Wages, WHYY, and Walking Tacos
October 9, 2026 | Season 2, Episode 2
This week on Centre Access: Gov. Josh Shapiro comes to Bald Eagle Area High School to announce $448 million in federal broadband funding, including $29 million for Centre and Mifflin counties. In Harrisburg, Democrats push to raise Pennsylvania’s $7.25 minimum wage to $15 by 2029, and we look at what that means against the cost of living in Centre County. Pennsylvania passes 1,000 measles cases as vaccine exemptions climb. WPSU’s transfer to WHYY is final. A 16-year-old from Aaronsburg will soon take her food truck to a brick-and-mortar café in Millheim. And Way Fruit Farm opens a tasting room for its new hard cider.
Links
- Shapiro announces BEAD broadband funding in Centre County — Bret Pallotto, Centre Daily Times; Geoff Rushton, StateCollege.com [link]
- Josh Shapiro Announces $48 Million to Expand Broadband Internet Access Across Pennsylvania [video of event] — Forbes Breaking News [link]
- ConnectPA BEAD project map — [link]
- Pennsylvania minimum increase remains stalled in Senate — Macy Markham, Fox43 News.
- MIT Living Wage Calculator: Centre County — [link]
- Pennsylvania Dept. of Health Provides Statewide Update on Measles Outbreak as Cases Reach 1,004 in 39 Counties — [link]
- Pennsylvania Department of Health measles updates — [link]
- Measles confirmed in Centre and Mifflin counties — Sydney Roach, WPSU [link]
- Pennsylvania kinderarten vaccine exemptions double as the measles cases rise — Kahlie Wray, James Russell, Mercedes Tresise, and Kakii Kibia, News Lab at Penn State for Spotlight PA [link]
- Vaccine exemptions in southwestern Pennsylvania — Erin Yudt, Next Generation Newsroom, Point Park University [link]
- WPSU transfer to WHYY finalized — Carmen Russell-Sluchansky, WHYY [link]
- Aaronsburg teen opens food truck — Cecile McWilliams, Centre Daily Times [link]
- Centre County teen plans to expand her business — Isaac Hallock, Centre County Report [link]
- Way Fruit Farm launches Halfmoon Hard Cider — Facebook post [link]
- PAM Health rehabilitation center planned near Innovation Park — Jacob Michael, Centre Daily Times [link]
Centre Documenters
Penns Valley’s school board reviewed the 2025 Pennsylvania Youth Survey, with concerning results on student mental health and alcohol use. The board also discussed a delayed state safety audit and a costly roof replacement. The State College school board heard good news on its bond sale and budget, plus early results of a bullying prevention audit. The College Township Water Authority approved a riparian buffer in Kissinger Meadow and gave conditional approval to an easement for a planned PAM Health rehabilitation center. Thanks to Documenters Anna Allen, Alexandre Dumortier, Jenise Miller, Yoselin Ortiz, Joni-Marie Stuchko, and Kate Wallace. Full notes and meeting audio are at centredocumenters.org.
Creators and Guests
Host
Kate Hildebrand
Kate Hildebrand is a member of the Season 2 Centre Access Team. She is a reporter and episode host. She was a guest journalist on two episodes of season 1.
Writer
Clara Slowinski
Clara Slowinski is a member of the Season 2 Centre Access Team. She is a reporter, episode reader, and technical producer/editor.
Writer
Maggie Alderisio
Maggie Alderisio is a member of the Season 2 Centre Access Team. She is a reporter, episode reader, and technical producer/editor. She was a guest reporter in season 1.
Writer
Sade Chaytor
Sade Chaytor is a member of the Season 2 Centre Access Team. She is a reporter, episode reader, and producer.
Writer
Victoria Misuraca
Victoria Misuraca is a member of the founding Centre Access podcast team. A scriptwriter and editor for every episode, she is a voice you hear sharing stories each week.
