Berks County news

Berks County commissioners approved a five-county agreement to reopen the former county juvenile detention center in Bern Township as a regional facility.

Wildfire smoke put Berks County under a Code Purple, 'very unhealthy' air quality alert on July 17. Who is most at risk and how to protect yourself.

Reading Area Water Authority ordered a mandatory 15% cut for its North Heidelberg system, the first required limits as Berks stays under a state drought warning.

Berks County's online civil court dockets have been down since mid-June. The new system now launches mid-September; until then, search in person at the courthouse.

Colebrookdale, Robeson, Longswamp, Centre, Bethel, and Caernarvon are all drafting data-center zoning ordinances at once. Here is where each one stands.

The July 9, 2026 Berks County commissioners meeting: $599,619 in budget moves, grants and appointments, and counsel for a possible building purchase.

The July 9, 2026 Berks County agenda: about $600,000 in budget moves, grants and appointments, and outside counsel for a possible building purchase.

Reading, Spring, Bern, Exeter, and Cumru are all writing data-center rules at once. Who has an ordinance, who wants a moratorium, and what decides July 13.

Berks County's 2026 budget spends $690 million. Where the money comes from, where it goes, and why county taxes cover only about a quarter of it.

The federal government will not open the ICE facility it planned in an Upper Bern Township warehouse it bought for $87.4 million. What happened, and what happens to the building now.

Berks County said a new jail would beat renovating the old one. Four years after restarting the project there is no site, no price, and no decision.

Official results: 23.22% turnout in the May 19 primary, certified June 5. Democrats turned out at 24.9%, Republicans at 21.7%. November is the big one.

The July 2, 2026 Berks County commissioners meeting: a new AI policy for employees, $206K in uniform contracts, a $300K farm loan, and an ICE comment.

A running tracker of Berks County's purchase of the 600 Penn Street tower: every vote, dollar, and document, from the $7.235 million offer toward closing.