Saying it's necessary for long-term stability and success, Penn State University plans to slash $94 million from its budget starting in July 2025. A significant portion of the budget cuts will affect the Commonwealth Campuses, which are slated to lose $54 million in funding between fiscal years 2025 and 2026. That's a 14.1% reduction in funding. Penn State's Board of Trustees will vote on the budget plan this summer.
The Great Allentown Fair's first announced headliner was country star Brad Paisley. The second was a cappella group Pentatonix. The third is a very different type of entertainer. Comedian/ventriloquist Jeff Dunham will appear on the Grandstand the night of September 1st. This will be Dunham’s fifth time headlining the fair’s Grandstand. He performed two nights at the 2009 fair and performances in 2010, 2013 and 2016. Tickets go on sale February 2nd.
Portions of I-76 will be closed this weekend. The Turnpike will be closed in both directions from 12:01 a.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday morning between the Morgantown Interchange in Berks County and the Downingtown Interchange in Chester County. During the closure, crews will be installing overhead bridge beams at the Manor Road Bridge. In addition to the Turnpike closure, the entry and exit ramps at The Peter J. Camiel Service Plaza will also be closed.
The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is now putting armed security personnel to work at its schools. Diocese Safety and Security Director Wendell Hissrich says they have hired four supervisors and are in the process of bringing on six armed guards to patrol schools in zones. All of the supervisors have over two decades of previous law enforcement experience, according to Hissrich. The diocese is also planning to expand the guard staffing over this summer and next school year.
New Jersey lawmakers are considering a bill to guarantee access to healthcare for all survivors of the 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Center. The bill would provide workers' compensation benefits to all public safety workers who experienced any illness or who died from their involvement in the emergency response to the attacks. The bill's co-sponsor, St. Sen. Joseph Lagana, estimates the bill will benefit about 250 people in North Jersey.