News

USDA announces $180 million Seed Sovereignty Initiative

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a $180 million investment to launch the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Seed Sovereignty Initiative in October. The investment is a major effort to both strengthen U.S. agricultural security by protecting the plant genetic resources that underpin American agriculture and enable breakthroughs in U.S. agricultural innovation. This initiative will provide much-needed investments in USDA’s Agricultural Research Service National Plant Germplasm System, which houses more than 600,000 accessions representing over ...

Juniata County Dairy Promotion pointers

My name is Noah Lewis, and I am your Juniata County Dairy Ambassador. On Jan. 14, 2026, the Federal Whole Milk for Healthy Kids act of 2025 was signed into law. The USDA has updated its nutrition standards to formally allow whole and 2% milk varieties back into the National School Lunch ...

Mifflin County adds seven measles cases

LEWISTOWN — Mifflin County added seven measles cases as Pennsylvania’s outbreak reached 1,433 cases, according to the state Department of Health’s latest dashboard update. Mifflin County reached 205 confirmed cases Monday, Nov. 2, up from 198 on Oct. 28. The county accounted for one-fifth of the 35 cases added statewide during that period and continues to rank second behind Lancaster County. Lancaster County reached 496 cases, up nine since Oct. 28. Centre County remained at 41 cases, Juniata County at 12 and Huntingdon County at eight. Pennsylvania’s statewide total increased ...

Fall Foliage

Partisan Prayer

Seniors take stage for ‘Myths and Legends'

LEWISTOWN — If you've ever wondered what "Saturday Night Live" might look like with a high school twist, the Mifflin County High School senior class has an answer. This week, nearly 50 seniors will take the auditorium stage for "Myths and Legends," a fast-paced variety show featuring comedy sketches, dance routines, singing and live music in a tradition that has become a rite of passage for Mifflin County High School students. "It's kind of a PG version of Saturday Night Live," said high school English teacher Amanda Baker, who is directing and writing the senior show for the seventh ...