Latest news with #StateCollege
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Pro chef highlights 'magic' kitchen upgrade that has surprising health benefits: 'Why wouldn't you do this?'
An educational kitchen in State College, Pennsylvania, featured an induction range, which offers a healthier, safer way of cooking touted by professional and home chefs alike. As the lamb meatballs sizzled during a class in the RE Farm Café kitchen, Brenda Palmer and her pupils were cool as she instructed them on the finer points of a good curry, according to WPSU. "In a commercial kitchen, working on gas is this hot, greasy, sweaty process," the chef of more than 30 years said. But switching to induction removes much more than heat from the cooking area. Studies cited by Yale and Stanford universities reported that gas stoves release dangerous levels of benzene and nitrogen dioxide, causing asthma, cancer, and other health risks. The safety findings — disputed by the American Gas Association, citing other research — are backed with testing completed by Consumer Reports that also picked up NOx emissions. The performance is top-notch, as well. The Department of Energy reported that water boils up to 40% faster with induction. And since the units work with electromagnetic technology, it's the pot or pan that heats. The cooking surface doesn't become as hot as it does with other ranges, reducing burn risks. Often, the range shuts off when it doesn't detect a magnetic pan on it. The smooth ceramic-glass top on most new models is also easy to clean and crack resistant, all per the DOE. The report said that ranges can be bought for around $1,000. But much cheaper cooktops are available for as low as $50, making the tech great for renters who are looking for an inexpensive way to switch. Now is a good time to buy the appliance, as rebates of up to $840 remain available for EnergyStar-rated models, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. A budget bill being considered by Congress would eliminate much of the provisions as part of President Donald Trump's push to undo the planet-friendlier policies. But the effort to end the program in its entirety is facing bipartisan pushback, making its future uncertain. Palmer's class was meant to showcase the "magic" that can be unlocked with induction cooking. The RE Farm Café uses cleaner solar energy to power the works, doubling down on energy efficiency, pollution prevention, and tax break opportunities. On the solar side, EnergySage is an online resource that can help you find all the incentives and a reliable pro to put in the panels. Hiring the right installer could help you save up to $10,000. The suncatchers can reduce or eliminate your utility bill, as well. "It is so much more energy efficient," co-owner Duke Gastiger told WPSU about induction cooking. "If you think about your air quality and your energy use and your health, why wouldn't you do this?" Monica Gastiger, the other co-owner, added. Which of these factors would most effectively motivate you to buy an induction stove? Healthier indoor air Superior cooking results Helping the planet I wouldn't buy an induction stove Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Severe thunderstorm warning issued Thursday evening for southern York County
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for York County on Thursday evening. At 5:12 p.m., a severe thunderstorm warning was issued until 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 26, 2025, for a storm that will impact southern York County, according to the National Weather Service in State College The storm's path includes, Hanover, Codorus, Shrewsbury, Glen Rock, and Jacobus, the weather service said. A powerful storm, with winds up to 60 miles-per-hour and quarter-sized hail, is moving southeast through the area at 20 miles-per-hour, the weather service said. What you can do during severe weather: View forecasts and warnings from the National Weather Service in State College: If you are inside: Stay away from windows, ideally stay in an interior room without windows on the lowest level, or basement, for the duration of any severe weather event. If you are outside: Go inside immediately when severe storms are approaching. Sheds and tents are not safe during severe weather. Taking shelter under trees is not safe, as the tree may fall or lightning may strike. If you are in a vehicle: Avoid being underneath trees which may fall. While vehicles are safer than being outside, make an effort to find a secure place to take shelter. This is a developing story, check back for updates. This article originally appeared on Hanover Evening Sun: Severe thunderstorms in York County on Thursday, June 26, 2025
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
What is an Extreme Heat Warning and when is it issued in Pennsylvania?
