Pennsylvania

Pa. election 2025: What to know about the candidates for Superior Court

Published

5 months ago

October 23, 2025

Pa. election 2025: What to know about the candidates for Superior Court

What questions do you have about the 2025 elections? What major issues do you want candidates to address? Let us know.

In Pennsylvania’s 2025 general election, voters will determine who joins one of the commonwealth’s most powerful courts: the Superior Court, which handles thousands of criminal, civil and family appeals cases each year and is often the final word in justice for many residents across the commonwealth. The court’s decisions can shape everything from parental custody arrangements to criminal sentencing and consumer protections to business issues.

Three candidates — Democrat Judge Brandon Neuman, Republican Maria Battista and Daniel Wassmer of the Liberal Party — are vying for an open seat. Meanwhile, Democratic Judge Alice Beck DuBow is seeking a new 10-year term in a separate retention vote.

The Superior Court is one of two intermediate appellate courts in Pennsylvania, which review decisions from the state’s 67 county courts. The Superior Court has the final say on around 97% of its decisions which are not successfully appealed to the state Supreme Court.

“Do you want your communities to be safe? All criminal matters if appealed … go to the Superior Court. I ask people, ‘Do you care about your families, your children, your grandchildren?’ All matters related to families and children go to the Superior Court,” Maria Battista, the Republican nominee, told PCNTV last month. “Do you care about your property rights? Property issues go to the Superior Court.”

Here’s who is running:

Judge Brandon Neuman

Judge Brandon Neuman ran uncontested in the Democratic primary. He currently serves on the County Court of Common Pleas in Washington County, where he is a lifelong resident. He graduated from the University of Richmond and Duquesne University Kline School of Law, and practiced trial law before being elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2017, where he served four terms. He ran for lieutenant governor but lost in the primary.

He says his time as a lawmaker shaped how he views the role of the appellate bench.

“You learn about how the law is created and then, as a judge, you understand that we are not lawmakers,” he said in an interview with PCNTV. “You have to respect and appreciate how hard it is to make a law and then take a step back as a judge and say we have to follow the law and the constitution. That is our job.”

His legislative work included authoring the Debbie Smith Act, which was aimed at ending Pennsylvania’s backlog of untested rape kits.

In a notable 2024 ruling, Neuman ordered Washington County to notify voters if their mail ballots contained errors that could prevent them from being counted, a decision that was upheld by successive higher courts.

He said he sees the judiciary’s biggest challenge as “rebuilding public trust” in an era of widespread skepticism toward government institutions.

“Right now, the courts generally have the lowest approval rating that they’ve had probably in modern history,” he said. “You don’t come to court voluntarily. It’s not something that you enjoy. And so really just making sure … that this process is going to be fair, it’s going to be impartial. I’m going to listen to you and I’m going to follow the law.”

The Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Judicial Evaluation Commission rated Neuman “Highly Recommended,” citing his judicial record and demeanor. He has received endorsements from several labor unions, including the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 13, the Pennsylvania State Education Association, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO. He is also endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police Pennsylvania State Lodge, Pennsylvania State Troopers Association and Pennsylvania Sheriffs’ Association.

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Pennsylvania

Fire crews try moving burning barge to shallow water in Delaware Bay

Published

5 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Fire crews try moving burning barge to shallow water in Delaware Bay

Delaware, Pennsylvania, and federal agencies have been responding to a barge fire in the Delaware Bay.

The barge, which is carrying salvage metal, is being moved to shallow water so it can be secured, allowing on-scene responders to extinguish the fire and complete salvage operations, according to a March 10 statement from the Delaware Emergency Management Agency.

No injuries have been reported as of 1:15 p.m.

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is on scene to perform air monitoring, the statement said.

Responding agencies include the Wilmington Fire Department, Good Will, Leipsic Volunteer, Bowers and South Bowers fire companies. Also there are Delaware State Police, DNREC, New Castle County Office of Emergency Management, Kent County Department of Public Safety, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay.

The Philadelphia Fire Department was enroute.

This is a developing story. Check back with delawareonline.com for more information.

Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.

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Pennsylvania

Shapiro wants to incentivize data centers to be better neighbors. Will that work?

Published

18 hours ago

March 10, 2026

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Shapiro wants to incentivize data centers to be better neighbors. Will that work?

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania High School Girls Basketball 2026 Playoff Brackets, Schedule (PIAA) – March 10, 2026

Published

1 day ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Pennsylvania High School Girls Basketball 2026 Playoff Brackets, Schedule (PIAA) – March 10, 2026

The 2026 Pennsylvania high school girls basketball state playoffs begin on Tuesday, March 10, with second-round games for all divisions.

High School On SI has brackets for every division in the PIAA high school girls basketball playoffs. The state championships begin on March 19th.

Pennsylvania High School Girls Basketball 2026 Playoff Brackets, Schedule (PIAA) – March 10-11, 2026

CLASS 1A BRACKET (select to view bracket)

Second Round

New Covenant Christian vs. Delaware County Christian – 03/11

Philadelphia Montgomery Christian Academy vs. Benton – 03/11

Our Lady of Lourdes Regional vs. Motivation – 03/11

Linville Hill vs. Southern Fulton – 03/11

Williamsburg vs. Elk County Catholic – 03/11

Farrell vs. Bishop Carroll – 03/11

Clarion-Limestone vs. Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy – 03/11

Bishop Guilfoyle vs. Aquinas Academy – 03/11

CLASS 2A BRACKET (select to view bracket)

Second Round

Shalom Christian Academy vs. Southern Columbia Area – 03/10

Faith Christian vs. Mountain View – 03/10

Wyoming Seminary College Prep vs. Marian Catholic – 03/10

York Catholic vs. Berlin Brothersvalley – 03/10

Neshannock vs. Penns Manor – 03/10

Kennedy Catholic vs. Keystone – 03/10

Bishop McCort vs. Chartiers-Houston – 03/10

Winchester Thurston vs. Wilmington Area – 03/10

CLASS 3A BRACKET (select to view bracket)

Second Round

Imhotep Charter vs. Holy Redeemer – 03/10

Pequea Valley vs. Schuylkill Haven – 03/10

Hughesville vs. Notre Dame-Green Pond – 03/10

Dunmore vs. Executive Education Academy – 03/10

Trinity vs. Troy – 03/10

Northwestern vs. Greensburg Central Catholic – 03/10

Shady Side Academy vs. Beaver Falls – 03/10

Central Cambria vs. Karns City – 03/10

CLASS 4A BRACKET (select to view bracket)

Second Round

Susquehanna Township vs. Universal Audenried Charter School – 03/11

Scranton Prep vs. Allentown Central Catholic – 03/11

Central Columbia vs. Villa Joseph Marie – 03/11

Valley View vs. Neumann-Goretti – 03/11

Delone Catholic vs. Penn Cambria – 03/11

Slippery Rock vs. Oakland Catholic – 03/11

Belle Vernon vs. Blackhawk – 03/11

North Catholic vs. Harbor Creek – 03/11

CLASS 5A BRACKET (select to view bracket)

Second Round

Lampeter-Strasburg vs. Mt. St. Joseph Academy – 03/11

Marple Newtown vs. Crestwood – 03/11

Bethlehem Catholic vs. Villa Maria Academy – 03/11

North Pocono vs. Archbishop Wood – 03/11

York Suburban vs. TBD – 03/11

Peters Township vs. Manheim Central – 03/11

South Fayette vs. Penn-Trafford – 03/11

Baldwin vs. Indiana – 03/11

CLASS 6A BRACKET (select to view bracket)

Second Round

Upper Dublin vs. Perkiomen Valley – 03/10

Hazleton vs. Parkland – 03/10

Easton vs. Red Lion – 03/10

Downingtown West vs. Archbishop Carroll – 03/10

Wilson vs. Cardinal O’Hara – 03/10

Pennsbury vs. Altoona – 03/10

Dallastown vs. Emmaus – 03/10

Canon-McMillan vs. Taylor Allderdice – 03/10

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