Breaking News

News

USDA announces Harvest to Hallways initiative

Agriculture

WASHINGTON — United States Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced sweeping new efforts to strengthen school meals by connecting more American farmers with local schools, investing in school kitchen infrastructure, and giving states and school districts new tools to serve healthier, more nutrient-dense meals to America’s children. Kennedy joined Rollins at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, alongside farmers, students, school nutrition leaders, athletes, chefs, and parents, to announce the next phase of the ...

Pennsylvania invests more than $9.1 million in forever farms

Agriculture

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania is investing more than $9.1 million to purchase development rights for 2,565 acres on 34 farms in 16 counties. The investment will protect prime farmland from future residential or commercial development and help ensure that farm families have the fertile land they need to produce food, fiber, and fuel to feed our economy in the future. “Pennsylvania leads the nation in farmland preservation because farm families, communities, and the Commonwealth are working together to protect the land that feeds us,” Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. ...

Penn State Extension to offer workshop on egg safety for small flocks

Agriculture

SELINSGROVE — Whether individuals have an established small poultry flock or are considering starting one, knowing how to manage a surplus of eggs is essential, according to organizers of an upcoming Penn State Extension workshop. “Small Flock Egg Production: From the Coop to the Kitchen” will teach participants about best management practices for food safety and product quality, covering everything from the chicken coop to the kitchen. The workshop will be Oct. 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Christ Community United Methodist Church, 3939 Park Rd., Selinsgrove. ...

Resilience on the vines: A Farm to Table Gala

Agriculture

BELLEVILLE — With its scenic backdrop of the rolling countryside dotted with horse-drawn buggies and farms, Brookmere Winery and Vineyard Inn in Belleville played not just host for a legislative tour and Farm to Table Gala organized by the Mifflin County Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership ...

PHEAA offers free financial aid webinars

Local News

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency will offer two free financial aid webinars in September for college-bound students and their families. A “Searching for Scholarships” webinar will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Sept. 14 and will cover types of scholarships, resources for finding them and tips for applying. PHEAA will also offer a “Get Ready to File the FAFSA” webinar from 6 to 7 p.m. Sept. 28. The session will cover preparing to file the 2027-28 Free Application for Federal Student Aid, including StudentAid.gov accounts, application tips and ...

Carlisle couple indicted on federal election charges

Local News

HARRISBURG — A Carlisle husband and wife have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges stemming from allegations that the wife, who is not a U.S. citizen, voted in the 2024 election, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Thomas Holtzman, 68, and his wife, Marisol Guzman, 50, both of Carlisle, were charged in the federal indictment announced Friday. Prosecutors allege Guzman voted in the 2024 election despite not being a U.S. citizen. Holtzman, a U.S. citizen, was charged with making a false statement of citizenship in order to ...