Northeast
DAVID MARCUS: Bedford, Pa., has a history picking presidents. Trump's surge is talk of the town
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Bedford, Pennsylvania is as pretty as a picture postcard and has almost as long an association with the American presidency as is possible, which is to say, yes, George Washington slept here.
The cover of the Bedford Gazette said it all, as I scooped it up on Wednesday entering my lovely 18th Century hotel, “County Preps for Upcoming Election,” blared the headline, and it isn’t just the county, it’s the residents.
I met Carol at the Village News, a restaurant which is aptly named. Not only was it a newsstand back when such things existed, but it is now where the denizens of this historic town share the news, both local and national.
Carol was on her way to buy a stamp, to mail her husband’s voter registration. It seems he hadn’t voted for some time, but this year he is.
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“Is that because he sees this election as uniquely important?” I asked her.
“Maybe,” she said, with the laconic charm I saw all over the town.
“The country is a business”, she told me, “And we need a businessman to run it.” Needless to say, Carol supports Donald Trump.
Her friends, Joel, Scott, and Tom, who owns the joint, concurred. They feel ignored. And they also feel that Trump won’t ignore them. That he listens. It’s what I hear all over the country. And it is a big part of why the Real Clear Politics average of Pennsylvania polling has Trump pulling ahead with a narrow lead.
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Back at my hotel, the Golden Eagle Inn, where I climbed the steps to my room and had an actual metal key, I met Meredith and her husband as I sat for dinner. They have a mixed political marriage. She’s all in for Harris, though she admits she wishes Kamala Harris would be clearer about who she is.
Her husband isn’t voting for Trump or Harris, he’ll vote for local candidates in their home in Virginia, but he can’t bring himself to support either top ticket dwellers on the national scene.
Such was the case with Matt, as well, a local who told me, “My first priority is my children, not politics.” And before we cast the first stone, it’s worth considering that he doesn’t think any politician has done much to help him.
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But Nathan was different, he had heard that I was in town, and sought me out. He had something to say and he darn well said it.
“Agriculture is more important than people think,” he began, “multiple farmers are being squeezed out,” he told me. “We have trade deals that are bad, we have Bill Gates, we have the Chinese who are buying up everything,” and with a flourish he landed on, “We have farmers who are being paid not to farm their property. Why is that?”
If either candidate or their running mates have a good answer for that, I’ve yet to hear it.
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I’ll tell you a little something about the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where I was born and raised. These people know their history and they care about it. Every town has a little museum and a local story. Ever heard of the Indian Adam and Eve? Go look it up.
The people I met in Bedford? Their families have been here for generations, some since the French and Indian War in the 1750s. They want answers, they want leadership, and they are finding it sorely lacking.
In the 19th Century, Bedford was known for its curative springs. Ten presidents, starting with James K. Polk, took the dip at the local resort, and the town still brims with the charm and history of America, younger than the mountains, but older than the trees, as they say where I live.
Pennsylvania is serious about how it takes its history and its present role as the key swing state.
These are the places in Pennsylvania that will decide the political future of our nation come November 5th, as residents of this state have done since before there even was a nation. And while voters have questions about both candidates, it is obvious that an excitement exists with the Trump campaign that Harris cannot match.
There is anxiety, even fear about where we are going as a country, but at least from some, also a resolute belief that voting matters. That we all do really have a say.
Carol got her husband’s voter registration card to the mailbox, and if there are enough Carols to compete with the Democrats’ political machine, then Trump has a real chance. But this is Pennsylvania, a place that has changed the world, and every vote here has to be earned.
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New Hampshire
Transgender former New Hampshire state representative sentenced to 33 years for child sex abuse: report
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A transgender former New Hampshire state representative will spend more than three decades in federal prison after admitting to receiving nude photos of children at a Massachusetts daycare.
Stacie Marie Laughton, 41, of Nashua was sentenced to more than 33 years behind bars after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of children, according to a report from local outlet WCVB.
Laughton received the explicit images from his former intimate partner, Lindsay Groves, 40, of Hudson, New Hampshire, who was sentenced earlier this month to 22 years in prison, according to the report.
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Former transgender Democrat New Hampshire Rep. Stacie Marie Laughton pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of children, according to the Nashua Police Department. (Nashua Police Department)
Groves, who previously pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of distribution of child pornography, was employed at the Creative Minds daycare in neighboring Tyngsborough, Massachusetts, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Authorities said that between May 2022 and June 2023, Groves took multiple photos of prepubescent children in a private bathroom during routine diaper and pull-up changes prior to nap time.
