State College
Today
Thursday, January 29th, 2026
Good morning, State College. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 29th of January.
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Penn State is hosting a week of cultural events for community members starting today at University Park. The schedule features a lunch concert, a Jason Aldean show today, and upcoming dance performances, sustainable mending, lectures, and art exhibits through Feb. 5 + guided bird walks and heritage celebrations. Penn State
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ A Penn State Smeal student researched how tone affects AI chatbot accuracy after receiving a $5,000 Erickson Discovery Grant last summer. He and professor Akhil Kumar tested five levels of politeness in prompts, finding that newer AI models may work better with harsher language. Penn State
- ➤ Fifteen new faculty members have joined the Institute of Energy and the Environment at Penn State, strengthening research ties in energy systems, environmental processes, and human dimensions. The group includes seasoned professors and emerging experts who will advance interdisciplinary work. Penn State
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ The Social Science Research Institute’s Consortium on Substance Use and Addiction will host its seventh annual conference Monday, May 4 at the Barron Innovation Hub at University Park from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All in-person and Zoom participants must register in advance (on-site guests get breakfast and lunch). Penn State
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Penn State women’s hockey will face Robert Morris at Beaver Stadium this Friday, Jan. 30, at 1 p.m. with the game streamed on Big Ten Plus (head coach Jeff Kampersal said the historic venue reconnects players with childhood memories) in a historic first matchup. Onward State
- ➤ Penn State men's basketball will play Northwestern at Welsh Ryan Arena in Evanston later this week, and fans in State College hope the team earns its first Big Ten conference win while ticket sales reflect growing local interest. Daily Collegian
- ➤ Penn State men’s hockey will offer students a Fast Pass entry on game day. Students (with valid tickets and IDs) may pick up wristbands Friday, Jan. 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the HUB and use the Fast Pass lanes at Gate A of Beaver Stadium. Onward State
- ➤ PSU lacrosse players Hunter Aquino, Alex Ross, and Jon King were named Preseason Nike Lacrosse Men’s Division I Media All-Americans by Inside Lacrosse, with King set to serve as one of the team captains; the team will play its first game against Colgate at Panzer Stadium on Sunday. Daily Collegian
- ➤ Penn State athletics is offering a ticket bundle to boost Winter Weekend sports events in Happy Valley – it includes wrestling on Friday at the Bryce Jordan Center, men's hockey Saturday at Beaver Stadium against Michigan State at 1 p.m., and men's basketball Sunday at the BJC against Northwestern at 2 p.m. Daily Collegian
- ➤ Penn State wrestling set a season record with seven shutouts & key wins over Indiana and Maryland and will face Nebraska tomorrow at 8 p.m. in the Bryce Jordan Center. Coach Sanderson said his team will focus on fundamentals to rise to the challenge. Onward State
- ➤ Penn State released its 2026 schedule today, with early predictions favoring wins against teams like Marshall, Temple, and Buffalo and challenges against Northwestern, USC, and Washington. The Nittany Lions — favored by experts — are expected to hold strong at Beaver Stadium. StateCollege.com
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Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Michigan State Spartans
1-10 p.m. — West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium — Ticket prices vary — Cheer on the Nittany Lions as they take on the Spartans in a thrilling college football matchup.
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TWEN w/ Dogwood Tales and Euphoria Again
7-10 p.m. — Manny's Live Performance Space — Check out an emotional alt-country band from Virginia inspired by the Shenandoah Valley.
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Raphael Rogiński Plays John Coltrane and Langston Hughes
7-9:30 p.m. — Manny's Live Performance Space — From $10 — Experience the unique sound of Poland's virtuoso guitarist in an intimate setting.
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Anna Pearl Belinda Live Music Performance
6-8 p.m. — 814 Cider Works - J.L. Farm & Cidery — Enjoy cider while listening to local singer-songwriter Anna Pearl perform.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.
~ George Bernard Shaw
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