Pennsylvania

Biden's commutation in 'kids for cash' scandal angers some Pennsylvania families

Published

11 months ago

December 14, 2024

Biden's commutation in 'kids for cash' scandal angers some Pennsylvania families

A judge who helped orchestrate one of the worst judicial scandals in U.S.history — a scheme to send children to for-profit jails in exchange for kickbacks — was among the 1,500 people whose sentences were commuted by President Joe Biden this week.

Biden’s decision to commute the 17-year prison sentence of Michael Conahan angered many in northeastern Pennsylvania, from the governor to the families whose children were victimized by the disgraced former judge. Conahan had already served the vast majority of his sentence, which was handed down in 2011.

“I do feel strongly that President Biden got it absolutely wrong and created a lot of pain here in northeastern Pennsylvania,” Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said during an unrelated news conference in Scranton on Friday.

The scandal “affected families in really deep and profound and sad ways,” he added. Conahan “deserves to be behind bars, not walking as a free man.”

A message seeking comment was sent to an attorney who recently represented Conahan, the former president judge of the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.

In what came to be known as the kids-for-cash scandal, Conahan and Judge Mark Ciavarella shut down a county-run juvenile detention center and accepted $2.8 million in illegal payments from a friend of Conahan’s who built and co-owned two for-profit lockups.

Ciavarella, who presided over juvenile court, pushed a zero-tolerance policy that guaranteed large numbers of children would fill the beds of the private lockups. The scandal prompted the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to throw out some 4,000 juvenile convictions involving more than 2,300 children.

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Related Topics:Featured Pennsylvania Supreme Court president joe biden

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Pennsylvania

Fatal crash closes U.S. Route 322 in Lebanon County

Published

8 hours ago

November 21, 2025

Press Room

Fatal crash closes U.S. Route 322 in Lebanon County

CORNWALL, Pa. (WHTM) — A stretch of highway in Lebanon County is closed at this hour for a fatal crash.

U.S. Route 322 between the Pennsylvania Route 72 interchange and Pennsylvania Route 501 is closed, according to 511PA.

According to a PennDOT spokesperson, an SUV and tanker truck collided head-on.

At least one person was killed, the spokesperson said.

Five-hundred gallons of fuel spilled and will take time to clean up, PennDOT said.

The closure is expected to last until at least 8:30 p.m., according to 511PA.

This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Lottery Pick 2 Day, Pick 2 Evening results for Nov. 20, 2025

Published

1 day ago

November 21, 2025

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The Pennsylvania Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025 results for each game:

Winning Pick 2 numbers from Nov. 20 drawing

Day: 7-5, Wild: 8

Evening: 0-7, Wild: 2

Check Pick 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Nov. 20 drawing

Day: 1-7-3, Wild: 8

Evening: 6-5-5, Wild: 2

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Nov. 20 drawing

Day: 3-1-5-4, Wild: 8

Evening: 4-8-2-5, Wild: 2

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from Nov. 20 drawing

Day: 9-2-2-5-8, Wild: 8

Evening: 7-3-4-8-0, Wild: 2

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash4Life numbers from Nov. 20 drawing

11-12-41-43-57, Cash Ball: 03

Check Cash4Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 5 numbers from Nov. 20 drawing

01-24-30-31-36

Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Treasure Hunt numbers from Nov. 20 drawing

04-06-12-19-27

Check Treasure Hunt payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Match 6 Lotto numbers from Nov. 20 drawing

02-26-31-32-44-45

Check Match 6 Lotto 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.
Cash4Life: 9 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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Pennsylvania

Why this Pennsylvania community is considering banning gas-powered leaf blowers

Published

2 days ago

November 20, 2025

Press Room

Why this Pennsylvania community is considering banning gas-powered leaf blowers

Thursday, November 20, 2025 12:19PM

Lower Merion Twp. considering ban on gas-powered leaf blowers

The ordinance would ban gas-powered leaf blowers seasonally, starting next year, with a full ban by 2029.

LOWER MERION TWP., Pa. (WPVI) — Gas-powered leaf blowers may soon be banned in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County.

The Board of Commissioners heard public comments on Wednesday night regarding an ordinance that would phase out the use of gas-powered leaf blowers in favor of electric leaf blowers.

The township says this is aimed at reducing noise and air pollution.

The ordinance would ban gas-powered leaf blowers seasonally starting next year, with a full ban by 2029.

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