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Celebrated Altoona Symphony director steps down from role

From the Altoona Mirror Orchestra Director Nicholas “Nick” Palmer is known for striking a beautiful chord with the Altoona Symphony Orchestra, having conducted many musicians for 30 years. While his resume is full of music education and conducting experience, he attributes much of his success to the vibrant arts scene and supportive community in Blair County. However, the South Carolina resident has expressed interest in cutting back on his career and conducting symphonies in his home region instead. And because the symphony will celebrate its 100th season next fall, he said now ...

Playhouse opens season with new comedy ‘Muffed’

HUNTINGDON — Community festivals and small-town traditions take center stage when The Playhouse at McConnellstown opens its 2026 season with the comedy “Muffed,” a recently published play by Pennsylvania playwright Zack Peercy. The production will run June 12-14 and June 19-21 at The ...

Legislature unlikely to act on skill games

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania lawmakers say they’re waiting for the state’s highest court to decide whether skill games are legal before they once again attempt to regulate and tax the machines. Slot-like skill games exist in a legal gray area and have proliferated across the state in taverns, gas stations, and corner stores. They are one of the legislature’s top contenders for new taxes to raise revenue for transit, education, and other budgetary needs. Leaders tried to reach a deal on skill games last year, but were stymied by warring gaming interests and lawmakers’ ...

State College man sentenced in federal child pornography case

STATE COLLEGE — A Centre County man was sentenced Wednesday to more than eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing and possessing child pornography. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Jeffrey Stormer, 64, of State College, was sentenced to 97 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $9,000 in restitution to victims depicted in the images. Federal prosecutors said Stormer pleaded guilty Dec. 22, 2025, to distributing child pornography on Jan. 5, 2023, and possessing ...

South Hills Music Picnic Series to begin June 7

STATE COLLEGE — South Hills School of Business & Technology will kick off its 2026 Music Picnic Series with a free outdoor concert featuring Code: Blue on Sunday, June 7. The performance will begin at 6 p.m. on the north lawn of the school’s main campus at 480 Waupelani Drive in State College. Code: Blue is an eight-member band that performs a mix of rhythm and blues, soul, blues and gospel-influenced music. The group originally formed in the early 1990s and released its debut album, Stages/Then and Now, in 1993. According to South Hills, the band performed throughout Pennsylvania ...

Spotlight PA, other newsrooms sue Penn State trustee leaders

STATE COLLEGE — Spotlight PA and two other news organizations are suing leaders of the Penn State Board of Trustees in federal court, accusing them of violating the First Amendment by controlling what individual trustees can say to the public and the press. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, challenges what it refers to as a “gag policy” embedded in the trustees’ bylaws. That policy, the filing argues, “unconstitutionally restrains” trustees, prohibiting them from making any negative or critical public ...