All articles tagged with #pennsylvania
During an annual Pierson Middle School rafting trip on Pennsylvania's Lehigh River in the Poconos, a sixth-grader, Cesar Albarracin Guncay, died after his raft capsized; he did not resurface. The body was recovered and the cause of death ruled drowning. Life jackets were in use, and safety equipment will be reviewed as investigators examine the incident. School counselors are offering support to students and families.
Governor Josh Shapiro announced a nearly $30 million, near-term plan to reduce traffic, improve safety, and boost economic activity around the South Philadelphia Sports Complex (Citizens Bank Park, Lincoln Financial Field, Xfinity Mobile Area). The package includes nine improvements such as a second left-turn lane onto I-95 North and a new entrance ramp to I-76 West on 7th Street, 19 smart traffic lights, enhanced signage, and an operations event center; construction has begun with a target completion in 2028, announced alongside Philadelphia’s mayor and regional partners.
A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette investigation found that at least 20 Pennsylvania school districts linked parents to Vaclib.org, an anti-vaccine site, via exemption forms as vaccination rates fell and herd immunity weakened in dozens of elementary schools. While a state ad campaign aimed to boost immunizations, districts broadly shared the misinformation—some without realizing it—that then was removed after media inquiries. The findings highlight a lack of centralized oversight and enforcement of vaccine laws in Pennsylvania, and raise concerns about contributing to measles risk as districts face divergent messaging about vaccines.
Four Pennsylvania battlegrounds (PA-1, PA-7, PA-8, PA-10) could determine control of the House, with Gov. Josh Shapiro signaling deep involvement and funding to back targeted seats and amplify his 2028 ambitions, while Trump’s role remains a variable in a challenging national climate; incumbents Fitzpatrick, Mackenzie, Bresnahan and Perry face challengers as both parties race to capitalize on a limited map and voters’ concerns about the economy and corruption.
In Pennsylvania’s 2026 primaries, progressive Chris Rabb won the Philadelphia-based 3rd District seat, while Bob Harvie defeated Lucia Simonelli in Bucks County’s 1st District; Gov. Josh Shapiro and Republican Stacy Garrity won uncontested primaries. Democrats hope swing districts will help them in November, and Philadelphia voters approved two ballot measures — a city retirement savings program and an office to monitor youth services — as full results continue to roll in.
Pennsylvania’s primary elections produced mixed results as incumbents faced money from skill-games and sports-betting interests, with three Republican state senators—Baker, Bartolotta, and Gebhard—surviving challenges; in the House, Greg Vitali was defeated by Judy Trombetta in the 166th, while Ce-Ce Gerlach led Ana Tiburcio in the 22nd. In the 16th Senate District, Mark Pinsley defeated Bradley Merkl-Gump to face Jarrett Coleman in November, aided by a new PAC targeting Merkl-Gump. Other contests included the 148th District race with no Republican on the ballot and Dave Nissley winning the retiring Bryan Cutler seat in Lancaster County; many races remain shaped for uncompetitive general elections.
Two Pennsylvania parents, Kevin Canaan and Yeniffer Tavarez-Cepeda, are charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, and endangering the welfare of a child after allegedly abusing their one-day-old baby in a Tower Health Reading Hospital maternity room; the infant died after being transported to Penn State Hershey Medical Center, with autopsy findings indicating injuries consistent with abuse and ruling the death a homicide.
Tuesday’s primaries across six states yielded a mix of progressives (e.g., Chris Rabb in Philadelphia) and working-class populists (Bob Brooks in PA’s Lehigh Valley) alongside a high-profile Georgia contender (Keisha Lance Bottoms) boosted by Biden’s backing. The results underscore the party’s ongoing split between bold, populist messaging and establishment-backed pragmatism, with no single clear trajectory emerging for Democrats heading toward the midterms.
Trump and his allies dominated Tuesday’s primaries, lifting Trump-endorsed candidates in Georgia and Kentucky and pushing Alabama races toward runoffs while ousting GOP critic Thomas Massie in Kentucky; Democrats notched a left-leaning victory in Pennsylvania’s 3rd District with Chris Rabb; Georgia’s Senate race heads to a runoff as Mike Collins leads the GOP field and Gov. Kemp’s race drew little Trump involvement; a Supreme Court ruling reshaped Alabama primaries by allowing last-minute map changes that left four districts with no votes and sparked legal challenges; Oregon set up a Tina Kotek–Christine Drazan rematch, and other down-ballot contests could influence November outcomes.
Former Bethlehem firefighter and union leader Bob Brooks won the Pennsylvania 7th District Democratic nomination, underscoring a party push to win back blue-collar voters with a more populist, working-class message as he prepares to face Republican Ryan Mackenzie in a pivotal November race amid broader national concerns about party appeal and polarization.
Democrats in Pennsylvania, led by Gov. Josh Shapiro, won their primaries, setting up a November showdown with Stacy Garrity for governor and boosting a push to flip four swing U.S. House seats as part of a broader effort to win control of the House and a state legislative majority.
Democrats’ four battleground primaries in Pennsylvania could decide control of the House, as Democrats need a net of three seats in November. Nominees include Bob Brooks in the Allentown-area 7th District to face Rep. Ryan Mackenzie; Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie in the 1st District to take on Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick; Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti in the 8th District to face Rep. Rob Bresnahan; and Janelle Stelson in the 10th District to challenge Rep. Scott Perry. Outside spending and endorsements from unions and party committees have heavily influenced these races, underscoring the high-stakes fight for a House majority amid broader primary battles nationwide.
Live results from Pennsylvania's closed 2026 primaries show Gov. Josh Shapiro and Treasurer Stacy Garrity running unopposed, with Lt. Gov. Austin Davis also unopposed and Jason Richey winning the GOP running mate slot. In U.S. House races, Chris Rabb won Philadelphia’s open 3rd District; Summer Lee advances in the 12th to face James Hayes; in the 17th District, Beaver County Sheriff Tony Guy and Jesse James Vodvarka challenge Democrat Chris Deluzio. State House and Senate races are on the ballot, with Democrats controlling the House and Republicans controlling the Senate; results are updated as they come in.
Progressive state Rep. Chris Rabb won the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania’s 3rd District, defeating state Sen. Sharif Street and Ala Stanford and is all but guaranteed to replace retiring Rep. Dwight Evans; backed by the Squad, Working Families Party and DSA, Rabb frames the win as a shift toward left-flank progressivism and a rebuke of Philadelphia’s establishment.
Bob Brooks, a firefighter union leader endorsed by Governor Josh Shapiro, won the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania’s 7th District and will face GOP Rep. Ryan Mackenzie in November, a win that underscores Shapiro’s push to flip four swing seats and boost the DCCC. The bid drew broad Democratic support and notable endorsements despite scrutiny over old social-media posts and a family property dispute, with outside groups like Lead Left spending in the race to influence the outcome.