Lancaster Watchdog

Lancaster Country Day AI incident moves lawmakers to push changes in mandatory reporting law Three Lancaster County lawmakers are working on legislation that would require school administrators to report the discovery of any artificially generated sexually explicit images depicting minors, re...

“I honestly feel that the immediate breakdown was in the adults in the room not immediately contacting the police,” Sen. James Malone said Monday.

via @lancasteronline.bsky.social

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Pa. Attorney General Sunday launches expanded mental health diversion program Attorney General Dave Sunday on Monday announced that his office will launch a pilot program to aid people with mental illness who commit minor crimes by connecting them with treatment

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, roughly 38% of the state’s incarcerated population has been treated for mental illness. lancasteronline.com/news/politic...

Drumore Township distributes state funding for volunteer fire companies When: Drumore Township Board of Supervisors meeting, Oct. 2. Chair Dwight Eshleman was absent; Vice Chair Brad Byers conducted the meeting in Eshleman’s absence.

Drumore Township distributes state funding for volunteer fire companies
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Tensions flare as Lancaster City Council indefinitely tables talks on a police review board Nearing the end of their terms in December, Lancaster Mayor Danene Sorace and City Council member Janet Diaz took jabs at one another Monday night as council agreed to indefinitely

Nearing the end of their terms in December, Lancaster Mayor Danene Sorace and City Council member Janet Diaz took jabs at one another Monday night as council agreed to indefinitely table a plan to create a city police review board.
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Lancaster County voters must provide email to receive mail-in ballot alerts Voters who want to receive automated updates on the status of their submitted mail-in ballots should provide an email address when applying. Alerts are not available via text message, county

Voters who want to receive automated updates on the status of their submitted mail-in ballots should provide an email address when applying. Alerts are not available via text message, county officials clarified at Tuesday’s board of elections meeting.
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Here are the new rules proposed for data centers in Lancaster city Public hearings, noise regulations and reports on water and electricity use are among the rules under consideration for data centers proposed in the future in Lancaster city.

Public hearings, noise regulations and reports on water and electricity use are among the rules under consideration for data centers proposed in the future in Lancaster city.
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Ephrata school board will vote on $42.5M HVAC replacement project in 3 schools When: Ephrata Area school board committee meeting, Oct. 6.

Ephrata school board will vote on $42.5 million HVAC replacement project in 3 schools
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Unusable well pump in Denver Borough comes as 'complete surprise,' council votes to replace it When: Denver Borough Council meeting, Sept. 29. Council member Andrew Brubaker was absent.

Unusable well pump in Denver Borough comes as 'complete surprise,' council votes to replace it
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Why I want to be mayor: Candidates in Ephrata, E-town, Columbia, Lititz, Millersville and East Pete state their cases Six of Lancaster County’s 18 boroughs have contested mayoral races this fall, including the five biggest by population, which are, in descending order of population: Ephrata, Elizabethtown, Columbia,...

Six of Lancaster County’s 18 boroughs have contested mayoral races this fall, including the five biggest by population, which are, in descending order of population: Ephrata, Elizabethtown, Columbia, Lititz and Millersville.
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LNP Media Group to close office at 101NQ in downtown Lancaster, seek smaller space elsewhere LNP | LancasterOnline is leaving downtown Lancaster – perhaps for good – ending the newspaper’s unbroken, 231-year history in the city where it made headlines for its support of economic

LNP | LancasterOnline is leaving downtown Lancaster – perhaps for good – ending the newspaper’s unbroken, 231-year history in the city where it made headlines for its support of economic development.
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Repairs to East Cocalico bridges and culverts still underway after July flooding When: East Cocalico Board of Supervisors meeting, Oct. 2.

Repairs to East Cocalico bridges and culverts still underway after July flooding
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Country Day AI incident moves Lancaster County lawmakers to push changes in mandatory reporting law Three Lancaster County lawmakers are working on legislation that would require school administrators to report the discovery of any artificially generated sexually explicit images depicting minors, regardless...

Three Lancaster County lawmakers are working on legislation that would require school administrators to report the discovery of any artificially generated sexually explicit images depicting minors, regardless of whether the perpetrator is a minor.
lanc.news/48jOiKA

Bart Township supervisors advise zoning board to deny variance for shed manufacturer in ag zone When: Bart Township Board of Supervisors meeting, Oct. 1.

Bart Township supervisors advise zoning board to deny variance for shed manufacturer in ag zone
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Adamstown library seeks more funding from West Cocalico where residents checked out 50,000 items When: West Cocalico Township Board of Supervisors meeting, Oct. 2.

Adamstown library seeks more funding from West Cocalico where residents checked out 50,000 items
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Akron Borough proposes draft 2026 budget; council members debate playground project When: Akron Borough Council meeting, Sept. 29.