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Stacie Marie Laughton was sentenced to 33 years in prison. (Citizens Count)
Groves then sent the photos to Laughton via text message, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
A forensic review of Laughton and Groves’ cellphones uncovered more than 10,000 text messages sent between the two over a one-month period in 2023.
Court documents revealed the messages included discussions about and transfers of explicit images of children, including victims as young as 3 to 5 years old.
Lindsay Groves used her position at a daycare to take illegal photos that were later shared with Laughton, authorities said. (Nashua Police Department)
The U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed all the children in the case were identified, and their families were contacted by law enforcement.
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Hillsborough County jail officials confirmed to NH Journal that Laughton has been housed in the male population.
Creative Minds Early Learning Center and the U.S. Attorney’s Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
Yellowcard played the Stone Pony Summer Stage on Friday June 12th. It was an astounding set. The band performed nineteen tracks from every era and iteration of the band. It was a special night for anyone who is a fan.
Openers Plain White T’s and New Found Glory also deserve special credit for fitting the bill flawlessly. It was the perfect way to set the stage for the show to come. Both bands have a strong stage presence and were able to captures the crowd’s full attention.
Yellowcard opened with a video of the Paramount stars. They continued their set by playing interlude snippets of other major movies such as “Back To The Future,” “Top Gun,” “The Goonies,” and the “Ghostbusters.” It really felt like we were watching a cinematic experience as well as a concert. The production was second to none. There was even pyro during certain moments of the show.
The band played six tracks off their new album Better Days. This was a huge highlight of the show. Better Days is not only the best Yellowcard album since Ocean Avenue, it’s one of the best pop-punk releases of the decade. The band worked tightly with Travis Barker, Avril Lavigne, and Alkaline Trio to enhance all aspects of the genre. The new tracks warranted even more of a reception than older tracks. We were truly watching a band in their prime.
Overall, Yellowcard are showing us the new heights bands can reach within the pop-punk genre. Their breakup and triumphant return displays to us that anything is possible. Please enjoy our gallery below from photographer Anthony Vito Cosentino.
Plain White T’s
New Found Glory
Yellowcard
All Photos by Anthony Vito Cosentino
The Pennsylvania Beef Council recently launched the inaugural Pennsylvania Beef Trail with menu tastings at two highlighted trail stops in Berks County.
Held in May to celebrate Beef Month, the event brought together Pennsylvania Beef Council leadership, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, local restaurant partners, beef producers and community members to celebrate Pennsylvania beef, local food businesses and the culinary creativity found across the Commonwealth.
The Pennsylvania Beef Trail highlights restaurants across the state serving standout beef dishes nominated by consumers. Hosted on the Pennsylvania Beef Council website, the trail features an interactive map designed to help Pennsylvanians discover delicious beef dishes by region and plan their own beef-inspired dining experiences.
“The PA Beef Trail is a celebration of everything that makes Pennsylvania beef special: the farmers who raise it, the restaurants that prepare it and the consumers who love it,” Nichole Hockenberry, executive director of the Pennsylvania Beef Council, said in the release.
“Launching the trail during May, which is Beef Month, gave us the perfect opportunity to showcase the connection between agriculture, local businesses, and the meals that bring people together.”
The celebration featured two stops on the trail: Saucony Creek Brewing Company in Kutztown and Deitsch Eck Restaurant in Lenhartsville.
Attendees sampled a variety of featured beef dishes, including pit beef sliders, sausage sandwiches, smoked chuck roast tacos, and Golden Arches flatbread from Saucony Creek Brewing Company, as well as beef pot pie, shepherd’s pie, and The Luther from Deitsch Eck Restaurant.
The launch event also underscored the role of beef in Pennsylvania’s agricultural identity and local economy. By highlighting restaurants that serve creative, consumer-loved beef dishes, the trail encourages residents and visitors to support local businesses while recognizing the farmers and producers behind every plate.
“Pennsylvania beef has a story that stretches from pasture to plate,” Kylie Lusk, director of consumer affairs for the Pennsylvania Beef Council, said in the release. “The PA Beef Trail gives consumers a fun, interactive way to explore that story while discovering restaurants and dishes they may not have tried before. We’re excited to see people use the trail throughout the year to support local restaurants and celebrate beef across the Commonwealth.”
The inaugural PA Beef Trail features 73 stops across Pennsylvania, showcasing a wide variety of dishes, from burgers and brisket to short rib, oxtail ragu and other creative beef-forward menu items. Organized by region, the trail makes it easy for consumers to find nearby stops or plan a road trip around Pennsylvania’s beef destinations.
The Pennsylvania Beef Council encourages consumers to explore the trail, visit participating restaurants, and share their experiences on social media.
To view the interactive map and explore the full PA Beef Trail, visit www.pabeef.org/pa-beef-trail.
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