Feds Investigating Discarded Pennsylvania Ballots, Unusual Statement Says Federal authorities say they've been asked to look into the discovery of some mailed ballots in Pennsylvania, an announcement that has appalled former Justice Department officials and voting experts.Katie MeyerUpdated Friday, Sept. 25 at 11:08 a.m. ET The FBI and the U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania said Thursday that they are investigating "potential issues" with nine military ballots in one county. They believe the ballots were opened improperly, though they have not filed any charges or taken...…Feds Investigating Discarded Pennsylvania Ballots, Unusual Statement Says Federal authorities say they've been asked to look into the discovery of some mailed ballots in Pennsylvania, an announcement that has appalled former Justice Department officials and voting experts.Katie MeyerUpdated Friday, Sept. 25 at 11:08 a.m. ET The FBI and the U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania said Thursday that they are investigating "potential issues" with nine military ballots in one county. They believe the ballots were opened improperly, though they have not filed any charges or taken...WW…

Amilcar Arroyo recalls that when he first came to Hazleton, a small city in southern Luzerne County, in 1989, he was one of just a handful of Spanish-speaking people who lived there.But things have changed so much since then.% of the people who now live in Hazleton are Latino. In 2002 Arroyo, who is originally from Peru, launched a Spanish-language newsletter to help people find services and community, and it blossomed into a monthly newspaper, . As its publisher, he takes pride in listing all the businesses — grocery stores, restaurants — owned by immigrants from the Dominican Republic,...…Amilcar Arroyo recalls that when he first came to Hazleton, a small city in southern Luzerne County, in 1989, he was one of just a handful of Spanish-speaking people who lived there.But things have changed so much since then.% of the people who now live in Hazleton are Latino. In 2002 Arroyo, who is originally from Peru, launched a Spanish-language newsletter to help people find services and community, and it blossomed into a monthly newspaper, . As its publisher, he takes pride in listing all the businesses — grocery stores, restaurants — owned by immigrants from the Dominican Republic,...WW…

How Philadelphia's Suburbs Helped Biden Win Pennsylvania In the four suburban counties that ring Philadelphia, Joe Biden topped President Trump by more than 280,000 votes.Heard onToggle more optionsPresident Trump's surrogates spent Saturday at a landscaping firm in northeast Philadelphia, making unsubstantiated claims of rampant voter fraud in the city. But it was Philadelphia's suburbs and their continued shift to Democrats that helped seal Pennsylvania — — for President-elect Joe Biden. The four counties that make up the city's suburbs — Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Bucks — saw a...…How Philadelphia's Suburbs Helped Biden Win Pennsylvania In the four suburban counties that ring Philadelphia, Joe Biden topped President Trump by more than 280,000 votes.Heard onToggle more optionsPresident Trump's surrogates spent Saturday at a landscaping firm in northeast Philadelphia, making unsubstantiated claims of rampant voter fraud in the city. But it was Philadelphia's suburbs and their continued shift to Democrats that helped seal Pennsylvania — — for President-elect Joe Biden. The four counties that make up the city's suburbs — Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Bucks — saw a...WW…

A group of about 50 people calling for significantly increasing assistance for the poor demonstrated outside former Vice President Joe Biden’s presidential campaign headquarters in Center City Monday evening, and one was arrested after she allegedly broke through a rented fence that was blocking the building from the sidewalk and attempted to push a list of demands through a door.The protest, which had begun a mile away at the Liberty Bell and ended at the office building near City Hall, was organized by the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign — a longstanding that advocates for...…A group of about 50 people calling for significantly increasing assistance for the poor demonstrated outside former Vice President Joe Biden’s presidential campaign headquarters in Center City Monday evening, and one was arrested after she allegedly broke through a rented fence that was blocking the building from the sidewalk and attempted to push a list of demands through a door.The protest, which had begun a mile away at the Liberty Bell and ended at the office building near City Hall, was organized by the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign — a longstanding that advocates for...WW…

It’s a worst-case scenario for a voter: You show up to your polling place on Election Day, give your name, but are told you’re not on the rolls. You know you registered. You know you’re in the right precinct. What do you do now?“In our election protection efforts, and especially in 2018, we worked with a number of people who went to their polling locations and were told that there’s no registration,” said Vic Walczak, an attorney with the Pennsylvania branch of the American Civil Liberties Union.“They were regular voters,” he added. “They had not moved, they had voted in the most recent...…It’s a worst-case scenario for a voter: You show up to your polling place on Election Day, give your name, but are told you’re not on the rolls. You know you registered. You know you’re in the right precinct. What do you do now?“In our election protection efforts, and especially in 2018, we worked with a number of people who went to their polling locations and were told that there’s no registration,” said Vic Walczak, an attorney with the Pennsylvania branch of the American Civil Liberties Union.“They were regular voters,” he added. “They had not moved, they had voted in the most recent...WW…

