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Nursing assistant one of two killed in deadly Pennsylvania blast

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Nursing assistant one of two killed in deadly Pennsylvania blast



An explosion at the Bristol Health & Rehab Center outside Philadelphia killed at least two people, including nursing assistant Muthoni Nduthu.

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BUCKS COUNTY, PA ‒ A day after multiple explosions at a Pennsylvania nursing home killed two people and injured 20 others, authorities surveyed the extensive damage and began identifying the victims.

Muthoni Nduthu, 52, was named by the Bucks County Coroner’s Office as one of the two people found dead inside the Silver Lake Nursing Home, also known as the Bristol Health & Rehab Center, after a pair of explosions partially collapsed the facility on Dec. 23.

Nduthu, a nursing assistant at the facility, was a mother of three who was featured in news stories over a decade ago when she bought her home through the local branch of Habitat for Humanity. Clinton Ndegwa, one of Nduthu’s sons, declined to comment when reached by phone, reported the Bucks County Courier Times, part of the USA TODAY Network.

The deadly incident began around 2:20 p.m., when the first blast trapped dozens of residents inside the two-story building and triggered an intense search-and-rescue effort. Firefighters arrived on the scene and pulled frightened residents from windows, stairwells and elevator shafts as the building erupted into flames.

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After first responders rescued two people from the building’s collapsed basement, a second explosion rocked the facility, producing another ball of fire and spewing more smoke into the air, said Bristol Township Fire Marshal Kevin Dippolito.

Two people, including Nduthu and a resident who has not yet been publicly identified, died from their injuries. At least 20 others were injured and over 100 residents have been displaced. The facility has more than 170 beds, though it’s not clear how many residents and staff were in the building at the time of the explosions.

Search teams ceased their operations hours after the explosion, after all residents and employees were accounted for. The next day, officials seemed to still be surveying the scope of the damage as members of various government agencies, including the National Transportation Safety Board, walked through the scene and snapped photos.

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Nursing home explosion aftermath: A view from above

Here’s a drone view of aftermath of the fatal explosion at the Silver Lake Nursing Home in Bristol on Dec. 23, 2025

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said authorities believe a gas leak led to the “catastrophic” blast. Crews for PECO, the local energy company, were responding to reports of a gas odor at the nursing home just before the first explosion was reported.

“PECO crews shut off natural gas and electric service to the facility to ensure the safety of first responders and local residents,” the company said in a statement. “It is not known at this time if PECO’s equipment, or natural gas, was involved in this incident.”

An investigation into the cause of the blasts remains underway.

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Shapiro and other officials described a heroic rescue effort that saw first responders hoist residents over their shoulders and carry them away from the burning building.

“In the immediate moments after the explosion, you saw what real heroism is all about,” Shapiro said. “Firefighters rushed to this scene in order to contain the explosion, in order to put out the fire, and most importantly, in order to rescue people.”

Residents who live near the facility said they could feel the explosions from inside their homes.

Joe Westergon, who lives a few blocks from the facility, told the Bucks County Courier Times that he helped carry six injured residents to safety.

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“I was taking them over to the curb and sitting them down,” Westergon said. “I was trying to keep them as calm as possible … They’ll live, but they were pretty tore up, some were bleeding.”

Christopher Cann reports for USA TODAY. Chris Ullery and Jo Ciavaglia report for the Bucks County Courier Times.

Contributing: Thao Nguyen, Amanda Lee Myers and Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY; Lacey Latch, JD Mullane, Jess Rohan, and Michele Haddon, Bucks County Courier Times.

(This story has been updated to add new information.)



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Pennsylvania High School Wrestling Rankings Before 2026 PIAA States – FloWrestling

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Pennsylvania High School Wrestling Rankings Before 2026 PIAA States – FloWrestling


Is Pennsylvania the most wrestling-centric state in the country? Does the Keystone State have the most talent? Or even the top talent? Is it harder to win a state title there than anywhere else?

These all are terrific questions, and the answers may vary depending on who you ask and where they’re from, much like our nation’s great pizza debate, where the answers will vary by region.

What we do know for sure, is that Pennsylvania is well-represented in the 2025-2026 FloWrestling High School Wrestling Rankings, but with the 2026 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Boys & Girls Individual State Wrestling Championships on the horizon, where do the competitors rank amongst their peers?

If you follow high school wrestling, you’ve probably already heard many of the names, whether it was at past PIAA events, national tournaments, international competition, college recruiting news or signings, etc.

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Now, here they are listed by weight class in FloWrestling’s latest Pennsylvania-only rankings.

Among the most recognizable are Bishop McCort senior Bo Bassett (152 pounds), his brother and teammate Melvin Miller (172 pounds) and Adam Waters (189 pounds) from rival school Faith Christian Academy. 

