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Things to do

BCTV Monday

Reading Mayor Tom McMahon presents the "State of the City" at the Council meeting, starting at 7 p.m. on MAC (Comcast channel 99.)

Watch BCTV live Watch MAC live See Schedule

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blogs

This love of film goes very deep
Welcome to the Cinema Chat blog!
- Updated: February 01
- Comments (1)
Would you like to write a blog?
Here's your chance to tell Berks County what you think.
- Updated: February 01
- Comments (1)

Though stakes are high, many don't return census forms

Top Story

VIDEO: The leader of the Berks Tea Party says the census asks too much -- but should ask if people are citizens.

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Contributed reports

SSM chief executive is new Berks Economic Partnership chairman
Carl Godlove was elected chairman of Berks Economic Partnership (BEP), Greater Reading's lead marketing agency for business attraction and ret…
- Comments (0)
Many support charter school plans in Reading
Supporters of a proposed charter school in Reading told Reading School Board members Feb. 4 why they think such a school is needed.
- Comments (0)
Boyertown's second pictorial history book features DVD of interviews with borough notables
A two-hour DVD, "Coming Together-Interviews with Special People from a Very Special Kind of Place-Boyertown, PA," is included with Boyertown's…
- Comments (0)
Unemployment rises in Berks, Reading
Berks County's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in December was 9.4 percent, up from 9.1 percent in November, according to state figures.…
- Comments (0)
- Unemployment
PSU approves new $25.6 million building for Berks Campus
Penn State University's Board of Trustees has approved final plans for a new classroom-laboratory building on the Berks campus.
- Comments (0)
- Psu Berks
Boyertown's second pictorial history book features DVD of interviews with borough notables
A two-hour DVD, "Coming Together-Interviews with Special People from a Very Special Kind of Place-Boyertown, PA," is included with Boyertown's…
- Comments (0)
- Boyertown
African-American art show in Reading displays more than 100 works
"Believe, Achieve, Succeed" celebrates Black History Month. Local, regional and national artists are represented.
- Comments (0)
- Art
PSU-Berks professor sheds light on groundhog's shadowy behavior
All mammals, including people, may have the genes that turn on and off the metabolic processes that control hibernation, says a Penn State Ber…
- Comments (0)
2009 ‘perhaps most difficult in decades,' Reading mayor says
Nearly all revenues declined, 40 city employees were laid off, and the city was accepted into the state's program for distressed cities.
- Comments (0)
- Act 47
Surveys, workshop part of anti-bullying effort
This month at Cornwall Terrace we will celebrate "No Name Calling" Week.
- Comments (0)
- Bullying
Marcellus Shale drilling would affect Berks
Berks County residents have a stake in the Marcellus Shale natural-gas drilling issue, even though the drilling would not take place here, a m…
- Comments (2)
- Marcellus Shale

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Safety

Downtown Segways video
The DID's two-wheeled scooters are too slow to chase criminals, but they start a lot of conversations.
- Comments (0)
Beware amateur electricians
As a building inspector who has worked mostly in Reading for over 30 years, Val Sarko has seen it all. …
- Comments (0)

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Basic Needs

The goal: One phone number to reach social services
Berks County is moving toward a 2-1-1 system.
- Comments (0)

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Education

Who's checking grades online?
Every high school in Berks County has the systems. Some parents don't need to use them, some parents can't, and some may use them too much.
- Comments (1)
Recess in decline
Your children probably aren't getting as much time on the playground as you did.
- Comments (1)

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Community

Illegal immigrant endures tough life to send money home

A Mexican man came to Reading because he had a cousin here. "America is good," he said. "If you want to work, you can." He says the $200 he se…
- Comments (0)
Despite money worries, libraries grow and progress
Libraries across Berks are community hubs that work to connect people to information and resources to educate, entertain and enrich them.
- Comments (1)

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Arts

Art is an economic driver
Culture brings money to the Reading area but gets little help from local government.
- Comments (3)

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Government

The State of the City, according to the mayor
McMahon promises, among other things, periodic public finance reports, a prototype neighborhood-improvement district, and improvements to the …
- Comments (0)

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Environment

Keeping the drinking water clean
Tens of thousands in Berks get their supply from Lake Ontelaunee. After a major call to action in 1998, much has been done, but problems remain.
- Comments (0)
Marcellus Shale drilling would affect Berks
Berks County residents have a stake in the Marcellus Shale natural-gas drilling issue, even though the drilling would not take place here, a m…
- Comments (2)

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Economy

Beer may be coming to a grocery store near you
Beer has a big presence in one Berks supermarket, and more grocery stores are likely to follow suit in the months to come.
- Comments (3)
2009 a tough year for farmers
A wet, cool growing season fostered plant diseases and forced local producers to rely on their experience and know-how.
- Comments (2)
Most workers at $14 million garage project aren't from Berks
Labor leaders aren't happy that most of the workers building a $14 million parking garage in downtown Reading aren't from Berks County.
- Comments (14)
Plan to boost Reading area needs repairs
The 74-page report cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and involved more than 130 local people.
- Comments (2)

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Health

Despite official warnings, raw milk has fans
Customers come to Wholesome Dairy Farms in Earl Township to buy raw milk, which is rather rare in Pennsylvania and illegal in most states. …
- Comments (0)
Your medical records are heading into cyberspace
Having their files digitally available should benefit patients, but there are privacy concerns.
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