Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania school is helping kids

Published

1 year ago

November 8, 2024

I have learned once we can identify a child’s strength, we are then entrusted to grow that child into their full potential. That may mean it doesn’t always look linear or traditional, and that may be exactly what your child needs.

When weighing the options of education, it would be remiss for parents and guardians to discount cyber learning. Here in Pennsylvania, Reach Cyber Charter School is a state-accredited alternative to your child’s intellectual growth, including social and independent development. It’s a place for those who seek an adaptable, high-quality educational experience for their children in grades K-12.

CEO Jane Swan knows all too well the benefit of individualized learning, as this former teacher became an advocate for her daughter Rebecca, who was born with special needs. Standing for change within the education system, Swan eventually found herself in the world of cyberlearning — not just for Rebecca but for thousands of other students to come.

Reach proudly shares that all of their almost 600 teachers are certified when the state requires only 75% to be certified. Their school board is led by an independent board of trustees, which oversees the school’s operations. Reach includes counselors, career readiness counselors, mentors, anti-cyberbullying and community coordinators, to name a few.

Reach stands apart with its STEM integration throughout the curriculum in ways that aren’t offered within a traditional classroom. The school provides STEM camps, kits and clubs run by teachers who specialize in this department. If you’re lucky enough, you may even catch the STEM program on wheels with their STEM trailer. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to meet and collaborate with others while working in group settings with educators.

In addition, Reach’s career readiness program sets it apart. There are numerous specialized courses students can take when they have a vision for their future and career endeavors.

Reach educators believe in fostering socialization through a variety of methods throughout the year, both educational and extracurricular. A fun fact: Reach also hosts proms!

Reach offers year-round pacing so students can go to school all year. It also offers open enrollment, so parents and guardians can make an educational switch when the time is right for their student. If they need to take things a little slower, or if they want to go accelerated and are bright and want to find and learn more things, they can do that as well. They have the option to accelerate once they enter high school.

“It’s a place where you can come and belong. Discover your gifts. It’s a place for children to be who they are. Maybe to come to a safe place for the first time in their lives. It is a place to grow and to learn. And sometimes it’s a place to just come for a short period of time. But overall, it’s a place of culture of caring. And it’s a place where we’re dedicated to inspiring and nurturing students,” said Swan.

To learn how Reach can help your child “reach” their full potential and learn more about enrollment, visit Reach Cyber Charter School’s website.

Ashley Harder

Ashley Harder, a seasoned professional with nearly 24 years of experience in international modeling, on-air hosting, and as the titleholder of Miss NJ USA 2007, joined the CBS Philadelphia team in June 2023 as a host and content creator.

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Pennsylvania

What is Groundhog Day? Did Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow 2026? Watch

Published

4 hours ago

February 2, 2026

Press Room

What is Groundhog Day? Did Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow 2026? Watch

It is almost time for “Weather Predictor Extraordinaire,” Punxsutawney Phil, to decide if six more weeks of winter are in our future or if spring is right around the corner.

And for many in the Carolinas, it is hopes for the latter after the weekend snowstorm.

Groundhog Day is the time when a legendary groundhog makes his prediction as thousands of his biggest fans gather to cheer Phil on during his yearly duty on Groundhog Day in the town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

In the years since the tradition of the groundhog seeing his shadow started, it has become a cultural phenomenon that leads up to a big party/

And the party is alreday under way early in the morning, hours before Phil was even “awake”. People with Phil signs and groundhog hats on danced to music, enjoyed fireworks and the much-anticipated main event.

The big question is, will Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow or not?

“Wake up Phil! Wake up Phil!” filled the air before Phil’s big reveal in Pennsylvania on Monday, Feb. 2, before the groundhog came into the light to predict whether we’ll see six more weeks of winter or an early spring.

The crowd encouraged Phil to wake up just a short time before the sun began to rise on the cold morning in Pennsylvania, just after 7 a.m.

Chants of “Phil! Phil! Phil!” filled the air as Punxsutawney Phil was awaken from his slumber ― he was very comfortable in his hay bed ― to make his prediction.

Punxsutawney Phil brought cheers, and some boos, as he predicted six more weeks of winter this year.

Phil’s prediction typically happens after 7 a.m. on Sunday morning.

Where to watch if the groundhog will see his shadow?

You can watch a live feed of the event at Visit Pennsylvania’s website on Groundhog Day. The livestream, started at 4 a.m. ET and you can find it here. You can also see USA TODAY’s live stream at the top of this story.

When is Groundhog Day 2026?

