Gettysburg Connection News Team

A green sea turtle’s return to a protected nesting beach can represent decades of patient conservation. At Aldabra Atoll in Seychelles, long-term records show a recovery that would have been difficult to recognize through a few seasons of observation. The atoll is the focus of new Smithsonian reporting published October 21, a year after green

State attorneys general are working out which digital beauty filters Meta must keep away from teenagers under the company’s landmark settlement with the states, and the line is proving hard to draw, NPR reported Oct. 25. Meta agreed in August to pay up to $17.1 billion over 10 years and to add child-safety features to

Renters, volunteer fire companies and high school students are among the Pennsylvanians affected by a batch of bills Gov. Josh Shapiro signed into law on Oct. 22, according to the governor’s office. The new laws also take aim at deceptive AI-generated advertising and hoax 911 calls against schools. Rental application fees. House Bill 558, sponsored

Penn State spent its open date this weekend trying to break a four-game losing streak before Purdue visits Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 31. The Nittany Lions are 3-4 overall and 0-4 in the Big Ten in Matt Campbell’s first season as head coach. Penn State opened with three nonconference wins over Marshall, Temple and

Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak has grown to 1,338 confirmed cases in 44 counties this year, the state Department of Health reported Oct. 23. NPR reported Sunday that Pennsylvania is the hardest-hit state in a national outbreak that has pushed U.S. case counts to more than double last year’s total. The department’s latest update added 21 cases

Pennsylvania voters who want to cast a mail ballot in the Nov. 3 general election have until 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, to get their applications to their county elections office, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State. Completed ballots must then reach the county by 8 p.m. on Election Day. More than 1.2 million

Northwestern University physicists have trapped a single antimatter particle for months and controlled its quantum states, creating a new tool for testing whether matter and antimatter behave as fundamental theory predicts. The experiment involves a positron, the positively charged counterpart of an electron. The team calls its device a one-positron quantum cyclotron, describing the controlled

The new fantasy film “Wildwood” arrived in theaters October 23 with an unusually tangible world behind its talking animals and forest adventures: puppets dressed in miniature garments engineered to move one frame at a time. Directed by Travis Knight and written by Chris Butler, the Laika production adapts Colin Meloy’s novel, illustrated by Carson Ellis.

American consumers remained downbeat about the economy in October, with concern about expensive major purchases offsetting some improvement in expectations for the year ahead, according to the University of Michigan’s final monthly survey. The consumer sentiment index registered 48.0, barely below September’s 48.1 and down from 53.6 a year earlier. The figures were released October

Technology companies are offering communities more money and more information about proposed data centers as residents push back over electricity bills, water use and secret negotiations. Local opposition is delaying or blocking projects, forcing companies to address concerns that promises of jobs and tax revenue have not resolved, The Associated Press reported. “Early public consultation

Pennsylvania has plugged its 500th orphaned or abandoned well under Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration, while launching research intended to help decide which of the thousands remaining should be addressed first. Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Jessica Shirley marked the milestone October 21 in Washington County. The agency said the Somerset Township well had been leaking

Allegheny County has enacted a paid parental-leave requirement for covered employers, turning a months-long debate over family health and business costs into a year of preparation for a new workplace benefit. County Executive Sara Innamorato signed the legislation October 22, two days after County Council approved it 11-4. The county says the measure establishes the

A dusky shark that became a Busan attraction after spending more than a month in a canal was guided back toward the sea after several rescue attempts.

Pennsylvania’s fall colors are advancing, while Adams County is just beginning to change. State foresters suggest several nearby routes through Michaux State Forest.

