Beaver Stadium update, Penn State student death: Top Centre County stories

Centre County’s top stories for Monday touched on sports, public safety and local government. Here’s a quick look at the stories making headlines.

What to know:

• Beaver Stadium is in Phase II of a three-phase $700 million reconstruction project, with new bleacher seating reaching 30 feet higher than the previous structure expected to push stadium capacity above 108,000 for the 2026 season. Athletic director Pat Kraft said Phase II also includes an expanded east upper concourse, a new sound system and upgraded lighting throughout the facility.
• Billy Schmidt, 22, a Penn State digital journalism student, was fatally shot near his South Philadelphia home early Saturday morning in a suspected robbery. Surveillance video captured Schmidt chasing a man who stole his phone and pleading for its return before being shot in the chest, and police have not announced any arrests.
• Christopher C. Hort, 58, of State College was charged with two misdemeanor DUI counts after a May motorcycle crash in which his blood alcohol level registered at 0.201%, more than 2.5 times the legal limit. Hort was released on parole in June 2023 after serving 335 days for the April 2020 hit-and-run death of 23-year-old Amish roofer John David King in Penn Township.
• Jennette R. Sankey, 58, former secretary and treasurer of Rush Township, was charged Thursday with felony forgery and theft after state police said she admitted stealing more than $6,000 in public funds during her roughly two-year tenure. The affidavit also detailed unsanctioned cash removals, time theft and her refusal to cooperate with a certified public accountant attempting to complete a 2024 audit.

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.