Saturday, March 21, 2025 (Season 1 | Episode 1)
This week on Centre Access: a bureaucratic snag threatens Pennsylvania's $700 million broadband plan, Penn State's president faces lawmakers over campus closures, ICE operations stir tension in Bellefonte, a new University of Pittsburgh initiative takes on the rural dental care shortage, a Millheim barber shop marks 75 years, and a roundup of what's still ahead for Women's History Month at Penn State.
🔗 LINKS TO THIS WEEK'S STORIES
- Pennsylvania's broadband plan hits a snag, reporting by Charlotte Keith, SpotlightPA
- Penn State president faces lawmakers over campus closures, reporting by Geoff Rushton, StateCollege.com
- Recollections May Vary: Penn State President Bendapudi Goes to Harrisburg, opinion by Barry Fenchak Substack
- Community members protest ICE reporting/photography, reporting Geraldine Cruz-Hernandez, The Daily Collegian
- ICE protest in downtown Bellefonte, reporting by Jacob Michael & photography Esteban Marenco, Centre Daily Times
- University of Pittsburgh launches rural dental training centers, reporting by Marley Parish, Spotlight PA
- New Pitt centers will aim to address rural dental needs, reporting by Maddie Aiken, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
- Keene's Barber Shop marks 75 years, reporting by Julie Noal, Centre Centre County Gazette
📋 CENTRE DOCUMENTERS Full notes from this week's public meetings are at
centredocumenters.org.
This week's meetings:
- Spring Township Planning Commission meeting — cancelled
- State College Area School District board meeting —
- Penns Valley Area School District board meeting —
- College Township Planning Commission —
- University Area Joint Authority —
🎁 OTHER RECOMMENDED READING
The AI boom has plunged a small Pennsylvania town into chaos Reporting by Rebecca Egan McCarthy,
Grist
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.
Gabrielle Edmondson
Gabrielle Edmondson attends and documents local government meetings for Centre Documenters. She is a regular contributor to Centre Access, where you can hear her share highlights from the week's public meetings across the county.
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.
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.