Crews are scheduled to work through the night early Wednesday on the demolition of an adjacent bridge carrying Interstate 95 that was compromised in a gas truck fire as officials prepare to release plans for restoring service on the key East Coast artery.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania finalizing plan to reopen I-95 after bridge collapse
A northbound bridge collapsed Sunday after a Penn Tank Lines gasoline truck rolled over and caught fire beneath it, officials said. The southbound span subsequently was found to be unsafe and is being knocked down.
The crash and fire are under investigation, and experts said the flames would have weakened the steel holding up the bridges. The fire crippled a stretch of highway that carries 160,000 vehicles daily, leaving thousands of trucks facing months of lengthy detours and creating headaches for commuters in Northeast Philadelphia.
After touring the scene Tuesday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg described the burn marks and twisted metal. He noted the potential economic effects of the collapse and said the federal government would help Pennsylvania rebuild quickly and safely.
“What a lot of people don’t always see behind those inflation numbers is the importance of our supply chains,” Buttigieg said. “If a route is disrupted or if its longer or if trucks have to wait, that finds its way into the cost of goods.”
Pennsylvania State Police said Monday they recovered a body from the wreckage and that authorities have no indication it was anyone other than the truck driver. Family identified the driver as Nathan Moody, 53. Penn Tank Lines did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.
Family members of Moody said they are distraught over his death. Alex Moody, an older cousin who grew up with him in Philadelphia, said the death is one of several in the family in recent years.
He said he broke down into tears, saddened to lose his “baby cousin.” He said his cousin had a wife and three children, one who was 7 years old.
“One minute, you see a person, then the next minute, you don’t see them,” he said.
Alex Moody said his cousin was the family’s Dudley Do-Right, a reference to the character from a segment on “The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show.” He was the voice of reason among family, always there to keep cousins out of trouble, help them find a job or help pay rent if needed, he said.
Two decades ago, Nathan Moody sat his cousin down to encourage him to stay away from drugs.
“That leaves an imprint on your heart,” Alex Moody said.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash and bridge collapse. The board plans to issue preliminary findings within a few weeks, but a final report detailing the cause of the collapse likely won’t be available for a year.
The bridge was constructed in 2016 and was rated in good condition. Experts said that publicly available evidence indicates the heat of the fire is to blame for the collapse, rather than any issue with the bridge. As steel reaches high temperatures, its ability to hold a load decreases and the span likely fell under its own weight, experts said.
Philadelphia officials have arranged detours around the collapsed bridge and are encouraging commuters to use public transit while work on the highway continues, running extra train service and making free parking available. Ridership on three regional Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority rail lines was up about 12 percent Monday compared with the previous week, agency spokesman Andrew Busch said.
The state transportation department is turning its attention to the rebuilding effort, which could take months.
Carroll said a construction contractor was working on another project along the interstate and was pulled in to start the demolition work. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) signed an emergency declaration Monday allowing officials to bypass normal contracting rules to speed the work.
The declaration made $7 million in state funds available. Buttigieg said Pennsylvania will be able to tap emergency federal money and other financial aid.
“There’s no substitute for I-95 being up and running in full working condition and that’s the goal that everybody’s moving toward here,” he said.
The collapse is the nation’s third major transportation incident this year, following the failure of an Federal Aviation Administration information system in January and the derailment of a freight train carrying hazardous chemicals in February.
Buttigieg was criticized by Republican lawmakers for waiting several weeks before visiting the derailment site in East Palestine, Ohio. Asked Tuesday why he had come to Philadelphia much sooner, he said visiting the active scene in Ohio marked a break in precedent for transportation secretaries, but that he saw the value in being there in person.
“Part of what I found was important — especially when you saw all of the politicization and misinformation that the people of East Palestine had to deal with — is that we’re just in a new world in terms of the importance of presence to help make sure everybody understands what is happening,” Buttigieg said.
Tanker fires have caused bridge collapses in the past, but such incidents are rare and experts said it would be expensive to fireproof the nation’s existing spans.
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Senators Carolyn Comitta, D-Chester County, third from left, and Timothy Kearney, D-Delaware County, take part in the rally. Legislators and supporters rally for the LGBTQ House ‘Fairness Act’ bill. The bill would protect an individual against discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
April 26, 2023.
Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
By Caroline Griffin
America stands for the promise of equal opportunity for all. Unfortunately, at a time when America should be working to fulfill that promise, we are faced with concerning rollbacks of key federal housing protections—especially for our most vulnerable neighbors within our communities.
Recent policy shifts by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) signal a retreat from the federal government’s long-standing commitment to fair housing enforcement. This includes the sidelining of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule—an essential safeguard meant to ensure that communities proactively dismantle segregation and expand affordable housing opportunity.
Equally alarming is HUD’s recent track record of dismissing housing discrimination complaints, particularly those filed by transgender Americans, whose right to safe and stable housing is increasingly under threat.
Additionally, HUD proposed regulations last year that aimed to change how criminal backgrounds are considered in public housing, including guidelines on look-back periods. These regulations were withdrawn earlier this year, reflecting the ongoing debate and reconsideration of policies related to criminal history screening in housing.
These changes have real consequences. For those among us seeking stable housing or in need of more affordable housing – possibly just trying to make ends meet – in many states will find themselves out of luck and out of options for housing.
