Reading, Pennsylvania, and Paul Gerald Simmons, age 51, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were charged by indictment with robbery and f
A 78-year-old Mohnton man has died after his bicycle was struck by an SUV Friday afternoon in Spring Township, according to the Berks County Coroner’s Office.Berks County Coroner Matthew J. Stitzel said the Coroner’s Office was notified of the death at 3:06 p.m. Friday, June 26, by the Emergency Dep
The Shapiro Administration has announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) approved Gov. Josh Shapiro’s recent request to make financial assistance available to individuals and families affected by the June 11, 2026, fire at the Oak Forest Apartment Complex located at 2251 and 2271 H
A 70-year-old Muhlenberg Township man died after a motorcycle crash Thursday afternoon in Perry Township, according to the Berks County Coroner’s Office.Berks County 911 received a report of the crash at approximately 12:39 p.m. on June 25. The crash occurred on Route 61 (South Pottsville Pike), jus
Berks County swimmer Kylah Schlott is returning home from the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games as a two-time medalist after winning a gold medal and a bronze medal while representing Team Pennsylvania in Minnesota.Schlott captured gold in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 3:29.85, beating her pre