The coalition of lawmakers leading a push for police reform in Pennsylvania’s legislature say that, despite some major victories this week, they’re still wary that the GOP-controlled body could fall short of making the fundamental changes they think law enforcement needs.On Wednesday afternoon, following a concerted push from Harrisburg’s Legislative Black Caucus, four reform bills passed unanimously — two through the state House and two through the Senate — with a speed that would have been inconceivable just last month.The House’s would create a confidential statewide database of police...…The coalition of lawmakers leading a push for police reform in Pennsylvania’s legislature say that, despite some major victories this week, they’re still wary that the GOP-controlled body could fall short of making the fundamental changes they think law enforcement needs.On Wednesday afternoon, following a concerted push from Harrisburg’s Legislative Black Caucus, four reform bills passed unanimously — two through the state House and two through the Senate — with a speed that would have been inconceivable just last month.The House’s would create a confidential statewide database of police...WW…

Another candidate is entering the Democratic primary race for Pennsylvania’s 2022 U.S. Senate election. Philadelphia Sen. Sharif Street, long assumed to be interested in the seat, on Thursday .Street, 46, is planning to formally launch his exploratory committee next Friday, April 9.His first campaign step will be to travel around the commonwealth and have conversations with potential constituents, he said, which will inform his platform. Taking a dig at his presumed primary opponents, he expressed a desire to steer clear of “bumper sticker politics.”“What I’m not doing is what some of the...…Another candidate is entering the Democratic primary race for Pennsylvania’s 2022 U.S. Senate election. Philadelphia Sen. Sharif Street, long assumed to be interested in the seat, on Thursday .Street, 46, is planning to formally launch his exploratory committee next Friday, April 9.His first campaign step will be to travel around the commonwealth and have conversations with potential constituents, he said, which will inform his platform. Taking a dig at his presumed primary opponents, he expressed a desire to steer clear of “bumper sticker politics.”“What I’m not doing is what some of the...WW…

A New Jersey native who until recently operated a smoothie franchise near Penn State is facing multiple federal felony charges for an alleged assault that preceded the death of a Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick in the aftermath of a Jan. 6 Trump rally that ended with the storming of Congress.Julian Khater, who was linked to State College, Pa. in charging documents, and George Tanios, of West Virginia, were both arrested Sunday and face multiple felony charges for allegedly “working together to assault law enforcement officers,” including Sicknick, after the rally.The pair grew up...…A New Jersey native who until recently operated a smoothie franchise near Penn State is facing multiple federal felony charges for an alleged assault that preceded the death of a Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick in the aftermath of a Jan. 6 Trump rally that ended with the storming of Congress.Julian Khater, who was linked to State College, Pa. in charging documents, and George Tanios, of West Virginia, were both arrested Sunday and face multiple felony charges for allegedly “working together to assault law enforcement officers,” including Sicknick, after the rally.The pair grew up...WW…

After more than 30 years, Bensalem police have figured out the identity of a young pregnant woman whose body was found at the bottom of a well in an abandoned distillery.She was Lisa Todd, of Philadelphia, and was just 17 years old when she disappeared in the fall of 1985.Detective Chris McMullin, who worked on the case for more than 15 years, recently cold-called Todd’s family members to inform them of a DNA match.“Her brother was literally speechless, understandably so,” said McMullin. “After I summed it up, I said, ‘With all that being said, do you have a sibling that vanished or...…After more than 30 years, Bensalem police have figured out the identity of a young pregnant woman whose body was found at the bottom of a well in an abandoned distillery.She was Lisa Todd, of Philadelphia, and was just 17 years old when she disappeared in the fall of 1985.Detective Chris McMullin, who worked on the case for more than 15 years, recently cold-called Todd’s family members to inform them of a DNA match.“Her brother was literally speechless, understandably so,” said McMullin. “After I summed it up, I said, ‘With all that being said, do you have a sibling that vanished or...WW…

One week after she’d diffused tensions with protesters in her West Philadelphia district by getting them on the phone with Mayor Jim Kenney, City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier to hold a meeting with officials.For several hours on Sunday afternoon, a group of Philadelphia residents, elected officials and a handful of police officers gathered in a small conference room, sat in a circle facing one another and embarked on a discussion about systemic racism in policing. Kenney did not attend.Gauthier hosted the meeting with and state Rep. Joanna McClinton, both Democrats who represent districts...…One week after she’d diffused tensions with protesters in her West Philadelphia district by getting them on the phone with Mayor Jim Kenney, City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier to hold a meeting with officials.For several hours on Sunday afternoon, a group of Philadelphia residents, elected officials and a handful of police officers gathered in a small conference room, sat in a circle facing one another and embarked on a discussion about systemic racism in policing. Kenney did not attend.Gauthier hosted the meeting with and state Rep. Joanna McClinton, both Democrats who represent districts...WW…