Vote for Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year, with a Lancaster County contender in the running
YOUR CONCERNS TONIGHT. GOOD MORNING. IT IS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11TH. WE ARE TAKING A LIVE LOOK OVER LANCASTER AND IT IS A WINDY DAY ALL DAY LONG. NOT JUST THIS MORNING. I HEARD THAT WIND HOWLING OUTSIDE OF MY HOME THIS MORNING. I’M KATELYN SMITH AND I’M REGINA REGINA AHN. I WASN’T SURE IF IT WAS, YOU KNOW, VOICES OR THE WIND. IT WAS VERY LOUD. EXACTLY. YEAH, VERY WINDY OUT THERE. IT WILL BE WINDY TODAY AND THAT’S GOING TO KEEP OUR WIND CHILLS IN THE LOW 20S ALL DAY LONG. THERE’S NO CHANGE TO THAT THROUGHOUT THE DAY. IN ADDITION, YOU MIGHT SEE SOME FLURRIES FLYING OR A COUPLE OF SNOW SHOWERS. WE’VE HAD THOSE FLURRIES FLYING IN PARTS OF FRANKLIN COUNTY, MIFFLIN AND JUNIATA COUNTY THIS MORNING. EVEN UNION SNYDER, THE WESTERN PORTIONS OF YOUR AREA SEEING SOME LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS. HERE’S OUR CURRENT. IT’S 32 IN HARRISBURG, THE SAME IN LANCASTER AND YORK ARE AT 33 CHAMBERSBURG 33, BUT WITH A 22 MILE PER HOUR SUSTAINED WIND, IT FEELS LIKE 21 DEGREES. SO THE FEELS LIKE TEMPERATURES, THEY’RE NOT GOING TO BUDGE ALL DAY. AND HERE’S A LOOK AT OUR 12 HOUR FORECAST. WE’LL SEE A MIX OF CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THE WINDS WILL DIMINISH LATE AND ANY SNOW SHOWERS OR FLURRIES THAT YOU MIGHT SEE FLYING AROUND WILL ALSO DIMINISH LATER THIS EVENING. TOMORROW IS A MUCH QUIETER DAY, AND THEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT SOME SNOW CHANCES THIS WEEKEND. COMING UP IN MY TEN DAY. LET’S GO TO REGINA NOW AND CHECK IN ON THOSE ROADS. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING CHRISTINE AND GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. RIGHT NOW ACROSS THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY, YOU CAN SEE WE DON’T HAVE ANY CRASHES OR INCIDENTS. YOU ARE GOOD TO GO. AND HELLO. MANHEIM TOWNSHIP, LANCASTER COUNTY 283 AND 30. THE INTERCHANGE THERE LOOKING GOOD. NOT AS BUSY AS OTHER PARTS OF THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY. AND IF YOU’RE HEADED OUT OF LANCASTER TO COLUMBIA, 11 MINUTES THERE ON 30. IF YOU’RE HEADED TO THE TURNPIKE. A LITTLE SLOW THERE AT 21 MINUTES. AND IF YOU’RE HEADED TO ELIZABETHTOWN, 16 MINUTE DRIVE ON 283, WE’LL HAVE ANOTHER UPDATE IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. WE ARE FOLLOWING BREAKING NEWS OUT OF YORK COUNTY, WHERE FIREFIGHTERS SAY TWO PEOPLE WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AFTER THIS FIRE AT A TRAILER HOME IN EAST MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP. CREWS GOT TO THAT FIRE JUST AFTER 230 THIS MORNING ON STARVIEW BOULEVARD. YOU CAN SEE THE SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOME. THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE EARLIER THIS MORNING. CREWS HAVE SINCE PUT THAT FIRE OUT, BUT THEY DO SAY THAT THE COLD TEMPERATURES AND THE WIND MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO FIGHT THE FIRE. COMPANY CHIEF SAYS THE TWO PEOPLE WHO LIVED THERE HAD SMOKE INHALATION. THEY’RE THE TWO THAT WENT TO THE HOSPITAL. THE CHIEF ALSO TELLS US THAT TWO DOGS AND A CAT ARE MISSING. HE SAYS THE FIRE APPEARS TO BE AN ACCIDENT, BUT AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY. IT’S 603 AND YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL COULD SOON BE GOING UP. NOT WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE HOLIDAYS. PEOPLE IS REQUESTING APPROVAL FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION TO INCREASE RATES. AND NOW OFFICIALS WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. NEWS EIGHT’S GABRIEL THOMAS LIVE IN MANHEIM TOWNSHIP IN LANCASTER COUNTY. GOOD MORNING. GABRIEL. GOOD MORNING, REGINA AND KATELYN. WELL, SENATOR JAMES MALONE, WHO REPRESENTS THIS AREA, IS ENCOURAGING YOU TO ATTEND TONIGHT’S PUBLIC INPUT HEARING TO SHARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT A POSSIBLE INCREASE TO YOUR ELECTRIC BILL. NOW, HE