Braeden Phillips, 20, faces charges of conspiracy to commit murder and unlawful firearm possession for allegedly plotting a mass shooting at State College High School on April 21st, coinciding with the Columbine anniversary. Phillips allegedly created a hit list and planned to detonate bombs in school bathrooms during a high-traffic period. A tip from concerned youth center staff initiated the investigation, leading to Phillips’ arrest and detention as an extreme danger to the community. Police are investigating potential accomplices, as Phillips reportedly implicated a juvenile friend.
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Falls Township Fire Chief Brian Salt was arrested and charged with assaulting his three-month-old daughter, causing a skull fracture. Salt admitted to intentionally dropping the infant after becoming frustrated with her crying while his wife was at work. Police say Salt initially lied about the incident, claiming he found his daughter injured. Following his arraignment on multiple charges, Salt’s bail was set at $500,000, and he has been suspended from his position.
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Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for its broad freeze on federal funding, alleging an unconstitutional withholding of at least $5.5 billion in appropriated funds. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, claims the freeze violates the Administrative Procedure Act and fundamental constitutional tenets. Shapiro argues the Trump administration is breaking contracts with the Commonwealth, jeopardizing crucial projects related to public health, infrastructure, and job creation. The suit names several federal agencies and their leaders as defendants, and follows unsuccessful attempts to restore the frozen funding.
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Jacob Weight received a 9-to-25-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to starving and repeatedly beating his daughter, who was often restrained and confined to a dog crate. His co-defendant, Mimi Frost, received a 35-to-70-year sentence for her role in the abuse, described by the assistant district attorney as the worst case of child abuse she had ever encountered. The abuse included withholding food, physical beatings, and confinement in a zip-tied dog crate. Despite the severity of the abuse, the child is now thriving.
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A Pennsylvania man, Andrew Neirer, was attacked and bitten by a rabid black bear while walking near Jim Thorpe. A neighbor intervened, shooting the bear, which subsequent testing confirmed had rabies. Neirer received medical treatment and is expected to recover fully. While rare, the incident highlights the importance of reporting unusual animal behavior, and the effectiveness of rabies post-exposure treatment.
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Following the arrest of Brian Thompson’s alleged killer, Luigi Mangione, at an Altoona, Pennsylvania McDonald’s, all three of the town’s McDonald’s locations, along with those in Iowa, received a deluge of negative Google reviews. Many reviewers falsely accused the restaurants of harboring rats, conflating the arresting employee with the establishments themselves. The reviews frequently employed sarcastic and humorous language, ranging from accusations of poor hygiene to claims of staff misconduct. This online backlash highlights the rapid spread of misinformation and the power of internet outrage in the wake of high-profile news events.
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John Q. Hosedrinker