Gettysburg Connection News Team

One of the year’s best-known full moons graces the sky this weekend, with the Harvest Moon reaching peak illumination on Saturday. The 2026 Harvest Moon will be full at 12:49 p.m. Eastern on Saturday, Sept. 26, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. Although the precise moment occurs during daylight hours, the moon will appear full

Tens of thousands of Americans continue to lose access to food assistance each month, even as Congress debates slowing down major cuts to federal food stamps. New data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows more than 330,000 Americans lost access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, between May and June, the latest

Gettysburg’s annual Salsa on the Square will return Friday evening, bringing Latin music, dancing, food and family activities to the heart of downtown. The outdoor street festival will run from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Sept. 25 on the first block of Carlisle Street at Lincoln Square. The event will feature live Latin music along with

A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, ordering the administration to immediately restore press credentials to journalists from the three news organizations. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a 14-day temporary restraining order after concluding that the outlets were likely to

President Donald Trump is hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House Thursday for a high-profile summit aimed at maintaining stability between the world’s two largest economies despite continuing disputes over trade, technology, Taiwan and Iran. The meeting is the second between Trump and Xi this year following talks in Beijing in May. It

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman’s standing among Pennsylvania Democrats has deteriorated further, with a new poll showing that nearly three-quarters of likely Democratic voters now view him as more Republican than Democrat. The Philadelphia Inquirer/New York Times/Siena University poll, released Thursday, found that 57% of Pennsylvania likely voters overall consider Fetterman more Republican than Democrat, while

Toys “R” Us is making its largest U.S. comeback since its bankruptcy nearly a decade ago, with plans to open 120 new standalone stores in time for the holiday shopping season. The expansion will increase the iconic toy retailer’s number of standalone U.S. stores from 40 to 160. The company has not yet released a

Taylor Swift is set to stand alone as the most-awarded artist in MTV Video Music Awards history when the 2026 VMAs are held Sunday night in Los Angeles. Swift will receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors, an award recognizing artists whose work behind the camera has advanced music videos and visual storytelling. The honor will

A state audit has identified weaknesses in the Pennsylvania Department of Aging’s oversight of elder abuse investigations, including concerns about investigation timelines, staff training, and the system used to monitor local Area Agencies on Aging. Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor released the performance audit Wednesday. It examined the department’s oversight of investigations conducted by Pennsylvania’s

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is available earlier than ever this year, with federal education officials promising a simpler process that most families can complete in about 15 minutes. The 2027-28 FAFSA went live Wednesday, Sept. 23, more than a week ahead of the Oct. 1 federal deadline and one day earlier than

Eagles rally, Phillies salvage split, Penn State cruises The Philadelphia Eagles provided the best entertainment among the region’s four NFL teams Sunday, while the Phillies kept their postseason push on course and Penn State rolled through its final nonconference tuneup. Philadelphia improved to 2-0 with a 24-20 comeback win at Tennessee. Jalen Hurts threw a

Summer officially gives way to fall Tuesday evening, ushering in a season of shorter days, cooler temperatures, changing leaves and, in Adams County, apple harvests and other familiar signs of autumn. The autumnal equinox arrives at 8:04 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Sept. 22, marking the astronomical beginning of fall in the Northern Hemisphere. Meteorologists use a

President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet at the White House on Thursday for a summit expected to focus on trade, artificial intelligence, critical minerals and other issues affecting relations between the world’s two largest economies. The meeting follows talks Sunday in New York between U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

Meta’s new artificial intelligence assistant Muse has climbed to the top of Apple’s U.S. App Store, reaching No. 1 among free apps just a week after its launch and surpassing ChatGPT. The rapid rise is an early indicator of growing consumer interest in AI agents that go beyond answering questions and generating text. Unlike traditional

Harley-Davidson is once again caught in an international trade dispute, with a new 50% Canadian tariff threatening to raise prices and hurt sales of the iconic American motorcycles. The latest conflict follows several rounds of tariffs. In 2025, after the United States imposed a 25% tariff on Canadian imports, Canada retaliated with a 25% duty