SAYS RAISING THAT ELECTRIC BILL WOULD ONLY ADD MORE STRESS TO FAMILIES. SO HE’S ENCOURAGING YOU TO COME OUT TONIGHT. NOW, KEEP IN MIND THAT PEOPLE SAYS IT’S 356 MILLION. ANNUAL BASE INCREASE WOULD HELP STRENGTHEN AND MODERNIZE THE ELECTRIC GRID. ACCORDING TO PPL, ADDITIONAL FUNDING WOULD SUPPORT TREE TRIMMING AND BUILDING STRONGER POLES THAT CAN WITHSTAND SEVERE WEATHER. IF YOU’RE A CUSTOMER USING ABOUT 1000 KILOWATT HOURS A MONTH, YOUR BILL WOULD INCREASE BY ABOUT 7%. BUT COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS WOULD SEE ABOUT A 5% INCREASE IN INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS, ABOUT 3%. SENATOR MALONE SAYS NOW ISN’T THE RIGHT TIME WHEN FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET. OUR BUSINESSES ACROSS THE BOARD, WHETHER THEY’RE COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL OR JUST OUR INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES, THEY’LL ALL BE IMPACTED BY THIS. AND, YOU KNOW, WE’RE ALL ALREADY TRYING TO RUN ON VERY THIN MARGINS. NOW, AS I MENTIONED, SENATOR MALONE IS ENCOURAGING THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT TO TONIGHT’S PUBLIC INPUT HEARING. IT WILL BE RIGHT HERE WHERE I AM AT MANHEIM TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND IT STARTS AT 6:00. REPORTING LIVE HERE IN MANHEIM TOWNSHIP. I’M GABRIEL THOMAS. WGAL NEWS 8. GABRIELLE. THANK YOU. ANOTHER PERSON IS CHARGED IN CONNECTION TO A SHOOTING NEAR CARLTON PARK ON WEST STRAWBERRY STREET IN LANCASTER. ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, 18 YEAR-OLD KESHAWN WILLIAMS IS FACING SEVERAL CHARGES, INCLUDING ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE. COURT DOCUMENTS REVEAL THAT HE WORKED WITH A 16 YEAR OLD, WHO POLICE SAY FIRED THE SHOT. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE VICTIM WAS SHOT IN THE FACE AND DID NEED JAW SURGERY. THAT 16 YEAR-OLD WAS CHARGED A WEEK AFTER THE SHOOTING AND HIS FATHER, KELVIN WILLIAMS, WAS ALSO CHARGED LAST MONTH WITH SENDING THREATENING MESSAGES TO HIS EX-WIFE FOLLOWING HIS SON’S ARREST. THE CAUSE AND MANNER OF DEATH FOR A PERSON FOUND DEAD INSIDE OF A HOME IN COLUMBIA, LANCASTER COUNTY, IS STILL UNKNOWN, THE LANCASTER COUNTY CORONER SAYS. AN AUTOPSY DONE YESTERDAY ON CHRISTOPHER MARTINEZ FOUND NOTHING SUSPICIOUS. COLUMBIA POLICE SAY THEY WERE CALLED TO WALNUT STREET FOR SHOTS FIRED AROUND 1:00 TUESDAY MORNING, AND THEY SAY THEY RETURNED ABOUT NINE HOURS LATER FOR A POSSIBLE OVERDOSE AND FOUND MARTINEZ DEAD INSIDE THE HOME. POLICE SAY THEY BELIEVE HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE SHOTS FIRED, BUT SAY HE HAD NO GUN RELATED INJURIES. THE CAUSE AND MANNER OF HIS DEATH ARE PENDING. THE RESULTS OF TOXICOLOGY. ALSO IN LANCASTER COUNTY, A MAN IS ACCUSED OF USING SNAPCHAT TO LURE A TEENAGE GIRL INTO HIS CAR AND SEXUALLY ASSAULT HER. STATE POLICE SAY 34 YEAR OLD JASON CANDELARIA TOLD THE GIRL HE WAS 16, SO THAT HE COULD PICK HER UP OUTSIDE OF HER HOUSE. SHE’S 13. TROOPERS SAY CANDELARIA ASKED THE GIRL IF SHE WANTED TO GO BACK TO HIS HOME. TROOPERS SAY THE GIRL SAID NO, AND THAT’S WHEN THEY SAY CANDELARIA DROVE HER TO THE PARKWAY BOAT RAMP AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTED HER. INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY TRACKED HIS IP ADDRESS AND CONFIRMED HE IS A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER IN MARYLAND, AND IS NOW ALSO INVOLVED IN AN OPEN CASE IN YORK COUNTY FOR LURING ANOTHER CHILD TO HIS CAR. THE HARRISBURG DIOCESE IS CONDEMNING A SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENT FROM A DEACON IN LIKENS DAUPHIN COUNTY. THE POST WAS DELETED BEFORE NEWS 8 COULD SCREENSHOT IT, BUT THE DIOCESE CONFIRMED IT HAPPENED. THE DIOCESE SAYS THE COMMENT WAS MADE IN A MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN FACEBOOK GROUP, WHERE ONE MEMBER POSTED, QUOTE, TRUMP CALLED ILHAN OMAR GARBAGE. BENEATH THAT, DEACON GEORGE GARBER JR, WHO SERVES AS OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS, PARISH