A Dauphin County man who used beer bottles filled with gasoline to ignite Gov. Josh Shapiro’s official Harrisburg residence pleaded guilty Tuesday to attempted murder and other charges.

Cody Balmer, 38, also entered pleas to terrorism, 22 counts of arson, aggravated arson, burglary, aggravated assault of Shapiro, 21 counts of reckless endangerment, and loitering in the April 13 attack that did millions of dollars in damage to the state-owned brick building.

Under a plea deal, Balmer was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison.

Shapiro and members of his family had to be awakened and evacuated, but no one was injured. 

The fire was set hours after they celebrated the Jewish holiday of Passover with a Seder in the residence. Prosecutors played video clips that showed Molotov cocktails going off and a figure inside and outside the residence. Judge Deborah Curcillo called the video “horrific” and “very frightening.”

Balmer told police he planned to beat Shapiro with a small sledgehammer if he had encountered him after breaking into the building, according to court documents. Balmer turned himself in the next afternoon.

I had the opportunity to take in some beautiful fall foliage over the weekend on a nice, long drive, which is easily one of my favorite things about fall in Pennsylvania (second only to maybe the abundance of in-season honeycrisp apples and apple cider donuts).

For this week’s QOTW, we’d like to know: What’s your favorite thing about fall in Pennsylvania?

Reply with your answer, and please let us know where you live!

(Shutterstock)

With more than 300,000 acres of state park land, Pennsylvania is widely considered one of the best states for traditional camping—the kind where you pitch a utilitarian tent, unroll your sleeping bags, toast some s’mores over an open fire, that sort of thing.

But with creature comforts and amenities becoming more and more part of camping culture, Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has announced that it will open 61 glamping sites in eight Pennsylvania state parks for select 2026 dates.

The sites will feature glamping tents from Timberline, and include a selection of comfort amenities like large beds, lights, furnishings, and small appliances.

We’ve got the details on where the new glamping sites are located and how you can register for extended stays.

A heads up for our readers in the Philadelphia area: We’re hosting an event in Philly next Thursday, Oct. 23, called Pints & Precedents: A Keystone Happy Hour at Philadelphia Brewing Company.

It’s a chance for you to connect with advocacy organizations, local policymakers, and fellow community members to talk about key issues facing Pennsylvania ahead of the upcoming state Supreme Court election on Nov. 4.

Don’t miss the chance to learn about the issues that matter and engage with your community. This event is FREE and open to the public. 

• About a month after officials at Penn State rejected a proposal to shift ownership of WPSU to WHYY in Philadelphia—which would have resulted in the public broadcasting outfit that serves a large stretch of central and northern Pennsylvania going dark next summer—the university’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the sale of WPSU’s operating assets to WHYY, a decision that allows Penn State and WHYY to work toward a final agreement to keep both WPSU radio and TV on the air. Get the story here.

• In other news out of Penn State, head football coach James Franklin was fired Sunday following the Nittany Lions’ third consecutive defeat in a sloppy loss to Northwestern on Saturday. Get the full story behind the decision here.

• Two Pa. lawmakers are rolling out a proposal to prohibit AI chatbot platforms from selling or sharing user information and from covert product promotion. Get the details here. 

• A Halloween display outside a Bucks County home is drawing attention for its reference to ICE arrests. Find out about it here.

• In Pittsburgh, locals are helping to preserve pawpaw trees, with the hope that it will lead to more zebra swallowtail butterflies returning to the area. Learn about the effort here.

Looking for a sweet and adorable best friend with a heart full of love and a gentle spirit? Meet Kiki! 

This 9-year-old girl is an affectionate companion who absolutely adores being near her people and soaking up all the snuggles she can get. She also gets along wonderfully with cats and children of all ages.

Kiki is available for adoption through Centre County PAWS. (Centre County PAWS)

Interested in meeting Kiki? Drop by for a visit at Centre County PAWS, located at 1401 Trout Road in State College, or inquire online here.

If you’re involved with a Pennsylvania animal shelter/animal rescue and would like to have one of your adoptable pets featured, feel free to email us at info@keystonenewsroom.com.

Do you want to support The Keystone’s mission while showcasing your products or services to an engaged audience of 375,000+ subscribers?

Email advertise@couriernewsroom.com for more information.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Patrick Berkery with stories from The Associated Press, USA Today via Reuters Connect, and Peter Hall, Pennsylvania Capital-Star. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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