Pennsylvania category, Page 69
Suspect arrested in slaying of Temple University police officer
PHILADELPHIA — A man is facing murder and other charges in the death of a Temple University police officer shot and killed near campus Saturday night, authorities said. The Philadelphia district attorney’s office said 18-year-old Miles Pfeffer will face charges of murder, murder of a law enforcement officer, robbery, carjacking...
Greensburg native, Pa. attorney general’s career in public service ‘incredibly gratifying’Video
As a child, Michelle Henry can remember passing by the county courthouse every school day on her way from Underwood Avenue to the former West Pittsburgh Street Elementary School in Greensburg, “That building and what they did in there always had an impact on me, in a way that maybe...
Penn State plans to renovate, not replace Beaver Stadium
Penn State University has decided to renovate rather than replace Beaver Stadium, the storied home of the Nittany Lions football program for more than six decades and one of the most prominent venues in college athletics. “After significant consultation and research, the university has decided that rather than build new...
What the public can and can’t know about Four Diamonds, beneficiary of Penn State THON’s fundraising
This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. Sign up for our regional newsletter, Talk of the Town. STATE COLLEGE — For years, thousands of Penn State students have participated in a grueling...
Prosecutors: Mechanicsburg woman should spend 7+ years in prison over Capitol riot
Federal prosecutors want a Cumberland County woman who acted as an “accelerant” during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the United States Capitol to serve seven years in prison for her role. They also want her to serve three years of supervised release, and pay $3,039 in restitution. But Riley Williams,...
IUP, state system roiled by former student’s racist social media post
The chairwoman of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education on Thursday condemned a racist social media post made earlier this month by a former Indiana University of Pennsylvania student. The student posted the racist message in response to a performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” before a men’s basketball...
Pa. Game Commission says 2022 bear harvest included 14 ‘tremendous’ bears over 600 pounds
While the number of black bears harvested in Pennsylvania in 2022 was down, some of those were “tremendous” animals that weighed more than 600 pounds. The Pennsylvania Game Commission said of the 3,170 bears harvested, three weighed more than 700 pounds and 11 weighed more than 600 pounds. It was...
Shapiro calls for ban of death penalty in Pennsylvania
Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Thursday he will continue Pennsylvania’s moratorium on the death penalty and will not issue any execution warrants during his term, and he is calling for the Legislature to pass a bill banning the practice altogether. Pennsylvania has not seen an execution since 1999, and only three...
Shapiro criticizes Norfolk Southern’s emergency response to Ohio train derailment
Gov. Josh Shapiro condemned train company Norfolk Southern in a letter this week, alleging the company failed to immediately contact the state after a train derailment near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border on Feb. 3. Shapiro said his office plans to take direct action against the company, and added the state legislature...
Split Pennsylvania House set for raucous return next week
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s top House Republican on Wednesday warned of chaos when legislators reconvene next week, six weeks after representatives elected a Democrat as House speaker and left Harrisburg without conducting any other business. Republican Minority Leader Bryan Cutler of Lancaster County, who quit as state House speaker at the...
Police say Pa. nursing home resident, 74, showed child porn to teen visitor
A Lancaster County nursing home resident is facing criminal charges after he befriended a visitor’s child and showed them child pornography he kept on his cellphone, police said. Kenneth F. Kuehne, 74, had hundreds of photos of naked children on his phone when he showed some to a 14-year-old visiting...
Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey undergoes prostate cancer surgery
HARRISBURG — Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania underwent surgery for prostate cancer on Tuesday; it was successful and he expects to return to a “normal schedule” after recovery, his office said. “His doctor reports that, as expected, the procedure went well and he confirmed that the Senator should not...
Penn State sends support message to Michigan State University after mass shooting
Leaders of Penn State University expressed shock and sympathy over Monday night’s mass shooting at a sister Big Ten institution and assured their own campuses across the Commonwealth that safety and counseling services are available. The shooting that left three Michigan State University students dead and five critically wounded traumatized...
Pa. House bill would make it easier for formerly incarcerated to vote
From finding a job to securing a place to live, formerly incarcerated people face any number of challenges when they return to their hometowns and neighborhoods. And research shows that a steady job and access to opportunity are among the factors that play a key role in keeping someone from...
Penn State to remain SAT/ACT optional for applicants
High school students applying for undergraduate spots at Penn State University through fall 2025 won’t have to take the SAT or ACT for admission, as the state’s flagship public institution is extending its test-optional policy once again. Penn State introduced the program in 2020 as a one-year pilot during the...
Thousands apply, but fewer than 250 qualify for Gov. Wolf’s marijuana pardon
When announcing the marijuana pardon project earlier this year, Gov. Tom Wolf said it had the potential to help thousands of Pennsylvanians clear their records. But it has fallen well short of that goal. More than 3,500 applications were sent in for the program, aimed at wiping out low-level marijuana...
Lottery for 800 rare whiskeys opens in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s state-run liquor department has opened a limited-release lottery, giving an opportunity to purchase 814 bottles of rare whiskey to those who register. The lottery includes hundreds of rare bottles from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection 2022 Release, as well as just a handful of bottles of Michter’s Straight Bourbon...
5 ways Pa.’s marijuana laws could change in 2023
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 — As the legislative session picks up, Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering a host of changes to the state’s cannabis laws...
Kutztown literacy program halted after outcry over book’s focus on climate change
Kutztown School District halted its new One Book, One School program before it reached students after receiving complaints over a book’s focus on climate change. News of the program’s cancellation was met by an outcry by those in favor of the selection of “Two Degrees” by a popular author for...
Mars Wrigley fined after workers fall into vat of chocolate
ELIZABETHTOWN — Federal workplace safety authorities have fined a central Pennsylvania confectionary factory more than $14,500 following an accident last year in which two workers fell into a vat of chocolate. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Mars Wrigley in the June accident at the Elizabethtown M&M/Mars factory, saying...
Tracking Josh Shapiro’s biggest campaign promises
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 — Gov. Josh Shapiro made a lot of promises on the campaign trail. Now, he faces the new challenge of...
Sen. John Fetterman discharged from hospital, will return to Senate Monday
PHILADELPHIA — Sen. John Fetterman was released from the hospital late Friday afternoon after checking himself in Wednesday with lightheadedness. Fetterman’s office said doctors ruled out another stroke and he was expected to return to the Senate when the chamber is back in session Monday. “A few minutes ago, Senator...
Pitt withdraws from participating in U.S. News & World Report law school rankings
The University of Pittsburgh said Friday it will withdraw from participating in the U.S. News & World Report law school rankings, joining a revolt now spreading nationally among public and private schools over the rankings’ methodology. The U.S. News Best Law Schools ranking system “is systematically flawed and harmful to...
Unexploded artillery shell from Civil War found in Gettysburg
Gettysburg National Military Park officials discovered an unexploded artillery shell this week at the Central Pennsylvania historic site during a rehabilitation process of the park. The unexploded ordnance shell was found on Feb. 8 within the Little Round Top area of the park, said officials, and it dates back to...
Shapiro, Pa. lawmakers face multibillion-dollar budget question after major school funding ruling
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 — A long-awaited ruling on how Pennsylvania funds its public schools could have a seismic impact on state finances in...