COMMENTED, YOU BET I DO. SEND HER BACK TO MUD TOWN. THE DIOCESE CALLED THE COMMENTS DEEPLY CONCERNING AND SAID THEY DO NOT REFLECT THE VALUES OF THE DIOCESE OF HARRISBURG. THE DIOCESE ALSO SAYS SINCE THIS IS A PERSONNEL ISSUE, THEY WILL NOT COMMENT FURTHER. GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO IS HIGHLIGHTING HOW PENNSYLVANIA IS CHANGING THE WAY IT GIVES OUT MONEY TO SCHOOLS. HE VISITED SUSQUEHANNA TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT IN DAUPHIN COUNTY YESTERDAY. IT IS ONE OF THE DISTRICTS GETTING MORE MONEY AS A RESULT OF THE CHANGES. SO SCHOOLS WITH LOWER TAX BASES HAVE BEEN GETTING LESS FUNDING. THAT LED TO A COURT RULING AND A RETOOLING OF HOW THE STATE ALLOCATES SCHOOL FUNDS. SUSQUEHANNA TOWNSHIP IS GETTING NEARLY $2 MILLION. IT SAYS SOME OF THAT MONEY WILL BE SPENT ON STAFFING. YOU’VE HIRED 11 ADDITIONAL STAFF TO GIVE STUDENTS MORE HANDS ON HELP. YOU UPGRADED THE HVAC SYSTEM SO IT’S COOL IN THE SUMMER AND WARM IN THE WINTER. YOU’RE HIRING MORE SCHOOL COUNSELORS SO THAT STUDENTS WHO NEED TO TALK ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS OR TALK ABOUT CHALLENGES, THAT THEY HAVE A PLACE DOWN THE HALL, THEY CAN GO AND GET THE HELP THAT THEY NEED. HARRISBURG SCHOOL DISTRICT ALSO GOT $7 MILLION OF THAT FUNDING, AND CUMBERLAND VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT GOT MORE THAN 3 MILLION. PENNSYLVANIA SENATE HAS CONFIRMED DOCTOR CAREY ROE AS THE STATE’S NEW SECRETARY OF EDUCATION. GOVERNOR SHAPIRO NOMINATED DOCTOR ROE AFTER SHE SERVED AS THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, AND WAS PREVIOUSLY A SUPERINTENDENT AND TEACHER IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THE PREVIOUS SECRETARY RESIGNED LAST DECEMBER. NEW. THIS MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE STATE’S EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL BE AT THE LANCASTER PUBLIC LIBRARY ON QUEEN STREET TODAY. THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS HOSTING A STORY TIME. IT WILL BE READING TO TODDLERS TO HIGHLIGHT THE PROGRAMS THAT LIBRARIES HAVE AND THE INVESTMENTS FROM THE STATE BUDGET TO KEEP THOSE PROGRAMS RUNNING. IN THE MOST RECENT STATE BUDGET, AN ADDITIONAL $5 MILLION WAS SET ASIDE TO GIVE TO LIBRARIES. THAT STORY TIME STARTS AT 1030 THIS MORNING. VOLUNTEERS ARE OBVIOUSLY A BIG PART OF THE ANNUAL COATS FOR KIDS TELETHON. AND THAT, OF COURSE, IS WHERE WE TEAM UP WITH THE SALVATION ARMY TO RAISE MONEY, WHICH IS WHAT WE’RE DOING RIGHT NOW TO GIVE COATS TO CHILDREN IN NEED. WELCOME BACK. GOOD TO SEE YOU. GROUPS FROM PLACES INCLUDING GIANT COME BACK EACH YEAR TO HELP GET FAMILIES. THE GIFTS AND COATS THAT THEY NEED. THEY ALSO HELP MOMS AND DADS SHOP FOR THOSE COATS. THE GROUPS BRING SOME OF THE SAME PEOPLE EACH YEAR, BUT OTHERS. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST YEAR AND WE THANK THEM FOR THAT AS WELL. NO MATTER YOUR LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE, EVERYONE TAKES SOMETHING AWAY AND WE’RE ALL HEARING FROM THOSE VOLUNTEERS THAT THEY LEAVE FEELING PRETTY GOOD. IT WAS VERY HUMBLING TO SEE THE PEOPLE THAT WERE IN NEED, AND JUST TO BE GRATEFUL FOR THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE, AND TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE AND SEE THE SMILES THAT ARE BROUGHT TO THEIR FACE WAS VERY FULFILLING. REALLY A GOOD FEELING TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT INTO YOUR COMMUNITY AND HELP THOSE THAT ARE LESS FORTUNATE TO GET INTO WARMER CLOTHING FOR THE FALL TIME. IN THE WINTER TIME. SO MAYBE IF YOU CAN’T GIVE YOUR TIME BY VOLUNTEERING, YOU COULD GIVE SOME MONEY IF YOU CHOOSE. HERE IS THE DONATION TOTAL SO FAR $74,200 THAT HAS BEEN RAISED DURING OUR TELETHON WEEK, AND YOU CAN STILL DONATE AT G.COM. LET’S GO OVER TO CHRISTINE AND REGINA AND WE’RE TAKING A LOOK AT OUR WEATHER IMPACTS TODAY. IT’S GOING TO FEEL LIKE THE LOW 20S ALL DAY. THERE MIGHT BE A FEW SNOW SHOWERS OR FLURRIES FLYING, BUT THEY SHOULDN’T DISRUPT YOUR TRAVEL FOR FRIDAY. REMAINING COLD. A POSSIBLE FLURRY LATE, AND ON SATURDAY THERE MAY BE SOME FLURRIES AROUND. NICE TO SEE THOSE FESTIVE FLAKES AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR. I DO SEE SOME LIGHT SNOW POSSIB
