State College
Today
Thursday, May 14th, 2026
Good morning, State College. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 14th of May.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Herbert A. McKinstry, a pioneering scientist, educator and community activist who helped launch Penn State’s Materials Research Laboratory, died at 101. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 16 at 4:00 p.m. at the State College Presbyterian Church. Penn State
- ➤ The Centre County Historical Society is hosting its 30th Annual Plant Celebration Saturday, May 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Centre Furnace Mansion (1001 E. College Ave), offering native and non-native plants, a book sale, refreshments, and volunteer opportunities. StateCollege.com
- ➤ Registration is now open for We Are Weekend (a Penn State Alumni Association event) on June 26–27 at University Park and select downtown locations. The weekend will include a Pioneer Induction Dinner, reserved access to a State College Spikes game, neon-lit bingo, pickleball, luncheons, campus tours, and commemorative campus photos. Penn State
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Climb Nittany, the only indoor climbing gym in Centre County, will close permanently on May 31 at 6 p.m. due to unsustainable rent + occupancy costs, and members with unused passes will get refunds by June 2. Daily Collegian
- ➤ Rally House is set to take over Lion & Cub, a Penn State staple at 206 E. College Ave, in early June. The company announced the acquisition Tuesday & will open a second location on North Atherton St in the fall. Daily Collegian
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ A Penn State-led team tested a digital democracy system that uses decentralized voting to let community members shape AI behavior in a fairer way. The project was funded by an OpenAI grant and involved researchers from several universities. Penn State
- ➤ John Messner has been named associate director of translational research at the Cocoziello Institute to lead research partnerships between industry and university partners—he will focus on turning lab innovations into practical solutions for the built environment. Penn State
- ➤ Makaila Haislip, a recent architecture graduate from Penn State’s Stuckeman School, won the Department of Architecture’s Kossman Senior Design Award for her thesis project, Staging Space (which rethinks urban design by viewing neighborhoods as living stages where community history shapes future growth). Penn State
- ➤ Counseling and Psychological Services hosted its 20th Caring Canines event on May 5 at the Student Center lawn where dogs from a local dog training group joined students to ease finals stress (students also signed a commemorative yearbook marking the milestone). Penn State
- ➤ Amelia Old, an award-winning travel journalist, earned her bachelor’s degree online through Penn State World Campus after five years of study and celebrated at University Park commencement weekend. She continues her storytelling career across TV, film, and podcasts (including international travel assignments). Penn State
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ An investigation found that Hershey Medical Center’s operating rooms faced persistent sterilization problems that led to shortages of clean instruments during surgeries through 2025 and early 2026. Penn State Health has taken steps to address errors by upgrading equipment and reviewing safety protocols to protect patients. StateCollege.com
- ➤ Penn State Health stroke experts announced new guidelines that extend clot-busting treatment up to 24 hours after a stroke, using advanced imaging to spot salvageable brain tissue. The update especially benefits patients who suffer strokes while asleep and emphasizes the need to seek help right away. Penn State
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Former Penn State women’s volleyball players Micha Hancock and Simone Lee will join Team USA in the Volleyball Nations League as they take on Ukraine at 11 a.m. on June 3 in Quebec City (Canada). Onward State
-
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
The more complete the despair, the more complete the awakening.
~ Carl Jung
About State College Today
Welcome to the State College Today, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the State College, Pennsylvania community. If you like the State College Today, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in State College.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in State College and across Pennsylvania. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
Community, delivered
Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.
Subscribe to State College Today
A free State College community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
- 6AM City
- A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.
© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://statecollegetoday.com/sitemap