Judge Refers Krasner for Criminal Probe

A federal judge referred Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner to the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Tuesday for an investigation into whether he broke the law in a murder conviction appeal.

In a 40-page memo, Judge Paul Diamond wrote that Krasner and Matthew Stiegler, chief of the office’s Conviction Integrity Unit, may have pressured prosecutors to lie in court in the case of Dennis Johnson, who is seeking to overturn his 2009 murder conviction.

Diamond found Krasner repeatedly rejected requests to hand the case to the state attorney general despite potential conflicts. “I have thus reluctantly concluded that Philadelphia’s highest law enforcement official and one of his top assistants may have violated the law,” he wrote.

Krasner said he “respectfully and vigorously” disagrees and plans to appeal.

Philly School Weapons Cases Fall 67%

Weapons confiscations in Philadelphia schools dropped 67% over four school years, from 516 in 2021-22 to 171 in 2024-25, district data show. Student assaults and fights also fell 22% districtwide from 2021 to 2025.

Knives are the most common weapons found, and firearms account for about 4% of confiscations. Chief of Safety Craig Johnson credits conflict mediation training for safety officers, post-fight “stabilization groups” run with the city’s behavioral health department, and community partnerships that help break up fights near campuses.

At West Philadelphia’s John Bartram High School, a mentorship program for students at risk of violence produced an 80% drop in student firearm assaults and a 31% decline in other student-on-student assaults since launching in 2023.

Where Perry, Stelson Stand on Economy

Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Perry and Democrat Janelle Stelson are split over tax policy, health insurance subsidies, and affordability ahead of their Nov. 3 rematch in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District.

Perry co-sponsors the FairTax Act, which would eliminate the IRS and replace income, payroll, estate, and gift taxes with a national sales tax; Stelson argues it would force the middle class to pay more. The two have also sparred over gas prices and President Trump’s tariffs, which Stelson blames for rising costs.

Perry was the only vulnerable Pennsylvania Republican to vote against extending Affordable Care Act subsidies. Nearly 202,000 Pennsylvanians have dropped Pennie marketplace plans since the credits expired. Stelson narrowly lost their 2024 race. The two will debate on Oct. 14.

Your AC Quits. Now You’re Facing a $6,000 Bill.

It always seems to happen at the worst possible time. Your AC quits during the hottest week of the year. Your refrigerator suddenly stops cooling—with a week’s worth of groceries inside.

Then comes the repair or replacement bill.

Replacing a central AC system now costs homeowners around $6,000 on average—and depending on the home and system, it can climb above $12,000. Even replacing a refrigerator costs around $1,500 on average.

Homeowners insurance typically isn’t designed to cover appliances and systems that fail from normal wear and tear. That’s where Choice Home Warranty can help. Depending on your plan, coverage may include major systems and appliances such as air conditioning, heating, refrigerators, dishwashers, washers, and dryers.

Choice has covered more than 2.9 million homes and serviced more than 9.8 million claims.

See what a Choice Home Warranty plan could cover in your home.

➤ Statewide: Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., again said on Tuesday that he won’t become a Republican, rejecting speculation sparked by his video appearance at the GOP midterm convention in Dallas. (More)

➤ Philadelphia: Police linked at least five missing women to their investigation of Eugene Horsch’s Olney home, where nearly 100 search warrants yielded more than 1 million images now being authenticated with FBI assistance. (See Details)

➤ Pittsburgh: The Homeless Children’s Education Fund published Echoes of Brilliance, featuring essays and artwork by students who have experienced homelessness, as state data counted 3,952 homeless children and youth in Allegheny County last year. (Read Story)

➤ Lehigh Valley: The Nazareth Area School District is seeking a zoning amendment to build an elementary school on land township officials say isn’t zoned for the project. (More)

➤ Scranton: Lackawanna County commissioners commissioned an independent study of how proposed data centers could affect public health as developers pursue 15 campuses across the county. (More)

➤ Luzerne Township: NextEra’s proposed $13 billion East Riverside Energy Center is dividing Fayette County, with supporters touting 2,000 construction jobs and opponents raising environmental concerns about the three-plant natural gas complex. (More)

➤ Pitt hosts Syracuse tonight in an early ACC test between teams coming off rough offensive performances. The Panthers have won seven of the past eight meetings. (Preview)

➤ The Philadelphia Phillies placed All-Star left-hander Jesús Luzardo on the 15-day injured list with shoulder inflammation, leaving his postseason status uncertain. Luzardo is 14-5 with a 2.87 ERA. (More)

➤ Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby surprised the Duryea family by delivering their season tickets, continuing an annual team tradition dating to 2007. He also signed a school permission slip for the family’s daughter. (See Visit)

➤ Philadelphia 76ers public address announcer Matt Cord will return for a 29th season, six months after announcing his retirement. (More)

➤ The Erie SeaWolves scored eight runs in one inning to rout the Richmond Flying Squirrels 18-6 Tuesday, moving within one win of the Eastern League championship series and a potential third title in four years. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer

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Could You Absorb a $6,000 Home Repair?

That’s approximately what a central AC replacement costs on average today. Depending on your system, the final bill could climb above $12,000. A new refrigerator averages around $1,500—and that’s before replacing the food that spoiled when it stopped cooling.

A home warranty can help you prepare before something breaks. Depending on the plan, Choice Home Warranty may cover major appliances and home systems that fail from normal wear and tear.

Don’t wait until the AC stops blowing cold air to think about the cost.

Check your available plans and see what coverage could cost.

➤ Pennsylvania has received a nation-leading $77 million in federal NEVI funding, helping open 40 highway fast-charging EV stations, with 39 more under construction and chargers planned at all 17 Turnpike rest stops by spring. (Read Story)

➤ Dauphin County commissioners and state officials inducted six residents into the Pennsylvania Voter Hall of Fame, which honors people who have voted in every November election for 50 consecutive years. (More)

➤ Pittsburgh is seeking original posters celebrating the city’s culture and heritage for the nation’s 250th birthday, with $10,000 in prizes available to winning artists. (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. 

➤ Can you catch up on sleep, and how many hours does it take? (Listen Now)

➤ Democrats refuse to advance a sweeping crypto bill until new limits are placed on presidential profits from digital assets. (Hear Episode)

➤ House lawmakers held billionaire Leon Black in contempt of Congress, escalating their investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s network. (Hear Details)

What is your biggest complaint about airports?

1. Security lines
2. Flight delays
3. Parking
4. Food prices
5. Crowds
6. Other

Yesterday’s Results:

Which Pennsylvania beer did you grow up with?

1. Rolling Rock: 27%
2. Iron City: 21%
3. Yuengling: 20%
4. Schmidt’s: 20%
5. Other: 10%
6. Straub: 2%

Which famous “Kentucky” firearm actually originated in Pennsylvania?

Show me the answer