PENNSYLVANIA LOCAL NEWS

Real-Time Updates & Breaking News from Central PA

Harrisburg's holiday season officially kicked off at 12:15 today -- the moment Santa Claus' horse-drawn carriage clattred through the heart of the city's downtown. His appearance capped the city's annual Holiday Parade, which featured everything from children pulled in wagons to massive character balloons and marching bands. Before the parade began, thousands of people thronged Market Street, where vendors hawked hot pretzels... Full story »

After 56 days in the hospital, Bill has come home. It’s odd, really, because this house has never been his home. But home is where your mother is, and so he is home. Monday, the doctors told us the treatments aren’t working. After 20 sessions of radiation and two rounds of chemo, they said it is pointless to continue... Full story »

Eleven new officers were inducted into Harrisburg’s police force Friday and more could be on the way, said Harrisburg Mayor Stephen R. Reed. Full story »

The Wall Street Journal says the bid wouldn't be ready for two weeks and terms "are in flux," but it could top the $16.5 billion offer by Kraft Foods Inc.  Full story »

Harrisburg Mayor Stephen R. Reed is presenting a budget next week that will not call for a tax increase despite the $288 million the city owes on the incinerator. Full story »

    A 19-year-old Jonestown man told Lebanon city police he was robbed by four men while walking on the first block of Quince Street at 10 p.m. Thursday.     The man told police he was looking for a friend’s apartment when he was approached by four men wearing hooded sweatshirts with the hoods up. He said one of the men... Full story »

After months of optimism that Harley-Davidson was about to establish a plant smack in the middle of bluegrass, bourbon and saddle-bred horse country, the mood soured like the corn mash used to make the region's famous fire water.  Full story »

      The furlough of 17 employees working for the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs were announced today, spokeswoman Joan Nissley said.     None of the layoffs occurred at the six veterans’ homes in the state, she said. The job cuts include positions at Fort Indiantown Gap, armories and readiness centers, she said.      The furloughs were due to state... Full story »

Mayor Stephen R. Reed today called the decision by General Services Adminstration to reconsider the Market Street post office as a site for the new federal courthouse "infuriating" and pledged to "remobilize" a coalition on behalf of building the courthouse at Sixth and Reily streets. "For the last 12 months until this Wednesday there seemed to be clear consensus on... Full story »

By January, the restaurant is to re-open under a new name with a lower-priced menu and gastropub atmosphere. Full story »

The district did not follow proper procedure when it broke its contract with the school bus drivers’ union, Dauphin County judge Richard Lewis ruled.  Full story »

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is to start a blasting operation Monday morning in Carlisle on Route 465 between Interstate 81 and Route 11. The blasting, scheduled for 11 a.m., is part of construction on PennDOT's I-81 exit 44 project. The $37 million roadwork, set for completion by the end of 2010, is reconstructing the highway interchange and widening Route 465.... Full story »

Dustin Lauver never denied he shot the bear, but argued he did it to defend himself and his dog Full story »

Dauphin County Coroner Graham Hetrick identified the victim of Thursday night's shooting at North Fifth and Radnor streets as  Chad Shirey, 35. Shirey, of Hershey, died from a gunshot wound to the chest. Hetrick ruled the death a homicide. At an autopsy conducted Friday morning, Hetrick said he recovered a large-caliber bullet from Shirey's body. It was turned over to... Full story »