Pennsylvania
Pa. man found guilty of raping teen girl who he took to Mexico
A Pennsylvania man was found guilty of repeatedly raping his daughter’s best friend over a three-year span before fleeing with the teen to Mexico.
On Thursday, March 5, 2026, Kevin Esterly, 53, of Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, was convicted on all counts of rape, statutory sexual assault, involuntary sexual intercourse and endangering the welfare of children.
Esterly shook his head as the verdict was read but said nothing in the courtroom.
Resources for victims of sexual assault are available through the National Sexual Violence Resources Center and the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673.
Esterly’s trial began on Tuesday, March 3, after a judge denied his pretrial motion for the charges against him to be dismissed and for the Lehigh County District Attorney to be removed as a prosecutor in the case.
Both Esterly and his victim testified on Wednesday, March 4.
The victim — who is now 24-years-old — told the courtroom that she met Esterly and his family while attending church as a child and became best friends with one of his daughters. Esterly was a youth leader and elder at the church at the time. The victim said Esterly also coached her soccer team.
The victim said she became so close to Esterly’s family that she called his wife “mom” and eventually spent almost every weekend at their home in Lowhill Township, Pennsylvania. She also said she vacationed with them in New York state and Ocean City, Maryland.
The victim said Esterly first sexually assaulted her in August 2015 when she was 13-years-old after he gave her alcohol during a family birthday party.
“I was scared. Frozen in fear,” the woman told the courtroom on Wednesday. “I pretended I was sleeping.”
The woman accused Esterly of sexually assaulting her almost every time she slept over at his home. She told the courtroom she eventually became addicted to alcohol and drugs, which Esterly gave her in exchange for sex. According to the woman, Esterly gave her cocaine and methamphetamine to keep her awake during school because she “would be up with him all night.”
The woman said Esterly continued to sexually assault her until he was confronted by his wife in 2017. Esterly’s wife then threw him out of the house, according to the victim. She said Esterly continued to sexually assault her over the next year.
Esterly was later arrested and then sentenced to prison after federal agents found him with the victim in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, in 2018. She was 16-years-old at the time.
The woman said she moved on and went to college after Esterly’s sentencing though she still struggled with drug addiction. She said she sought counseling in February 2025. She told the courtroom she received a message from Esterly on LinkedIn that same month in which he apologized for “failing you as a person I was supposed to be for you.” At that point Esterly had been released from prison.
The woman said she had not told anyone about her relationship with Esterly up to that point and replied to him, “I live with our secret every day as I promised. I would appreciate an apology.”
The woman told the courtroom that Esterly responded by writing, “I hope one day you can forgive me. Nobody knows I reached out to you. That is the best for both of us.”
On Feb. 21, 2025, Allentown Police received a report of Esterly’s sexual assaults which led to the new charges being filed against him. He was arrested in West Virginia in June 2025 after two police pursuits. He was then extradited to Pennsylvania.
The victim told the courtroom on Wednesday that she kept quiet about Esterly’s abuse for years because she “was afraid to speak,” and felt “dirty and ashamed.”
“I wasn’t ready to tell anyone,” she said. “He was a father figure in my life. I loved him.”
The woman also said she didn’t want to hurt Esterly’s daughter who was her best friend.
When the District Attorney asked her why she was “here today,” she replied by saying, “I want to tell the truth. I want to be set free.”
The woman ended her testimony by saying, “I don’t want to live with this secret anymore.”
After her testimony, Esterly took the stand for 45 minutes, denied all of the accusations against him and accused the woman of lying.
Closing arguments then took place Thursday morning. It then took an hour for the jury of seven women and five men to reach their verdict.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania House passes bill to allow PIAA to create separate high school playoff system
PENNSYLVANIA (WJAC) — Pennsylvania lawmakers once again advanced legislation that would allow the PIAA to potentially overhaul the state’s playoff format for high school athletics.
