Bethany Washington

Multiple counties across South-Central Pennsylvania have opened cooling centers and air‑conditioned public spaces as dangerously high temperatures impact the region. Locations in Adams, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon, Lancaster, and York counties include senior centers, libraries, community centers, and nonprofit facilities offering daytime relief from the heat, with hours varying by site.

Pennsylvania wildlife officials are asking the public to report wild turkey sightings in order to help biologists track population numbers, habitat locations, and the number of young birds. The information will support future wildlife management decisions.

Alice Cooper has extended his “Alice’s Attic Tour” into fall 2026 with a scheduled performance at Hershey Theatre on November 4. Tickets will be available to the public starting July 17 through Ticketmaster.

A winning $1,000,000 a Year for Life Scratch‑Off ticket was sold at Martin’s in Greencastle, Franklin County, earning the retailer a $100,000 bonus. The $50 ticket offers either $1 million annually for life or a $14.5 million cash option. The winner has not yet been identified, and lottery officials advise the holder to sign the ticket and contact the Pennsylvania Lottery.

Union Pacific’s restored Big Boy No. 4014 steam locomotive passed through Hershey during a nationwide tour celebrating the United States’ 250th anniversary, drawing crowds as it moved from Lebanon to Enola. The locomotive received a whistle salute from the Dry Gulch Railroad near Hershey’s iconic smokestacks. Designed in the 1940s for hauling heavy freight, the 133‑foot engine ran more than a million miles before being retired in 1961 and restored in 2019. Its tour continues to serve as a tribute to American railroad engineering history.

A Super El Niño is expected to develop by the end of the year, bringing warmer Pacific Ocean temperatures that can shift global weather patterns. In Central Pennsylvania, this typically results in above-average winter temperatures but a more active storm track across the Mid-Atlantic. The Susquehanna Valley could see stronger, moisture-rich storms capable of producing heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain, or cold rain depending on temperature. Past major snowstorms in the region have occurred during El Niño years, and conditions this winter may again favor impactful storms despite overall warmer trends.

A $1 million winning Pennsylvania Lottery Million Dollar Win It All scratch-off ticket was sold at a Sheetz store on East Market Street in Springettsbury Township, York County. The retailer will receive a $5,000 bonus. The $50 scratch-off game offers top prizes of $1 million, and winners are advised to sign their tickets and contact the lottery immediately.

The Lenfest Community Scholars Foundation held its annual Community Weekend at Franklin & Marshall College, bringing together scholars, alumni, and supporters to promote college access and networking for rural Pennsylvania students. The event featured workshops, panel discussions, and opportunities for mentoring and community-building. Participants exchanged experiences, strengthened connections, and celebrated accomplishments while emphasizing the foundation’s mission to support students through scholarships, guidance, and long‑term development.