This week’s biggest Winners & Losers

The parental rights movement in education has made its way to Harrisburg. And by that, we mean two parents and school staffers – Ernest "Tre" Hadrick III and Katherine Christiano – were appointed by Gov. Josh Shapiro to the State Board of Education and unanimously approved by the Senate this week. Christiano is a preschool teacher at Central Nursey School in Wayne and Hadrick III is a school counselor at Central Montgomery County Technical High School in Plymouth Meeting. 

In case you forgot, there’s a mayoral race going on in the City of Philadelphia. Despite the last competitive general election in the overwhelmingly Democratic city taking place two full decades ago, the Republican nominee for mayor is running a viable enough campaign that he is getting the support of his own party. Establishment Republicans, who previously have only spent money on statewide races and others throughout the city, have backed Oh’s campaign and threw him a campaign fundraiser this week.

Speaking of cities, the commonwealth’s second-largest city was voted the fourth-best city to age in place, according to an analysis from Today’s Homeowner. Aging in place is described as the ability to live in one’s home safely, independently and comfortably regardless of aging, income and ability. And based on the analysis, aging in place in the Steel City is a steal, with Pittsburgh earning a 79.1 out of 100 in health and safety score and 69.6 out of 100 in community score. 

It’s been a rough few weeks for Donald Trump’s political pals in Pennsylvania. Mike Roman, a Philadelphia-born GOP campaign operative, was one of 18 aides and allies of the former president charged by a Georgia grand jury in a sweeping racketeering case accusing them of seeking to overturn the results of the state’s 2020 presidential election. Roman, who allegedly was a key player in the scheme to organize fake electors in battleground states, was charged with racketeering conspiracy and conspiracies to commit forgery, to impersonate a public officer, to commit false statements, and to file false documents.

Diane Oberdick, a disgruntled neighbor of Spring Grove Borough Mayor Beverly R. Hilt, was arrested this week after starting three fires at Hilt’s home. Video surveillance from Hilt’s neighbors revealed the culprit as Oberdick, who lives up the block and had been feuding with Hilt over her trash not being picked up. Oberdick had previously been arrested for setting three fires back in June and was seen dumping trash at Hilt’s garage doors last month.

The Somerset County District Attorney saga has reached the sentencing stage. Former county district attorney Jeff Thomas was sentenced to 27 to 84 months in prison this week following his assault conviction earlier in the year. Thomas, who is required to register as a Tier 1 sex offender for 15 years, was found guilty on charges including strangulation, criminal trespass, unlawful restraint, indecent assault without consent, false imprisonment, and one count of simple assault.