[naviga:h3]State to offer brews ‘preferred’ status[/naviga:h3]

HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday rolled out the PA Preferred Brews initiative, which identifies beer brewed in the state with Pennsylvania-grown ingredients.

Officials say beer is a nearly $6 billion annual business in Pennsylvania, with more than 300 licensed breweries.

Wolf says the new program is a way for Pennsylvania breweries to differentiate themselves in a competitive market, including a logo for licensed participants to display on their products.

The state’s craft brewers can participate if their beer is brewed in the state, meets state and federal production standards and is made from hops, grains or other products that come from Pennsylvania.

[naviga:h3]Banned frat cited for renting rooms[/naviga:h3]

STATE COLLEGE — The Penn State fraternity where a student was fatally injured during an alcohol-fueled pledge night in February is accused of violating local ordinances by renting rooms to alumni during home football weekends.

The citations issued to the Beta Theta Pi house say it needs a new permit to change the occupancy type of a commercial building. They also say it can’t operate as a hotel-type rental without a fire safety program license.

Penn State banned the fraternity after the death of 19-year-old engineering student Tim Piazza of Lebanon, N.J.