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed House Bill 41 by a 178 to 23 vote, nearly one year after the legislation advanced out of the House Intergovernmental Affairs and Operations Committee.
The issue of “fairness” in Pennsylvania high school athletics has been a hot topic in recent years as both lawmakers and schools have debated whether or not the PIAA should create separate playoff brackets for public and private districts.
HB 41 was first introduced by Rep. Scott Conklin (D-Centre), who argues that the current competition structure in Pennsylvania high school “jeopardizes athletes’ health and safety.”
Student athletes and their parents recognize that contact sports pose certain physical risks, which schools try to minimize through protective equipment, training, and policies like concussion protocols,” Conklin said. “Unfortunately, our schools can’t protect against a playoff system that needlessly escalates those risks through unfair competitions.
PIAA’s existing playoff system forces athletes from public schools, which are limited to recruiting from within district boundaries, to compete against athletes from private schools, which can recruit from anywhere and amass larger, stronger teams. The result is unfair, lopsided competitions that leave public school students on a dangerously unlevel playing field, subjecting them to added physical risks and even depriving them of scholarship and recruitment opportunities. School sports are supposed to be about building confidence and teaching kids lessons in fair play, but the current system is teaching all the wrong lessons.
My bill would provide a way to end these increasingly dangerous competitions by allowing the PIAA to establish separate playoffs and championships for boundary and non-boundary schools.
House Bill 41 will now advance to the state Senate for a vote.
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Lawmakers note that if fully approved, the legislation would not mandate the PIAA to change the current format but would rather give them the option to do so.
WJAC
Take a virtual ride on ‘Wildcat’s Revenge,’ set to debut at Hersheypark
Hersheypark will have a hybrid roller coaster. A new steel track has been added to the existing wooden framework, the company announced Wednesday.
York Daily Record
Pennsylvania is one of the top places in the country for theme parks and water parks, according to USA TODAY readers, and all the best attractions are just close enough to South Central Pennsylvania for a day trip.
Seventeen of the winners in USA TODAY’s 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards for Theme Parks and Water Parks are in Pennsylvania. There are 18 if you include Great Wolf Lodge, which has a location in the Poconos.
With 24 winners, only Florida tops the Keystone State with top-10 attractions. No other state comes close to the top two.
But how do you measure which is the best? Florida has the most attractions on the list, but Pennsylvania is home to the most No. 1’s (roller coaster, water slide, theme park hotel, theme park restaurant). Florida attractions don’t even top a single category, and both states are missing from two categories.
Here are the Pennsylvania attractions that won USAT’s 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards for Theme Parks and Water Parks. Start planning that day trip — we included each attraction’s travel distance from Chambersburg.
No. 5: Splash Lagoon, located in Erie, is a Polynesia-themed indoor water park that is home to one of the biggest indoor wave pools in the Eastern U.S. It also features nine water slides — in one tube, slides can go as fast as 40 mph — as well as on-site restaurants, bars and shops. Distance from Chambersburg: 277 miles; about 4 hours, 23 minutes
No. 8: Aquatopia Indoor Water Park, located at Camelback Resort, Tannersville (the Poconos), boasts seven pools, 13 slides, an adventure river, a water play structure with gadgets and interactive elements. Thrill-seekers will love Storm Chaser, one of the longest indoor uphill water coasters in North America. The 125,000-square-foot indoor park has a transparent roof, so indoor guests can work on their tan no matter the season. Distance from Chambersburg: 175 miles; about 2 hours, 55 minutes.
