Claudia Lauer | Associated Press

Authorities in Pennsylvania who have been trying to capture an escaped murderer for nearly two weeks say they're shifting to a longer-term strategy and defended their efforts to this point.

Federal authorities have announced charges against nine people for thefts of millions of dollars worth of paintings, sports memorabilia and other valuables over more than two decades.

Among them are a transgender student at a Pennsylvania school where teachers are directed to use only students' birth names, a bisexual student in Florida, and a Black student outside Nashville alarmed by efforts to restrict lessons on Black history.

It's the latest attempt by Philadelphia officials to regulate guns inside city limits, something made difficult by Pennsylvania’s preemption law barring municipalities from enacting or enforcing their own gun regulations.

When Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala issued his conclusion that the 2018 fatal police shooting of Mark Daniels was a “justified use of force,” his written analysis repeatedly cited a ShotSpotter report he said had “determined that Daniels fired the initial two shots” at the officers. But a recently filed deposition by a ShotSpotter engineer in a federal civil lawsuit brought by Daniels’ family shows the report did not include that information.

Pennsylvania released a new public dashboard of real-time prison and parole population data Friday, with hopes that making the information available to researchers and legislators can lead to data-driven policies in the future.

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney announced Monday that the city will be giving away cash prizes as part of a multiweek lottery to entice residents to get vaccinated for COVID-19.

Progressive Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has survived a challenge in the Democratic primary that pit his progressive reforms against growing concern over a rising tide of homicides and gun crimes.

Voters in Pennsylvania will cast ballots Tuesday in the Democratic Primary for Philadelphia District Attorney that pits reform-minded incumbent Larry Krasner against veteran homicide prosecutor Carlos Vega.