• Dauphin County man charged with attempted murder, other crimes in arson of governor’s mansion: Cody Balmer has been charged with attempted murder, terrorism, and aggravated arson. He set a fire Sunday morning on the Pennsylvania governor’s residence while Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were sleeping inside. According to police, Balmer broke into the mansion through a window using a hammer and set the fire using Heineken bottles filled with gasoline. Shapiro said he woke up to banging on his door and was safely evacuated. While Balmer’s motive is currently unknown, he said during an interview that he hated Shapiro and would have attacked him with his hammer if he saw him during the arson. (Source: WGAL)
• Janet Diaz called to end mayoral campaign, resign after social media post: An activist and two Lancaster city council members are calling for Janet Diaz, who is currently campaigning for mayor, to resign. She posted what they believe is a racist and Islamophobic Facebook post on April 2. The post allegedly attacked fellow council member, Ahmed Ahmed, claiming that candidates “born and raised in Lancaster” would be better for the city. Diaz apologized for the post and claimed her account had been hacked. Resident Jessica Lopez criticized Diaz at a council meeting and called for her to be removed from her post. (Source: LNP)
• Measles case reported in Ephrata: The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed Sunday that a person tested positive for measles visited an Ephrata hospital last week. The department said an unvaccinated person visiting the town after a trip to Texas was treated at WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital on Tuesday, April 8, and that there may be other infected individuals. Ryan Coyle, the senior manager of media relations at WellSpan, said the hospital has contacted those who may have been in contact with the patient. The Department of Health said that risk of a measles outbreak is low due to high vaccination levels in the state. (Source: LNP)
• Manheim Township High School establishes Peace Pole with Rotary, Interact clubs: Manheim Township High School has put up a new monument on April 9, a 6-foot tall white pole with the phrase “May peace prevail on Earth” written in multiple languages. The pole, called a Peace Pole, was purchased from the Peace Pole Project for $400 in collaboration with the Lancaster Sunrise Rotary Club and the school’s Interact Club. The cost was split between the clubs. The languages on the pole, according to Ked Kantz, the Interact Club’s advisor, represent the school’s diversity. The languages are English, Spanish, Dari, Swahili, Haitian Creole, Turkish, Burmese, and French. At the dedication, a student fluent in each language said the pole’s message in their language. (Source: LNP)
• Nation/world: Trump wishes to put smartphones, computers into new tariff bracket days after exempting them (Source: BBC News) Instagram could be sold by Meta due to antitrust trial (Source: BBC News) Young challengers to old Democratic politicians emphasize concerns of younger voters (Source: NBC News)Garbage workers’ strike in Birmingham, England leaves piles of trash discarded over city (Source: NBC News)
