Sarah Metts

Three people were killed in two separate crashes in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Karl Hafner, 61, died in Greene Township after another vehicle crossed the double yellow lines on Mount Pleasant Road and struck his car; the other driver was hospitalized. In Saint Thomas Township, Ross DeShong and Paula Young died when a car pulled in front of their motorcycle at Lincoln Way West and Hade Road, while the car’s driver was also hospitalized.

Steelton Mayor Ciera Dent is stepping down after five years in office, saying the borough needs a change in leadership and fresh ideas. Dent highlighted improvements to public safety, the stability of the police department, collaboration with borough council, and initiatives such as a public safety walk. Applications for the next mayor close August 10, and Dent’s final day is August 17; the borough hopes to select her successor by then.

Shawn D. Jones, 55, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, burglary and robbery in the 2013 stabbing death of Allan Hess inside a Lancaster home. Investigators reopened the decade-old case in 2023 and obtained a DNA match from a cigarette butt in an ashtray, identifying Jones, who was already imprisoned on unrelated charges. Jones admitted entering the home to steal a television and stabbing Hess after being confronted; he was sentenced to 25 years to life, bringing resolution to the case for Hess’s family.

Small-business owners and representatives of American Legion and VFW posts rallied in Lancaster to oppose the potential removal of skill-game machines, arguing that the revenue helps pay expenses, maintain facilities and fund community programs. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the machines are slot machines subject to gambling laws and gave lawmakers and Gov. Josh Shapiro 120 days to address them. Supporters back a bipartisan proposal involving a $500 monthly fee per machine, Pennsylvania Lottery oversight, a 50,000-machine statewide cap and estimated annual revenue of $300 million. Lawmakers remain divided over taxation, permitted locations and player protections, and enforcement is expected to begin in mid-October unless a new legal framework is adopted.

Lancaster Country Day School has filed a motion to dismiss a civil lawsuit brought on behalf of more than a dozen alleged victims and their parents in an AI-generated child sexual abuse material case. The lawsuit alleges the school received multiple warnings about deepfake nude images in 2023 and 2024 but failed to act or report the information. The school argues that a Safe2Say tip came from the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, which itself is law enforcement, and that administrators had no mandatory-reporting duty because the information did not meet the legal definition of child abuse. The school says it reported back to law enforcement and acted properly.

York County District Attorney Tim Barker has filed a quo warranto petition seeking the removal of York City Councilman Ryan Supler, citing a 2012 felony conviction that state law defines as an infamous crime disqualifying individuals from public office. The challenge follows a request submitted in April and is supported by legal precedent clarified by a more recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling that bars anyone with a felony conviction from holding office. Comparisons to a 2011 case involving former Mayor Michael Helfrich highlight differing legal standards at the time. Supler and Barker’s office declined further comment, while Supler stated he will continue serving pending legal proceedings.

Flash flooding in Lancaster County closed Greenfield Road after heavy rain trapped a black sedan under an underpass, prompting a water rescue. Lafayette Fire Company reported that no one was injured as the car was towed away. Officials urged drivers to avoid flooded roads, obey barricades, and clear debris from storm drains to reduce ponding.

Severe storms over the Fourth of July weekend caused significant damage on North 26th Street in Camp Hill, where a massive tree branch crashed onto a home, striking the chimney and roof. Neighbors reported a loud boom as the limb snapped during the first line of storms. Nearby pine trees also dropped branches on power lines, leaving about 9,000 PPL customers without electricity, with restoration expected by Wednesday night.

Severe storms over two consecutive nights caused the deaths of a mother and son in Cumberland County and left widespread destruction across South-Central Pennsylvania. Tens of thousands of residents lost power as fallen trees, downed wires, sinkholes, and flooding impacted multiple counties, with Manheim Township, Lititz, Fairview Township, and Hummelstown among the hardest hit. Emergency crews worked to clear debris and assess damage while areas faced malfunctioning traffic signals and washed-out roads. Heavy rainfall set a new daily record at Harrisburg International Airport as parts of the region received up to five inches of rain.

An 18-year-old identified as Hector Martinez Jr. was arrested after a home invasion in Warwick Township, Pennsylvania, in which the homeowner was pistol-whipped and two 14-year-olds were held at gunpoint. The suspects fled, prompting a neighborhood chase that ended when Martinez crashed his vehicle and was taken into custody with an assault rifle and ammunition. The second suspect carjacked a resident and forced them to drive to the Reading area before fleeing. No victims suffered serious injuries, and the investigation is ongoing.