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Allies push their in-state stars for VP — especially in Pennsylvania

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Allies push their in-state stars for VP — especially in Pennsylvania


PITTSBURGH — In the days after President Joe Biden ended his 2024 campaign and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to succeed him, Democrats across the country rushed to rally behind her, too. In Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Democratic Party went a step further — endorsing not just Harris, but a ticket with Harris backed up by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.

As Harris kicks off an unusually rapid search for a vice presidential nominee, Shapiro’s in-state allies are standing out with an especially public and vocal push to elevate their governor. Shapiro, who was elected in 2022 and twice elected state attorney general before that, has mostly deflected when asked about running mate speculation in recent days. So have North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona and others.

But their friends are making enough noise on their own.

Former Rep. Bob Brady, the chair of the Philadelphia Democratic Party, told NBC News that with Shapiro on the ticket, Harris will win Pennsylvania.

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“I don’t guarantee anything, but I will guarantee that,” said Brady, whose committee announced endorsing Shapiro for VP “without any opposition.” He continued, “No question about it. We’re so enthused, so riled up.” 

“We are pushing for our favorite son,” Brady said gushing about Shapiro’s electability, calling the endorsement of Shapiro a “no-brainer” and saying, “He checks every box.” 

Pennsylvania state House Speaker Joanna McClinton also endorsed a Harris-Shapiro ticket, telling NBC News that “when I think about winning Pennsylvania, I think about our governor first, because Gov. Shapiro has won across Pennsylvania three times.” 

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said Shapiro is “the type of man that every mother in Pennsylvania would hope her son grows up to be.” 

Rendell says the enthusiasm level in Pennsylvania is already “sky high” for Harris, but believes with Shapiro on the ticket, it would “go off the charts.”

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This push is a stark contrast to what Shapiro has been saying while fielding a glut of media questions about Harris’ campaign. Shapiro released a statement Sunday quickly endorsing Harris and noting their relationship, adding that he spoke to Biden and Harris after their announcements and has known Harris “for nearly two decades.” 

Since then, Shapiro has repeatedly told reporters that Harris has a “deeply personal decision to make,” adding that “it should be made free from any political pressure.”

Shapiro has kept up his local public schedule amid a new crush of national attention, speaking Wednesday in New Castle, Pennsylvania, about a new law reforming pharmacy benefit manager regulations. Like anything that passes through Pennsylvania’s divided state legislature, it required bipartisan cooperation. “We are proving that we can bring Republicans and Democrats together to get meaningful things done,” Shapiro said.

When asked about the support from the likes of Brady and McClinton, Shapiro told NBC News, “While I am, of course, grateful for the kindness that Speaker McClinton and Congressman Brady shared, this is a process that the vice president needs to go through and make her decision based upon factors that she lays forward.” 

Brady does not view his and others’ push for Shapiro as putting political pressure on Harris, emphasizing it is “110%” her decision. 

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“If it’s not Josh Shapiro, whoever it may be, we will rally around them,” Brady said. 

While pro-Shapiro voices have been particularly outspoken backing him in his state, there are similar efforts heating up elsewhere. In North Carolina, where Cooper is under consideration, state Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton and Rep. Deborah Ross both posted pictures with their governor on X, writing, “I know who I would pick for VP 👀”

In Arizona, members of the state Democratic Party executive board endorsed Kelly for Harris’ running mate on Thursday, touting his ability to “help working families, boost our economy, and ensure our communities are safe and secure.”

“We are confident that with Senator Kelly on the ballot, Vice President Harris can build a winning coalition that defeats Donald Trump and J.D. Vance in November,” the state party announced, adding that “the road to the White House runs through Arizona in this election.”

It’s unclear whether such public displays have any effect on vice presidential decisions past or present. But they can be useful displays of loyalty. Just hours before the Arizona party put out its statement supporting Kelly, Arizona Democratic Party Chair Yolanda Bejarano initially stopped short of endorsing Kelly at a news conference in Phoenix, telling NBC News, “This is something that we’re going to trust the vice president’s judgment.”

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And of course, not everyone is lined up behind their home-state VP hopeful.

Erin McClelland, the Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania state treasurer who beat the state party’s endorsed candidate in a primary earlier this year, posted on X against Shapiro, making reference to a sexual harassment case against a former Shapiro aide.

“I want a VP pick that’s secure enough to be second under a woman, is content to be VP & won’t undermine the President to maneuver his own election & doesn’t sweep sexual harassment under the rug.  I want someone that can speak to rural voters. That is @RoyCooperNC,” McClelland posted.

Brady called McClelland “nuts” in response and said he thinks she is making a “major mistake.” “I think she just sunk herself and I’m not too happy with her at all,” he added.

Pennsylvania state Sen. Sharif Street, the state Democratic Party chair, stopped short of fully endorsing Shapiro in an interview, citing deference to Harris. “As a state party, I don’t presume to tell the vice president, our nominee for president, who she should pick. I’m not doing that,” he said.

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But Street added: “What I am telling you is I think Josh would do a great job.” 

