Saturday, May 2, 2026 (Season 1 | Episode 7)
This week on Centre Access, News Lab reporters share their months-long investigation into rising vaccination exemption rates across rural Pennsylvania — and what's behind the return of measles. We also cover Centre County's mixed grades in the American Lung Association's annual air quality report, a $300,000 state grant boosting youth mental health programming at the Jana Marie Foundation, Penn State's plan to cut 49 of its 403 undergraduate programs, a Spring Township police officer's resignation over falsified reports, and a local theatre company staging its first-ever musical in Bellefonte.
🔗 LINKS TO THIS WEEK'S STORIES
- Almost Half of America’s Kids Are Breathing Toxic Air , reporting by Keerti Gopal, Inside Climate News
- Takac: $300K boost for Jana Marie Foundation to serve 500 Centre County youth, a press release by Rep. Paul Takac, PA House Democrats
- Jana Marie Foundation to bolster summer programs, after-school clubs with $300K grant, reporting by Jacob Michael, Centre Daily Times
- Penn State defends hiring of McKinsey & Company as consultant, reporting by Anne Danahy, WPSU
- Centre County DA reviewing dozens of cases after police officer admits to false reports, reporting by Bret Pallotto and Josh Moyer, Centre Daily Times
- American Lung Association's annual 'State of the Air' report shows mixed results for central Pennsylvania, reporting by Anne Danahy, WPSU
- Dauphin County 1 of only 20 counties in the U.S. to fail air quality study, Tom Lehman, WGAL-8
- Pa. Commission on Crime and Delinquency grants $300K to Jana Marie Foundation, reporting by NCPA Staff, NorthcentralPA.com
- Penn State leaders weigh cutting 12% of academic programs this fall, reporting by Maddie Aiken, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The Tribune Content Agency, Centre Daily Times
- DA: Centre County police officer resigns after allegedly adding false info into reports, reporting by Courtney Raynor, WTAJ
- Centre County Theater Company to Stage Its First Musical, reporting by SC.com Staff, Statecollege.com
📋 CENTRE DOCUMENTERS
🎁 OTHER RECOMMENDED READING
3 Pa. counties rank among nation’s worst for air pollution, study finds, reporting by Keerti Gopal,
SpotlightPA
Creators and Guests
Denzel Massaley
Denzel Massaley is a member of the founding Centre Access podcast team. A scriptwriter and editor for every episode, he is most often the voice you hear hosting the show.
Francisco Calvo
Francisco Calvo is a member of the founding Centre Access podcast team. A scriptwriter and editor for every episode, he is often the voice you hear hosting the show.
Jennae Overton
Jennae Overton is a member of the founding Centre Access podcast team. A scriptwriter and editor for every episode, she is a voice you hear sharing stories each week.
Kahlie Wray
Kahlie Wray is a News Lab Journalist (25-26) on the Local Reporting Cohort's rural public health team.
Kate Hildebrand
Kate Hildebrand is a News Lab Journalist (25-26) on the Local Reporting Cohort's housing instability team.
Victoria Misuraca
Victoria Misuraca is a member of the founding Centre Access podcast team. A scriptwriter and editor for every episode, she is a voice you hear sharing stories each week.
What is Centre Access?
Centre Access is a weekly recap of news for Centre County's 158,000 residents. We bring you stories from newsrooms across Pennsylvania and right here in Happy Valley, including original News Lab reporting and highlights from local public meetings.
This student-run podcast is produced by the News Lab at Penn State and recorded in the Bellisario Media Center. Each episode includes a roundup from Centre Documenters, the first rural and student-run program in the national Documenters network. They attend and document public meetings across Centre County with a focus on Benner, College, Gregg, Halfmoon, Snowshoe, and Spring townships.
New episodes drop every Saturday. Subscribe wherever you listen.