Thousands of demonstrators gathered outside the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, protesting its closure and expressing concern that President Donald Trump could ultimately seek to demolish the landmark. Participants in the “Hands Around the Kennedy Center” demonstration filled streets in Washington’s Foggy Bottom neighborhood, at one point joining hands to form a

Pennsylvania fruit growers who suffered significant crop losses during April’s damaging freeze have until 11:59 p.m. Monday to apply for a share of up to $10 million in state disaster assistance. The Pennsylvania Fruit Grower Freeze Disaster Assistance Recovery Grant program is intended to help growers whose crops were damaged by freezing temperatures between April

Duncan Sheik, the singer-songwriter best known to pop audiences for his 1990s hit “Barely Breathing” who later found major success as a Broadway composer, has died at 56. Sheik died Thursday at a Manhattan hospital after heart failure led to cardiac arrest, according to his mother, Suzanne Sheik. The musician had been hospitalized periodically during

Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak has grown to 767 confirmed cases in 38 counties, with 150 people hospitalized and four measles-associated deaths reported this year, according to the latest state figures. The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported Friday that 36 additional cases had been confirmed since Wednesday. Only four of the state’s 767 cases involved people considered

Children hoping to get a letter to Santa — and perhaps have some of their holiday wishes fulfilled — can once again send their requests through the U.S. Postal Service. USPS has opened its 114th annual Operation Santa program, which allows children and families across the country to mail letters to Santa. Individuals and organizations

Eagles, Ravens and Steelers open with wins as football season takes center stage The Philadelphia Eagles stopped a late two-point conversion Sunday to defeat the Washington Commanders 24-22 and open the NFL season with a win at Lincoln Financial Field. Jalen Hurts passed for 203 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Dallas Goedert. Goedert

Rapid advances in artificial intelligence are intensifying concerns about whether governments and technology companies can establish safeguards before increasingly powerful systems create serious economic, security or societal risks. Warnings are now coming from executives at several leading AI developers, including Anthropic, OpenAI, xAI and Google. Some have called for slowing the development of the most

Amazon has paused operations with cargo carrier 21 Air following last week’s crash of an Amazon Air flight at Miami International Airport that killed five people. The company announced the decision Sunday after reviewing circumstances surrounding the Sept. 6 crash and supporting the investigation. Amazon did not say how long the suspension would last or

Oil prices climbed above $108 a barrel Monday after drone attacks forced Saudi Arabia to close its East-West crude pipeline, adding to concerns about energy supplies and shipping routes across the Middle East. Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose as much as 3.25% to $108.03 a barrel. The increase followed several attacks against Saudi Arabia

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, once a sought-after campaign surrogate for Pennsylvania Democrats, has been largely absent from the campaign trail as the party prepares for consequential midterm elections. Fetterman traveled across Pennsylvania to support Democratic candidates two years ago. This year, he has not indicated whether he will campaign, and party officials say they are

The Sunderman Conservatory of Music will open its concert season this Friday, Sept. 18, with “Mosaic: A Celebration of Art in Music” at Gettysburg’s Majestic Theater. The 8 p.m. program will feature the Sunderman Conservatory Wind Symphony, conducted by Russell McCutcheon, and the Gettysburg College Jazz Ensemble, directed by Amanda Heim. Built around music inspired

The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will be presented tonight in Los Angeles, with returning winners and several new series competing for television’s top honors. The ceremony begins at 8 p.m. Eastern and will be broadcast live on NBC and streamed on Peacock. “Law & Order: SVU” star Mariska Hargitay will host the awards for the

Pennsylvania schools will be required to provide at least 30 minutes of recess each full school day to students in kindergarten through fifth grade beginning with the 2027-28 school year. Gov. Josh Shapiro highlighted the new statewide requirement during a visit with Lt. Gov. Austin Davis to North Wales Elementary School in Montgomery County. Shapiro

A new proposal in Congress would gradually shorten the federal standard workweek from 40 hours to 32 without automatically requiring employers to adopt a four-day schedule. The Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act, introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont, and Rep. Mark Takano, a California Democrat, would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act. The

Cross Keys Village in New Oxford is offering several programs this fall aimed at supporting people experiencing memory loss and the family members and others who care for them. The Memory Care Education program at Cross Keys Village provides support for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease or another neurocognitive disorder, along with their care partners.

