Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Fraud Claims Debunked: Trump And Elon Musk Spreading False Fraud Claims In Battleground State

Published

1 year ago

November 1, 2024

Pennsylvania Fraud Claims Debunked: Trump And Elon Musk Spreading False Fraud Claims In Battleground State

Topline

Former President Donald Trump and his supporters—including billionaire Elon Musk—have spread claims about election irregularities and fraud in Pennsylvania despite officials saying their claims have no merit, as the ex-president begins sowing distrust in the election results as polls suggest he’s virtually tied with Vice President Kamala Harris.

Former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Bryce Jordan Center on October 26 in … [+] State College, Pennsylvania.

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Key Facts

Trump has repeatedly suggested on social media there’s election fraud in Pennsylvania without showing evidence, writing on Truth Social Thursday, “We caught them CHEATING BIG in Pennsylvania.”

Pennsylvania is one of the most high-stakes battleground states in the presidential election—awarding 19 electors to whomever wins—and polling there shows Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris neck-and-neck.

Trump’s comments echo his false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election, which he used to unsuccessfully try and overturn the vote count after President Joe Biden won, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro claimed on X that Trump is now “trying to use the same playbook to stoke chaos” in this election.

Trump and his supporters’ claims are being amplified in this election by billionaire Elon Musk, who has shared false fraud claims on X, formerly known as Twitter, and allowed conspiracy theories to spread freely on the social platform, which he owns.

State election officials have debunked and opposed the false claims of fraud, with Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt saying at a media briefing Wednesday, “Spreading videos and other information that lack context, sharing social posts filled with half-truths or even outright lies is harmful to our representative democracy.”

Voter Registrations In Lancaster, York And Other Counties

Trump and other Republicans have made claims of voter fraud based on instances in multiple counties in which election officials received unusually large groups of voter registration applications, which were reviewed and sent to district attorney’s offices to investigate potential fraud. Lancaster County reported “hundreds” of fraudulent applications were sent to investigators and York County reported approximately a quarter of the 3,000 registration applications it received in bulk were declined and are undergoing further review. Officials also reported irregular applications in Monroe County, though election officials in Luzerne County, where some last-minute application forms were also flagged, said after reviewing the applications that none were fraudulent. While Trump and other Republicans have held up these instances as evidence of voter fraud, election officials told The Washington Post they were more likely the “sloppy work of a paid canvasser trying to meet a quota” rather than a malicious instance of fraud. Since the irregularities were only reported in voter registration applications, there is also no impact on any actual ballots or votes.

Bucks County Cutting Off Line To Vote

The Trump campaign and its allies, including running mate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, have pushed claims that voters were denied the opportunity to vote in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, despite being in line before voting ended for the day, with Vance amplifying claims that Democrat-allied “voter protection” workers were cutting off the line. The Trump campaign ultimately filed a lawsuit that resulted in early voting being extended in the county until Friday. Bucks County has pushed back against the suggestions that voters were intentionally being stopped from voting and cut off in line, saying on Monday, “Contrary to what is being depicted on social media, if you are in line by 5 p.m. for an on-demand mail-in ballot application, you will have the opportunity to submit your application for a mail-in ballot.” (The state does not have traditional early voting, but allows voters to request and submit mail ballots in person.) The county did acknowledge there was a “miscommunication” that meant “individuals in line to apply for an on-demand mail-in ballot were briefly told they could not be accommodated,” but added that those voters “were given the opportunity to submit mail-in ballot applications today.”

Woman Arrested In Delaware County

The Trump campaign claimed in a campaign email Monday that a woman in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, was arrested “for fighting voter suppression” and “encouraging people to stay in line and vote.” Delaware County responded in a statement, reported by ABC News, saying the woman in question was being “disruptive, belligerent, and attempting to influence voters waiting in line,” and remained in the polling place’s lobby for two hours and “approached various individuals” but did not get in line to vote herself. Police apprehended the woman and asked her to leave after voters complained, county officials said, and first “provided her with verbal guidance on appropriate behavior and allowed her to remain in the lobby.” After additional complaints were lodged against the woman and she refused to leave, she was “briefly detained, and was issued a citation for disorderly conduct,” a county spokesperson told ABC News.

