Farmers, experts: Summer drought will lower crop yields this autumn
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection placed a number of counties in our region under a "drought watch" this week.
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Hello! I'm a reporter (Multimedia Journalist) at WJAC-TV in State College, PA. I've written about U.S. politics, international affairs, and Pennsylvania affairs, among other topics. This website serves as a portfolio of some of my work.
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Hot wing competition raises money for group's therapy services
On Sunday, Huntingdon County PRIDE held its annual Wing-Off at the county fairgrounds to raise money for its services for the disabled.
Sen. Casey highlights new funding for CPI; some tech schools say enrollment increasing
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) toured CPI on Thursday, to discuss a multi-million-dollar investment into the institute.
Grange Fair: Campers relax in decked-out tents during rain, lightning
The rain and lightning didn't stop day three of the Grange Encampment and Fair. But sometimes you need shelter from the storm, and some go all-out with their tents.
Timber! Lumberjack athletes compete in PA championship
The Pennsylvania Lumberjack Championship and Outdoor Show closed out its three-day tournament Sunday, bringing thousands to Bedford County throughout the weekend.
Charity raises money, donations for Ukrainian refugees new to area
Since Russia's February invasion of Ukraine, the streets and storefronts of State College have been decked in blue and yellow out to support Ukraine. But Saturday, the community gave new refugees to the area a helping hand.
Mo-Valley prison to reopen as federal immigrant detention center, commissioners say
Clearfield County took public comment and voted on allowing an area prison to operate as an immigrant detention center. Clearfield County commissioners approved a five-year agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, and the privately-run GEO group to operate Moshannon Valley Correctional Center as an immigrant detention center.
Parents in Bald Eagle school district react to reversal of mask-wearing policy
School districts are struggling with how to enforce mask mandates while keeping their buildings open for in-person learning. Douglas Braff spoke with some concerned Bald Eagle parents where the district announced a tightening of the policy.
Mobile agriculture lab teaches Wingate kids about farming
Agriculture is vital to Pennsylvania's economy and to this region. That's why teachers say it's important to teach children from a young age about farming and agricultural science. The Mobile Ag Ed Science Lab does just that. At Wingate Elementary, the 40-foot mobile lab is parked just outside the classrooms. On Tuesday, children shuffle in for about 20 minutes to learn about agriculture through wall decorations hung all throughout the lab about various types of food and livestock.
PSU-Indiana game brings good times for State College community, businesses
Going into Saturday night's game against Indiana University, Penn State's football team is undefeated, and Nittany Lions fans flocked to State College for the hotly anticipated game. And with this came soaring sales for local businesses.
Take The Polls With A Grain Of Salt
With recent election polls placing Biden comfortably ahead of Trump, we should remind ourselves that polls are imperfect and should be taken with a grain of salt. Let's dive deep into the factors and history behind polling.
After Iowa: Scrap The Caucuses & Adopt Ranked-Choice Voting
To say that Monday evening in Iowa was a dumpster fire is an understatement. Firstly, caucuses are ineffective, antiquated, and must be replaced with primaries. And, secondly, our current electoral rules have some issues: a growing candidate pool renders the “first-past-the-post” system increasingly problematic and multiple rounds of voting are way too time-consuming. Can we just adopt ranked-choice voting already?
Guatemala Presidential Candidate Gloria Álvarez And Her Hope for Her Country: A Conversation
Guatemala is one of many Latin American countries that have struggled throughout history to maintain a fair democracy, societal stability, and a buoyant economy. June will see Guatemalans seize the voting booths and elect a new President off a lengthy menu featuring over 25 candidates. One of those candidates is the self-described “anti-populist” Gloria Álvarez.
NYC Mayor de Blasio Should Not Run For President
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio made a recent trip to Iowa, signaling that the two-term mayor is inching closer to a potential, and long-speculated presidential run in 2020. However, Bill de Blasio should not run for president in 2020. He stands no conceivable chance in a presidential primary, and he never will.
An Interview With Venezuelan Leader Jorge Jraissati: What’s Next For Venezuela?
In recent weeks, more than 60 countries have come to recognize President of the National Assembly Juan Guaidó as the Interim President of Venezuela, following the U.S.’s initial recognition of Guaidó. This weekend, I corresponded with Jorge Jraissati about this topic. He is one of the most influential young political leaders of Venezuela. As President of Venezuelan Alliance, Jorge has been crucial in organizing the international community and its efforts to achieve a political change in Venezuela.
Memes: A Political Force
Internet memes have become a force, politically and culturally. They are not only a device and a medium for political discourse, but they also impact the offline world in a variety of ways. It was during the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election that memes began to arguably impact politics offline. N.Y.U. alumnus Calvin Tran, who is the founder and head of the media outlet NODEHAUS Media, has thoughts on memes and their growing influence on politics and culture.
Dems Now Control Albany: This is What to Expect
Since 2011, a coalition of Republicans and breakaway conservative Democrats in the New York State Senate has stymied much of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s left-leaning legislative agenda. Now, Gov. Cuomo has near-complete control over the legislative agenda, since the Democrats, having seized the State Senate in last Tuesday’s midterm elections, now run the entire state government. An important question we should ask, then, is: What will happen to New York State now that it is under one-party rule?
Can We Return To Civility?
Nowadays, the political climate only seems to worsen and polarize each day. Bitter, villainizing rhetoric; death threats; and politically-motivated violence is not uncommon. Some have called for a “return to civility” in political life, but can we really say that political discourse in our country has ever been “civil?” And how might we be able to guide our politics to a state of “civility?”