Pennsylvania category, Page 14
Listen to the 911 call Cody Balmer placed after allegedly setting fire to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s mansionVideo
PHILADELPHIA — In a roughly minute-long phone call to Dauphin County 911, the man accused of setting three fires in Gov. Josh Shapiro’s official residence told dispatchers Pennsylvania’s chief executive needed to leave his family and friends alone. “Gov. Josh Shapiro needs to know that Cody Balmer will not take...
Former Pa. State Police commissioner hired to investigate security breach that led to governor’s mansion arson
PHILADELPHIA — A former commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police who later served as chief of security for the National Football League will conduct an independent security review of the arson attack on the governor’s mansion in Harrisburg, the current head of the state police announced Friday. Jeffrey B. Miller,...
The arson at Gov. Josh Shapiro’s mansion erupted within minutes. The effect lingers
HARRISBURG — The pounding of fists on the governor’s bedroom door was loud and urgent. The mansion was on fire, a state trooper yelled, and Pennsylvania’s first family needed to get out immediately. Gov. Josh Shapiro and his wife, Lori, jumped out of bed and rushed from room to room...
The people who represent you in D.C. and Harrisburg are allowed to keep their calendars secret
This story originally appeared in Talk of the Town, a weekly newsletter of local stories that dig deep, events, and more from the Spotlight PA State College bureau. Sign up at spotlightpa.org/newsletters/talkofthetown. STATE COLLEGE — Since President Donald Trump’s inauguration, multiple protests have been held outside U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson’s...
Mack Trucks to lay off hundreds of workers at Pa. plant, with company blaming tariffs, other factors
Mack Trucks will lay off 250 to 350 workers at its Lehigh Valley Operations plant in Lower Macungie Township because of tariffs and other economic factors. A Mack spokesperson said heavy-duty truck orders “continue to be negatively affected by market uncertainty about freight rates and demand, possible regulatory changes, and...
Gov. Shapiro talks about arson attack in ‘Good Morning America’ interview
In an interview with “Good Morning America” on Friday, Gov. Josh Shapiro condemned the rise of politically motivated threats in the wake of the attempted homicide and arson attack April 13 at the Governor’s Residence. “It’s real,” Shapiro told co-host George Stephanopoulos. “I mean, this is sadly a real part...
Some Pennsylvania Jews reminded of Tree of Life shooting after arson attack on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s home
HARRISBURG — A year ago, Carole Zawatsky was invited by Gov. Josh Shapiro to a Passover Seder, held in the same room at the governor’s official residence that was devastated by an arsonist just hours after Shapiro hosted this year’s Jewish holiday feast. Now, as she looks at photos of...
Security review planned for Gov. Shapiro’s official residence after arson attack
HARRISBURG — An independent expert will review security at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s official residence after investigators accused a man of scaling a wall and setting fire to the mansion, state police said Wednesday. State police said the review will be a risk and vulnerability assessment of the governor’s official...
Pa. Gov. Shapiro was targeted for ‘what he wants to do to Palestinian people,’ warrant shows
The suspect in the arson attack at the Governor’s Residence targeted Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro because of his perceived stance on Palestine, according to a search warrant obtained by PennLive. The suspect, Cody Balmer, called 911 following the attack early Sunday, identified himself by name and told operators Shapiro needs...
Measles cases in Pa. remain low amid national outbreak, but vaccine hesitancy lays groundwork for spread
This story first appeared in How We Care, a weekly newsletter by Spotlight PA featuring original reporting and perspectives on how we care for one another at all stages of life. This year marked the first death from measles in the United States since 2015 — and the second and...
Man accused of trying to kill Gov. Shapiro lost his home, tried suicide, was melting down
There was a time in Cody Balmer’s life where, from the outside, you might say things were on an even keel. He was a married homeowner, working full-time as an auto mechanic at a well-regarded shop, and a fixture at his kid’s youth sports events. “Always seemed like a hardworking...
Officials work to uncover the motive for fire set at Pa. governor’s residence
HARRISBURG — Investigators worked Tuesday to uncover the motive behind an arson fire over the weekend at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s mansion, the latest act of political violence in the U.S. They dug into Cody Balmer’s background after, authorities say, he scaled an iron security fence in the middle of...