Difficulty finding words or recognizing familiar places can deserve medical attention even when memory loss is not the first problem, Alzheimer’s advocates told WITF in a discussion about diagnosis and care. Michael Stanford described how his late wife, Marcia, began struggling with speech at 48. The couple sought answers for years before testing identified Alzheimer’s

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Oct. 19 directing the National Institutes of Health to create a Women’s Health Division within 90 days. The order also establishes a White House task force, led jointly by the health and human services secretary and the White House chief of staff, to coordinate federal work on women’s

Gettysburg’s Jennie Wade House is among five Central Pennsylvania places featured in a WITF Halloween roundup linking documented history with stories of hauntings. The Oct. 16 feature by Katie Knol ranges from historic theaters to sites associated with murders and local legends. Wade was 20 when she was killed by a stray bullet during the

Anthropic says it will commit 5% of its shares to a new public-benefit fund, subject to shareholder approval, tying potential giving to the AI company’s value. The Claude developer announced the proposal October 18. The fund could receive additional equity as the company reaches valuation milestones. Anthropic said its board could add two percentage points

Countries entering a United Nations biodiversity summit in Armenia face a large gap between their conservation promises and the money available to carry them out, the Associated Press reported. The COP17 meeting in Yerevan begins October 19 and is scheduled to end October 30. Countries agreed in Montreal in 2022 to protect 30% of important

A stone anvil surrounded by shattered bison bones is helping archaeologists reconstruct daily life at an Alaska camp occupied about 13,800 years ago. Researchers recovered more than 80,000 archaeological specimens at Shég’ Xdaltth’í’, according to an Oct. 14 University of Kansas research announcement. The site overlooks the Tanana River and preserves three early occupations dating

The United Nations’ climate science panel ended a meeting in Addis Ababa without agreeing on when it will publish its next major assessment of climate research. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said Friday that talks on the publication schedule and its budget remain open, and that deliberations will resume at the earliest opportunity. The

Higher fuel prices tied to the war with Iran are adding to U.S. household costs, with the clearest effects at gas pumps and on air travel, while businesses are beginning to pass some transportation and production costs on to shoppers. The price increases have not spread evenly across store shelves, but economists and retailers say

Pennsylvania has introduced a 10-year agriculture strategy aimed at helping farmers obtain land, modernize their businesses, find workers, and reach new markets. Gov. Josh Shapiro and Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding unveiled the plan Oct. 16 at Milky Way Farm in Chester County, joined by Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger. The administration identifies access

Lincoln Square will close from 4:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, for Gettysburg’s annual Halloween parade, borough police announced. Police expect heavy traffic downtown and encourage drivers to avoid the area when possible. Motorists who must travel through the area should watch for children, the department said in its Oct. 15 notice. The borough’s

Pennsylvania’s heating-assistance program is scheduled to begin accepting applications Nov. 2, giving eligible households help with winter fuel and utility bills. The Department of Human Services lists that opening date for the 2026–27 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP. The program provides grants that do not have to be repaid. Cash assistance goes

Social Security retirement benefits will rise an average of $75 a month in 2027 under a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment announced Oct. 14. Nearly 72 million Social Security beneficiaries will receive the increase beginning in January, according to the Social Security Administration. Higher Supplemental Security Income payments for about 7.3 million recipients begin Dec. 31. Some

Three Mile Island’s undamaged reactor has cleared a federal environmental review as its owner works toward restarting electricity production in 2027 under a long-term agreement with Microsoft. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission published its final environmental assessment Sept. 25, concluding that the proposed federal actions supporting the restart would have no significant environmental impact. The finding

Murders fell sharply across the United States last year, and a panel of crime researchers says workers who defuse street disputes, programs that combine police enforcement with help for people involved in violence, and recovery from the pandemic likely helped drive the decline. The FBI estimates that murder and nonnegligent manslaughter offenses dropped 18.1 percent

Jonathan, a giant tortoise estimated to be 194 years old, still carries surprisingly youthful chemical patterns in parts of his DNA that help cells produce energy, researchers have found. The finding could help scientists investigate how some animals survive for nearly two centuries. It does not establish why Jonathan has lived so long or show

Pennsylvania health officials are reviewing a Franklin County coroner’s report that a 39-year-old woman died after a measles diagnosis, according to reporting published October 12 by the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. The coroner’s office said the woman was unvaccinated and had several underlying conditions. It described her primary cause of death as a probable cardiac event potentially

