State College
Today
Tuesday, May 5th, 2026
Good morning, State College. Here's your local news at a glance for Tuesday, the 5th of May.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Centre Foundation, a pillar of local giving for nearly 45 years, has raised nearly $95 million to support nonprofits across the region. It will run Centre Gives (8 a.m. Wed. May 6 to 8 p.m. Thur. May 7) to help local organizations facing funding gaps. StateCollege.com
ACCIDENTS NEWS
- ➤ A fire destroyed the home on Smith Lane in Harris Township on May 4, 2026, displacing the Wilson family of five as they and their pets stay with relatives while a fundraiser has raised over 11,000 dollars and officials say the Centre Region Fire Marshal is investigating the cause. StateCollege.com
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Penn State researchers found that specific plant genes direct which Sinorhizobium bacteria thrive within mutant barrel medic legumes (a discovery that could improve nitrogen fixation in agriculture). Penn State
- ➤ The College of Arts and Architecture named winners of its student awards for the 2025-26 academic year at its spring (annual) ceremony in April. Students were recognized for design, performance and humanistic achievement along with honors in architecture, art, design and music. Penn State
- ➤ A new study using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope shows that LHS 3844 b (a rocky planet 30% larger than Earth) likely resembles the moon or Mercury because its surface is dark and lacks tectonic activity; Penn State astronomer Renyu Hu co-led the research published May 4. Penn State
- ➤ Milan Dukes, a fourth-year psychology major at Penn State, got the 2026 Liberal Arts Outstanding First-Gen Student Award for her work supporting first-generation students + she will attend Temple University for a master’s in social work. Penn State
- ➤ The College of Arts and Architecture announced eight award winners at its spring ceremony held in April. The honors recognized excellence in teaching, service and sustainable practices, highlighting names like Heather McCune Bruhn, Melody Quah and Hanin Othman + reinforcing their lasting impact. Penn State
- ➤ Researchers at Penn State have shown that ordinary adhesive tape can hold several memories that can be changed or erased. The work may someday help build simple devices that work without electricity+ the team led by Associate Professor Nathan Keim explained how the tape’s memory can be tuned. Penn State
- ➤ At the Shell Eco-Marathon United States Challenge, the Penn State Shell Eco-Marathon Team finished fourth and broke its record with 432.3 miles per gallon in the urban concept division at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The team passed technical inspection first and gained valuable hands-on experience. Penn State
- ➤ Penn State and Sungkyunkwan University deepened their long-standing partnership through a reciprocal staff exchange that offered professional development and cultural immersion last year. The program will be featured at the upcoming NAFSA Conference and highlights mutual growth in international education + sets a model for future exchanges. Penn State
- ➤ The Enterprise Technology Integration program in IST introduced prerecorded lecture videos in a key mid-level course based on assessment findings to boost student learning (linking foundational skills with advanced courses). The change aims to help students improve their problem-solving skills in tech tasks. Penn State
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Transportation Services at Penn State will add hourly visitor parking to the Eisenhower Parking Deck this summer to serve campus visitors near academic and residence buildings. New equipment will change entry methods, discontinue the HONK zone, and improve flow for permit holders and short-term parkers. Penn State
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Trey Combs led the boys lacrosse team to a convincing rout of Central Dauphin today in State College as the team recorded a dominant performance. PennLive
-
PUULUUP with The Wild Shoats
7-10 p.m. — Manny's Live Performance Space — $28 — Experience a unique blend of ancient sounds and modern flair as Ramo Teder and Marko Veisson showcase their musical journey.
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Natural Information Society Concert
7-9:30 p.m. — Manny's Live Performance Space — From $15 — Experience the unique sounds of Natural Information Society, creating long-form compositions since 2010.
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2026 XL Fest All-Access Pass
5:59-7:29 p.m. — Blue Brick Theatre — $99 + fees — Experience 12 shows of hilarious improv magic at the Happy Valley XL Fest.
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Marisa Anderson Live Performance
6-9 p.m. — Manny’s Live Performance Space — $20 — Experience a unique blend of blues, country, and abstract sounds from one of the most distinctive guitar players of her generation.
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
There are always two reasons for doing anything: a good reason and the real reason.
~ J.P. Morgan
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