Berks County news

Muhlenberg Township commissioners vote Sept. 21 on Ordinance 633 to authorize up to $9 million in general obligation bonds, plus pension and police items.

Earl Township supervisors meet Sept. 21 to vote on a Rolling Hills Landfill host agreement change and a Service Electric cable franchise.

Schuylkill Valley is building a fieldhouse with indoor turf on an $18.2 million bond. Every vote, the financing and what it means for taxpayers.

Small estates in Pennsylvania can skip full probate. Here is how Berks County families collect wages, bank funds, and insurance, and when to petition the court.

The Kutztown Area School District board votes Sept. 21 on a $5.23 million energy-savings deal to upgrade HVAC at Kutztown Elementary School.

Reading City Council meets Sept. 21 to create a HUD-funded lead and healthy-homes staff position and record a $200,000 housing grant already in hand.

The Twin Valley school board votes Sept. 21 on a $4.19M baseball and softball field renovation, plus a change tied to the superintendent's retirement.

What Berks County commissioners did Sept. 17: a $113,000 jail deputy warden among five personnel moves, a hospital conduit bond, a 600 Penn escrow deal.

Reading City Council enacted a vacant-property registry Aug. 24 with semiannual fees up to $5,000, and extended its commercial LERTA tax break 10 years.

The Sept. 17 Berks County agenda: a $113,000 jail deputy warden among five personnel moves, a hospital bond vote, and a 600 Penn escrow deal.

Upper Bern Township in Berks County adopted data center zoning Sept. 10, allowing them only in industrial zones under strict limits, plus new solar rules.

Perry Township's Ordinance 09-2026 allows data centers in Berks County only in one district, with setbacks, a 67 dB noise cap, and cleanup bonds.

Kutztown Borough Council holds public hearings September 15 and votes to enact zoning rules for data centers and short-term rentals, plus how to see the ordinances and comment.

St. Lawrence Borough voted to enter the Mount Penn water fight, raised its zoning hearing fees to $1,500, and adopted a four-town land-use plan.

Wills and estate files in Berks County are public records. Here is how to find and copy one online, by mail, or in person, and what it costs.

Pennsylvania inheritance tax runs 0% to 15% depending on who inherits. Here is what a Berks County estate owes, when it is due, and where to file the return.

What Berks County commissioners did Sept. 10: a $100,000 lawsuit settlement, an $8.5 million budget shuffle, and $25,225 to vet the 600 Penn tower.

Look up Berks County court cases: the free statewide UJS portal for criminal cases and the county Prothonotary's new CourtPro Viewer for civil dockets.

Find your Berks County polling place for November 3, 2026: the official lookup tool, poll hours, and the rule that anyone in line at 8 p.m. still votes.

When you need ID to vote in Pennsylvania: only first-time voters at a polling place must show it, and it does not have to be a photo ID. The accepted list.