Ballot Delivery In Northampton County

A viral video posted on X Monday purporting to show a man dropping off an “obscene amount of ballots” in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, actually depicted a postal worker delivering ballots to the local elections office, NBC News confirmed. The video, which was shared by right-wing influencers including Alex Jones, has led to the postal worker getting harassed, Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure told NBC, adding, “I hope if you do a story that the story will be that this is incredibly stupid election misinformation … And, you know, stop it.”

Ballots Ripped Up In Bucks County

After a video went viral that was purporting to show ballots being ripped up in Bucks County, the FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a joint statement saying they had determined “Russian actors manufactured and amplified” the video, describing it as “part of Moscow’s broader effort to raise unfounded questions about the integrity of the US election and stoke divisions among Americans.” The video has been attributed to Russian disinformation team Storm-1516, NBC reports. Local prosecutors also separately debunked the video, similarly “conclud[ing]

that this video was fabricated in an attempt to undermine confidence in the upcoming election.”

Allegheny County Voters Cutting Lines

Trump supporters complained about noncitizens allegedly being allowed to vote in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, after social media posts claimed buses of non-English speakers arrived at a polling place and those voters cut other people in line. Allegheny County issued a statement saying a video posted on social media only showed a “brief conversation between voters, their translators, and a County employee,” after which elderly and disabled voters in the group were allowed to sit down as they waited to vote while able-bodied members of the group went to the back of the line. Sam DeMarco, a local council member who supports Trump, shared the county’s statement, and local outlet TribLive reports that he was told by county lawyers the voters at issue are U.S. citizens who are members of the local Nepalese and Bhutanese community. “These are members of the refugee community, and they are registered to vote in Allegheny County,” DeMarco said, and Bhutanese Community Association of Pittsburgh director Khara Timsina told TribLive the voters became citizens around 2013 and 2014. While Republicans have made false claims about noncitizens voting in the November election, in practice noncitizen voting is extremely rare, with one study finding only 0.0001% of ballots cast in 2016 across 12 states were unlawful votes by noncitizens.

What To Watch For

Trump and his supporters are likely to continue spreading false claims of fraud through and after Election Day. Those claims are likely to spread more rapidly and unchecked on X, CNN notes, where Musk has allowed misinformation and disinformation to spread without the moderation measures that other social platforms have taken—and repeatedly spread the false claims himself. “Elon Musk is a huge problem,” an unnamed Pennsylvania official told CNN. (Musk has not yet responded to a request for comment.) Pennsylvania is one of the states that’s likely to take longer to report election results, due to laws in the state that only allow election workers to start processing ballots on Election Day. That could allow misinformation to further spread while ballots are being counted, as happened in 2020. Trump also filed numerous lawsuits in the state in 2020 taking issue with election processes and falsely alleging fraud—nearly all of which failed, save for one minor lawsuit affecting only a small number of votes—which may happen again this year. Schmidt said Thursday that while the final timing of the election results will depend on how close the race is—and final results will not be available by Election Day—the state has taken steps since 2020 to try and speed up the ballot counting process, like giving counties the funds to invest in more resources for counting. Counties will also now be required to report how many ballots are still left to count, which will help combat claims of ballots being “found” at the last minute that proliferated during the 2020 election.

Contra

While Trump has pointed to issues like the allegedly fraudulent voter registrations as being evidence of the election being fraudulent and rigged against him, election officials told the Post that the fact the registrations were flagged actually shows the guardrails that are in place to catch and prevent election fraud are working as they should. Nina Jancowitz, CEO of anti-disinformation group American Sunlight Project, also noted to CNN that the outsized role Musk is playing in the election and him using X to freely spread false information “is far closer to election interference than any of the allegations that conservatives have made against social media platforms from 2016 to 2022.”

Top Pennsylvania 2027 quarterback enrolls into Coatesville (Pa.)

Published

6 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Top Pennsylvania 2027 quarterback enrolls into Coatesville (Pa.)

One of the top 2027 Pennsylvania high school quarterbacks from the 2025 season has announced that he’s leaving for a new home.

Per an announcement by Class of 2027 signal caller Mikal Shank Jr., the quarterback has left Harrisburg (Pa.) and is now at Coatesville (Pa.) for his senior season. Shank Jr. last season started 14 games for the Cougars and is arguably one of the state’s top returning players behind center heading into the 2026 campaign.

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Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania High School Wrestling Rankings Before 2026 PIAA States – FloWrestling

Published

18 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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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Pennsylvania

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

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

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.

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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