Lancaster Watchdog

Appreciate the public engagement and feedback as we work through a design of a new correctional facility to replace the current 1850s era prison. We have had constructive feedback from across the community. If you want to stay up to date or provide feedback, you can do so here: lccf-pa.com/contact-2/

Pa. says it isn’t in talks to enter ‘election integrity network,’ despite Ohio official’s claim spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/p…

On this day in history, December 17, 1944, the Malmedy massacre occured during the Battle of the Bulge. Lancaster County legend Harold Billow was the last living survivor of the Malmedy massacre. The nazis did their best to kill him, but he survived and thrived. At nearly 100 years old Harold still had a great sense of humor. He was one of my favorite people. One of the neatest things I have had the honor to do as Commissioner was requesting a letter for him while at the White House and then later presenting the letter from the President to him to thank him on behalf of the nation. On December 17, 1944 Harold's unit was overrun and captured. They were lined up in a field. Then the machine guns opened fire. Harold played dead. Survivors were shot at close range. Harold stayed still and waited. When he and a few others got a chance, they made a run for it. They were pursued and shot. But he made his way back to American lines. One year later Harold married his British sweetheart - he joked he was captured by the Germans and then captured by the British. Harold grieved for the men who died that day. Every year he put out flags in his yard for each one of them. After Harold passed away, @RepSmucker helped get the Mount Joy Post Office named for Harold as a tribute to him and those he served with. Let us never forget them. Thank you Harold and all the others who helped save the world and keep us free.

This morning at our Board of Commissioners meeting, we voted to preserve another Lancaster County farm forever. This one was in Brecknock Township. The Lancaster Farmland Trust also partnered with County government in preserving this farm. This farm was approximately 73 acres. All told Lancaster County has preserved approximately 125,000 acres of farmland. We are not slowing down and intend to stay #1 in the nation for preserved farmland.

Pa. Attorney General Dave Sunday says he’ll defend state AI laws from the Trump administration. “If there’s a statute that is attacked for its constitutionality, then we will absolutely defend it,” he told reporters today. witf.org/2025/12/15/pa-…

Nearly 100 people living with HIV in southcentral Pa. could soon lose access to housing after the Shapiro administration ordered a mid-year budget cut to the commonwealth’s regional HIV service providers. witf.org/2025/12/08/sha…

New from our news team: Veteran journalist David Greene to acquire LNP | LancasterOnline, creating nonprofit news organization lanc.news/4ovwLTP

Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro was elected to helm the Chesapeake Executive Council, which has nine members charged with working to restore and protect the Bay and its watershed. Story tk...

I’m in downtown Lancaster where the county is about to do a “game of chance” drawing to determine the winner of a 26 way tied election. You might this is uncommon, but it’s not. We’ll have a story out later.

New from our news team: Lancaster city proposed budget tweaked to boost water fund, utilize money from data center developer lanc.news/4ppkoKe

New: Pennsylvania's top ethics official says that videos from three Barstool influencers saying that "Harrisburg wants to break [bettors] wallets" could be lobbying under state law. Barstool's partner DraftKings is registered to do so; the website isn't. spotlightpa.org/news/2025/11/p…

New from our community news team: Coatesville school board considers installing microphones that can tell if there is gunfire nearby lanc.news/4i7MVkQ

New from our community news team: Eastern Lancaster County school board hires 2 school police officers lanc.news/4ribeAX

GOP senator threatens subpoenas over $1M in security upgrades at Shapiro's private home spotlightpa.org/news/2025/11/p…

New from our community news team: Mennonite congregation seeks rural parcel for new church in West Cocalico Township lanc.news/48pp6lh

"The work at Shapiro’s private home in Montgomery County began this summer — weeks before the governor sought an ethics opinion about the propriety of using taxpayer money to pay for the upgrades, which include landscaping and electrical and gas work." spotlightpa.org/news/2025/11/p…

New from our community news team: Cornwall-Lebanon school board plans for district technology upgrades lanc.news/47Se0Fl

New from our community news team: Pequea Township residents will see an 8% property tax hike in 2026 lanc.news/3XFPcKE

New from our community news team: Lampeter-Strasburg school board members debate policy to shrink public comment time lanc.news/4i7KSNA

Alarming internal reviews found chemotherapy errors, delays, and “toxic” leadership by Penn State’s top cancer doctor. spotlightpa.org/statecollege/2…