Pennsylvania category, Page 114
Self-defense or murder? Pennsylvania woman charged in fatal stabbing headed to trial
BELLEFONTE — Centre County prosecutors have enough evidence to go to trial against a woman accused of killing a man inside her Penns Valley home, a county district judge ruled this week. Brittany Guisewhite, 28, saw felony charges of third-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter and aggravated assault move forward after a...
Pa. lawmaker pushing to eliminate Native American mascots, images for sports teams
A Pennsylvania lawmaker is introducing legislation that would ban schools from using Native American mascots. Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Philadelphia, said more than 60 schools and sports teams in Pennsylvania still use or refer to indigenous culture in their mascots and logos. “For far too long, Indigenous peoples have faced discrimination,...
Philadelphia bans traffic stops for minor infractions
PHILADELPHIA — The mayor ordered police Wednesday to stop pulling over drivers for low-level offenses that critics say lead to disproportionate stops of minority drivers, making Philadelphia the largest city government in the U.S. to ban what are sometimes called pretextual stops. The executive order from Mayor Jim Kenney puts...
Republican Kevin Brobson wins seat on Pennsylvania Supreme Court as GOP appears poised to sweep appellate races
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Republican Kevin Brobson edged out Democrat Maria McLaughlin to win a spot on Pennsylvania’s highest court, ending a contentious...
Defense begins in trial of Philadelphia official, union boss
PHILADELPHIA — Prosecutors put on sufficient trial evidence over four weeks to send corruption charges against a powerful Philadelphia labor leader and city council member to a jury, a federal judge ruled Tuesday. The judge rejected a defense request to dismiss the case against union boss Johnny “Doc” Dougherty and...
Judge: DA can’t drop charge in handcuffed prisoner shooting
YORK — A Pennsylvania judge once again denied a county prosecutor’s request to drop a misdemeanor charge against a former police officer who shot a man in handcuffs outside a bank 2 1/2 years ago. York County President Judge Maria Musti Cook issued the ruling Monday in the case of...
Pennsylvania state employees who get vaccinated to receive 5 paid days off
HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration told more than 70,000 state employees on Monday that it is offering five days of paid leave for getting fully vaccinated against covid-19 by the end of the year, quickly drawing opposition from the state treasurer over the potential cost. The administration told employees...
Have you seen this vehicle? State College police ask for public’s help after armed robbery
STATE COLLEGE — State College police released a composite photo of a vehicle Monday in an attempt to find the gunman who reportedly robbed a bus terminal and assaulted a worker. Borough police did not release details about the vehicle, including the year, make or model. A man entered the...
Police: Pa. boy, 11, stabbed to death in struggle over toy
GILLETT — An 11-year-old boy was stabbed to death during a scuffle with a 9-year-old boy over a toy in northern Pennsylvania over the weekend, authorities said. State police in Bradford County said the boys were playing with foam-based toys shortly after 8 p.m. Saturday at a Ridgebury Township residence...
Pennsylvania trooper shoots, kills man armed with knife
HARRISBURG — A Pennsylvania state trooper shot and killed a man who refused to drop a knife during a confrontation on Halloween, authorities said. Troopers had responded to a domestic complaint in West Hanover Township where they said Glenn Custer, 59, of Harrisburg, was acting erratically and was armed with...
State College police issue safety warnings following robbery at bus terminal
Police issued several safety alerts Sunday afternoon after an armed robbery was reported at the Fullington bus terminal in State College. A man entered 152 N. Atherton St. at about 2:50 p.m. Sunday, struck a worker with a pistol, stole money from the register and fled, police wrote in a...
Faculty job cuts on the horizon at 2 Pa. state universities
More than two dozen professors at two Pennsylvania state universities slated for consolidation next year received notices that their jobs are in jeopardy. The intent to layoff notices went out to 23 faculty members at Lock Haven University and three at Mansfield University, according to the Association of Pennsylvania College...
