Pennsylvania
First-of-its-kind legislative funding approved for gambling support in Pennsylvania
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The digital-first gambling support model aims to strengthen the PA online casino industry’s overall infrastructure, including the integration of care coordination and self-help tools.
Players at Pennsylvania online casinos may soon find more responsible gaming resources thanks to a new, first-of-its kind rollout of a digital platform for gambling support known as Almond Digital Health. Approved by the Pennsylvania General Assembly, it represents the first legislative-led and funded program in the United States that aims to bolster the state’s overall gambling support infrastructure. If you’re in Pennsylvania, sign up for DraftKings Casino and get 1,000 Flex Spins:
Legislators take digital-first approach to responsible gambling
Another example of lawmakers looking to modernize responsible gambling resources among legal sportsbooks and PA online casinos, the program will offer anonymous, multilingual access to responsible gambling educational materials as well as self-help tools and connections to treatment services.
Officials called it the first legislative-backed, digital-first gambling support program of its kind in the nation, with the goal of filling gaps in access to care. That certainly created some urgency for legislators as the real money online casino and licensed sports betting industries in Pennsylvania continue to expand and grow.
The Almond Digital Health platform will be integrated into mobile casino apps, along with in-person casinos and through partnerships with universities and sports betting operators.
Ultimately, officials look to create earlier intervention opportunities to address potential gambling addictions and provide more readily available responsible gambling tools and resources. Get started at BetMGM Casino now here:
New responsible gambling initiative will complement existing resources
While the program is expected to be rolled out over the next several weeks, it is not designed to replace all of the existing tools and resources offered throughout the state and via PA online casinos. Rather, the Almond platform will act more as a complement to help fill gaps in access as the legal gambling industry continues to grow.
Kath Middleton, chief product officer of Almond Digital Health, emphasized that the platform is about “scale and access,” noting that Pennsylvania is “building an approach that works both within and outside traditional care settings.”
According to a press release, online casino gaming, sports betting, in-person gambling and the lottery has generated tens of billions of dollars in annual wagering. With that growth, officials wanted to ensure that Pennsylvanians had “practical, accessible and multilingual ways” to engage early with and understand all the available options for responsible gaming.
In rolling out the Almond program, Rep. Joe McAndrew highlighted that more and more people betting on sports or playing casino games online will be exposed to responsible gambling habits and how to prevent addiction through education – in fact, earlier than traditional resources.
It’s a practical approach, Rep. Joe Prokopiak echoed, that will provide “instant impact” for individuals struggling with addiction or at risk of developing one. “It’s an evolved issue,” Prokopiak said, which the state can now address “with an evolved solution.”
A top Pennsylvania high school football team has relieved its head coach from that position following a major controversy.
In a report by CBS News out of Pittsburgh, McKeesport High School’s Matt Miller has resigned as the head coach after his entire coaching staff was not rehired.
Report: Members Of Coaching Staff Involved In Murder Trial
The decision to not bring back members of Miller’s staff at McKeesport came about following a 2016 incident that grew to include involvment in a murder trial.
“While I am deeply disappointed by these decisions, my main concern, as always, is for the student athletes who will be impacted by these actions,” Miller said in a statement provided to the site. “My coaching staff and I have consistently led a successful program with accomplishments that speak for themselves.”
The latest controversy came about with the sentencing of Isaac Smith, who was convicted of killing Karli Short, the daughter of Brandon Short, along with her unborn baby. Smith was sentenced to life in prison for the 2021 murder.
Incident Took Life Of Former NFL Player Brandon Short’s Daughter, Unborn Baby
Short played in the NFL and was a standout at Penn State University. He stated in the report that a former teammate testified as a character witness on behalf of Smith and that two of those men were members of the Church of Life in Christ, which is headed by Pastor Guy Miller, the father of Matt Miller. Allen Wright, also a former player, said that two character witnesses for Smith were assistant coaches on the team.
Matt Hotlzman, part of the McKeesport Board of Directors, stated during a meeting with the board that he was “calling for the resignation of this entire football coaching staff right now.”
School Board Of Directors Made Decision To Remove All Members Of Coaching Staff
McKeesport Superintendent Donald MacFann said in a statement posted to the school’s official Facebook page that the board has “voted ot table the hiring of football coaches due to personnel-related matters,” and that “the District is unable to disclose additional details.”
The Tigers went 9-4 in 2025, including a perfect 5-0 league record. They were defeated by Aliquippa, 21-12, in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League Class 4A championship game. McKeesport entered the game as the No. 1 team, but a late touchdown pass on fourth-and-long secured the 21st championship for Aliquippa.
Under Miller, the Tigers have had plenty of success, including multiple nine-plus win seasons. They never finished with a losing record.
McKeesport is set to open the 2026 season against Brashear at home on Friday, August 28.
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LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — Crews are battling a massive blaze that has spread to multiple buildings in Columbia Borough on Saturday afternoon.
The fire was reported around 3:23 p.m. on South 4th Street, according to Lancaster County’s online incident list.
According to the incident list, the fire has been upgraded to a third alarm, meaning additional personnel has been dispatched to the area.
Photos and videos obtained by CBS 21 shows smoke and flames coming out of the roofs of multiple row homes.
Video of the fire on South Fourth Street in Columbia, Pennsylvania. (Credit: Juanita Hammond)
Dispatch was unable to confirm any additional information about the fire at this time. Injury and displacement information is currently unavailable.
This is a developing story. CBS 21 is working to learn more.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHP) — The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General approved a settlement agreement that will pay the contractor who worked on the security upgrades at Gov. Josh Shapiro’s private residence.
At the request of Pennsylvania State Police, Shapiro’s home in Montgomery County received over $1 million in security upgrades. The official governor’s residence in Harrisburg also received $32 million in upgrades.
These upgrades were made after the Harrisburg residence was fire-bombed in April 2025 while Shapiro and First Lady Lori Shapiro were in the residence.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE | PA governor defends $1 million in security upgrades to private home after subpoenas
Attorney General Dave Sunday said his office approved the settlement agreement to “shield the Commonwealth from further litigation” that could’ve further increased costs for taxpayers.
“Our decision on this settlement agreement is not an assessment of the need for the security upgrades or the wisdom behind them, and it did not impede the upgrades being made — the work was performed some time ago,” the attorney general’s office said in a statement. “Rather, a settlement agreement focuses on the settlement of a past due contract between a contractor, who performed the work for the agency in good faith, and the Commonwealth.”
Sunday added that he believes “a legislative appropriation would have been the quickest and cleanest solution.” He also suggested legislators look to change the law to address similar issues for future elected officials.
Treasurer Stacy Garrity, a Republican who is running against Shapiro in the 2026 gubernatorial race, has pledged to protect taxpayers from having to front the bill.
“We have not yet received the request to pay or the settlement agreement. After I receive those documents, I’ll carefully review each one and pay the requisition if it is lawful and correct,” Garrity said in a statement. “Safety and security matter to everyone, but good intentions can never excuse ignoring the law.”
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