Like others, Street noted that Shapiro has been the top vote-getter in Pennsylvania in past elections, including years when he shared the ticket with presidential hopefuls Biden and Hillary Clinton. And Street noted “he’s been effective” while working with a GOP state Senate and a Democratic state House in Harrisburg.

“My job is to make sure we win the state,” Street said. “I think Kamala Harris is gonna win Pennsylvania no matter which vice presidential pick she picks. But gee, I mean, if I could go around and have our governor be the pick, I mean, I’d be being disingenuous to say that wouldn’t make it easier.”



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Pennsylvania

Upside Down Trapezoid House Built by Renowned Loft Architect and His Students Hits the Market in Pennsylvania for $625K

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Upside Down Trapezoid House Built by Renowned Loft Architect and His Students Hits the Market in Pennsylvania for 5K


A stunning four-bedroom work of art designed by late Italian architect and loft pioneer Giuseppe “Beppe” Zambonini has just hit the market in Pennsylvania for $625,000—listing for the first time in more than two decades.

The upside-down 1987 trapezoid-style dwelling in Dingmans Ferry boasts a barrel vaulted ceiling supported by eight interior columns and is surrounded by expansive windows and decks to soak in the tranquil views of nature.

Each of the rooms was designed, not as a traditional rectangle, but as a trapezoid, a technique that was meant to maximize the amount of natural light inside the home, ensuring that each window has ample opportunity to let the sun shine through.

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It was a design method that Beppe came up with while working in New York City, where he was renowned for his work creating stunning loft spaces with “theater set” walls. He then brought that technique to Pennsylvania, where he sought to design his own weekend retreat, using the hallmarks that had turned him into a legend of Big Apple architecture.

The result is a home that appears, from the outside, almost like a stack of unevenly placed shipping containers—but on the inside is a stunning, light-filled dwelling, with enormous windows that offer beautiful views of the surrounding area from every room.

A stunning four-bedroom work of art designed by late Italian architect and loft pioneer Giuseppe “Beppe” Zambonini has just hit the market in Pennsylvania for $625,000—listing for the first time in more than two decades.HomeTourVision
The upside-down 1987 trapezoid-style dwelling in Dingmans Ferry, PA, boasts a barrel vaulted ceiling supported by eight interior columns and is surrounded by expansive windows and decks to soak in the tranquil views of nature.HomeTourVision
The result is a home with enormous windows that offer beautiful views of the surrounding area from every room.HomeTourVision

“There are numerous instances in the construction where hallways, rooms, and decks are not perfectly rectangular but rather are all trapezoid in shape,” says listing agent Shaun Burger of Keller Williams Real Estate Milford.

Beppe purchased the 2.44-acre land on which the home now sits in the 1980s, before crafting a home that would be used full time by his wife and their daughter—but was close enough to New York City that he could join them on weekends.

The idyllic parcel is perched above Nyce Lake in a development that would later become known as Traces of Lattimore.

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“It is only 90 minutes away from Manhattan but is a world away in terms of peacefulness and nature,” Burger noted. “There are a lot of properties here being used as second homes, but it could also be used as a primary residence.”

The unique home—which was constructed by Beppe and a team of his best students from his design school, Open Atelier of Design—drew immediate attention from design aficionados, even featuring in a play entitled “The Upside Down House” in New York and a feature film called “A Picture of You.”

In a nod to this heritage, the garage door features a design by one of Beppe’s students resembling a theater curtain that a local artist created using shades of Chinese red, gray, and white.

Burger says that with so much cultural and architectural history, the property feels as much like a piece of art as it does a residential dwelling, one that the current owner has taken great care to preserve and maintain.

“The seller is very much into the arts and feels more of a custodian of the home,” Burger shares. “He is looking to pass it along to the next steward.”

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What makes the dwelling so unique is that only one column is exposed on each floor, which is highlighted by a different color in each room. In the home office, the column is red while the primary bedroom features a blue support, and a yellow column can be found in the dining room.

In the 40 years since the property was built, it has changed hands on only one occasion, in 2005—when it was sold by Beppe’s wife, Claudia, to the man who owns it now for $396,000.HomeTourVision
The property is located just 90 minutes from Manhattan.HomeTourVision
“There are a lot of windows and sitting areas, so when you are inside, you feel like you are outside,” the listing agent says.HomeTourVision

A third-floor loft boasts Zambonini’s signature theater set walls.

“The home itself is so unique, which is what originally attracted the seller,” he added. “There are so many Colonials, ranches, and cookie-cutter homes in the area, so it is infrequent to find a home like this where there has been so much thought put into it.”

In the 40 years since the property was built, it has changed hands on only one occasion, in 2005—when it was sold by Beppe’s wife, Claudia, to the man who owns it now for $396,000.

“I scrupulously maintained the original colors of the house, inside and out, and kept the kitchen and bathrooms as I found them,” the seller writes in the listing. “After 21 years, it is time for a new custodian to live in this significant work of art.”

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According to Burger, the property would be the perfect retreat for someone who likes their privacy but also enjoys entertaining guests, offering ample room across its 2,850-square-foot design.

