In Hazle Township, Luzerne County, a data center developer is trying to curry favor with locals by making them an offer they can’t refuse. Some are refusing.

In a scene that’s been playing out regularly across the state, residents pushed back on NorthPoint Development’s effort to build a 15-building data center campus across 1,300 acres in the township, arguing that the cost of powering the proposed data center would lead to a higher cost of living and diminished property values and quality of life.

Township officials ultimately rejected the project over zoning issues, prompting a lawsuit from NorthPoint that’s still in litigation. 

Then in June, Hazle Township residents began receiving letters from NorthPoint with the pitch: If the township gets behind our plan to build a data center, we’ll send you $10,000—money you could spend on “really whatever you want,” the letter read.

Judging by the reaction of some Hazle Township residents, NorthPoint has its work cut out for them.

Ed Negra, who is working to organize opposition to the data center, said the quiet part out loud to the Wall Street Journal.

“Most people have the opinion that, ‘Hey, are they trying to bribe us here?’”

We’ve got more about the data center situation in Hazle Township in this story.

In Monday’s newsletter, I detailed watching the Phillies’ near late-season collapse on my phone over the weekend while attending a wedding and several wine tastings in California’s Napa Valley—behavior that prompted one reader to tell me I needed to “grow up.” (Ed. note: Fair enough.)

For our QOTW, we want to know: Where’s the most unexpected place you’ve watched a game?

Please tell me I’m not alone in acting this way:

“A Penn State game at a wedding. I was giving everybody else updates.” — Linda, Schuylkill County

“Ecuador, in a Steelers bar owned by an Irish gentleman. Opened on Sunday just for our group from Latrobe.” — S.S., Westmoreland

“At my wedding!” — Lisa Palandro, Philadelphia

“Watched the Eagles win the 2017 Super Bowl as my wife was in labor at the hospital. Our son’s middle name is Nick for Nick Foles!” — Chris R., Delaware County

“Remember that Penguins-Flyers 2000 playoff game that went five overtimes? We started listening to it on a pocket radio during my uncle’s memorial. When one of the workers at the funeral home caught wind of what we were up to, he motioned for us to come into his office where he had the game on TV. We posted up there for a bit, then he joined us at a bar up the road to watch the rest of the game. Uncle John would’ve approved!” — Danny Ziske, Sharon

Where’s the most unexpected place you’ve watched a game?

Reply with your answer below.

My least favorite part of this job is asking you for money during our Supporter Drives. 

So it gives me great pleasure to share that today marks the end of our current Supporter Drive. This is one last ask for you to help keep our coverage of what’s happening in Washington, Harrisburg, and town halls across the state free and accessible to all Pennsylvanians.

Thank you for your continued support!

Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary is a scary and elaborate festival within the walls of the imposing Philadelphia historic site. (Eastern State Penitentiary/Visit Philadelphia)

October is a month of several seasons in Pennsylvania. Think spooky season, fall foliage season, apple season, and, of course, Oktoberfest season. And the festival lineup reflects as much. Whether you want to have the daylights scared out of you, take in dazzling fall foliage, eat some apples, or raise a stein full of beer while an oompah band plays, there’s plenty of fun to be had across Pennsylvania. And if you want to watch a 1,000-pound pumpkin get dropped on a car, you can get that too.

We’ve got the details below. 👇

• The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ expanded tax breaks for business investments heavily used by the AI industry. Our Ashley Adams breaks down how Pennsylvania protected state revenue from some of those provisions and how lawmakers voted on the legislation. Get the story here.

• A system to track testing of sexual assault evidence kits is being piloted in three Pennsylvania counties ahead of a statewide rollout later this year. Find out more here.

• An Erie-area man is suing Taylor Farms, claiming that he was sickened with cyclosporiasis after eating the California-based grower’s contaminated lettuce three times at a local Taco Bell. Details in this story.

• The NFL has asked the Department of Homeland Security to take down a video on social media showing highlights of Eagles Hall of Fame safety Brian Dawkins in reference to a purported caravan of immigrants approaching the US border. Learn more about it here.

A keystone-shaped sign marks an entrance to the Pennsylvania Turnpike. (Creative Commons)

On this very day 86 years ago, motorists were already lining up to be the first to drive the Pennsylvania Turnpike when it opened at midnight on Oct. 1, 1940.

The turnpike represented a completely new way to travel. As the first limited-access highway in the country, the long-distance road cut through rugged mountain passes and winding valleys without any stoplights or town intersections, making journeys both faster and safer. The smooth roads on the “dream highway,” as it was often called, were a far cry from the bumpy roads motorists usually traveled.

Our Kalena Thomhave has all sorts of fun facts about the road many of us travel regularly—and where former President Harry Truman was once pulled over for driving too slowly in the left-hand lane—in this story.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Patrick Berkery with stories from Ashley Adams, Kalena Thomhave, USA Today via Reuters Connect, and Peter Hall of the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. It was edited by Paula Solis.

The Keystone is free for everyone. Your support makes our work possible.