State College protest, new Starbucks and other local news to catch up on today
From an anti-ICE protest in downtown State College to Happy Valley Casino’s first test run and new details on a long-anticipated development, we’ve rounded up the top stories in the State College area from Monday, April 20.
Here’s a look at those stories in case you missed them:
• About 40 protesters marched to the State College Municipal Building on Monday, demanding Borough Council pass a binding ordinance prohibiting collaboration with ICE; Council President Evan Myers said the council stands “squarely on the side of immigrants” and expressed willingness to meet with organizers.
• Starbucks is expected to anchor a new shopping plaza at the former Autoport motel site on South Atherton Street, occupying a 2,033-square-foot endcap space with a drive-thru, though the developer’s revised land plans have not yet been resubmitted to the borough.
• Happy Valley Casino will hold two legally mandated test days Friday and Saturday at the former Macy’s in Nittany Mall, with an official opening date to be announced afterward; the casino will offer 600 slot machines, 10 table games and two restaurants.
• New Penn State offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser worked his way up from picking up cigarette butts as a graduate assistant at Toledo to calling plays for the Nittany Lions, following head coach Matt Campbell from Toledo to Iowa State to Penn State.
• Centre County police chief salaries range from about $96,000 in Bellefonte to $155,000 in State College, while starting officer pay ranges from $67,300 to about $82,700, according to records obtained under the state’s public access law.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.
