Pennsylvania

Poor schools are prepared to return to court if Pennsylvania budget falls short on funding plan

Published

2 years ago

January 5, 2024

Poor schools are prepared to return to court if Pennsylvania budget falls short on funding plan

Lawyers for the school districts that sued have said they will return to court to ask a judge to compel Shapiro and lawmakers to better close the funding gap among districts across the state if a distribution plan isn’t put into place with a reasonable timeframe.

The lawyers analyzed the spending of districts that perform well based on Pennsylvania’s goals and compared that to what the state estimates those districts’ needs are, determining how much every school district should have in order to mirror that same success. On average, school districts are short $2,500 per student, they said.

Their proposal calls on the state to develop a system that finds how much funding is needed to reach the state’s adequacy goals, determine how much funding is missing from each district, and allocate the funds in a consistent, predictable manner beginning in the 2024-25 year. The state should not rely on local tax dollars to fill the gap, they said. It should also consider facilities and pre-K funding.

“The court decision in early 2023 changed the game,” said Susan Spicka, executive director of Education Voters of Pennsylvania. “Lawmakers and the governor can no longer base school funding levels on how much they feel like investing each year as they have in the past. There is a new standard that they must meet, which is ensuring universal access to a comprehensive, effective and contemporary education.”

Public school advocates are likelier to find more support for their plan from the Democratic-controlled House than the Republican-controlled Senate. The majority of state senators are resistant to spending billions of new dollars on public schools and instead have pushed to send more state money to subsidize private schools.

Additionally, while Shapiro made significant investments in public education in his first budget cycle, it did not go as far as public education advocates and other Democrats were hoping.

“Our governor has touted the extraordinary work of the Commonwealth and the city of Philadelphia to repair I-95 in less than two weeks, and we urge that that same resolve and ambition be adopted by the governor and all parties in stopping the school funding lawsuit,” said Donna Cooper, executive director of Children First.

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Pennsylvania

Former Pennsylvania 911 director sentenced to decades in prison for child sex crimes

Published

17 minutes ago

May 8, 2026

Press Room

Former Pennsylvania 911 director sentenced to decades in prison for child sex crimes

Former Somerset County 911 director Bradley Lavan has been sentenced to as long as 120 years behind bars for sex crimes he committed against five children.

Late last year, Bradley Lavan pleaded guilty late last year to dozens of charges stemming from a 2023 arrest where police alleged he sexually abused five young children.

Lavan was ordered Thursday to serve 60 to 120 years in state prison, a sentence that Somerset County District Attorney Tom Leiden called “appropriate,” citing the seriousness of the crimes he committed.

“Today, justice was served,” Leiden said, adding that “the sentence should assure that Mr. Lavan is never able to prey on innocent children again.”

At the time of his arrest, then District Attorney Molly Metzgar said that it was alleged that Lavan groomed children in ages from 3 to 6 years old and forced them into performing various sex acts on him while they were in his home.

Police at the time said that Lavan’s time as the 911 director in Somerset County ended before he was arrested and the charges and his work with the county weren’t connected.

“This successful prosecution and sentence are the result of the District Attorney’s Office’s commitment to seeking justice for victims and for protecting the children of Somerset County,” Leiden said. “We will continue to work tirelessly to make Somerset County a safe place to live, work, and raise a family.”

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Pennsylvania

Man wanted in connection with fatal stabbing in Pottstown, Pa.

Published

12 hours ago

May 7, 2026

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Man wanted in connection with fatal stabbing in Pottstown, Pa.

Thursday, May 7, 2026 5:11PM

POTTSTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) — The Montgomery County District Attorney’s office has issued an arrest warrant for a man they say is wanted in connection with a fatal stabbing in Pottstown, Pa.

Officials say Ryan Grace, 37, allegedly stabbed 33-year-old Shaquille Nicholas to death inside an apartment on the 300 block of Walnut Street on Wednesday afternoon.

Investigators believe the stabbing stemmed from an argument between the two men.

Nicholas was stabbed in the chest. He was transported to Pottstown Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Witnesses told investigators they saw Grace was seen running from the apartment after the incident.

The DA says Grace is homeless.

If you know where Ryan Grace is, you’re asked to contact Montgomery County Detectives at 610-278-3368 or Pottstown Police at 610-970-6570.

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Lottery Powerball, Pick 2 Day results for May 6, 2026

Published

1 day ago

May 7, 2026

Press Room

The Pennsylvania Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Wednesday, May 6, 2026 results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from May 6 drawing

18-27-51-65-68, Powerball: 05, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 2 numbers from May 6 drawing

Day: 8-6, Wild: 9

Evening: 8-2, Wild: 5

Check Pick 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 6 drawing

Day: 7-3-8, Wild: 9

Evening: 1-7-9, Wild: 5

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 6 drawing

Day: 5-6-3-1, Wild: 9

Evening: 0-3-0-0, Wild: 5

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from May 6 drawing

Day: 6-6-5-5-5, Wild: 9

Evening: 0-5-8-0-6, Wild: 5

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 5 numbers from May 6 drawing

04-19-26-32-40

Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Treasure Hunt numbers from May 6 drawing

07-08-19-21-25

Check Treasure Hunt payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Match 6 Lotto numbers from May 6 drawing

02-19-20-38-39-48

Check Match 6 Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from May 6 drawing

04-21-36-48-69, Powerball: 05

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 6 drawing

06-18-30-32-43, Bonus: 01

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Sign the Ticket: Ensure your ticket has your signature, name, address and phone number on the back.
Prizes up to $600: Claim at any PA Lottery retailer or by mail: Pennsylvania Lottery, ATTN: CLAIMS, PO BOX 8671, Harrisburg, PA 17105.
Prizes from $600 to $2,500: Use a Claim Form to claim at a retailer or by mail: Pennsylvania Lottery, ATTN: CLAIMS, PO BOX 8671, Harrisburg, PA 17105.
Prizes over $2,500: Mail your signed ticket with a Claim Form or in person at a Lottery Area Office (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

Lottery Headquarters is currently not open to the public. Visit the PA Lottery website for other office locations near you.

When are the Pennsylvania Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 2, 3, 4, 5: 1:35 p.m. and 6:59 p.m. daily.
Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily
Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. daily.
Treasure Hunt: 1:35 p.m. daily.
Match 6 Lotto: 6:59 p.m. Monday and Thursday.
Powerball Double Play: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Pennsylvania editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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