As you get ready to see who takes home the titles at the 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships, set for March 5-7 at GIANT Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, here’s a look at where everyone falls in the pecking order:

What Are The Weight Classes For High School Wrestling In Pennsylvania?

  • Boys: 107, 114, 121, 127, 133, 139, 145, 152, 160, 172, 189, 215, 285
  • Girls: 100, 106, 112, 118, 124, 130, 136, 142, 148, 155, 170, 190, 235

Pennsylvania High School Wrestling Rankings Before 2026 PIAA State Championships

As of Feb. 22, 2026

Boys

Girls

When Are The 2026 PIAA Boys & Girls Individual State Wrestling Championships?

The 2026 PIAA Boys & Girls Individual State Wrestling Championships will take place March 5-7, live on FloWrestling and the FloSports app.

The first girls wrestling champions in PIAA action were determined in 2024.

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The road back to GIANT Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, began with regional competition across 12 sites (eight boys, four girls) in February (Feb. 20-21; Feb. 22; Feb. 27-28; Feb. 28)

Among the highlights at the 2025 event was Bassett winning his second individual PIAA state championship and helping Bishop McCort to a Class AA runner-up finish behind Faith Christian. 

Read more: 2025 PIAA Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets

How To Watch The 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships 

Live coverage of the 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships on March 5-7 will be broadcast on FloWrestling and the FloSports app, with news, notes, stats and more available on both platforms.

Archives will be available immediately following the conclusion of each match.

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If you’re going to be in the area and want to catch the action in person, click here for spectator and ticket information. 

Read more: 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships Schedule & Brackets

2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships Brackets

Here’s where you’ll be able to find the brackets for the 2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships: 

2026 PIAA Individual State Wrestling Championships Schedule

Here’s a look at when everything is going down:

All Times Eastern

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Wednesday, March 4

  • 4-7 p.m. – Media registration
  • 4-7 p.m. – School registration (AA/Girls/AAA)
  • 4-7 p.m. – Qualifying wrestlers’ workout (AA/Girls/AAA) (six mats)
  • 6 p.m. – Officials’ meeting

Thursday, March 5 (Session 1)

  • 7:30 a.m. – Media registration
  • 7:30 a.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA)
  • 7:30 a.m. – Late school registration (AA)
  • 7:45 a.m. – Skin condition check (AA)
  • 8 a.m. – Weigh-ins (AA)
  • 9 a.m. – Preliminaries and first round (AA), six mats (52/104 matches)
  • 12:30 p.m. – First-round consolations (AA), six mats
  • 12:30 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (Girls)
  • 12:30 p.m. – Late school registration (Girls)
  • 12:45 p.m. – Skin condition check (Girls)
  • 1 p.m. – Weigh-ins (Girls)
  • 2 p.m. – First round (Girls), six mats (104 matches)
  • 3 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AAA)
  • 3 p.m. – Late school registration (AAA)
  • 3:15 p.m. – Skin condition check (AAA)
  • 3:30 p.m. – Weigh-ins (AAA)
  • 3:30 p.m. – First-round consolations (Girls), six mats (52 matches)
  • 4:30 p.m. – Preliminaries and first round (AAA), six mats (52/104 matches)
  • 8 p.m. – First-round consolations (AAA), six mats (52 matches)

Friday, March 6 (Session 2/Session 3)

  • 6:30 a.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA)
  • 6:45 a.m. – Skin condition check (AA)
  • 7 a.m. – Weigh-ins (AA)
  • 8 a.m. – Quarterfinals (AA), three mats (52 matches)
  • 8 a.m. – Second-round consolations (AA), three mats (52 matches)
  • 10:15 a.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (Girls)
  • 10:30 a.m. – Third-round consolations (AA), three mats (52 matches)
  • 10:30 a.m. – Skin condition check (Girls)
  • 10:45 a.m. – Weigh-ins (Girls)
  • 11:45 a.m. – Quarterfinals (Girls), six mats (52 matches)
  • 12:45 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AAA)
  • 1 p.m. – Skin condition check (AAA)
  • 1:15 p.m. – Weigh-ins (AAA)
  • 1:15 p.m. – Second-round consolations (Girls), six mats (52 matches)
  • 2:15 p.m. – Quarterfinals (AAA), three mats (52 matches)
  • 2:15 p.m. – Second-round consolations (AAA), three mats (52 matches)
  • 4:45 p.m. – Third-round consolations (AAA), six mats (52 matches)
  • 6:15 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA/Girls/AAA)
  • 7 p.m. – Semifinals (AA/Girls/AAA), 2/2/2 mats (26/26/26 matches)
  • 9 p.m. – Fourth-round consolations (AA/AAA), 2/2 mats (26/26 matches)
  • 9 p.m. – Third-round consolations (Girls), two mats (26 matches)