Amid a national legal battle over the use of mail-in voting ahead of this year’s midterm elections, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said Wednesday that Pennsylvanians should be confident in the state’s election process and security. “The Department of State remains committed to ensuring another free, fair, safe and secure election this November, and

WellSpan Health has promoted Dr. David Gasperack to senior vice president, WellSpan Health, and chief medical officer, WellSpan Medical Group, effective Sept. 6. In this role, Gasperack will provide physician leadership for WellSpan Medical Group, partnering with clinical and operational leaders to advance quality, safety, and physician engagement. His appointment follows more than two decades

President Donald Trump is promising $5,000 payments to American adults if Republicans win control of both houses of Congress in the November midterm elections, although significant questions remain about how such a program would be funded and implemented. Trump announced the proposal Wednesday night during a speech at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas. He

Natural changes triggered by rising temperatures could amplify global warming by as much as 30% by the end of the century, according to new research examining climate “feedback loops.” The study, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, examined greenhouse gas emissions from thawing permafrost, wetlands, freshwater systems and wildfires. Scientists have long known that

The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks opened the NFL season with a comeback victory Wednesday night, scoring the game’s final 13 points to defeat the New England Patriots 13-10 in Seattle. The Seahawks had to do it largely without starting quarterback Sam Darnold, who suffered a hip injury on the opening drive and did

Visitors planning to attend the 25th anniversary observance of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks at the Flight 93 National Memorial are being encouraged to arrive early and prepare to use shuttle transportation to reach the ceremony site. The National Park Service will hold the annual September 11 Observance on Friday at the memorial near Shanksville,

Adams County high school juniors have until Sept. 12 to apply for an opportunity to become the next Pennsylvania Apple Queen and spend a year promoting one of the county’s best-known agricultural industries. The 2026 Pennsylvania Apple Queen contest will be held Sunday, Oct. 11, during the National Apple Harvest Festival. The festival is held

Healthy Adams County will host a Mental Health Summit next month in Gettysburg, bringing together mental health clinicians and community organizations for training, networking and an exchange of local resources. The summit, with the theme “Strengthening our care for community by connecting with each other,” is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 16, at the Healthy Adams

Apple is entering the foldable phone market with the iPhone Duo, a new device that opens to reveal the largest display ever offered on an iPhone. The company announced the long-anticipated phone Wednesday, more than seven years after Samsung introduced its first Galaxy Fold. The Duo will be available for preorder Oct. 16 and go

Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman made an unexpected appearance at a Republican gathering Wednesday, delivering a video message introducing fellow Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick during the Republican National Midterm Convention in Dallas. The 64-second video was shown at the American Airlines Center, where Republicans gathered for a convention featuring President Donald Trump and other party

Gloria Steinem, the writer, journalist and activist who became one of the most recognizable leaders of the American feminist movement, has died at age 92. Steinem died Wednesday, according to her foundation, which announced her death Thursday. A cause of death was not immediately provided. For more than five decades, Steinem advocated for gender equality,

Chobani plans to invest $1.2 billion to establish its first dairy manufacturing operation in Pennsylvania, a project expected to create more than 900 jobs and dramatically increase demand for milk produced by the state’s dairy farmers. Gov. Josh Shapiro announced the project Monday, calling it the largest private investment in Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry. The company

The National Basketball Association has imposed the largest fine in league history against the Los Angeles Clippers, penalizing the team $30 million and suspending owner Steve Ballmer for one year following an investigation into salary-cap violations involving star Kawhi Leonard. The sweeping penalties announced Wednesday also require the Clippers to forfeit five first-round draft picks,

For the first time in recorded history, people age 65 and older outnumber children age 5 and younger worldwide, marking a demographic shift expected to become much more pronounced in coming decades. A new U.S. Census Bureau report shows older adults surpassed young children in 2023, reflecting both falling birth rates and longer lifespans. More