For transgender Americans—who already face disproportionate rates of homelessness, eviction, and housing denial—turning a blind eye to discrimination is not just bad policy; it’s a matter of survival. When our federal institutions withdraw from enforcing the Fair Housing Act, they send a dangerous message: that some people’s rights are negotiable.
However, Pennsylvania will not echo that message.
Under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, all Pennsylvanians are protected from housing discrimination—regardless of their race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, familial status, and other protected characteristics. While federal enforcement falters, our commitment remains firm. In Pennsylvania, it is illegal for yout to be refused housing, charged different rates, or be subjected to unequal terms because of who you are. That includes transgender individuals and members of other marginalized communities.
To those who have faced discrimination in seeking a place to live: you are not alone, and you are not without recourse. The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) urges you to file a complaint. Our mission is to investigate and, when necessary, litigate housing discrimination claims to ensure fair treatment for all residents of the commonwealth. We are here to listen. We are here to act.
In a just society, the right to safe and equitable housing cannot be selective. It must be defended—especially when federal protections falter. Pennsylvania will continue to lead with integrity, enforce the law, and protect the dignity of every person who calls Pennsylvania home.
If you or someone you know has experienced housing discrimination, contact the PHRC. You can call the PHRC at 717-787-4410 or email PHRC at phrc@pa.gov. Learn more about your rights and protections at www.pa.gov/agencies/PHRC.
Your voice matters—and we are ready to hear it.
Caroline Griffin is Director of Fair Housing and Commercial Property, Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.
Pennsylvania
Suspect in arson at Pennsylvania governor’s official residence to seek delay in next court hearing
A man accused of trying to burn down Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s official residence is seeking to delay his next scheduled court appearance because he is receiving mental health treatment, his lawyer said Friday.
The suspect, Cody Balmer, had been scheduled to appear in court next Wednesday for a hearing to determine whether prosecutors have enough evidence against Balmer to take the case to trial.
But Mary Klatt, the chief public defender of Dauphin County, said Balmer’s hearing will be postponed because he is receiving treatment.
“Everyone wants to ensure Mr. Balmer is mentally fit when this matter comes before the Court,” Klatt said in an email to The Associated Press.
Balmer is currently being held at the state prison in Waymart, the only state prison with a mental health unit for men, according to the state Department of Corrections.
Balmer, 38, is charged with attempted homicide, arson and other offenses for setting a fire that tore through a section of the state-owned residence’s first floor and forced the governor, his wife, children and members of his extended family to flee in the middle of the night, hours after they celebrated the Jewish holiday of Passover with a Seder in the residence.
Shapiro, who is Jewish, is viewed as a potential White House contender for the Democratic Party in 2028.
Balmer told police that he had intended to attack the governor with a hammer if he had encountered him that night, police said in a court filing. No one was injured in the blaze, which fire officials say caused millions of dollars in damage to the heavily protected residence.
Balmer has not entered a plea.
Balmer has been held without bail since turning himself in to state police after the April 13 fire. Klatt has said he would be evaluated to see if he is competent to stand trial.
Balmer’s mother and brother say he suffers from mental illness, something that Balmer denied in one brief court appearance. Authorities say Balmer expressed hatred for Shapiro.
If you’re traveling this Memorial Day weekend, Pennsylvania State Police and AAA want drivers to practice following a new rule of the road that takes effect soon.
Paul Miller’s Law in Pennsylvania
A new law called Paul Miller’s Law is putting the brakes on a bad habit. Starting June 5, it’ll be illegal to use your cellphone and other electronics while driving.
“No body part can maintain that phone. So, it’s not just holding it. I know a lot of drivers put their phone on their lap, and that’s going to be illegal here in a couple weeks,” said Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Rocco Gagliardi.
“You are still not allowed to pull up that device at a red light, stuck in traffic. That law is very lengthy and real specific,” Gagliardi said.
“If you want to make that phone call, if you want to be on that phone, you want to play your mobile app, whatever it is, pull off into a parking lot, on a shoulder of the road, you can put your hazards on,” he added.
Trooper Gagliardi said if you have your phone mounted in your car, you are allowed to accept the call with one push of a button.
Texting while driving is already illegal in Pennsylvania.
What is Paul Miller’s Law?
The law is named after Paul Miller Jr., who was killed in a crash in Monroe County after a tractor-trailer driver reached for their phone while driving.
Drivers KDKA spoke with in Pittsburgh on Friday said they’re on board with the law.
“You can’t see the road and your phone at the same time,” said Kimari Coker.
“I’ve almost gotten into an accident because people aren’t paying attention on the road and they’re on their phones,” said Terry Thomas.
“It’ll encourage more safety within the community and make sure everyone’s being held responsible for their actions,” said Jack Forsythe.
The state police and AAA have spent a lot of time educating people about the dangers of distracted driving and the new rules.
“You take your eyes off the road for a couple of seconds, it’s like driving the length of a football field with a blindfold on,” said Jim Garrity, director of public affairs of AAA East Central.
Now it’s time for enforcement.
“If someone is using a GPS and they don’t have a holder to place it,” said Jasmine Harrington, “how are they going to know if it’s in your hand?”
For the first year, the penalty is a written warning. Then, starting June 5, 2026, it’s a summary offense with a $50 fine, as well as court costs and other fees.
“We’re going to be looking for it, and we’re going to have to take that enforcement action,” Trooper Gagliardi said.
There is an exception in the law. Drivers are allowed to use their phones in an emergency to call law enforcement or other emergency services.
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