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Central PA Theatre offers playwriting competition for 2022

BELLEFONTE — The Central PA Theatre and Dance Festival, presented by Tempest Productions, is sponsoring a playwriting competition as part of the Festival’s fifth year. Writers of all ages and experience levels are invited to submit their previously unproduced, original works for consideration. The winning entries will be performed as readings during the Festival in June 2022. The event includes categories for both one act and short plays. One-act category entries should have a performance time of no less than 30 minutes and no more than 45 minutes. Short plays should have a ...

Pa. unemployment rate plummets for 8th straight month

HARRISBURG (AP) — Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate fell for the eighth month in a row in October, according to new state figures, as payrolls grew but the labor force shrank amid an ongoing struggle for employers struggle to find workers. Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate dropped two-tenths of a percentage point to 6% from September’s rate, according to state Department of Labor and Industry figures released Friday. The national rate was 4.6% in October, and Pennsylvania lags most other states, tied at 40th among 50. In a survey of households, the labor force shrank for the ...

Trump-backed Parnell loses the custody battle, suspends campaign

HARRISBURG (AP) — Sean Parnell, the candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, on Monday suspended his campaign after he lost a court fight over custody of his three children in which the judge said he believed allegations of abuse by Parnell’s estranged wife. In a statement, Parnell said he was devastated by the judge’s decision, and planned to ask the judge to reconsider, but that he cannot continue his campaign. The high-stakes campaign in the battleground state could help determine control of the U.S. Senate in next year’s ...

Four local projects to receive state funding

HARRISBURG — The Commonwealth Financing Authority approved funding today for several local transportation and community improvement projects, according press releases from the offices of state Sen. Jake Corman and state Reps. John Hershey and Kerry Benninghoff. The projects announced include: Mifflin County ¯$130,725 for an expansion project at Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology, including reconfiguring and widening an access road at the Lewistown campus. ¯$100,000 for Brown Township Reedsville Main Street Streetscape Additional Lighting Project. Grant funding ...

Senate GOP hires firm to review Pa.’s 2020 election

HARRISBURG (AP) — Republicans in the Pennsylvania Senate said Friday they will pay up to $270,000 over the next six months to have an Iowa consulting firm examine the 2020 election with an eye toward developing changes to state election law. The “forensic investigation” is being launched in response to pressure from Republican supporters of former President Donald Trump upset over his 80,000-vote loss in the state, but is well short of the Arizona-style “audit” that many of them have clamored for. A related subpoena issued by a GOP-controlled Senate committee, seeking ...

Corrections officer dead in Blair County shooting

A Blair County corrections officer was killed Wednesday afternoon when a male inmate disarmed her during a struggle at the Central Court building, at 615 Fourth St. Rhonda Jean Russell, 47, of Altoona, was pronounced dead at UPMC Altoona, according to state police, who were called in to investigate the incident. According to state police, a known suspect, who was a prisoner at the Blair County Jail, was at Central Court for court proceedings when he allegedly disarmed Russell of her firearm and a struggle ensued. A law enforcement officer within the court building responded to the ...