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Centre Access

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by The News Lab at Penn State

5.0(3 reviews)

13 episodes

Updated Daily

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Podcast Overview

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. New episodes drop every Saturday. Subscribe wherever you listen.

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Publishing Since

2/14/2026

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Recent Episodes

May 9, 2026

Districts, Displacement and a Do-Si-Do

Saturday, May 9, 2026 (Season 1 | Episode 8) This week on Centre Access: A look at what could come next for the SCI Rockview land after the prison's March closure. Months after a burst pipe at The Maxxen, residents are still displaced and frustrated. A local developer lays out his vision to remake the Nittany Mall. The Pennsylvania House passes a bill that would let PIAA split public and private school playoffs. Centre Gives raises more than $3 million in community impact across 36 hours. And contra dancing returns to State College. Plus, "Documenters on the Bus" continues. This week, how on-time performance shifts township by township. 🔗 LINKS TO THIS WEEK'S STORIES<ul><li>A Centre County Developer Wants to Buy and Revitalize the Nittany Mall. Here’s His Vision for It, reporting by Geoff Rushton, <a href="https://www.statecollege.com/articles/business/a-centre-county-developer-wants-to-buy-and-revitalize-the-nittany-mall-heres-his-vision-for-it/">StateCollege.com </a></li><li>State College high-rise pipe burst led to long hotel stays, financial stress, residents say, reporting by Halie Kines, <a href="https://www.centredaily.com/news/local/community/state-college/article315572558.html">Centre Daily Times</a></li><li>Pa. House Passes Bill allowing PIAA to Split Public, Private High School Playoffs, reporting by Geoff Rushton, <a href="https://www.statecollege.com/articles/high-school-sports/pa-house-passes-bill-allowing-piaa-to-split-public-private-high-school-playoffs/">StateCollege.com </a></li><li>Pa. House Passes bill allowing PIAA to Split Public, Private Playoffs, reporting by Austin Hertzon, <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/highschoolsports/2026/04/pa-house-passes-bill-allowing-piaa-to-split-public-private-playoffs.html">PennLive</a></li><li>Pa Lawmakers Advance legislation for Potential Overhaul of state's High School Sports Playoff Format, reporting by Tyann Bell, <a href="https://youtu.be/n8c2ILsV2KY?si=QPlIkYN2X5Vxd8fH">WJAC-TV</a></li><li>Centre County DA reviewing dozens of cases after police officer admits to false reports, reporting by Bret Pallotto and Josh Moyer, <a href="https://www.centredaily.com/news/local/crime/article315600060.html">Centre Daily Times </a></li><li>How Centre Foundation Helps Turn Local Generosity Into Lasting Impact, reporting by Elton Hayes,<a href="https://www.statecollege.com/articles/community/how-centre-foundation-helps-turn-local-generosity-into-lasting-impact/"> StateCollege.com</a></li><li>Swing Your Partner Again: State College’s Contra Dance Scene Is Back, Welcoming Beginners, Families and Musicians, reporting by Karen Dabney, <a href="https://www.statecollege.com/articles/community/swing-your-partner-again-state-colleges-contra-dance-scene-is-back-welcoming-beginners-families-and-musicians/">StateCollege.com</a></li></ul> 📋 CENTRE DOCUMENTERS <ul><li>This week's roundup is a continuation of "Documenters on the Bus," the joint report from Centre Documenters and the News Lab assessing CATA. Read the <a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/28074609/documenters-on-the-bus-final-report-2026-04-22-documenters-on-the-bus-final-report-pdf.pdf">full report.</a></li><li>If this week's story on the PIAA bill sounded familiar, you'd be right. You're likely recalling two Documenters roundups from earlier in the season when the Penns Valley Area School Board first weighed House Bill 41, with discussion centered on wrestling and basketball and player safety in contact sports, and later approved a formal resolution in support. Centre Access has followed this story from the local level to the state House. Listen back: [<a href="https://centreaccess.transistor.fm/episodes/funding-gaps-fish-and-a-free-clinic">February 21, 2026</a>] | [<a href="https://centreaccess.transistor.fm/1">March 20, 2026</a>]</li></ul> 🎁 OTHER RECOMMENDED READING <ul><li><a href="https://centregives.org/">Centre Gives</a> </li><li><a href="https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/hb41">Pennsylvania House Bill 41</a>, an act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in interscholastic athletics accountability, providing for playoffs and championships. <a href="https://legiscan.com/PA/text/HB41/id/3048521">Read the full text of the bill.</a></li></ul>

