Centre Access

October 9, 2026 | Season 2, Episode 2
This week on Centre Access: Gov. Josh Shapiro comes to Bald Eagle Area High School to announce $448 million in federal broadband funding, including $29 million for Centre and Mifflin counties. In Harrisburg, Democrats push to raise Pennsylvania’s $7.25 minimum wage to $15 by 2029, and we look at what that means against the cost of living in Centre County. Pennsylvania passes 1,000 measles cases as vaccine exemptions climb. WPSU’s transfer to WHYY is final. A 16-year-old from Aaronsburg will soon take her food truck to a brick-and-mortar café in Millheim. And Way Fruit Farm opens a tasting room for its new hard cider.

Links
  • Shapiro announces BEAD broadband funding in Centre County — Bret Pallotto, Centre Daily Times; Geoff Rushton, StateCollege.com [link]  
  • Josh Shapiro Announces $48 Million to Expand Broadband Internet Access Across Pennsylvania [video of event] — Forbes Breaking News [link] 
  • ConnectPA BEAD project map — [link]
  • Pennsylvania minimum increase remains stalled in Senate — Macy Markham, Fox43 News.
  • MIT Living Wage Calculator: Centre County — [link]
  • Pennsylvania Dept. of Health Provides Statewide Update on Measles Outbreak as Cases Reach 1,004 in 39 Counties — [link]
  • Pennsylvania Department of Health measles updates — [link]
  • Measles confirmed in Centre and Mifflin counties — Sydney Roach, WPSU [link]
  • Pennsylvania kinderarten vaccine exemptions double as the measles cases rise — Kahlie Wray, James Russell, Mercedes Tresise, and Kakii Kibia, News Lab at Penn State for Spotlight PA [link]
  • Vaccine exemptions in southwestern Pennsylvania — Erin Yudt, Next Generation Newsroom, Point Park University [link]
  • WPSU transfer to WHYY finalized — Carmen Russell-Sluchansky, WHYY [link]
  • Aaronsburg teen opens food truck — Cecile McWilliams, Centre Daily Times [link]
  • Centre County teen plans to expand her business — Isaac Hallock, Centre County Report [link]
  • Way Fruit Farm launches Halfmoon Hard Cider — Facebook post [link]
  • PAM Health rehabilitation center planned near Innovation Park — Jacob Michael, Centre Daily Times [link]

Centre Documenters
Penns Valley’s school board reviewed the 2025 Pennsylvania Youth Survey, with concerning results on student mental health and alcohol use. The board also discussed a delayed state safety audit and a costly roof replacement. The State College school board heard good news on its bond sale and budget, plus early results of a bullying prevention audit. The College Township Water Authority approved a riparian buffer in Kissinger Meadow and gave conditional approval to an easement for a planned PAM Health rehabilitation center. Thanks to Documenters Anna Allen, Alexandre Dumortier, Jenise Miller, Yoselin Ortiz, Joni-Marie Stuchko, and Kate Wallace. Full notes and meeting audio are at centredocumenters.org.

Creators and Guests

KH
Host
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.
CS
Writer
Clara Slowinski
Clara Slowinski is a member of the Season 2 Centre Access Team. She is a reporter, episode reader, and technical producer/editor.
MA
Writer
Maggie Alderisio
Maggie Alderisio is a member of the Season 2 Centre Access Team. She is a reporter, episode reader, and technical producer/editor. She was a guest reporter in season 1.
SC
Writer
Sade Chaytor
Sade Chaytor is a member of the Season 2 Centre Access Team. She is a reporter, episode reader, and producer.
VM
Writer
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.

In season two, new episodes drop every Friday. Subscribe wherever you listen.