Saturday, March 7 (Session 4/Session 5)

  • 8 a.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA/Girls/AAA) 
  • 8:15 a.m. – Skin condition check (AA/Girls/AAA)
  • 8:30 a.m. – Weigh-ins (AA/Girls/AAA)
  • 8:45 a.m. – Skin condition check, finalists (AA/Girls/AAA)
  • 9 a.m. – Weigh-in, finalists (AA/Girls/AAA)
  • 9:30 a.m. – Fifth-round consolations (AA/AAA), 2/2 mats (26/26 matches)
  • 9:30 a.m. – Fourth-round consolations (Girls), 2 mats (26 matches)
  • 11:30 a.m. – Third-, fifth- and seventh-place matches (AA/Girls/AAA), 2/2/2 mats (39/39/39 matches)
  • 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. – Admit coaches and contestants (AA/Girls/AAA)
  • 3:40 p.m. – Parade of Champions (AA/Girls/AAA)
  • 4 p.m. – Championship Finals (AA/Girls/AAA), 1/1/1 mats (13/13/13 matches)

When Was The 2026 PIAA Team Wrestling State Championships?

The 2026 PIAA Team Wrestling State Championships took place Feb. 6-7 at the 1st Summit Arena in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and included 20 teams that survived the preliminary and first round of the tournament, which was held Feb. 3 at host schools across the state.

The advancing teams made their way to Johnstown for two more days of intense competition, with the 1st Summit Arena hosting the quarterfinals through the championship matches. 

In Pennsylvania this year, there were 475 schools participating in boys wrestling. 

They were divided into two classifications – 228 schools in AA and 247 schools in AAA – which are further split into 12 districts. Class AA is for schools with 1-308 male enrollees, and Class AAA wrestling includes schools with 309-9999 male students. 

Read more: 2026 PIAA Team Wrestling State Championships Schedule & Brackets

Did You Know: PIAA Wrestling Has A Long History

The first state wrestling championships in Keystone State happened in 1938, while the girls were added to the action in 2024. The PIAA Team Wrestling State Championships debuted in 1999.

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There are 14 four-time individual state champions in Pennsylvania. Another 30 have won three times.

2025-2026 FloWrestling High School Wrestling Rankings

Top 20 as of Feb. 18, 2026

Curious about how the top wrestlers from each state stack up against competitors from across the country?

Click here to see the latest high school rankings from FloWrestling.

FULL DUAL: Bishop McCort vs. Faith Christian | 2026 PIAA AA Team State Finals

Faith Christian has been dominant in team wrestling in Pennsylvania, and Bishop McCort keeps falling just short.

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Trackwrestling Has Joined The New FloWrestling

Trackwrestling officially has merged with FloWrestling, bringing its powerful tournament tracking tools and live data into a modern, all-in-one platform. 

Fans can follow every bout with pro-grade brackets, mat schedules, team rosters and detailed wrestler profiles—all seamlessly integrated within FloWrestling.

This move delivers a faster, smarter and more connected experience for the wrestling community. Through the updated FloSports app, users can track live results, explore brackets and even sign up for free alerts so they never miss a match.

FloWrestling Archived Footage

Video footage from all events on FloWrestling will be archived and stored in a video library for FloWrestling subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

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Man cited after abandoning car in frozen pond at Pennsylvania country club: Police

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Man cited after abandoning car in frozen pond at Pennsylvania country club: Police


A man has been cited after police said he drove a vehicle into a frozen pond at a country club in Pennsylvania, left the scene, then spent the night in a hotel.

According to the East Lampeter Township Police Department, on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, around 10:38 a.m., officers were called to the Lancaster Country Club after receiving reports about a vehicle in a pond.

Police said that, through an investigation, it was learned that Sung Chun, a 50-year-old man from Hoboken, New Jersey, had driven onto the property the day before around 8:30 p.m., crossed portions of the golf course, and ultimately ended up in a pond.

Chun then exited the vehicle and walked away without reporting the incident and spent the night at a nearby hotel, according to police.

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Credit: East Lampeter Township Police Department

Credit: East Lampeter Township Police Department

Credit: East Lampeter Township Police Department

Police said Chun returned to the location while police were on scene investigating the incident and was ultimately cited with “Trespass by Motor Vehicle.”



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State College, Pennsylvania: 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards

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State College, Pennsylvania: 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards


In rural Pennsylvania, State College houses Penn State against a backdrop of beautiful country scenery. The university hosts many events, arts performances, and lively festivals that give the town year-round excitement that blends student life with local charm. Visitors can attend a football game, explore nearby parks and trails, and savor the town’s growing culinary scene of pubs and local eateries.



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