(WHTM) — Much of the Midstate is under an Extreme Heat Warning, a first for the region. Sort of. The National Weather Service at State College issued two separate Extreme Heat Warnings covering most of our area — one for Mifflin and Juniata counties, and another for Franklin, Perry, Dauphin, Lebanon, Cumberland, Adams, York, and Lancaster counties. What is a heat dome? Here's what forecasters are talking about The former is in effect from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, and the latter is until 8 p.m. Wednesday with heat index values up to 108°F predicted It's not the first time we've reached such temperatures, but it is a new term for the warning. Why? It's part of what the NWS calls 'hazard simplification' which saw two alerts renamed nationwide in March. WEATHER FORECAST > A hazy, hot, and humid week ahead Effectively, if these conditions existed this time last year, we would be under an 'Excessive Heat Warning.' The change of wording from 'Excessive' to 'Extreme,' the National Weather Service says, is part of an effort to 'better convey that heat is dangerous' and improve communication and messaging. For an Extreme Heat Warning to be issued in all of Pennsylvania outside of metro Philadelphia, heat indexes must exceed 105°F. Metro Philadelphia uses 'Kalkstein Procedures.' A Heat Advisory, which Mifflin and Juniata counties will be under until 8 p.m. Wednesday outside of when the Extreme Heat Warning is active, requires heat indices between 100°F and 105°F. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Penn State Makes Drew Allar Announcement on Friday
Penn State Makes Drew Allar Announcement on Friday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Penn State Nittany Lions capped off their 2024 campaign with a stellar season, finishing second in the Big Ten behind the Oregon Ducks and earning a spot in the College Football Playoff. Advertisement After notching wins over SMU and Boise State, the Nittany Lions reached the semifinals, where they suffered a heartbreaking 27–24 loss to Notre Dame—who ultimately fell to Ohio State in the national championship. Shortly into the offseason, Penn State received a major boost when it was announced that both 1,000-yard rushers, Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton, would return—alongside star quarterback Drew Allar. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Allar currently holds the fifth-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy. Now entering his fourth season in State College, Allar received another honor on Friday as Penn State announced he's been named a Phil Steele Preseason All-American—joining several of his teammates on the prestigious list. Over his three seasons with the Nittany Lions, Drew Allar has completed 62.9% of his passes for 6,302 yards, 53 touchdowns, and just 10 interceptions, while maintaining a 144.0 passer rating. Advertisement One of the biggest flaws in Penn State's offense last season was a lack of consistent production from the wide receiver position. Much of their offensive output came from their dynamic running back duo and standout tight end Tyler Warren, who was later selected in the first round of the NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Prather-Imagn To address that need, head coach James Franklin turned to the transfer portal and added key reinforcements at wide receiver: Kyron Hudson from USC, Devonte Ross from Troy, and Trebor Pena from Syracuse—who played in one of the most explosive offenses in college football last season. Franklin emphasized the need for Allar to 'take another step' this season—something the quarterback has managed to do each year of his collegiate career. Advertisement The thing that's exciting about Drew, he may be 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, but he has a lot of growth and development," Franklin said. "He's a young kid. He has taken significant steps every single year." Related: Athlon Sports Cover 2 Podcast: James Franklin's recruiting tactics and impact at Penn State This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
More local governments in Pennsylvania would be able to tax more to cover fire, EMS costs under new bill
This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. Sign up for Talk of the Town, a weekly newsletter of local stories that dig deep, events, and more from north-central PA, at STATE COLLEGE — Hundreds of local governments in Pennsylvania would gain expanded taxing power to fund their cash-strapped fire departments and emergency medical services under a bill advancing in the legislature. Last year, the state legislature gave some local governments the ability to levy higher property taxes to fund fire companies and EMS providers. Now, a bill that would expand that opportunity to over 1,400 more municipalities has passed the Democratic-controlled state House. Local governments in Pennsylvania decide how to fund these emergency services for their communities. Governing boards can pay for these costs out of their main account, usually called the general fund, or they can set money aside using a special real estate tax and restrict that income to only fire or EMS services. David Greene, executive director of the Pennsylvania Local Government Commission, a legislative agency, described such a dedicated property tax as a 'lock box mechanism.' It 'gives the public an understanding that that portion of their tax bill is going [to] and is guaranteed for that specific purpose,' he told Spotlight PA. But for decades, state law has imposed an upper limit on how much local governments can tax property owners for these purposes: no more than 3 mills for a fire tax, and no more than half a mill for an EMS tax. These kinds of limits have been criticized by some as arbitrary. But that changed — to a small extent — last year when state