October 30, 2026 | Season 2, Episode 5
Bellefonte teachers reached an agreement with the area school district on a new four-year contract, averting an impending strike. A comparison in healthcare access between Bellefonte and Warren. Penn State announced it would remove Flock cameras from campus. Some polling places in Centre County have changed ahead of next Tuesday's elections. The News Lab surveyed 126 candidates for the U.S. House and the PA House on where they stand on data center issues. And all the spooky happenings around the county for this Halloween weekend.
🔗 LINKS TO THIS WEEK’S STORIES AND RESOURCES
- Bellefonte school district, teachers union ratify new contract. Here’s what it includes — Bret Pallotto, Centre Daily Times [link]
- Bellefonte teachers union and district reach tentative agreement, averting strike — Bret Pallatto, Centre Daily Times [link]
- Mount Nittany Health announces new Bellefonte medical facility [link]
- New Mount Nittany Health medical facility expected to open in Bellefonte — Anna Schmidt, WTAJ [link]
- Centre County Elections & Voter Registration office website [link]
- Penn State football weekend will mean early trick-or-treat this year in the Centre Region — Produced using AI, based on original work by Jacob Michael, Centre Daily Times [link]
- Halloween is fast approaching. Your guide to trick-or-treat times in Centre County — Bret Pallotto, Centre Daily Times [link]
- Halloween and Fall Fun guide — statecollege.com [link]
📋 CENTRE DOCUMENTERS
The Spring Benner Walker Joint Authority considered what to do with trees interfering with service lines. The board also contemplated changing the rules on how permits are issued for housing developments that are built in phases. Next week, Documenters, Centre Access, and the News Lab's Local Reporting Cohort will be across more than 22 counties in Pennsylvania to cover the election. Full notes from every meeting are at centredocumenters.org.
Creators and Guests
Kate Hildebrand
Kate Hildebrand is a member of the Season 2 Centre Access Team. She is a reporter and episode host. She was a guest journalist on two episodes of season 1.
Chayil Dozier
Rural Public Health Journalist in the News Lab's 26-27 Local Reporting Cohort
Clara Slowinski
Clara Slowinski is a member of the Season 2 Centre Access Team. She is a reporter, episode reader, and technical producer/editor.
Olivia Warren
Olivia Warren is a member of the Season 2 Centre Access Team. She is a reporter and episode reader. In Season 1, she attended and documented local government meetings for Centre Documenters. She was a regular contributor to Centre Access, where you could hear her share highlights from the week's public meetings across the county.
Quinn O'Leary
Rural Public Health Journalist in the News Lab's 26-27 Local Reporting Cohort
Sadie Harvey
Managing Editor of Centre Documenters
Sofia Costa Miranda
Sofia Costa Miranda is a member of the Season 2 Centre Access Team. She is a reporter and episode reader. She was also a guest reporter in season 1.
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.
In season two, new episodes drop every Friday. Subscribe wherever you listen.