“It has four bedrooms and four bathrooms so it would be a nice home for someone who loves to entertain,” Burger adds. “There is plenty of space for guests.”

What’s more, the property offers the best of both worlds—surrounded by nature, but with all the convenience of proximity to nearby cities and towns.

“There are a lot of windows and sitting areas, so when you are inside, you feel like you are outside,” the listing agent says. “Dingmans Ferry is very quaint and has lots of lakes, waterfalls, hiking trails, and skiing. It’s a naturally beautiful area.

“I envision the next buyer to be an artist who will totally appreciate this work of art. The area has highly rated public schools for someone who has children. I think it will be someone who will want a getaway where they can reconnect and recharge with nature and will not want to change or renovate the home.”

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Sweet Summer: 59 creameries unite dairy lovers with Pennsylvania farms on Ice Cream Trail

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Sweet Summer: 59 creameries unite dairy lovers with Pennsylvania farms on Ice Cream Trail


CENTER VALLEY, Pa. (WFMZ) — 59 creameries across the Commonwealth are serving up a sweet summer connecting dairy lovers with Pennsylvania farms.

June 4 kicked off the Ninth Annual Scooped Ice Cream Trail.

Ice cream lovers can register online and fill out a digital passport as they visit participating creameries. Each visit earns points towards various prizes.

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The owners of Batch Microcreamery in Center Valley tell 69 News they’re excited to be part of the trail for the third year in a row, attracting visitors locally and out-of-state.

“This is the third location of the ice cream trail that I’ve been on,” said Kamden Acevedo.

Acevedo is originally from Staten Island and said he’s motivated to try other locations on the trail throughout the state.

“I love ice cream. I’m going to try, I’m going to try my hardest honestly,” Acevedo stated.

Dana Reibman and her daughter are just happy for the sweet treat.

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“We’re all up for ice cream all the time. We come here probably about once a month because we like trying the different flavors. As you can see, she really enjoys the cookie monster flavor,” Reibman explained.

The ice cream trail continues through Sept. 7.



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PA law would restrict cellphones in schools. Pittsburgh already bans them

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PA law would restrict cellphones in schools. Pittsburgh already bans them


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  • Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives passed a bill requiring schools to create policies restricting student cellphone use.
  • Pittsburgh Public Schools already has a policy banning student cellphone use during the school day, which was approved in late 2025.
  • Under Pittsburgh’s policy, students must turn in their phones to school personnel for the duration of the school day.

If Pennsylvania sees statewide restrictions on cellphones in schools, would anything change in Pittsburgh?

It’s too early to say for sure.

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On June 1, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed legislation that would require school districts to adopt phone restrictions, leaving the details of the exact policy’s implementation up to individual districts, according to USA TODAY. Now, if cleared by the Senate — which already passed another version of the proposal with almost unanimous support — it will go to Gov. Josh Shapiro, who has repeatedly said he supports getting cellphones out of classrooms with a bell-to-bell ban.

“Here in Pennsylvania, Democrats and Republicans agree: We need to let our kids be kids again,” Shapiro said in a June 4 post to his X account.

But Pittsburgh’s already ahead of the curve when it comes to banning cellphones during school hours because of a school board policy approved in late 2025.

Here’s what to know.

Are cell phones banned in Pittsburgh schools?

Yes, cellphones are banned during the school day at Pittsburgh Public Schools.

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In December 2025, Pittsburgh Public Schools Board voted to ban the use of phones by students during the school day, Pittsburgh’s Action News 4.

Under the policy, the possession of phones by students is prohibited. While they may bring cellphones to school, the devices must be turned in to school personnel during the school day.

There are exceptions to the policy in cases where a student may need a phone for instructional activities, an Individualized Education Plan, a Section 504 Plan or for other reasons approved by a school administrator.

Why are schools banning cellphones?

Numerous states have already banned cellphones in schools, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and others, according to ABC News.

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This year, Indiana and Kansas banned phones during the day, implementing policies that require students to keep their phones in inaccessible locations through the entire school day, USA TODAY reported.

Recently, Delaware, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming passed or updated less restrictive legislation on phones in schools, according to an analysis by the Becca Schmill Foundation, the Institute for Families and Technology, Smartphone-Free Childhood US and Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation.

Illinois, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania may follow suit.

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Do cellphone bans work?

Yes and no.

Cellphone bans keep kids off their devices, but they don’t appear to impact test scores, attendance, self-reported classroom attention or perceived online bullying, according to a study published in April by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Additionally, researchers found that during the first year of a cellphone ban, disciplinary incidents rose and students’ reported well-being fell, though the effects subsided as the years passed.

Still, there’s a push for bans nationally, with the U.S. surgeon general’s office warning on May 20 that “compulsive” screen use is linked to poor sleep, substance abuse, developmental disruptions and social, mental and behavioral issues. The office suggested that cellphone bans in schools are a way to help put excessive screen time in check.

Finch Walker is the Pittsburgh Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Walker at FWalker@usatodayco.com. Instagram: @finchwalker_. X: @_finchwalker.





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