Poll: Economy, mistrust of government, covid-19 continue to drive voters’ decisions
Lewis McClain vividly remembers the double-digit mortgage rates of the early 1980s, and the 83-year-old Edinboro Democrat is afraid the country is headed in that direction again. “I don’t agree with all this stimulus money giveaway,” McClain said. “All of this is going to be very inflationary. It has been...
A full guide to Pa.’s Supreme Court election and other appellate judicial races
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — On Tuesday, voters statewide will have the opportunity to choose a new justice for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, as...
Despite transparency vows, much of Pa.’s redistricting still takes place behind closed doors
This article is part of a yearlong reporting project focused on redistricting and gerrymandering in Pennsylvania. It is made possible by the support of Spotlight PA members and Votebeat, a project focused on election integrity and voting access. HARRISBURG — This year’s monumental redrawing of Pennsylvania’s political maps was preceded...
Powerful special interests are pouring millions into Pa. Supreme Court race
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Labor unions, lawyers, and a political committee with ties to a billionaire advocate for school choice are underwriting the...
Josh Shapiro breaks with Gov. Wolf over strategy on climate changeVideo
HARRISBURG — Josh Shapiro, the Democratic candidate for governor, is breaking with Gov. Tom Wolf on the centerpiece of Wolf’s plan to fight climate change amid the strong and sustained pushback it has received from building trades unions that have long backed the party’s candidates for governor. Wolf — a...
Pa. Lottery awards ‘humongous’ 10-year contracts that will modernize its business
The Pennsylvania Lottery is about to undergo a modernization with new equipment, new signage and a new app. The changes will be rolled out over the course of the coming year as part of the recent execution of the commonwealth’s most lucrative technology contracts to Las Vegas-based Scientific Games Corp....
State archaeology workshops will focus on free Black communities in Pennsylvania
The State Museum of Pennsylvania will hold its annual archaeology workshops virtually on Saturday, focusing on stories of Black history told through the lens of archaeology. University of Maryland professor Cheryl LaRoche will present “Free Black Communities and Archaeology” as the day’s keynote presentation. LaRoche is a founding member of...
Senate OKs bill to criminalize fleeing arrest on foot
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s state Senate on Tuesday approved a bill that would make it a crime to flee a police officer who is trying to arrest them, and an additional crime if a police dog is hurt in the pursuit. The bill passed, 36-14, with every Republican and seven of...
One year after the police killing of Walter Wallace, Philadelphia agrees to give Tasers to every officerVideo
The city of Philadelphia agreed Tuesday to equip all of its police officers with Tasers, a step announced on the one-year anniversary of the killing of Walter Wallace Jr., a mentally distressed Black man shot and killed by officers outside his West Philadelphia home. Wallace’s death occurred months after the...
Former South Hills woman accused of dismembering husband’s body, collecting benefits
LAS VEGAS — A 69-year-old Las Vegas woman is accused of defrauding Social Security for years after she allegedly dismembered her dead husband’s body and threw his remains in the trash, according to a federal criminal complaint. Nancy Shedleski deposited $121,000 of her husband’s retirement benefits after his 2015 death,...
Where have all the students gone?: Western Pa. colleges struggle with declining enrollment
Colleges across the region, ranging from the University of Pittsburgh to local community colleges, are mirroring troubling national trends in enrollment. In a development experts say could lead to gaps in the workforce and affect the nation’s economic health for years to come, college enrollment is down overall for the...
Prosecutor drops felony charge against central Pa. man for 43-cent ‘theft’
The Perry County district attorney’s office dismissed a felony charge that Pennsylvania State Police had filed against a homeless man after he paid $2 for Mt. Dew drink that cost $2.29. Joseph Sobolewski maintained all along that his arrest for retail theft after visiting the Exxon at 3298 Susquehanna Trail...
State police report seizing large amounts of cocaine, fentanyl during 3rd quarter
State police continue to seize large amounts of cocaine and fentanyl in 2021. Statistics provided by the agency show that troopers have confiscated 852 pounds of cocaine through Sept. 30, including 314 pounds of the drug valued at $6.9 million in the last three months. State police seized 175 pounds...