Groundhog Day is on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026.

It might not be a federal holiday, but people in the U.S. tune in to see if Phil, or their own local groundhog celebrity, sees his shadow every year on the same day, Feb. 2. If he sees his shadow, he predicts six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t, it’s a forecast of an early spring.

Groundhog Day: Punxsutawney Phil almost always predicts this

According to Groundhog Day legend, winter will last six more weeks if Phil sees his shadow, but there will be an early spring if he doesn’t.

What is Groundhog Day?

In the American tradition of Groundhog Day, the nation’s most well-known groundhog takes a stance on the season ahead.

The biggest celebration happens in Pennsylvania. Each year in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Gobbler’s Knob becomes a hive of activity for those wondering if winter is going to last a few more weeks. The celebration is free and spectators can enter the grounds starting at 3 a.m. ET. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club celebrates with talent shows, banquets and performances leading up to, and after, the prediction.

When was Groundhog Day first celebrated?

The first Groundhog Day was celebrated on Feb. 2, 1887, in Punxsutawney, Penn., according to History.com.

The tradition has roots in the ancient Christian tradition of Candlemas when clergy would bless and distribute candles needed for winter. The candles represented how long and cold the winter would be.

Germans added to the tradition by selecting an animal to help predict the weather. But it wasn’t the groundhog at first, it was the hedgehog. After coming to America, German settlers in Pennsylvania continued the tradition and made the switch from hedgehogs to groundhogs, which were plentiful in the state.

And while the tradition has old-world roots it hasn’t gotten old, Punxsutawney Phil is still making his predictions to a sold-old crowd 138 years later.

How often is Punxsutawney Phil right?

While Phil may be known as the “Weather Predictor Extraordinaire,” the groundhog’s predictions are rarely right.

Punxsutawney Phil has been right 39% of the time since the tradition started in 1887, according to the Stormfax Weather Almanac. Phil has seen his shadow more often than not, predicting a longer winter 107 (84%) times. USA Today compiled all of his results since 1887:

Saw shadow (six more weeks of winter): 107
No shadow (early spring): 19
Partial shadow: 1
No record: 10
Did not appear: 1

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Pennsylvania

8 Western Pennsylvania teams set for PIAA wrestling tournament | Trib HSSN

Published

16 hours ago

February 1, 2026

Press Room

8 Western Pennsylvania teams set for PIAA wrestling tournament | Trib HSSN

By: Paul Schofield

Sunday, February 1, 2026 | 7:20 PM

Derry’s Mason Horwat beats Burrell’s Dylan Sanchez in the 172-pound bout during the WPIAL Class 2A team wrestling championship Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026 at Peters Township High School. (Chaz Palla | TribLive)

The PIAA wrestling team tournament will begin Tuesday. WPIAL champions Franklin Regional (Class 3A) and Derry (Class 2A), along with Connellsville, Norwin, Burrell, Laurel, McGuffey and City League champion Obama Academy will compete.

Here’s a look at the pairings for the preliminary round and first round in Class 3A and 2A.

Wrestling

PIAA tournament

Class 3A

Tuesday’s schedule

Preliminary round

(8-1) Obama Academy (6-5) vs. (3-4) Palmyra (19-4) at Franklin Regional High School, 4:30 p.m.

(11-2) Bethlehem Catholic (11-2) vs. (1-4) Owen J. Roberts (11-7) at Scranton High School, 5 p.m.

(12-2) La Salle College (11-5) vs. (7-3) Connellsville (17-3) at Gettysburg High School, 4:30 p.m.

(3-3) Central Dauphin (19-3) vs. (1-3) Pennridge (19-4) at Bethlehem Freedom High School, 5 p.m.

First round

(8-1) Obama Academy (6-5)/(3-4) Palmyra (19-4) winner at Franklin Regional (18-0), 6 p.m.

(6-1) State College (16-4) at (4-1) Selinsgrove (9-3), 7 p.m.

(3-2) Wilson West Lawn (18-4) at (1-1) Boyertown (22-1), 7 p.m.

(11-2) Bethlehem Catholic (11-2)/(1-4) Owen J. Roberts (11-7) winner vs. (2-1) Abington Heights (15-4) at Scranton High School, 7 p.m.

(12-2) La Salle College (11-5)/(7-3) Connellsville (17-3) winner at Gettysburg (21-1), 6:30 p.m.

(7-2) Norwin (12-3) at (9-1) DuBois (8-8), 7 p.m.

(1-2) Council Rock South (14-3) at (12-1) St. Joseph’s Prep (11-4), 6 p.m.