Best Lazy River: Runaway River, Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom
No. 10: Runaway River at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown is a relatively serene, meandering float. Riders can enjoy fun elements like mushroom rain umbrella fountains, cascading waterfalls and surprising blowholes. The course is made up of a nice balance of peaceful stretches and sections of gentle rapids, so the ride is both relaxing and entertaining. Distance from Chambersburg: 130 miles; about 2 hours
Best Roller Coaster: Phoenix at Knoebels, Phantom’s Revenge at Kennywood, Ravine Flyer II at Waldameer and Water World, Wildcat’s Revenge at Hersheypark
No. 1: The Phoenix at Knoebels, Elysburg, is a classic wooden roller coaster that proves that newer, taller and faster aren’t always better. Phoenix offers panoramic views of the surrounding hills, as well as thrills in the form of a double out-and-back layout and speeds of 45 miles per hour. Distance from Chambersburg: 121 miles; about 2 hours
No. 2: Phantom’s Revenge at Kennywood, West Mifflin, features a 3,365-foot-long track that brings visitors frighteningly close to another of the park’s coasters, Thunderbolt. A hair-raising highlight is the ride’s second drop — a 232-foot thriller at 85 miles per hour. Distance from Chambersburg: 148 miles; about 2 hours, 40 minutes
No. 5: Ravine Flyer II at Waldameer and Water World, Erie, is the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in Pennsylvania, featuring an exhilarating 120-foot first drop and a top speed of 60 miles per hour. The coaster crosses over Pennsylvania Route 832 via a huge bridge, mimicking the path of the original Ravine Flyer from 1922. This hybrid coaster boasts airtime hills, tunnels and a 90-degree banked turn, delivering a relentless and thrilling ride. Distance from Chambersburg: 282 miles; about 4 and a half hours
No. 10: Wildcat’s Revenge at Hersheypark, Hershey, mixes past and present. Hersheypark added steel to an existing wooden track to come up with an entirely new hybrid ride that opened in 2023. This coaster climbs to the dizzying height of 140 feet, hits 62 miles per hour, and takes riders through four inversions and an 82-degree drop. The coaster also boasts the world’s largest underflip inversion for even more thrills. Distance from Chambersburg: 68 miles; about 1 hour, 15 minutes
Best Theme Park: Knoebels, Kennywood, Hersheypark
No. 2: Knoebels, Elysburg, is a vintage amusement park in Pennsylvania’s coal country. The rare amusement park that’s still free to enter (rides require old-school tickets), Knoebels is home to Phoenix, one of the most popular wooden roller coasters in the United States. And it’s a virtual museum of still-operating classic rides like Whipper, Flying Turns and the Haunted Mansion dark ride. Add in some modern thrills and water rides, and you have the perfect mix for a relaxed yet thrilling day in the park. Distance from Chambersburg: 121 miles; about 2 hours
No. 4: Kennywood, West Mifflin, brings history and iconic rides together in one place. Witness over 120 years of innovation in classic favorites that include wooden roller coasters like the side-by-side Racer, the intense Thunderbolt and the circa-1920 Jack Rabbit. Plus, there’s an unmatched collection of dark rides like the Old Mill and the last-of-its-kind Noah’s Ark, as well as modern thrill rides like the Steel Curtain coaster. Distance from Chambersburg: 148 miles; about 2 hours, 40 minutes
No. 10: Hersheypark, Hershey, is the amusement park of every chocolate lover’s dreams. Hersheypark features 121 acres with more than 70 rides (including 15 coasters), a water park and an 11-acre zoo — all accessible via a single admission. Wildcat’s Revenge, the first hybrid coaster manufactured by Rocky Mountain Construction in Pennsylvania, boasts four inversions, including the world’s largest underflip. Candymonium — the park’s tallest, fastest and longest hyper coaster — debuted in 2020. Distance from Chambersburg: 68 miles; about 1 hour, 15 minutes
No. 1: The Hotel Hershey in Hershey provides a sweet spot to lay your head, whether you’re in town to take the Hershey’s Chocolate factory tour, check out Hersheypark or you’re just in the mood for a little pampering with a cocoa-infused spa treatment. A member of Historic Hotels of America, the four-star Hotel Hershey is an elegant retreat and offers a wide range of sports and recreation facilities where you can work off all those tasty treats, including a fitness center, golf, tennis, hiking trails and a pool with waterslides. Distance from Chambersburg: 68 miles; about 1 hour, 15 minutes
No. 1: The Alamo at Knoebels, Elysburg, is as friendly to the pocketbook at it is to families. The menu at this eatery, located on the park’s main boulevard, includes everything from hamburgers and hotdogs to heartier options like deep-fried crab cakes, chicken and waffles, and spaghetti and meatballs. Distance from Chambersburg: 121 miles; about 2 hours
Best Water Coaster: Storm Chaser at Aquatopia, Breakers Edge at Hersheypark’s Boardwalk
No. 6: Storm Chaser at Aquatopia Indoor Water Park, Tannersville (in the Poconos), is one of the longest indoor uphill water coasters on the continent. The ride features five steep plummets and loads of twists, turns and blasts. Guests can ride solo, but Aquatopia recommends riding the coaster in pairs for maximum fun. Distance from Chambersburg: 175 miles; about 2 hours, 55 minutes.