Five skill-game machines are gone from the Dillsburg VFW—and so is a source of money that helped pay employees, keep the building in repair and fund community donations. Club manager Tory Kiefner told WITF the machines were removed last week rather than risk penalties for keeping them past Pennsylvania’s October 13 deadline. Across the state,

A Smithsonian American Art Museum exhibition brings together 225 photographs tracing American people and places around the 1976 bicentennial, including images of everyday life in nearby Baltimore. “Much Here Is Beautiful: Photography Surveys of the U.S. Bicentennial” opened September 18 and continues through April 18, 2027. The Washington museum lists free admission and daily hours

Props, scripts and equipment from Stanley Kubrick’s personal archive are heading to auction, offering a view of the work behind several influential films. Bonhams announced the collection, which includes a special-effects axe from “The Shining” and the infant figure seen at the end of “2001: A Space Odyssey.” The Associated Press reported that the London

The state will spend $514,205 to preserve farms in Germany and Menallen townships as part of a $5.8 million round.

Fewer Medicare Advantage choices, a higher drug-cost cap and lower negotiated prices on 15 more drugs are among the changes to review before Dec. 7.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee honored the 85-year-old South African jurist for expanding the reach of international law.

The drugmaker will build a biologics manufacturing and research hub in Upper Merion Township, with construction starting in 2027.

A DCNR grant will help Freedom Township add a tot-lot playground at its community park near Fairfield.

A two-week study of 372 young adults found that light, heat and noise worsened sleep quality, though not the amount of sleep.

For dozens of sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, returning to San Diego on Oct. 8 meant more than coming home: It meant holding their children for the first time. The aircraft carrier docked at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado after more than 10 months away. Families gathered with flowers, balloons and welcoming

California health officials are urging residents to get vaccinated as influenza activity rises earlier than usual, with increases beginning before the traditional winter surge. State flu-test data showed an upswing in mid-September, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, rather than the more typical November or December increase. Dr. James Watt, deputy director of infectious diseases

Michael Jordan’s record gift to UNC will expand social work programs and create scholarships for graduate students.

Ten organizations received South Mountain Partnership grants for conservation, trails, watershed work and environmental education.

Flávio Bolsonaro led Lula in Brazil’s first presidential round, sending the race to an Oct. 25 runoff as campaigns prepare to court voters who stayed home.

Anduril plans a $3.7 billion shipyard at Sparrows Point to make submarine components, with Maryland officials projecting more than 3,100 new permanent jobs.

New York City Council members heard testimony on artificial intelligence safety and oversight on Monday, bringing concerns from former technology-company employees into a local policy debate. The Associated Press reported that witnesses described safety risks and what they viewed as a reckless workplace culture. The testimony came from former employees associated with Anthropic, OpenAI and

New York Jets safety Minkah Fitzpatrick intercepted Chicago quarterback Tyson Bagent on Oct. 4, ending the team’s 20-game streak without a pick. The Jets lost to the Bears, 23–12. The drought stretched across 643 opponent pass attempts. New York’s previous interception came from Ashtyn Davis in the 2024 season finale. Fitzpatrick’s interception set up the

Four astronauts reached the International Space Station on Oct. 1 after a trip of about eight hours, setting a record for the fastest U.S. crewed spacecraft transit to the orbiting laboratory. NASA said the SpaceX Crew-13 mission used a direct, fast route made possible by the station’s position. The crew members are NASA astronauts Jessica

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Peter Hegemann, Georg Nagel and Karl Deisseroth for discoveries that made optogenetics possible. The Nobel announcement says their work identified light-sensitive ion channels and showed how those proteins could be used to influence cells. Optogenetics combines light-sensitive proteins with precise illumination to activate

Pennsylvania economic development professionals are scheduled to meet in Gettysburg Oct. 26–28 for the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association’s annual conference. PEDA lists the Wyndham Gettysburg, at 95 Presidential Circle, as the conference site. The association describes the gathering as a chance for people working in local, county, regional and state economic development to share information