In the past year, FirstEnergy Pennsylvania has seen a growing number of attempted malware and cyberattacks around their critical infrastructure. “Our defensive systems block tens of thousands of automated malicious connection attempts against public facing services each month,” said Brian Harrell, the chief security officer at the company that serves 2.1 million electric customers across

Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak has grown to more than 500 confirmed cases, but questions remain about two deaths state officials have classified as associated with the disease. As of Wednesday, Pennsylvania had recorded 530 measles cases this year across 36 counties. Lancaster County remains the center of the outbreak with 242 cases, followed by Chester County

Registration remains open for a free Labor Day 5K that will bring runners and walkers to the Gateway Wyndham in Gettysburg on Monday morning. The event begins at 8 a.m., with participants encouraged to arrive by about 7:15 a.m. to pick up their chip-timed race bibs, prepare for the course and enjoy pre-race activities. The

An injured snapping turtle found in the middle of a New Oxford street has been returned to the wild after undergoing surgery and rehabilitation. The 20-pound turtle, nicknamed Dino, was discovered July 9 on West High Street after apparently being struck by a vehicle, according to WGAL. Jamey Swisher of Reptile Invasion responded and helped

Pennsylvania farmers looking to expand their operations, diversify their businesses, or transfer farms to a new generation can apply for up to $15,000 in state funding for professional planning services. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced that $500,000 is available through the Farm Vitality Planning Grant program, part of the state’s PA Farm Bill. Applications

Dale “Grey Beard” Sanders has once again become the oldest person to complete the Appalachian Trail, finishing the 2,193-mile journey at age 91 — and counting Pennsylvania among his favorite portions of the trek. Sanders reached the summit of Mount Katahdin in Maine on Monday, Aug. 31, completing a journey that began nearly a year

The calendar is about to turn to September, and the Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles are angling for playoff positions. Philadelphia completed a weekend sweep of the Los Angeles Angels with a 5-2 victory Sunday, extending its winning streak to four games and improving to 77-60. The Phillies are now tied with the Chicago Cubs

The East Berlin Area Community Center’s Art in the Garden Party tickets are on sale until Sept. 4. The event will take place at the home of Jane and Mike Rice, and all proceeds will benefit the Reach 4 the Stars Campaign for the Community to continue to expand the center’s successful programs and build

Apple will have a new chief executive Tuesday as longtime hardware executive John Ternus officially takes over from Tim Cook, marking a major leadership change at one of the world’s most valuable companies. Ternus becomes CEO Sept. 1 after Apple’s board unanimously approved the succession plan in April. Cook, who has led Apple since 2011,

Ticks have been particularly active across the United States this year, and the danger isn’t over yet — especially in Pennsylvania, where another period of increased blacklegged tick activity is approaching this fall. Even before August ended, the month had recorded the highest rate of tick-bite-related emergency department visits for any August since the Centers

The USS Abraham Lincoln is heading home after a lengthy Middle East deployment supporting U.S. military operations in the war with Iran, including a record-setting stretch of more than 250 consecutive days at sea. The aircraft carrier sailed past Singapore early Sunday and is expected to make a port visit in Thailand before continuing its

The Gettysburg Community Concert Association (GCCA) starts its 83rd concert season on September 22, 2026, with a performance by Trio Eris. As New England Conservatory’s Professional Trio-in-Residence, this dynamic ensemble of K.J. McDonald (violin), Thomas Lim (cello), and Andrew Jun Chin (piano) is united by a shared love of communication through sound and the capacity

Pennsylvania voters are increasingly concerned about their finances and dissatisfied with President Donald Trump’s performance, while Gov. Josh Shapiro maintains a sizable lead in his reelection bid, according to the latest Franklin & Marshall College Poll. The August survey found 31% of registered voters identify the economy as Pennsylvania’s most important problem, making it the

Rescue crews in Nepal are racing to reach hundreds of hydropower workers believed trapped inside mountain tunnels as the death toll from last week’s catastrophic flooding continues to rise. Nepal’s disaster management agency said Monday that 903 bodies have been recovered, with some victims found as far as 150 miles from where the flooding began