No. 8: Breakers Edge Water Coaster at The Boardwalk At Hersheypark, Hershey, is a fast-paced, hydromagnetic water coaster that launches four-person rafts through a series of exhilarating drops, high-speed tunnels and uphill climbs powered by linear induction motors. Riders experience airtime, g-force curves, tunnels, saucers and lots of splashes. Distance from Chambersburg: 68 miles; about 1 hour, 15 minutes
No. 1: VR Waterslide at Kalahari Resorts, Pocono Manor, brings virtual reality to water slides. Choose from a safari adventure, space exploration or a dragon experience, then get ready to slide on down for 40 seconds of thrills that will have you feeling out of this world. Distance from Chambersburg: 175 miles; about 2 hours, 45 minutes
Best Wave Pool: The Shore at Hersheypark’s Boardwalk, Wave Pool at Dorney Park’s Wildwater Kingdom
No. 6: The Shore at The Boardwalk at Hersheypark, Hershey, is a 378,000-gallon wave pool that is the perfect place to cool off in the summertime with your entire crew. Lounge in the shallow end, or venture into the waves in the 6-foot deep end — the choice is yours! Distance from Chambersburg: 68 miles; about 1 hour, 15 minutesNo. 10: The Wave Pool at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, Allentown, holds over 560,000 gallons of water and is as large as a football field. With depths ranging from 0 to 6 feet, you’ll enjoy waves on a five-minute on, five-minute off cycle so you can enjoy some excitement and then some downtime under the sun. Distance from Chambersburg: 130 miles; about 2 hours
Amber South can be reached at asouth@publicopinionnews.com.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — More than 1.5 million Pennsylvanians won’t be able to vote on May 19 because of the state’s closed primary elections.
The state is an outlier, as 42 other states and D.C. have open primaries, which means voters don’t need to affiliate with a political party ahead of the election to vote. Lawmakers have been pushing for reform since at least 1995, but so far none have successfully changed the law.
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The issue has support from Democrats and Republicans. But now a group of independents has filed a lawsuit asking a Pennsylvania court to force them into the primaries.
John Jones, a former federal judge, cited the “free and fair elections” in Pennsylvania’s Constitution for grounds to open the state’s primary elections.
“Emphasis on the word fair,” he said. Jones and political scientists argue too many elections are decided on primary day, rather than Election Day in November.
“You look statistically in elections from 2020 to 2025, in the state legislature, for example, only about 10% of those elections were actually really contested,” he said.
Pa. primary election 2026: A complete guide
Not everyone is open to open primaries. Republican strategist Chris Nicholas said if voters don’t care to be a part of a party, they shouldn’t get a say in the primary.
“Imagine if you’re a member of the Elks Lodge, and you work all year to make the Elks Lodge the best it can be,” he said. “Then on Election Day, you let those folks from the Moose Lodge in, and they come in for one hour, vote in your elections and leave, never to come back again.”
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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