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Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro calls for legalization of recreational marijuana

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Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro calls for legalization of recreational marijuana


PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is calling for the legalization of recreational marijuana, but not everyone is on board with the idea.

The Commonwealth’s neighboring states, except for West Virginia, have legalized cannabis. 

During his budget address, Governor Shapiro shared details of how he wants to blaze a new trail in Pennsylvania.

“It’s time to catch up. I ask you to come together and send a bill to my desk a bill that legalizes marijuana,” Governor Shapiro said.

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The governor told KDKA-TV that legalizing cannabis would bring in $250 million in tax revenue each year.

Some groups want to see this idea go up in smoke. The Pennsylvania Family Institute’s director of communications, Dan Bartkowiak, said there’s a lot of talk of projected revenue, but no one’s talking about the variety of costs and expenses that would come with legalizing recreational marijuana or recognizing how it could harm families.

“We have a medical program right now in Pennsylvania so folks can access marijuana in a legal way. Yet when it comes to recreational use, this is commercialization, this is high potency, 99 percent THC being advertised, marketed, increasing its accessibility and that leads to harm,” Bartkowiak said.

The Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition commends the governor for joining others who believe the legalization of adult-use marijuana would create budding opportunities and deliver more than just revenue. 

The organization sent a statement to KDKA-TV that said, in part, “Governor Shapiro’s leadership on this issue will deliver more than just revenue to the commonwealth. The establishment of a well-regulated adult-use cannabis market built on the experience and infrastructure of the current medical marijuana program will add thousands of jobs, reap millions of dollars in investments for Pennsylvania, and stop the revenue bleed to neighboring adult-use states.”

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Bartkowiak believes the stakes are just too high, especially for young people. He’s worried teen marijuana use would rise.

“It’s an entirely different thing to say we want to force your community to have pot shops selling 99 percent THC and flavored vapes and all these types of products that appeal to children, advertise and market that and have the state encourage more addictive use of that because they are going to make a profit off of it,” Bartkowiak said.

During the budget address, Governor Shapiro also asked for legislative relief for those ever convicted of marijuana use.

“Oftentimes we think of this, we don’t want to throw someone in jail for a small amount of marijuana,” Bartkowiak said. 

The Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition also told KDKA-TV, “Pennsylvania Cannabis Coalition looks forward to working with the Shapiro administration, key advocates in the Pennsylvania legislature, and stakeholders to craft a regulatory system that legalizes the sale of recreational cannabis through a well-regulated system that assures safe products for adult consumers, reduces the impact of the illicit market, rights the wrongs of cannabis prohibition and allows the commonwealth to quickly experience revenue.”

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Senate President Kim Ward told KDKA-TV that the Republican-controlled State Senate is a long way from approving legalization. Ward suggests it took years to pass medical marijuana and the issue of expanding cannabis use is not something you can make happen right away.



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Lancaster County woman charged after mother’s fatal fall, DA says

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Lancaster County woman charged after mother’s fatal fall, DA says


LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — A central Pennsylvania woman was charged Thursday after allegedly pushing her mother, causing her to fatally fall down a flight of stairs, according to the district attorney’s office.

The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office said an involuntary manslaughter and simple assault charge were filed against 34-year-old Elissa Waltman, of Lancaster.

Waltman and her mother, Eileen Flugrath, were arguing when Waltman allegedly pushed Flugrath into a wall. This caused Flugrath to fall down the stairs outside her home in the 100 block of Pickwick Place in Millersville Borough on April 5, the DA’s office said.

Flugrath was taken to the hospital after police arrived. Officers also found an indentation in the wall at the top of the stairs, which a witness said was not there before, according to the DA’s office.

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After four days at the hospital, Flugrath died of head and neck injuries, and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the DA’s office.

Officials said Waltman first claimed Flugrath backed up and fell on her own, denying that she ever pushed her. But, officials say Waltman later allegedly admitted to pushing Flugrath.

The DA’s office noted there was a resident on the bottom floor who reported to police hearing a crash and then seeing Flugrath face down at the bottom of the stairs, while Waltman was at the top, cursing and right away claiming never to have touched Flugrath.

Court records show bail was denied for Waltman after she was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Joshua Keller. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 23.

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Pride on Passyunk | Pennsylvania

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Pride on Passyunk | Pennsylvania


On Sunday June 14, 2026, East Passyunk Avenue will fill with music, art, and community for Pride on Passyunk, a grassroots Pride Celebration hosted by Spellbound Studio. Stretching across multiple blocks, this second annual event invites neighbors, visitors, and local businesses to center queer visibility with sidewalk vendors, in-store programming, and pop-up events happening all along the Ave. The focus is to create space for people to show up, connect, and celebrate with activations created by and for the local community. Event Highlights Include: ● Drag brunches, tarot readings, and friend speeding dating in businesses throughout the Avenue ● Sidewalk vendors and artists from 1:00-5:00 PM across multiple blocks ● DJs and drag shows all along Passyunk ● Live band performances at the Broken Goblet Center Stage ● A family zone with face painting, glitter bar, hair tinsel, and DIY fairy wings ● A central merch and raffle booth ● Food and drink specials and discounts from local businesses “Bringing Pride on Passyunk to the Ave just felt right. This is where I’ve built community, where I’ve found my people,” said Alexa Fanelli, owner of Spellbound Studio. “We wanted to create something that reflects that. Something collaborative and local. That’s what South Philly has always been about.” Pride on Passyunk is free to attend (as it should be) and open to all. Follow updates on Instagram at @prideonpassyunk. A full event map and schedule will be available via QR code on flyers throughout the neighborhood.



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Man pleads guilty to stabbing wife to death inside Pennsylvania home

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Man pleads guilty to stabbing wife to death inside Pennsylvania home


Warning: The details of this story are graphic and could be disturbing for some readers.

A Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty to stabbing his wife to death, officials announced on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, March 11, 2025, around 8:30 a.m., Bethlehem Township Police responded to a home on the 2100 block of 3rd Street in Easton, Pennsylvania, for a welfare check. A family member had told police they were concerned about the wellbeing of the people inside the house.

The responding officers banged on the doors and windows, announcing their presence but no one answered. They then used a ladder to enter a second-floor window and were met by 58-year-old James Christopher Frank.

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After opening the door for the officers, Frank led them into a bedroom and told them, “My wife is dead in the bathtub.” The officers entered the bathroom and found the body of Frank’s wife, 55-year-old Deborah Denise Glaser, in the tub. Glaser was facedown in the tub with multiple puncture wounds while her shirt was soaked in blood.

The officers also found knives, razor blades, box cutters and a mallet inside the bathroom.

Frank admitted to police that he cut his wife’s throat with a steak knife. He then told police he punctured his wife’s chest and heart with a knife and hammer around 10 times to make sure she was dead. He was then arrested and charged.

On Wednesday, June 10, 2026, Frank entered a guilty plea to the charge of first-degree murder. The mandatory sentence is life in prison. He is scheduled for sentencing on June 17, 2026.

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