A new support group for adult survivors of abuse and neglect begins meeting this week in Gettysburg, and some openings are still available for those interested in participating. “Small Steps, Big Hopes: Moving Forward After Trauma” will hold its first meeting Wednesday, Sept. 2, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at The Brighter Tomorrows Center, 224

The United States has carried out its first strikes against Iran in weeks, reigniting intense fighting in the six-month war as tensions center once again on the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command said American forces struck Iranian rocket launchers Sunday on Larak Island, which sits in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded

Skywatchers in Adams County and across the United States will have an opportunity to see a near-total lunar eclipse Thursday night, weather permitting. During the eclipse, 96.2% of the moon will pass into Earth’s shadow, causing the lunar surface to take on a reddish-orange appearance. The color has given total lunar eclipses the popular name

The Kennedy Center’s board has warned that the performing arts complex could eventually be demolished if plans for a two-year renovation and new references to President Donald Trump are blocked. The warning appeared in Justice Department court filings submitted before an emergency federal hearing scheduled for Thursday. The documents said the center could deteriorate into

Democrat-led states and voting rights groups re-filed lawsuits Wednesday to block the Trump administration from executing a new regulation to restrict mail-in voting, while a federal judge lifted a nationwide pause on the policy in line with this week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision that handed the administration a procedural win. Democratic officials in 24 states

A military judge has set June 5, 2028, as the provisional trial date for four men accused of helping plan and carry out the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The defendants include Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged architect of the plot that killed nearly 3,000 people. The other defendants are Walid bin Attash, Ammar al-Baluchi

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new targeted treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer after a clinical trial found that patients receiving the drug survived about twice as long as those receiving chemotherapy. Rasonque, also known as daraxonrasib, was developed by Revolution Medicines. The daily pill is approved for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer

Meta Platforms has agreed to an $18 billion settlement with 48 states over allegations that Facebook and Instagram harmed young users through addictive features and inadequate safety protections. The agreement, approved Wednesday by a federal judge, ended a trial in Oakland, California, involving claims brought by the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Kentucky and New

Adams County fruit growers who suffered significant crop losses during April’s freezing temperatures may apply for assistance through a new state grant program offering up to $10 million in relief. Applications for the Pennsylvania Fruit Grower Freeze Disaster Assistance Recovery Grant must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

A newborn was among two unvaccinated Lancaster County residents whose deaths were associated with measles, Pennsylvania health officials said, as the state’s outbreak surpassed 400 reported cases. The deaths were Pennsylvania’s first associated with measles in 35 years and the first reported in the United States this year. The outbreak, which began in April, has

Penn State football fans will fill Beaver Stadium with stripes, a helmet design and the traditional White Out during the Nittany Lions’ seven-game 2026 home schedule. Penn State will open its 140th football season Sept. 5 against Marshall in the 11th annual Stripe Out. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on FS1. Fans in each

A massive glacier collapse may have triggered the catastrophic flash flooding that struck Nepal near its border with Tibet, leaving nearly 170 people dead and about 1,500 missing, experts said. The disaster struck Wednesday in Nepal’s mountainous Rasuwa district, where a torrent of water, rock, ice and sediment swept through river valleys. At least 700

The Phillies are suddenly baseball’s hottest team, and a remarkable comeback Sunday has Philadelphia charging toward September with both a playoff berth and the NL East title within reach. Philadelphia scored six runs with two outs in the ninth inning to erase a 4-0 deficit and beat St. Louis 6-4, extending its winning streak to

It may still be August, but according to grocery store shelves, fall has already arrived. Pumpkin spice products are appearing increasingly early, continuing a seasonal marketing trend that now routinely puts autumn flavors in stores while temperatures outside remain decidedly summery. This year, pumpkin spice season arguably began before summer officially got underway. Food review

A federal plan to spend as much as $20 million to equip Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers with electric-shock gloves is drawing criticism from civil liberties advocates amid questions about the devices’ safety and use. The Department of Homeland Security, ICE’s parent agency, disclosed plans this month to provide officers with the gloves by March