Good morning, Reading.

Rep. Jamie Barton will host his third annual Farmer Appreciation Breakfast – Blessing of the Balers event at Kutztown Grange Hall on Tuesday, April 21 at 8:30 a.m. where he will thank local farmers with a prayer for a safe and productive planting season and serve breakfast afterward.

Berks Coalition to End Homelessness reports that 734 people are homeless in the county—a rise of 8% from last year.

Providers note that many unsheltered individuals in Reading benefit from warm meals and are coordinating a Code Blue shelter policy for severe weather.

The Residence at Village Greens in Sinking Spring is hosting its second annual 'Peep Show' fundraiser, where local businesses create dioramas with marshmallow Peeps & proceeds benefit the Alzheimer's Association.

The displays remain open through Thursday for visitors to buy raffle tickets.

The Fightin Phils are playing an exhibition game against the Jersey Shore Blue Claws today to support Baseballtown Charities (they built two fields for inner city kids and kids with disabilities), with ticket proceeds helping maintain these community projects.

On April 25, the Rotary Club of Twin Valley will clean up a 2.6-mile stretch of Route 23 from Twin Valley Fire Department to Botanery Barn while National Honor Society students join the effort and raised funds will support the Village Library in Morgantown.

Wyomissing-based PENN Entertainment partnered with Birches Health to add responsible gaming resources like problem gambling assessments (and information on addiction counseling) to its online platforms including theScore Bet and Hollywood Casino.

Players can access these tools through their gaming app profiles.

National gas prices soared above $4 per gallon on Tuesday, with the average at $4.02 due to supply disruptions from the Iran conflict—officials plan to release emergency oil supplies and ease sanctions, a move that may soon lead to higher prices at Reading stations.

Middle East tensions are pushing gas prices upward as professor Farhad Saboori from Albright College noted that oil & related costs have surged from $70 to $95 due to tighter supply in the Strait of Hormuz.

Local consumers may soon face higher fuel and everyday goods prices.

State Rep. Manuel Guzman announced Tuesday that $150,000 in grant funds were awarded to Reading Area Community College to support student parents with tuition assistance, emergency aid, and other services.

The funding aims to reduce barriers for parenting students (boosting local opportunities).

Pennsylvania American Water has started a $23 million project to upgrade the Exeter wastewater plant in Exeter Township.

The improvements include building new equalization tanks with a 3 million gallon capacity that will begin operating by the end of 2027 to protect local waterways.

The Berks County coroner’s office is asking locals for help finding relatives of Lynn M.

Long (66), whose last residence was Providence House in Reading; anyone with information should call 610-478-3280.

Food safety inspectors in Berks County released results from March 6-24 showing that several vendors in Reading and nearby communities are addressing issues with labeling, sanitation, and storage (with some establishments still facing pest and equipment concerns) as part of their regular inspections.

Romeo Santos & Prince Royce Concert

8:00 – 9:30 PM — Santander Arena — Cost varies — Enjoy an evening of captivating Latin music from two of the genre's biggest stars.

MTB Try-it Day!

6-7:30 p.m. — The Nature Place at Angelica Park — Free event — Perfect for students to discover mountain biking, regardless of experience level.

Wheeling Nailers vs. Reading Royals

7-8 p.m. — Santander Arena — Stream available — Watch an exciting hockey clash as the Nailers take on the Royals live.

Wheeling Nailers vs. Reading Royals

7-10 p.m. — Santander Arena — Watch the game live on FloHockey with replays available for subscribers.

Lamb Of God Concert

6-9 p.m. — Santander Arena — Ticket information available online — Experience an electrifying evening with Lamb Of God as they rock Reading with an unforgettable performance.