Key security questions remain unanswered in arson at Governor’s Residence
It remained unclear how a man evaded security to firebomb the Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence in an attack that has been decried by elected officials and religious leaders. But the attack is merely the latest in what appears to be a rising tide of violence against elected officials. Recent incidents include...
Video/photo gallery: Act of arson at Gov. Josh Shapiro’s residenceVideo
Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro and the Pennsylvania State Police give an update on the act of arson at the Pennsylvania governor’s residence early Sunday morning, April 13, 2025. The fire left a significant amount of damage. The man, who was arrested later in the day, faces charges including attempted homicide,...
Judge denies bail for man accused of setting fire at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s residence
HARRISBURG — A man who allegedly scaled an iron security fence in the middle of the night, eluded police and set fire to the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion was denied bail Monday as he faced charges including attempted homicide, terrorism and arson. Cody Balmer spoke with a public defender at...
What to know about Gov. Josh Shapiro and the alleged arson at his official residence
sHARRISBURG — A man is facing charges after authorities say he broke into the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion in the middle of the night Sunday morning, set a fire that left significant damage and forced Gov. Josh Shapiro, his family and guests to evacuate the building during the Jewish holiday of...
Pennsylvania school shooting was planned for Columbine anniversary
STATE COLLEGE — A Pennsylvania man remained jailed on Sunday after being accused by authorities of planning a mass school shooting for later this month that would have coincided with the anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre. Police allege Braeden Phillips, 20, had planned to commit a mass shooting...
Suspect arrested in arson at Pennsylvania governor’s residenceVideo
HARRISBURG — A man was arrested on felony charges of setting an early morning fire Sunday that badly damaged the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion in Harrisburg and forced Gov. Josh Shapiro, his family and guests to flee. Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg faces felony charges of criminal attempted homicide, aggravated arson,...
Emails between Pa. lawmakers, lobbyists will remain hidden from public after court ruling
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. HARRISBURG — Emails and other communications between Pennsylvania lawmakers and the lobbyists who try to influence them will remain hidden from the public, an appellate...
Sen. Dave McCormick joins Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick in calling for term limits for members of Congress
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick has joined forces with U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick in calling for changes to the Constitution to impose term limits on members of Congress — a concept that continues to be an off-and-on debate on Capitol Hill. McCormick’s resolution, introduced Thursday, proposes capping term limits...
Hunting clubs ask Pa. Supreme Court to ban warrantless searches by game officials
In the summer of 2013, a state wildlife officer confronted a member of the Pitch Pine Hunting Club, accusing him of feeding bears outside a house on the club’s property. Wildlife Officer Mark Gritzer told club member Jon Mikesell that he had been watching Mikesell and his guests for several...
Pa. state police equip 3,000 troopers with body cameras in bid to improve ‘public trust’
More than 3,000 Pennsylvania State Police patrol troopers are now equipped with body-worn cameras to record interactions with the public, the agency said Thursday. State police said the effort, which started in the summer of 2023, was completed weeks ahead of schedule and covers patrol troopers at all 89 stations...
At a little known Rolls-Royce museum in Pennsylvania farm country, volunteers dote over iconic cars
MECHANICSBURG — Mike Fowler had been faintly aware that a museum of Rolls-Royce and Bentley vehicles existed near his boyhood home in the suburbs of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, but the car enthusiast didn’t expect the experience he got when he started volunteering there. Fowler had oil on his hands within a...
Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity seriously eyeing run for governor as the GOP race for 2026 heats up
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity is seriously considering a run for governor in 2026, as the GOP race to challenge Gov. Josh Shapiro heats up. Garrity, who replaced Shapiro as Pennsylvania’s top vote-getter in history when she won reelection last year, has been a leading prospect for Republican insiders...
Pa. House passes pension increase for oldest retired teachers, state government workers
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has again passed a bill that would give a cost-of-living raise to roughly 59,000 retired teachers and state employees whose pension benefits have been held flat since 2002. The issue is one of the many idiosyncrasies of the State Employees Retirement System (SERS) and the...
