A quick look at the stories shaping Indiana County: new developments and what people are talking about.
Updated November 4, 2026
Story 01
Homer City Energy Campus Workforce Passes 2,000 Tradespeople
Added November 4, 2026
More than 2,000 skilled tradespeople and contractors are now building the Homer City Energy Campus, according to a November 3 report, with most hired from Pennsylvania union halls across nine building trades. The project team expects the campus to generate about 10,000 construction jobs over five years as work continues on the natural gas power plant and data center complex rising on the site of the former Homer City Generating Station. The milestone follows Homer City Generation's October 20 announcement marking one year since Kiewit Power Constructors began work on site as the project's engineering, procurement and construction partner.
Struzzi and Smith Win State House Races as County Turnout Tops 57 Percent
Added November 4, 2026
Unofficial results show just over 57 percent of Indiana County's registered voters cast ballots in the November 3 general election, WDAD Radio reported. State Rep. Jim Struzzi won re-election in the 62nd District with 14,034 votes in Indiana County, and Rep. Brian Smith won re-election in the 66th District covering northern Indiana County and Jefferson County, WCCS Radio reported. U.S. Reps. Guy Reschenthaler (14th District) and Glenn Thompson (15th District) were also re-elected, and Gov. Josh Shapiro won a second term statewide.
Indiana County Measles Cases Rise to 52, Passing Clearfield as Statewide Outbreak Tops 1,400
Added November 4, 2026
Indiana County's confirmed measles cases rose to 52 as of November 3, surpassing Clearfield County's 50 and making Indiana County one of the state's relative hot spots, the Indiana Gazette reported. Statewide, Pennsylvania's 2026 outbreak has now topped 1,400 confirmed cases across 44 counties, with 268 hospitalizations and five measles-associated deaths, according to state figures compiled by PennWatch. Health officials continue to urge residents to verify their MMR vaccination status and to call ahead before visiting a clinic or emergency room if symptoms develop.
Second Indiana County Veterans Expo and Stand Down Day Set for Friday at Kovalchick
Added November 4, 2026
The Indiana County Department of Veterans Affairs has finalized plans for its second Indiana County Veterans Expo and Stand Down Day, set for Friday, November 6 at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex on the IUP campus. The expo runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with free admission, a free lunch and live entertainment for veterans, active-duty military, National Guard and Reserve members and their families. The Stand Down portion of the day, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., connects homeless and at-risk veterans with housing, VA benefits counseling, health screenings and employment resources, with a wide range of organizations participating.
Carl Kologie, Longtime Indiana Gazette Editor and Sports Reporter, Dies at 91
Added November 4, 2026
Carl Kologie, the longtime Indiana Gazette managing editor and sports reporter, died over the weekend at age 91, WCCS Radio reported. Kologie served the newspaper for more than half a century, beginning as a sports reporter and editor in 1961 before later serving as managing editor, and the Gazette described him as an institution in the community.
Center Township Supervisors Pass 2027 Budget With No Tax Increase
Added November 4, 2026
Center Township supervisors passed the township's 2027 budget at their November 2 meeting, with property taxes unchanged at 1.3 mills, WDAD Radio reported. Center Township is home to much of the Homer City Energy Campus development, the natural gas power plant and data center project rising on the site of the former Homer City Generating Station.
Commissioner Mike Keith Announces Step-Back From ICMESA Post
Added November 4, 2026
Indiana County Commissioner Chair Mike Keith announced a step-back from his post with ICMESA, the Indiana County Municipal Emergency Services Authority, WDAD Radio reported November 3. The authority's board also approved a delinquency-collections bylaws amendment at the meeting.
ICTC Forms Committee on River Valley Nonpayment; District Names Citizen Finance Panel
Added October 28, 2026
The Indiana County Technology Center has formed a committee to find a financial solution as the school continues litigation to recoup more than $600,000 in unpaid membership fees from River Valley School District, the Indiana Gazette reported October 27. Separately, River Valley's school board planned to name two members to a citizen finance committee at its October 27 meeting, WDAD Radio reported, as the district responds to financial challenges identified in a recent audit.
Indiana Borough Council Approves Final SALDO Submission for Downtown Sheetz Move
Added October 28, 2026
Indiana Borough Council approved the final Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO) application submission for Sheetz to relocate its downtown store across Philadelphia Street to the former Rite Aid site, WDAD Radio reported October 20. The project, which received preliminary conditional approval in February, could begin construction in early to mid-2027. The council also approved a resolution tied to the new Hewitt Diner development.
What's Next for Amazon's Data Center Plan in Indiana County
Added October 28, 2026
WJAC-TV reported October 16 on what comes next after Indiana County officials moved forward with Amazon Web Services' application for the data center campus at the Homer City Energy Campus. The report outlines the steps remaining in the county review process, including the pending wastewater permit, considerations around Blacklick Creek and stormwater, and the role of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in the approval process. The county planning commission accepted the preliminary land development plan for review October 14, and county staff and outside consultants are now evaluating it.
