CEO Gives CMU Record $3B Gift

Citadel CEO Ken Griffin is giving $3 billion to Carnegie Mellon University, the largest individual gift in the history of American higher education.

Two-thirds of the money will build a 35-acre campus in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood that will organize learning around “societal challenges” instead of traditional majors.

The remaining $1 billion stays in Pittsburgh, split between the university’s top priorities and a $500 million investment in its School of Computer Science, which will be renamed for Griffin.

CMU Miami expects to begin enrolling students in 2028 and eventually serve more than 3,500, while Griffin will join the university’s board of trustees.

State House Passes Open Primary Bill

The state House voted 115-88 to open Pennsylvania’s primary elections to unaffiliated voters, who currently can’t cast a ballot in either major party’s primary.

Under the bill, independent voters could choose a Democratic or Republican ballot without changing their registration, a change that could affect more than 1.5 million Pennsylvanians.

Sixteen Republicans backed the measure, and three Democrats opposed it, while House Minority Leader Jesse Topper argued the spring nomination process should stay with each party’s members.

The bill now heads to the Republican-controlled Senate, which passed a similar measure in 2019.

Teens Successfully Stop Bus after Driver Falls Ill

Four Hollidaysburg Area High School students safely stopped their school bus after the driver suffered a medical emergency during an afternoon ride home last month.

As the bus drifted, sophomore Alexis Smith hit the brake and checked the driver’s pulse, while senior Skyla Horton set the parking brake and opened the doors.

Senior Travis Zerby radioed the bus company and sophomore Jenna Anderson called 911, and the students credited their health and medical science teacher for preparing them.

The driver has since recovered and returned to his route, and the school’s principal said every student involved deserves credit.

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➤ Statewide: Two new anti-trafficking laws raise penalties for traffickers, expand the attorney general’s power to prosecute, and require hotel workers to be trained to spot the signs. (More)

➤ Also Statewide: The Fish and Boat Commission starts stocking nearly 115,000 trout in 117 streams and lakes today, continuing through mid-December. (See Details)

➤ Centre County: Five suspects in the alleged Penn State fraternity cocaine ring waived their arraignments and plan to plead not guilty. (More)

➤ Pittsburgh: State Rep. Russ Diamond is calling on former Mayor Ed Gainey to resign from the state Gaming Control Board amid an investigation into his administration’s spending. (See Details)

➤ Western PA: Hackers took over the email accounts of the Aliquippa and Duquesne police chiefs and sent fraudulent messages, officials say. (More)

➤ Philadelphia: Philly has been named the top destination for New Yorkers looking to move. The typical home costs about $309,000 here, compared with $832,000 in the New York area. (See Story)

➤ Alec Bohm homered with two outs in the 10th inning to lift the Philadelphia Phillies past the Braves 4-3 and force a decisive Game 3 in their Wild Card Series tonight. Andrew Painter ended Game 2 with a strikeout won on a robo-ump challenge, a postseason first. (Watch Home Run)

➤ Nick Robertson scored twice, including a shorthanded goal in the third period, as the Pittsburgh Penguins routed the Philadelphia Flyers 7-0 in both teams’ 2026 season openers. (Watch Goal)

➤ LeBron James reportedly left his first Philadelphia 76ers training camp practice by helicopter, bound for his home in New York, 95 miles away. The 41-year-old, who signed a two-year, $8 million deal, plans to live in both cities this season. (More)

➤ The Philadelphia Eagles promoted defensive back Kenny Moore II to the active roster a week after signing him to the practice squad. The 31-year-old former Pro Bowler spent nine seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NHL | WNBA | Soccer

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➤ Aqua Pennsylvania finalized its $450,000 purchase of the Ulster Municipal Authority’s water system in Bradford County and plans about $2 million in upgrades over five years. (More)

➤ A Pennsylvania farm used a “spoon-feeding” fertilizer approach to hit record corn yields despite drought, while keeping costs in check. (See How)

➤ Mavis Tire will pay $215,000 to settle state allegations that it charged customers for unnecessary or unperformed repairs. Most of the money, $190,000, goes to restitution. (See Details)

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➤ Roxborough’s 200-year-old Shawmont Station, considered the nation’s oldest surviving passenger rail station, will become a museum under a $1-a-year SEPTA lease to the city. (See Station)

➤ Blair County’s Rachel Bowman was crowned the 70th Pennsylvania Dairy Princess and will spend the year promoting the state’s dairy industry. (Meet Rachel)

➤ The Harlem Globetrotters will take on the Washington Generals at Hershey’s Giant Center on Feb. 21, 2027, during their Rivalry Tour. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m. (See Details)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. 

➤ Two retirement destination rankings crown completely different winners, and one snubs Florida entirely. (See Top 10)

➤ Surgeons at an Ohio hospital are accused of amputating the wrong appendage of a 74-year-old Army veteran. (Hear Details)

➤ Tennessee’s first execution of a woman in more than 200 years was halted about an hour before it began. (Listen Now)

How do you feel about LeBron James joining the 76ers?

1. It’s awesome
2. I don’t care
3. It’s terrible

Yesterday’s Results:

Would you support a local data center if you got $10,000?

1. Definitely not: 54%
2. I’d consider it: 30%
3. Absolutely: 16%

Which famous Chicago gangster served his first prison sentence at Philadelphia’s Eastern State Penitentiary in 1929?

Show me the answer