May 2, 2026

Measles, Mental Health, and a Musical

Saturday, May 2, 2026 (Season 1 | Episode 7) This week on Centre Access, News Lab reporters share their months-long investigation into rising vaccination exemption rates across rural Pennsylvania — and what's behind the return of measles. We also cover Centre County's mixed grades in the American Lung Association's annual air quality report, a $300,000 state grant boosting youth mental health programming at the Jana Marie Foundation, Penn State's plan to cut 49 of its 403 undergraduate programs, a Spring Township police officer's resignation over falsified reports, and a local theatre company staging its first-ever musical in Bellefonte. 🔗 LINKS TO THIS WEEK'S STORIES<ul><li>Almost Half of America’s Kids Are Breathing Toxic Air , reporting by Keerti Gopal,<a href="https://insideclimatenews.org/news/22042026/american-lung-association-toxic-air-annual-report/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Who%20s%20running%20for%20lieutenant%20governor%3F&utm_campaign=PA%20Post%2004%2022%2026%20%28Copy%29"> Inside Climate News </a></li><li>Takac: $300K boost for Jana Marie Foundation to serve 500 Centre County youth, a press release by Rep. Paul Takac, <a href="https://www.pahouse.com/takac/InTheNews/NewsRelease/?id=143190">PA House Democrats </a></li><li>Jana Marie Foundation to bolster summer programs, after-school clubs with $300K grant, reporting by Jacob Michael, <a href="https://www.newsbreak.com/centre-daily-times-1592552/4597817618158-jana-marie-foundation-to-bolster-summer-programs-after-school-clubs-with-300k-grant">Centre Daily Times </a></li><li>Penn State defends hiring of McKinsey & Company as consultant, reporting by Anne Danahy, <a href="https://radio.wpsu.org/2026-04-30/penn-state-defends-hiring-mckinsey-company-consultant-operations-review">WPSU</a></li><li>Centre County DA reviewing dozens of cases after police officer admits to false reports, reporting by Bret Pallotto and Josh Moyer, <a href="https://www.centredaily.com/news/local/crime/article315600060.html">Centre Daily Times </a></li><li>American Lung Association's annual 'State of the Air' report shows mixed results for central Pennsylvania, reporting by Anne Danahy, <a href="https://radio.wpsu.org/2026-04-23/american-lung-association-state-of-the-air-report-mixed-results-central-pennsylvania">WPSU </a></li><li>Dauphin County 1 of only 20 counties in the U.S. to fail air quality study, Tom Lehman, <a href="https://www.wgal.com/article/pennsylvania-air-quality-study-dauphin-lancaster-counties/71124581">WGAL-8</a></li><li>Pa. Commission on Crime and Delinquency grants $300K to Jana Marie Foundation, reporting by NCPA Staff, <a href="https://www.northcentralpa.com/news/pa-commission-on-crime-and-delinquency-grants-300k-to-jana-marie-foundation/article_a3e4f4b8-c1b1-4677-95ee-d65b27b5f844.html">NorthcentralPA.com </a></li><li>Penn State leaders weigh cutting 12% of academic programs this fall, reporting by Maddie Aiken, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The Tribune Content Agency, <a href="https://www.centredaily.com/news/article315530055.html?tbref=hp">Centre Daily Times</a></li><li>DA: Centre County police officer resigns after allegedly adding false info into reports, reporting by Courtney Raynor, <a href="https://www.wtaj.com/news/local-news/da-centre-county-police-officer-resigns-after-allegedly-adding-false-info-into-reports/">WTAJ </a></li><li>Centre County Theater Company to Stage Its First Musical, reporting by SC.com Staff, <a href="https://www.statecollege.com/articles/community/centre-county-theater-company-to-stage-its-first-musical/">Statecollege.com</a></li></ul> 📋 CENTRE DOCUMENTERS Documenters didn't cover any meetings this week, but we discuss <a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/28074609/documenters-on-the-bus-final-report-2026-04-22-documenters-on-the-bus-final-report-pdf.pdf">Documenters on the Bus</a> and CATA's response to the <a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/28074609/documenters-on-the-bus-final-report-2026-04-22-documenters-on-the-bus-final-report-pdf.pdf">full report.</a> 🎁 OTHER RECOMMENDED READING 3 Pa. counties rank among nation’s worst for air pollution, study finds, reporting by Keerti Gopal, <a href="https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/04/air-pollution-report-american-lung-association-ozone-particulates-environment/">SpotlightPA</a>