Akron Borough proposes draft 2026 budget; council members debate playground project
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Lancaster judge faces unusual pushback ahead of retention vote [Lancaster Watchdog] Judicial retention votes in Pennsylvania courts usually go off without a hitch.

Judicial retention votes in Pennsylvania courts usually go off without a hitch.
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A closer look at GOP’s health care argument over federal government shutdown The budget deadlock that shuttered the federal government has spawned a political argument over whether or not Democrats want to provide free health care to noncitizens in the country illegally.

Rep. Lloyd Smucker and other Republicans say Democrats want to give away free health care to non-citizens who are in the United States illegally. Here's a look at the facts:
lancasteronline.com/news/politic...

Bipartisan group of state lawmakers calls for transparency in prison land sale • Pennsylvania Capital-Star “Despite our every effort, we were not able to stop the closure of SCI Rockview and Quehanna Boot Camp,” Conklin said. “But we can work to make sure that any sale of the underlying land happens in the...

A trio of lawmakers from Clearfield and Centre Counties are calling for transparency when the state sells the land housing two soon-to-be-shuttered correctional facilities.

From @iankarbal.bsky.social

The final push: Here are the candidates competing for Lancaster mayor, City Council seats this November Despite a resounding victory in the May primary, Democrat Jaime Arroyo isn’t taking his foot off the gas until the Lancaster mayoral race is over.

lancasteronline.com/news/politic...

Motorcylist stopped by chief charged with fleeing Manheim Township Police in new incident The 25-year-old Lancaster man whose traffic stop in April led to the firing of Manheim Township’s police chief was charged last week with fleeing an officer and evading arrest near

The 25-year-old Lancaster man whose traffic stop in April led to the firing of Manheim Township’s police chief was charged last week with fleeing an officer and evading arrest near his workplace at Foxshire Plaza on Fruitville Pike.
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Layoffs, cuts, closures are inevitable without Pa. budget, nonprofits warn lawmakers HARRISBURG — Dozens of advocates from critical service providers gathered in the Capitol on Thursday to warn lawmakers of impending layoffs, program closures and reduced services for children and seni...

lancasteronline.com/news/politic...

J.P. McCaskey math teacher is finalist for federal math and science teaching award When: School District of Lancaster school board meeting, Sept. 23.

J.P. McCaskey math teacher is finalist for federal math and science teaching award
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Landisville Primary Center HVAC project proceeds with Hempfield requesting bids for 2026 start date When: Hempfield school board buildings, grounds, and finance committee meeting, Sept. 30.

Landisville Primary Center HVAC project proceeds with Hempfield requesting bids for 2026 start date
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Modest public turnout at Lancaster County anthrax preparedness exercise When Terri Willner read that Lancaster County needed members of the public to participate in an upcoming public health emergency preparedness exercise, she saw a learning opportunity for the black

When Terri Willner read that Lancaster County needed members of the public to participate in an upcoming public health emergency preparedness exercise, she saw a learning opportunity for the black poodle she is training to be a service dog.
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What the government shutdown means for USDA agencies • Pennsylvania Capital-Star More than half of USDA staff will be furloughed during the government shutdown. Some key programs will persist through the shutdown.

Pennsylvania GOP Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson, chair of the House Agriculture Committee, blamed Democrats, who demanded extentions to the ACA be added to the stopgap spending bill, for shutting down the government and putting “critical USDA services in jeopardy.”

From @iowacapitaldispatch.com

Lancaster County will keep relying on state alert system for mail ballots Lancaster County election officials say they already comply with last week’s Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling that counties cannot “hide” voters’ mail-in ballot errors.

Lancaster County election officials say they already comply with last week’s Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling that counties cannot “hide” voters’ mail-in ballot errors.
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Registration open for Lancaster city walk to raise awareness of human trafficking The sixth annual Freedom Walk to raise awareness for human trafficking and sexual exploitation will be held Oct. 11 in downtown Lancaster.

The sixth annual Freedom Walk to raise awareness for human trafficking and sexual exploitation will be held Oct. 11 in downtown Lancaster.
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Lancaster Bureau of Water seeks double-digit water rate hike for customers out of the city A water rate increase as high as 29.8% is coming Nov. 29 for Lancaster Bureau of Water customers located outside of the city if state regulators approve the bureau’s request.

A water rate increase as high as 29.8% is coming Nov. 29 for Lancaster Bureau of Water customers located outside of the city if state regulators approve the bureau’s request.
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PPL seeks rate hike PPL Electric Utilities’ residential customers would see their bills rise 6.68% by July 1, 2026, if the company’s request is approved by state regulators.

PPL Electric Utilities’ residential customers would see their bills rise 6.68% by July 1, 2026, if the company’s request is approved by state regulators.
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Manheim council approves tax abatement for senior living development in former elementary school When: Manheim Borough Council meeting, Sept. 30. Council member Jared Zeamer was absent.

Manheim council approves tax abatement for senior living development in former elementary school
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