Vote for Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year, with a Lancaster County contender in the running
Updated: 10:45 AM EST Dec 11, 2025
Voting is now open for Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year. Video above: Headlines from WGAL News 8 Today.The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is inviting the public to vote online, open now through Jan. 16, 2026. Pennsylvanians can choose among three nominated waterways, one of which is in the Susquehanna Valley. The Conestoga River in Lancaster CountyThe Chillisquaque Creek in Northumberland County The lower portion of the Schuylkill River in the greater Philadelphia region “Each of these worthy waterways makes a unique case to be the top river for 2026 and I am excited to see which one wins,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “I enjoy this annual competition for the community pride it builds and focus it provides for the recreational, cultural, and economic importance of our rivers. Vote now and make your voice heard.”The Conestoga River flows for more than 61 miles, joining the Susquehanna River below the Safe Harbor Dam. “It is one of Lancaster County’s most scenic waterways and is a popular spot for canoeing, kayaking, tubing, and fishing,” the DCNR said. The River of the Year program, administered by the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) with funding from DCNR, celebrates Pennsylvania’s waterways while raising awareness of conservation needs. “We’re excited to once again launch the public online voting process for the 2026 Pennsylvania River of the Year,” said Janet Sweeney of POWR. “As more people connect with the outdoors and deepen their appreciation for Pennsylvania’s remarkable waterways, the River of the Year vote offers a fun and meaningful way to show support for your favorite river.” Voting is open now through 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. To cast a vote, click here.
Voting is now open for Pennsylvania’s 2026 River of the Year.
Video above: Headlines from WGAL News 8 Today.
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is inviting the public to vote online, open now through Jan. 16, 2026.
Pennsylvanians can choose among three nominated waterways, one of which is in the Susquehanna Valley.
The Conestoga River in Lancaster CountyThe Chillisquaque Creek in Northumberland County The lower portion of the Schuylkill River in the greater Philadelphia region
“Each of these worthy waterways makes a unique case to be the top river for 2026 and I am excited to see which one wins,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “I enjoy this annual competition for the community pride it builds and focus it provides for the recreational, cultural, and economic importance of our rivers. Vote now and make your voice heard.”
The Conestoga River flows for more than 61 miles, joining the Susquehanna River below the Safe Harbor Dam. “It is one of Lancaster County’s most scenic waterways and is a popular spot for canoeing, kayaking, tubing, and fishing,” the DCNR said.
J. MacNeill-Traylor
The Conestoga River in Lancaster County
The River of the Year program, administered by the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) with funding from DCNR, celebrates Pennsylvania’s waterways while raising awareness of conservation needs.
“We’re excited to once again launch the public online voting process for the 2026 Pennsylvania River of the Year,” said Janet Sweeney of POWR. “As more people connect with the outdoors and deepen their appreciation for Pennsylvania’s remarkable waterways, the River of the Year vote offers a fun and meaningful way to show support for your favorite river.”
Voting is open now through 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026.
To cast a vote, click here.