CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA (WHTM) — USA Today says that two Central Pennsylvania buffets were selected as the best buffet restaurants in the United States.

USA Today recently shared the 10 best buffet restaurants in the United States as part of their Reader Choice 2024 awards.

According to USA Today, these buffets were selected by an expert panel and then voted on by their readers. Once the votes were tallied, two Central Pennsylvania buffets were selected as being some of the best in the country.

The number 3 spot was awarded to the Lancaster County-based Miller’s Smorgasbord, which is located at 2811 Lincoln Highway in East Ronks, PA.

According to their website, this popular buffet was first founded back in 1929. The family-owned establishment is most known for offering hearty home-cooked meals, and a wide variety of dishes daily.

“Miller’s Smorgasbord is a warm and homey restaurant in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania,” USA Today said. “It offers a soup and salad buffet in addition to its popular traditional smorgasbord buffet. Options on the latter include Swedish meatballs, Lancaster County chicken corn soup, chicken and waffles, baked ham with cider sauce, and Pennsylvania Dutch shoofly pie.”

For more information, you can click here to visit their website.

USA Today then awarded the number 1 slot to the beloved Shady Maple Smorgasbord, which is located at 129 Toddy Drive in East Earl, Pa.

According to their website, the business first started as a farmers market before opening their “all you can eat” smorgasbord in 1985. The buffet is capable of seating 1,200 people at a time and currently employs more than 750 people.

“Shady Maple Smorgasbord, claiming to be “the largest buffet in America,” serves delectable Pennsylvania Dutch dishes in East Earl, Pennsylvania,” USA Today shared. “The well-prepared comfort food is offered on a 200-foot-long smorgasbord, and the space is designed to offer a cafeteria-style ambiance. A gift shop is open to visitors, and their birthday specials are popular.”

For more information on Shady Maple Smorgasbord, you can click here.

(WHTM)– The 2024 presidential debate drew dozens out to HMAC in Harrisburg Thursday night, including Governor Josh Shapiro.

Polls show Americans are divided on who they want for president, but Governor Shapiro says the choice is clear. He spoke In front of a huge group of Biden supporters.

Governor Shapiro Thursday night telling this crowd that this election is a referendum, not just for President Biden and former president Trump, but for Americans and who we are as a country. Representative Justin Fleming (D) of Dauphin County was echoing a similar message.

But there were moments that Biden supporters weren’t happy with.

If you were watching the debate, you may have noticed some stumbles and pauses from President Biden.

I asked Representative Fleming about that, “I have moments where I can’t recall what I’m thinking of or recall a name — it happens to all of us,” he said. “I don’t think that five or 10 seconds of silence should define this campaign or the competence that we’ve seen over the last four years from the Biden-Harris Administration.”

Republican Midstate congressman Scott Perry said before Thursday night’s debate those Biden-Harris policies have put America in a terrible spot when it comes to inflation and immigration. Other republicans also responding, noting President Biden’s stumbles and saying that both candidates are flawed and that this election will be a tough decision for voters.

“Joe Biden is still having difficulties with his voice, but at times can still kind of put through whatever his rasp is,” Chris Nicholas of Eagle Consulting said. “Trump started off, I think very low key for him and got more animated as time went on as they started trading barbs back and forth so I think trump has better style points.”

This November election is not just about the presidency, it’s about the senate, too. Governor Shapiro acknowledged that. The two candidates who are running are incumbent Democrat Bob Casey and Republican Dave McCormick.

We’ve reached out to both campaigns for a statement Thursday night but haven’t heard back.

Pennsylvania’s state Senate approved legislation Thursday that would block state aid from going to any university that boycotts or divests from Israel, following pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses across the country that included demands for divestment.

The measure, which passed by a vote of 41 to 7, also would bar the state treasurer and public pension systems from boycotting or divesting from Israel’s government or commercial financial activity in that country.

The bill won support from all but one Republican and most Democrats. It now goes to the House.

Supporters of the legislation said it was motivated by a desire to support an ally nation in its war with Hamas, to fight a rising tide of antisemitism in the United States and to alert state-subsidized universities that they must protect Jewish students from threats and bullying by anti-Israel protesters.

The bill was opposed by some of the Senate’s more liberal members, including Democrat Art Haywood, who said he was concerned that it would restrict free speech.

Fellow Democratic Sen. Steve Santarsiero, who was a sponsor, disputed that the bill infringes on freedom of speech and said students and faculty will still be able to protest peacefully.

The bill does not punish universities that make investment decisions to fulfill their fiduciary responsibility to maximize returns, and it has has no impact on personal college investment accounts or student loans, Santarsiero said.

Another supporter, Democratic Sen. Judy Schwank, said she hopes it sends a message to college administrators and boards of trustees that are responsible for campus safety.

“Bodily harm, death threats, go beyond just hurt feelings and they certainly stretch the limits of free speech,” Schwank said.