SBU

Merci Ames, a science teacher and basketball coach in Strasburg, Colorado, has been named the state's 2027 Teacher of the Year. The honor recognizes her work in the classroom and her role leading student athletics in the small eastern Colorado community. The award places her among the state's most prominent educators for the coming year.

The Clark Crush Bar, a nostalgic Pittsburgh-area candy, is back in local stores after its recipe was rediscovered. The relaunch puts the treat back on shelves for longtime fans who remember it from earlier decades. Local coverage highlights the rediscovery as the key moment that made the comeback possible, and Pittsburgh residents have been quick to celebrate the return of a familiar hometown favorite.

First Baptist Church in Williamsburg, Virginia, is celebrating the 250th anniversary of its founding. The congregation, one of the oldest Black churches in the United States, is marking the milestone with commemorations covered by regional public media. The anniversary highlights the church's long history and its role in the community since the colonial era.

A startup based in St. Petersburg, Florida is investing in the future of American shipbuilding, according to Tampa Bay Business and Wealth. The company is placing its bet on the revitalization of the nation's shipyards, a sector drawing renewed attention amid concerns over US industrial capacity and naval readiness. Details about the company's name, funding, and specific plans were not provided.

Jacoby Ellsbury, the Madras, Oregon native who went on to a major league career, will be inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame. The honor recognizes the outfielder's rise from a small Central Oregon town to the big leagues, and locals are celebrating the recognition of one of the state's most notable athletes.

A Dolly Parton tribute performance is set to take the stage at the Palace Theatre in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Local outlets including the Observer-Reporter and Herald-Standard have reported the announcement. No further details on dates, performers or ticketing were provided in the initial notices.

Fredericksburg has been officially designated Texas' 100th Music Friendly community, a state certification recognizing towns that support and grow their local music economies. The Texas Music Office program highlights communities where live music venues, events and local artists contribute to tourism and economic development. The designation places the Hill Country town alongside a growing network of certified music-friendly communities across the state.

Gil Scott-Heron's classic track Johannesburg was featured on BBC 6 Music's 6 Music's Jukebox programme. The late American poet and musician, known for blending spoken word with jazz and soul, remains a staple of the station's playlists. Johannesburg, a 1974 anthem of anti-apartheid solidarity, continues to resonate with listeners decades after its release.

A Pittsburgh artist is drawing attention for work that celebrates the intensity and devotion of local sports fans. The piece, covered by CBS News, highlights how the city's deep sports culture inspires art that resonates with fans of the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins.

A filming locations enthusiast has compared the Hawaiian settings used in the 1972 Brady Bunch episode 'Hawaii Bound' with how the same spots look today, sharing side-by-side then-and-now imagery. The nostalgia project highlights how little — or how much — the locations have changed over five decades, and points fans to a website collecting more Brady Bunch filming sites.

Salisbury University will host a Techstars Startup Weekend aimed at aspiring entrepreneurs. The event gives participants the chance to pitch ideas, form teams and build startup prototypes over a single weekend with mentor support. It is being presented as an opportunity for students and local residents in the Salisbury area to gain hands-on entrepreneurship experience and connect with the regional startup community.

A new solar array at Second Harvest's site in Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, is now supplying renewable energy to the community, with local coverage highlighting the project as a win for sustainability and food-assistance operations. The Triboro area outlet reports the installation is 'powering good' by cutting energy costs and supporting the nonprofit's mission.

Greenlight Networks announced a $20 million investment to expand its fiber internet network into Easton, Pennsylvania and Phillipsburg, New Jersey. The buildout would bring high-speed fiber service to homes and businesses in the two neighboring Lehigh Valley-area communities, which have had limited fiber options. The move fits a broader wave of broadband providers expanding fiber into smaller East Coast markets.

United Hospital Center has announced that William Crystal, MD, has joined Clarksburg Family Medicine, expanding primary care services at the West Virginia facility. The appointment, confirmed by WVU Medicine, adds a new physician to the Clarksburg practice, giving patients in the area another option for family medicine care.

The New Jersey Education Association is highlighting a school community event in Asbury Park, New Jersey, pairing students with buddies over breakfast and featuring a bulldog, apparently the school mascot. It is a light human-interest story celebrating connection and school spirit in the district.

The Worcester Telegram reports on a Shrewsbury golf star who overcame bullying and mental health struggles. The story details the athlete's journey through those difficulties and their path to success on the golf course. Beyond the headline, no further details about the individual or their story are available.

The Orpheum Theatre in Galesburg, Illinois, has announced a performance by Rumours, a tribute band dedicated to Fleetwood Mac. The show will bring the classic rock group's catalog of hits to the historic downtown venue. The announcement has drawn attention from local music fans in the Galesburg and Quad Cities region, with audiences reacting to the chance to hear Fleetwood Mac's music performed live.

Carnegie Mellon University has received a $3 billion gift, and local leaders in Pittsburgh say the funding could spark a startup boom in the city. Business figures expect the money to fuel new ventures, research commercialization and job growth, strengthening Pittsburgh's position as a technology and entrepreneurship hub.

The FTI World Congress is taking place in Pittsburgh, with building-integrated photovoltaics and circularity in construction among its central themes. Industry attendees are discussing how solar-integrated facades and material reuse can cut the carbon footprint of buildings, topics that reflect the facade industry's broader push toward more sustainable design and manufacturing practices.

The annual Williamsburg art festival returns this weekend, promising new ideas and experiences for visitors. Organizers say this year's edition brings fresh programming and activities, drawing attention from local residents and art lovers ahead of the opening.