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Stories that made headlines in Central Pa. during 2022 | Year in Review

From a Lebanon police officer killed in the line of duty to a Cumberland County man charged for reselling human body parts, there were a lot of big stories in 2022.

PENNSYLVANIA, USA — As we soak up the last few days of 2022, we're taking a look back at some of the stories that made headlines across south central Pennsylvania this year.

Lebanon County police officer killed in the line of duty

Lt. William Lebo was shot and killed while responding to a domestic situation in Lebanon on March 31.

Two other Lebanon officers were shot during the same incident and hospitalized. 

A memorial service was held for Lt. Lebo at the Giant Center in Derry Township.

Lt. Lebo was set to retire on May 1, 2022.

4 killed, 9 injured in York County tractor crash

Four people, including three children, were killed in a July crash in southern York County. 

A farmer on a tractor was pulling a trailer with one adult and 11 children on board when the tractor went off the Lower Chanceford Township road, overturning the trailer. 

Everyone on board was thrown from the vehicle. 

Nine others were injured as well.

A benefit event was held to support the families of the victims, shortly after the crash.

10 Dauphin County high schoolers charged in hazing incident

Ten high school football players were charged in Dauphin County late this summer as a result of a month-long hazing investigation. 

The group of Middletown High School athletes are accused of sexually assaulting several teammates during various incidents over the span of a year. 

The Middletown football season was canceled and the head coach resigned.

The school district has announced several new policies to address hazing as a result of the investigation.

Cumberland County man arrested for buying and reselling human remains

A Cumberland County man made headlines in a bizarre way when he was charged by police for illegally buying human remains from an Arkansas woman for resale on Facebook. 

Jeremy Pauley, 40, of Enola is charged with abuse of a corpse among other offenses.

Buckets of human remains, including brains, skin, a heart, a skull and other body parts were found in his East Pennsboro Township home. 

The Cumberland County District Attorney called it “one of the most bizarre investigations” he has encountered in his 33 years as a prosecutor. 

Pauley’s court hearing has been delayed until March of 2023.

Pennsylvania elects next governor and U.S. senator

November saw Pennsylvania elect its next governor.

Democratic state attorney general Josh Shapiro beat Republican state senator Doug Mastriano.

Shapiro’s lieutenant governor-elect, Austin Davis, will become the first African-American to hold that office. 

The pair will be inaugurated on Jan. 17, 2023.

Pennsylvania also elected a new U.S. senator, after Republican U.S. senator Pat Toomey announced his retirement.

His seat will flip in 2023, as Democrat and current Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman defeated Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz.

U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade

A monumental moment in 2022 was the U.S. Supreme Court's June reversal of Roe v. Wade. 

The landmark 5-4 decision now lets each state decide how much access its residents have to abortion.

The ruling sent shockwaves through the country, including here in south-central Pennsylvania. Many rallies were held, both in celebration and in outrage over the decision.

Governor Wolf said as long as he’s in office, abortion will remain legal in the Commonwealth. Democratic governor-elect Josh Shapiro is expected to stick with that once he takes office in January.

Pennsylvania judge strikes down bridge tolling plan

A controversial plan to toll the I-83 bridge, along with eight others across Pennsylvania, was shut down by a judge this summer

The Commonwealth Court sided with Cumberland County and several municipalities that filed a lawsuit, challenging PennDOT's plan as illegal and unconstitutional. 

Governor Wolf had hoped to use tolls to pay for bridge repairs and replacements, in place of gas tax revenue. 

The state did not appeal the court’s decision.

Central Pa. gets first Trader Joe's

2022 also brought central Pennsylvania its first Trader Joe’s.

Until this year, the closest Trader Joe's locations were State College, Baltimore and Philadelphia. 

Now shoppers can enjoy the popular neighborhood store closer to home.

It opened on March 31 at the Lower Allen Commons in Lower Allen Township near Camp Hill.

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