Good morning, Harrisburg.

Residents in Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties planning to celebrate New Year’s Eve at local bars can get a free $20 Uber voucher from 7 p.m. Dec.

31 to 3:30 a.m. Jan. 1 via the Sober Ride Home Program; registration online requires an active Uber account.

Pennsylvania advanced in 2025 with major investments including converting Homer City Generating Station into a data center and Amazon’s planned expansion plus permit reforms that boosted small business growth and helped leaders aim for more growth in 2026 despite a foot traffic decline downtown.

PennDOT opened the first federally funded EV charging station today at Blue Mountain service plaza at Exit 202 westbound on the Turnpike, and another will open next week at New Stanton plaza at Exit 77 westbound — part of an effort to boost EV travel during the holiday season.

Local libraries risk losing passport service programs as the U.S. State Department finalizes a rule that would restrict such services to government-run locations, potentially forcing residents to seek alternatives for passport applications.

Amtrak rejected AmeriStarRail's plan for a transcontinental train route through Harrisburg; the company now awaits congressional action+its coast-to-coast service will launch by May 2026.

Pennsylvania will receive nearly $7 million from a nationwide settlement with Mercedes-Benz for installing software to defeat emissions tests, with funds set to be shared by the Attorney General's office & the Departments of Environmental Protection and Transportation, covering over 10,500 affected vehicles statewide.

National Christmas Center Train Ride

5-8 p.m. — Stone Gables Estate — Check website for pricing — Experience a festive train ride featuring the Snow Princess and Queen in a winter wonderland setting.

New Year's Eve Celebration

3-8:30 p.m. — Hershey's Chocolate World — Free entry with pre-registration — Celebrate with a DJ and HERSHEY'S Characters at a festive countdown.