(3-3) Central Dauphin (19-3)/(1-3) Pennridge (19-4) winner vs. (11-1) Nazareth (16-1) at Bethlehem Freedom High School, 6:45 p.m.

Quarterfinals

7 p.m. Friday at 1^st Summit Arena, Johnstown

Semifinals

10:30 a.m. Saturday at 1^st Summit Arena

Finals

3 p.m. Saturday at 1st Summit Arena

Consolations

Round 1

9 a.m. Saturday

Round 2

12:30 p.m. Saturday

Third place

3 p.m. Saturday

Class 2A

Tuesday’s schedule

Preliminary round

(12-1) Conwell-Egan (16-0) vs. (11-2) Tri-Valley (15-4) at Faith Christian, TBA

(4-2) Mifflinburg (19-1) vs. (7-5) Laurel (17-4) at Bishop McDevitt, 4 p.m.

(3-2) Berks Catholic (17-4) vs. (4-3) Montoursville (19-6) at Bethlehem Freedom, 5 p.m.

(10-2) General McLane (12-3) vs. (7-3) McGuffey (17-2) at Bishop McCort, Johnstown, 4:30 p.m.

First round

(12-1) Conwell-Egan (16-0)/(11-2) Tri-Valley (15-4) winner at Faith Christian (17-1), TBA

(6-2) Penns Valley (14-1) at (7-1) Derry (13-0), 6 p.m.

(4-2) Mifflinburg (19-1)/(7-5) Laurel (17-4) winner at Bishop McDevitt (16-0), 6 p.m.

(10-1) Reynolds (15-0) at (9-1) Clearfield (16-5), 6 p.m.

(7-2) Burrell (16-3) at (5-1) Chestnut Ridge (11-3), 7 p.m.

(3-2) Berks Catholic (17-4)/(4-3) Montoursville (19-6) winner vs. (11-1) Saucon Valley (15-3) at Bethlehem Freedom, 6:45 p.m.

(4-1) Montgomery (25-0) vs. (2-1) Honesdale (19-3), 7 p.m.

(10-2) General McLane (12-3)/(7-3) McGuffey (17-2) winner at Bishop McCort (13-0), 6:30 p.m.

Quarterfinals

5 p.m. Friday at 1^st Summit Arena, Johnstown

Semifinals

10:30 a.m. Saturday at 1^st Summit Arena

Finals

3 p.m. Saturday at 1st Summit Arena

Consolations

Round 1

9 a.m. Saturday

Round 2

12:30 p.m. Saturday

Third place

3 p.m. Saturday

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Burrell, Connellsville, Derry Area, Franklin Regional, Laurel, McGuffey, Norwin, Obama Academy

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Pennsylvania

This 120-year-old Pennsylvania-New Jersey bridge faces uncertain future

Published

1 day ago

February 1, 2026

Press Room

This 120-year-old Pennsylvania-New Jersey bridge faces uncertain future

A bridge connecting Pennsylvania and New Jersey “is rife with inherent flaws,” the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission says in introducing alternatives for the span’s future.

The commission on Thursday released an informational video detailing significant structural, operational and safety problems with the 120-year-old Washington Crossing Bridge, as officials work to determine the aging span’s future.

The nearly five-minute video highlights deficiencies prompting a multi-year environmental review of the toll-free bridge connecting Mercer County, New Jersey, with Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

The commission posted the video to its YouTube channel as part of the Washington Crossing Bridge Alternatives Analysis, which launched in August 2024 under the National Environmental Policy Act.

Built in 1905 for a private company, the two-lane steel-truss bridge originally operated as a toll crossing for 17 years before becoming toll-free under public ownership in 1922. The structure predates mass automobile production and now presents numerous challenges including substandard design, narrow 7.5-foot-wide travel lanes, minimal load capacity, frequent vehicular collisions and timber-crib foundations.

The commission must now decide whether toll revenues from its eight toll bridges should fund additional work on the outdated structure despite decades of government ownership and past rehabilitation efforts.

Officials are conducting the alternatives analysis to examine options for improving mobility and providing safe, reliable river crossing for vehicles and pedestrians while maintaining nearby business viability.

Two public scoping sessions are scheduled for February. The first meeting will take place Feb. 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Crossing Church, 1895 Wrightstown Road, Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. The second session is set for Feb. 11 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Union Fire Company and Rescue Squad, 1396 River Road, Titusville, New Jersey.

Additional information about the alternatives analysis is available at washingtoncrossingbridge.com.

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