lawmakers approved Act 54, which raised the fire tax limit to 10 mills and the EMS tax cap to 5 mills for about 150 boroughs and townships in Bucks, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties, according to a count compiled by the Pennsylvania Local Government Commission. In Bucks County's Northampton Township, the board of supervisors decided it was 'absolutely critical' to fund a full-time fire department that is on call every hour of the day, Township Manager Robert Pellegrino told Spotlight PA. The trouble was that the township was already charging property owners the maximum rate of a fire tax it could under state law: $3 for every $1,000 of the assessed value of a property — or 3 mills. That translates to about $1.8 million, which is less than one-third of the township fire department's budget, Pellegrino said. Before the tax cap increase, Northampton Township had limited options to make up the difference. It could transfer money from its general fund, which could put severe strain on other services like police, or it could raise its taxing limits through a voter referendum, which Pellegrino said is an 'unsustainable model.' Pellegrino said his township worked with state legislators on behalf of the measure. Northampton Township was one of the three local governments (all in Bucks County) that have exercised this new, higher taxing authority so far. 'It's a huge relief and a very big help,' Pellegrino told Spotlight PA. Northampton Township is able to almost entirely fund its fire department with the new tax. At least 855 of the state's 2,558 municipalities impose some form of fire tax, according to a database maintained by the Department of Community and Economic Development, which includes tax information submitted by about 80% of local governments. The same dataset showed 224 local governments reported having a tax for ambulance, rescue, and emergency services. A Spotlight PA analysis of state data found that among municipalities that have a form of fire tax, about 7.5% have reached or exceeded the cap. For those with an EMS tax, 62% have met or gone beyond half a mill. The increases allowed by Act 54 were 'a step in the right direction,' state Rep. Chris Pielli (D., Chester), prime sponsor for House Bill 393, wrote in a memo seeking support from his colleagues. His proposal would allow second-class townships in Pennsylvania — where a majority of commonwealth residents live — the same 10-mill limit for a fire tax and 5-mill cap for an EMS tax. Pielli, a former township supervisor, told Spotlight PA that his proposal has the support of local fire and EMS agencies. He said that funding is only one aspect of the crisis facing public safety services and that additional actions in Harrisburg, like tax breaks for first responders, should be considered. 'This is a problem that requires a multipronged approach,' Pielli said. Nearly 90% of the state's 1,770 registered fire departments are entirely staffed by volunteers, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. A 2021 survey of Pennsylvania's 744 certified EMS agencies found more than half of them had experienced a budget deficit, according to the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, a legislative agency. Many local fire companies and EMS providers have sounded the alarm on funding and operational challenges. 'EMS systems are collapsing under the weight of outdated reimbursement models [and] the lack of funding to maintain 24/7 readiness and workforce attrition,' Janette Swade, executive director for the independent Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council, told Spotlight PA in an email. Swade's organization doesn't take positions on legislation, including Pielli's. But she said raising municipal EMS taxes, increasing mutual aid among agencies, and establishing EMS authorities are some solutions the council supports. David Sanko, executive director of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, told Spotlight PA that the higher taxing limits proposed in Pielli's bill would enable better local decision-making. Arden Knapp, chair of the Pleasant Township Board of Supervisors in Warren County, told Spotlight PA the proposed measure is 'really necessary.' Knapp's rural township now taxes the maximum rates for both fire and EMS services, but revenue continues to be strained, because a third of the township's land mass is public forest that does not generate tax income. The township is 'taking every bit of that EMS tax' as well as additional monies from the general fund to ensure ambulance services for residents, he said. Part of the cost goes to hiring a private, nighttime ambulance, because staffing has been a struggle. Knapp said he believes residents will support a potential increase because they realize the financial reality of fire and ambulance services — something Pellegrino, Sanko, and Pielli told Spotlight PA they have observed. 'When you're dealing with municipalities, I think for the most part, they try to be as responsible as possible and set the rates precisely [as] what they believe is the reasonable amount of revenue that they need,' Greene, of the Local Government Commission, said. The commission tracks which municipalities take advantage of Act 54 and studies the impacts. Some key questions Greene and his agency will study include why municipalities opt to levy these special real estate taxes, how the increased funding is spent, and whether higher fire and EMS taxes alleviate fundraising pressures. The commission's assistant director, Kristopher Gazsi, said the study will hopefully inform future bills. and help us reinvigorate local news in north-central Pennsylvania at Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability and public-service journalism that gets results. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
