Key inflation gauge worsens as Americans’ income and spending power erodes

May 29, 2026

WASHINGTON (AP) — A key inflation gauge accelerated in April to the highest level in three years, squeezing Americans’ finances and creating political challenges for President Trump and congressional Republicans with midterm elections just five months away. Inflation jumped to 3.8% in April compared with a year ago, the Commerce Department said Thursday, up from 3.5% in March and the highest since May 2023. On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.4%, down from the 0.7% jump in March but still higher than the inflation-fighters at the Federal Reserve would prefer. Thursday’s inflation ...

Ohio suspends data center tax break as tech firms face pressure to pay the cost to power AI

May 29, 2026

Ohio, one of the nation’s data center destination hot spots, is suspending a tax break that has been critical to its competition with other states to attract the massive new facilities that power and train artificial intelligence chatbots. The move Wednesday by Republican Gov. Mike DeWine comes as tax breaks for energy-hungry AI data centers are increasingly playing a role in state budgets and the industry is under pressure to pay the full costs of the vast network of its computing warehouses needed to power AI. The size of Ohio’s tax break skyrocketed, dwarfing previous ...

Interactive fun: Ross Library to showcase sensory room; kick off summer reading program in June

May 28, 2026

LOCK HAVEN — The Annie Halenbake Ross Library is providing a new space that’s becoming a focus for many public libraries across the United States. On June 9, the library will hold an open house for its Sensory Room, located on the second floor in its children’s library. According ...

MH Boro council approves number of agenda items

May 28, 2026

MILL HALL — At their May meeting, Mill Hall Borough Council tackled a lengthy agenda quickly that included continued improvements within the community following committee discussions earlier this month. Sewer/Highway considerations approved by council include: — Ditch berming in the borough using Pine Creek Township at an hourly rate of $650, up to 8 hours, paid out of Liquid Fuels. — Installing a fence around the grass area at the monument, totaling $960, paid for out of the memorial fund. — Removing the grass at the memorial and replacing it with mulch donated by the ...

Incoming C-NET executive commended by Centre commissioners for decades of service

May 28, 2026

BELLEFONTE — Nearly every Tuesday at 10 a.m., C-NET, Centre County’s public broadcasting service, goes live from the Willowbank Building in Bellefonte to broadcast the county’s weekly commissioners meeting. For the last 22 years, Stephanie Yager, C-NET’s operations manager, has been ...

Rollins signs disaster declaration to provide relief for Pa. fruit growers after freeze; Lycoming County growers among those eligible

May 28, 2026

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins signed a federal disaster declaration for 17 Pennsylvania counties to assist growers affected by last month’s spring freeze that decimated fruit blossoms. The catastrophic late freeze from April 19-21 caused widespread damage to blooming crops ...