A Gettysburg program later this month will focus on letters written by families searching for relatives who disappeared during the Civil War. The Gettysburg History organization says “The Lost Letters of Dr. J.W.C. O’Neal” is scheduled for Oct. 24, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event will take place at the Battlefield Overlook Event

Some Medicare Advantage plans are expected to offer narrower provider networks in 2027, according to announcements from UnitedHealthcare and Aetna reported by Reuters. The changes would affect which doctors and hospitals are included in specific plans, not every Medicare Advantage member. Medicare Advantage is the private-plan alternative to Original Medicare. Insurers contract with networks of

Visitors can explore Civil War history at Spangler Farm during a free Fall Family Day on Saturday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Gettysburg Foundation says the program will include living history, demonstrations and activities at the farm. The farm, at 488 Blacksmith Shop Road, served as a Union Army field hospital

NFL, MLB, WNBA, college football and U.S.-Mexico soccer results from Oct. 3–4.

The 2026 MacArthur Fellows will each receive an $800,000 unrestricted award over five years. The class includes artists, scientists, writers and scholars.

Jack Pearadin found the 6.03-carat diamond at Crater of Diamonds State Park. Estimates of its value range from about $250,000 to $1 million.

A Smithsonian and Library of Congress project is using AI to find links among artifacts, newspaper ads and archival records from 1770 to 1810.

Registered voters can apply for, complete and return a mail ballot at the county elections office; the application deadline is Oct. 27.

Four astronauts joined the International Space Station crew after an eight-hour trip, beginning a six-month research mission.

The National Apple Harvest Festival returns to the South Mountain Fairgrounds Oct. 10 and 11, with live entertainment, orchard tours, exhibits and family activities.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Americans should be able to apply for their first U.S. passport online through America.gov next year.

Two bald eagles found entangled in a Lancaster County soybean field were rescued by wildlife professionals and taken to Raven Ridge Wildlife Center for treatment, according to the center. The center said it received a call from a Pennsylvania Game Warden after someone reported the birds stuck together. Because handling eagles can be dangerous, Raven

Four people and organizations working on human rights, women’s equality and responsible technology have received the 2026 Right Livelihood Award, an international prize announced in Stockholm. The recipients include Pakistani lawyer Jalila Haider, Ethiopian-born artificial intelligence researcher Timnit Gebru, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association and the Rural Women’s Assembly, a network of small-scale farmers across

Forty-nine musk turtles that were rescued during work at Crystal Lake in Berks County have been returned to the lake after months of care and rehabilitation. The turtles were released Sept. 27 at Crystal Lake in Carsonia Park, which serves residents of Lower Alsace and Exeter townships near Reading. Their return followed a restoration project

As artificial intelligence tools take on more routine office tasks, some young adults are reconsidering what to study and which careers to pursue. Their decisions are unfolding alongside early research that points to a widening employment gap in occupations most exposed to AI, while leaving open how much of the change is caused by the

Three Adams County organizations are among 182 museums and historical societies receiving nearly $4 million in state grants. The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission awarded $30,000 to the Adams County Historical Society, $28,030 to the Gettysburg Foundation and $10,000 to the Pennsylvania Museum of Military Vehicles, which operates the WWII American Experience. The grants provide

Ospreys nesting in the Chesapeake Bay had their least productive breeding season since monitoring began, with researchers pointing to food shortages as a major source of nest failures. The Center for Conservation Biology at William & Mary reported that osprey productivity in 2026 fell to 0.25 fledged young per pair in Bay waters with salinity

Three African wild dog brothers traveled 4,126 kilometers, or about 2,560 miles, across Zambia after leaving their birth pack in search of new territory. Researchers say the tracked route is the longest recorded dispersal by an African mammal. The brothers left the Mayukuyuku Pack in Kafue National Park in 2025. GPS collars followed their movements

Pennsylvania’s weekly fall foliage reports have returned, offering regional updates, photographs and expert tips for residents and visitors planning autumn outings. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said the reports will be posted each Thursday during peak foliage season. Pennsylvania’s varied elevation and tree species give the state an unusually long fall color