Indiana County Chamber Conducts Survey About the Homer City Power Plant
Added October 21, 2026
WCCS Radio reported October 19 that the Indiana County Chamber of Commerce is conducting a survey concerning the Homer City Generation power plant. The survey gives residents and businesses a chance to share their views as the community conversation about the Homer City Energy Campus, the data center and natural gas plant rising on the site of the former Homer City Generating Station, continues.
County Planning Commission Accepts Amazon Data Center Plan for Review
Added October 21, 2026
The Indiana County Planning Commission accepted Amazon Web Services' proposed plan for a 36-building data center campus for review at its October 14 meeting, WDAD Radio reported October 15. County planning official Byron Stauffer noted the action was not formal approval. The proposed campus spans about 1,100 developed acres across Center and Blacklick townships and would be powered by the natural gas plant being built at the Homer City Energy Campus.
White Township Planning Commission Approves Final Site Plan for Pathways Homeless Shelter
Added October 21, 2026
The White Township Planning Commission approved the final site plan for the Pathways Homeless Shelter, operated by ICCAP, at its October 14 meeting, WCCS Radio reported. The shelter, planned for a site in White Township behind the Big Lots plaza, is part of the county's ongoing effort to expand local services for people experiencing homelessness.
White Township Awarded $248,500 Grant for Rec Complex Work
Added October 21, 2026
White Township supervisors received a $248,500 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for work at the township's Recreation Complex, WDAD Radio reported October 14. The funding supports improvements at one of the county's most-used outdoor recreation spaces, which hosts athletic fields, courts and community events.
IUP Receives $2 Million to Support Student-Parents
Added October 21, 2026
IUP announced October 13 that it has received $2 million to support undergraduate parenting students, with the grant extending through 2030 as part of the university's Impact 150 campaign. The funding, awarded through the federal Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program, helps student-parents cover child care needs while they complete their degrees.
AWS Details 36-Building Data Center Campus at Homer City: Phased Build-Out Through 2036
Added October 14, 2026
Industry outlets this week detailed Amazon Web Services' preliminary land development plan for the Homer City Energy Campus. The plan calls for 36 two-story data center buildings, each roughly 225,000 square feet, across six development sites named Bruner, Helen, Green, West, Harvey/Gaston and Rura, spanning about 1,100 acres in Center and Blacklick townships. AWS expects construction to begin around December 2026, with the final phase starting near 2032 and overall completion targeted for 2036. The campus is projected to create 1,500 to 2,000 full-time jobs and will be powered by the natural gas plant being built on the site of the former Homer City Generating Station. The plan still requires county review and approval.
AWS Named as End User for Homer City Energy Campus, Files Plans for 36-Building Data Center Campus
Added October 7, 2026
The $10 billion Homer City Energy Campus now has its end user: Amazon Web Services. PennLive reported around October 2 that the campus rising on the site of the former Homer City Generating Station has AWS as its tenant, and this week AWS filed a Preliminary Land Development Plan with Indiana County for a 36-building data center campus covering roughly 1,100 acres across six sites in Center and Blacklick townships. The filing, submitted on AWS's behalf by attorney Jeffrey Wilhelm of Reed Smith LLP, marks a formal step in a project that drew large crowds and resident concerns at public planning commission meetings this fall. The data centers would be powered by the natural gas plant being built on the same site. The story is developing.
State Awards Broadband Grants to Expand Fiber in Indiana County
Added October 7, 2026
The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority announced more than $400 million in BEAD grant awards on October 3, including $84,164,947 to eCommunity Holdings for 14,571 fiber projects across 12 counties, Indiana County among them, WCCS Radio reported. The grants aim to close the digital divide in rural areas, including parts of Indiana County that still lack reliable high-speed internet.
Pennsylvania PUC to Examine Data Center Power Costs and Grid Reliability
Added September 30, 2026
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission announced it will hold a technical conference on November 17 in Harrisburg examining the cost of powering data centers and their effect on the reliability of the PJM Interconnection grid. WCCS Radio reported the news September 27 as data centers continue to multiply across Pennsylvania, including the Homer City Energy Campus and the proposed Amazon Web Services campus in Center and Blacklick townships. The conference is a sign that the region's data center boom is drawing scrutiny at the state level.
State Data Center Tax Breaks Under Scrutiny as Amazon Expands Across Pennsylvania
Added September 23, 2026
A September 21 analysis from the Pennsylvania Capital-Star looks at the state's data center tax credit program as Amazon Web Services expands across the state, including potential projects tied to the Homer City Energy Campus. The program is projected to cost the state about $517.2 million by fiscal year 2030-31, and its costs and benefits are now part of the public conversation in Indiana County and beyond.
We'll keep this page updated each week as new details come out, with fresh stories and source links. Stories are compiled from local outlets including the Indiana Gazette, WDAD and WCCS (Renda Broadcasting), and other regional sources.