This week’s biggest Winners & Losers

After facing public outcry over its decision to reject a construction manager's proposal to kickstart the rebuild of a fire-damaged building at Harrisburg’s Broad Street Market, Harrisburg City Council reconsidered its vote this week after the mayor, market director and members of the community heavily criticized the decision, which council members originally said was due to equity issues. Mayor Wanda Williams called the original vote “careless” and council ultimately reconsidered the vote on Tuesday. Harrisburg City Councilmembers Crystal Davis, Ralph Rodriguez, Shamaine Daniels and Ausha Green all voted in favor, moving the market one step closer to getting some much-needed TLC.

A leading materials engineer in Florida has been named the new dean of engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. Michele V. Manuel was formally appointed as U.S. Steel Dean of the Swanson School of Engineering, becoming the first woman to hold the deanship since the school’s founding in 1846. Officials announced she’ll take over the leadership position effective Sept. 1.

After facing a 12-year sentence in Turks and Caicos over ammunition charges, Pennsylvania’s own Bryan Hagerich is back in the U.S. after being held in the country after ammunition was found in his luggage, per 6abc. Hagerich pleaded guilty to possession of 20 rounds of ammunition after being arrested in February, saying he forgot his hunting ammo in his bag. After being sentenced to a suspended 52-week sentence, Hagerich returned to the U.S.

Penn State’s football season hasn’t started, but it’s already taken an L this week. Dr. Scott Lynch, an orthopedic consultant for the school’s football team who was ousted in 2019, will be rewarded $5.25 million for wrongful dismissal after a jury found in favor of Lynch, who said he was dismissed after he clashed with football coaches, including head coach James Franklin, over medical judgments of injured players. Lynch said he refused to “allow a coach to interfere with his medical treatment and return-to-play decisions,” but Penn State Health – not the athletic department – will have to pay out the damages awarded to their employee, Lynch.

A federal jury in Pittsburgh found this week that Pennsylvania State Trooper Chad Weaver used excessive force when he shot and killed Washington County resident Anthony Gallo, who struggled with mental illness, in 2017. The jury, finding in favor of Gallo’s family, gave the verdict Wednesday and called for a $21 million payout to the Gallos. PSP is now on the hook for $10 million in compensatory damages and $11 million in punitive damages. 

A nonprofit dedicated to raising money to fund a memorial for veterans and first responders in Derry Township is nearly out of the money it raised last year, according to a report from PennLive. The nonprofit, Courtyard of Honor, reportedly raised more than $183,000 in 2023, but spent more than $173,000 of that sum, leading to the ouster of the now-former president of Courtyard of Honor, Randy McKillop. As a result of the fundraising snafu, Derry Township will be funding the memorial with its own money to make sure the structure is completed.