April 25, 2026

Homeless Count, Hunger Strike, and Happy Valley’s Big Weekend

Saturday, April 25, 2025 (Season 1 | Episode 6) This week on Centre Access: a News Lab team examines how America's official homelessness count falls short, especially in rural communities. Detainees at Pennsylvania's largest immigration detention facility launched a hunger strike over conditions inside. A look at the automated license plate reader cameras quietly rolling out on and around University Park. Happy Valley Casino soft-launches with a public preview over Blue and White weekend, even as community members raise concerns. Fans heading to Beaver Stadium will navigate the major renovation in progress. And hundreds of volunteers turned out for ClearWater Conservancy's Annual Watershed Cleanup Day. 🔗 LINKS TO THIS WEEK'S STORIES<ul><li>‘Something is fundamentally wrong:’ Detainees start hunger strike at Pa. ICE facility, reporting by Vida Lashgari and Joy Donald, for <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/news/2026/04/something-is-fundamentally-wrong-detainees-start-hunger-strike-at-pa-ice-facility.html">PennLive </a></li><li>After ICE detainees in Pa. went on a hunger strike, officials put them in solitary confinement, reporting by Vida Lashgari, for <a href="https://www.pennlive.com/news/2026/04/after-ice-detainees-in-pa-went-on-a-hunger-strike-officials-put-them-in-solitary-confinement.html">PennLive </a></li><li>Flock cameras on campus raise privacy, transparency concerns, reporting by Jonathon Chiu, <a href="https://www.psucollegian.com/features/features_investigation/its-like-youve-had-a-tail-the-entire-time-flock-cameras-on-campus-raise-privacy/article_d29a3790-5fd0-45d6-ace2-40d38d3f37a7.html">Daily Collegian </a></li><li>Penn State Piloting License Plate Readers: What to Know About ALPR Cameras on Campus, reporting by Evan Halfen, <a href="https://www.statecollege.com/articles/psu-news/penn-state-piloting-license-plate-readers-what-to-know-about-alpr-cameras-on-campus/">statecollege.com </a></li><li>Happy Valley Casino offering public ‘first look’, while supporting local nonprofits, reporting by Cortney Raynor, <a href="https://www.wtaj.com/news/local-news/happy-valley-casino-offering-public-first-look-while-supporting-local-nonprofits/">WTAJ </a></li><li>Letters: ‘Informed Awareness’ About Gambling; Casino’s Compelled Test Day Donations; GT vs. Planned Parenthood, op-eds published on <a href="http://statecollege.com/">statecollege.com</a></li><li>Opinion: There’s Plenty That’s Not ‘Happy’ About Our Valley’s New Casino, op-ed by Bill Horlacher, <a href="https://www.statecollege.com/articles/opinion/opinion-theres-plenty-thats-not-happy-about-our-valleys-new-casino/">statecollege.com </a></li><li>What to expect in Beaver Stadium for Blue-White practice as construction continues, reporting by Jon Sauber, <a href="https://www.centredaily.com/sports/college/penn-state-university/psu-football/article315427174.html">Centre Daily Times </a></li><li>More than 800 volunteers took part in Centre County’s Watershed Cleanup Day. Take a look, reporting by Esteban Marenco, for the <a href="https://www.centredaily.com/news/local/community/article315449148.html">Centre Daily Times </a></li></ul> 📋 CENTRE DOCUMENTERS Full notes from this week's public meetings are at centredocumenters.org. This week's meetings: <ul><li>MEETING — State College Area School District Board of Directors</li></ul> 🎁 OTHER RECOMMENDED READING <a href="https://deflock.org/map#map=12/40.800817/-77.859592/16802">DeFlock map</a> showing Flock’s automated license plate reader cameras in University Park, PA<a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/28074609/documenters-on-the-bus-final-report-2026-04-22-documenters-on-the-bus-final-report-pdf.pdf">Documenters on the Bus, a Centre Documenters special project report</a>

13 total episodes available

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Frequently asked questions

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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.

New episodes drop every Saturday. Subscribe wherever you listen.
How often does this podcast release new episodes?: This podcast updates daily.
Where can I listen to this podcast?: This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
Does this podcast accept guests?: No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.

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