Fire at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s residence was ‘an act of arson,’ police say
An investigation is currently underway following a fire at the home of Pennsylvania’s governor, Democrat Josh Shapiro, early Sunday morning, according to state police.
The fire, which is being investigated as “an act of arson,” took place around 2:00 a.m. ET at the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg, the commonwealth’s capital, Pennsylvania State Police said in a statement Sunday morning.
“While the fire was successfully extinguished, it caused a significant amount of damage to a portion of the residence,” state police also said. “The Governor and his family were present in a different part of the residence. They were evacuated safely and were not injured.” Authorities did not offer details about possible suspects or motivations.
Photos taken by the Associated Press on Sunday show broken windows and a damaged door at the front of the residence.
On Saturday evening, Shapiro, who is Jewish, posted a photo of his family’s Seder table on social media wishing his followers, “happy Passover and Chag Pesach Sameach!.” He later posted on Sunday morning, that he and his family were awakened by bangs on the door by state police.
“Thank God no one was injured and the fire was extinguished. Every day, we stand with the law enforcement and first responders who run towards danger to protect our communities,” Shapiro, a Democrat who was elected as governor in 2022 wrote. “Last night, they did so for our family — and Lori and I are eternally grateful to them for keeping us safe.”
Shapiro, 51, and his wife, Lori Shapiro have four children: Sophia, Jonah, Max, and Reuben who range in age from their teens to early 20s.
The governor’s residence, located by the Susquehanna River and completed in 1968, is described as a 29,000 square foot Georgian-style home designed by architect George Ewing.
In response to the incident, Pennsylvania State Police are offering a $10,000 reward for tips for “the arrest and conviction” of the person or persons responsible for the fire.
This nation has the fastest rising rate of cancer cases — and deaths — in the world
According to a new report, cancer rates are skyrocketing in this tiny country. What's causing this to happen? And what steps can be taken to turn the tide?
Iceland reports the presence of mosquitoes for the first time, as climate warms
The discovery of three Culiseta annulata mosquitoes was confirmed this week by the Natural Science Institute of Iceland, which said the mosquitoes likely arrived by freight.
Alabama board seeks to ban books that ‘positively’ depict trans themes from library youth sections
The Alabama Public Library Service Board of Directors is considering a proposed rule change that expands the existing requirement for youth sections to be free of “material deemed inappropriate for children.” The new proposal said that includes any material that “positively depicts transgender procedures, gender ideology, or the concept of more than two biological genders.”
After months of the same songs on the Hot 100, ‘Billboard’ tweaks its rules
Billboard has revised its system of removing songs from the Hot 100 singles chart once they've gotten too old to qualify as contemporary hits.
Greetings from an Indian Railways coach, with spectacular views from Mumbai to Goa
Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world.
Alabama inmate asks to meet with governor ahead of execution
Anthony Boyd is scheduled to be executed Thursday evening by nitrogen gas at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility. A jury convicted Boyd of capital murder for the 1993 burning death of Gregory Huguley in Talladega County.
