🌱 How new Flock cameras near Millcreek Mall led police to an arrest
Erie, Pennsylvania Patch AM: a 5 min readHello Erie! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How new Flock cameras near Millcreek Mall led police to an arrest
- Why an Erie Art Museum painting is suddenly a courtroom battleground
- How Erie’s new wastewater dashboard could flag overdose risks early
Also on today's calendar: Thurston Classic Meet & Greet Luncheon at Juniper Village at Meadville! and 6 more events.
Today's riddle: Why does my coffee taste like dirt? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Tuesday: Partly sunny and comfortable, with a high of 70 and low of 47 degrees.
- Wednesday: Sunny and pleasant, temps: high: 73, low: 51.
- Thursday: Partly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 77 and low of 64 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Flock Cameras Help Police Find Stolen Van, Arrest Suspect after Chase in Erie County (erienewsnow.com) — New license-plate-reading Flock cameras near Millcreek Mall helped police find a stolen van and identify a suspect tied to multiple vehicle thefts in Erie County. The investigation led to a multi-agency high-speed chase, several felony charges, and the suspect being held in Erie County Prison, underscoring expanding surveillance tools in local policing. 
2. Did time run out? Statute of limitations key to lawsuit over painting (goerie.com) — A long-stored watercolor at the Erie Art Museum is now at the center of a lawsuit in Erie County Court, where the museum argues the artist’s daughter waited too long to claim it. Millcreek resident Georgia Heynes insists she sued within the statute of limitations and that the museum lacks clear ownership of “House Boats,” which has never left its Erie collection.
3. Erie County DOH launches new dashboard tracking substances in wastewater (yourerie.com) — Erie County’s Department of Health has rolled out a new online dashboard that tracks high‑risk substances in wastewater from the City of Erie treatment plant, serving about 200,000 residents. Updated weekly with data back to June 2024, the tool helps officials spot spikes in drugs like fentanyl and cocaine so treatment providers and emergency responders can prepare sooner.
4. Today's Top Stories: June 1, 2026 (yourerie.com) — Northwest Pennsylvania residents get several big local updates, including Erie County’s purchase of a former Union City factory for redevelopment and a new wastewater substance-tracking dashboard. Erie readers are also briefed on McDowell schools’ 2026 campus unification and a new City of Erie civic input partnership with Change.org aimed at shaping the city’s future.
5. Laura Blake Officially Takes the Helm as Diocese of Erie Schools Superintendent (gantnews.com) — A new leader is taking charge of Catholic education in and around Erie, as Laura Blake becomes Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Erie effective June 1, 2026. With nearly 20 years in Catholic education and strong local ties, she’ll oversee schools serving about 5,000 students across 13 northwest Pennsylvania counties during a broader diocesan leadership transition.
📸 Around Erie
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓
Upcoming Events in
Erie
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
-
Karaoke Night in Downtown Erie | Flagship City... →
Flagship City Food Hall, 22 N Park Row, Erie
6:00 pm
Tuesday June 9
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
-
Last Day Students and End of Q4
Edison El Sch Erie, PA 16511 -
End of the 4th Quarter/Last Day of School
Harbor Creek SD Erie, PA 16511 -
ECPL Traveling Gardeners
Millcreek Mall Branch Library MCK Community Room , Millcreek Branch Library
12:00 pm -
Second Tuesday Book Club
Millcreek Mall Branch Library MCK Community Room , Millcreek Branch Library
6:30 pm -
Knit and Crochet Club
Millcreek Mall Branch Library MCK Community Room , Millcreek Branch Library
10:00 am -
Legislative Meeting and Committee Meeting Following
Harbor Creek SD Clark Elementary
6:00 pm -
Thurston Classic Meet & Greet Luncheon at Juniper Village at Meadville! →
Juniper Village at Meadville, 455 Chestnut St, Meadville
11:30 am -
Erie Juneteenth Celebration →
Perry Square, 571-601 State St, Erie
11:00 am
Wednesday June 3
Thursday June 4
Tuesday June 9
Wednesday June 10
Thursday June 11
Friday June 19
Saturday June 20
📣 Erie Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
-
PBIS Experts 3-5 / PAB
Edison El Sch Erie, PA 16511
8:30 am -
Karaoke Night w/ Preach Freedom →
Flagship City Food Hall, 22 N Park Row, Erie
6:00 pm -
Last Day Students and End of Q4
Edison El Sch Erie, PA 16511 -
Harborcreek Satellite: Inflation and Its Impact on... →
Harborcreek Municipal Building, 5601 Buffalo Rd, Harborcreek
6:00 pm
Tuesday June 2
Wednesday June 3
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Neighbors - you may have recently seen a post about a seemingly local scammer who posed as a mature single man in the Erie area.
The person he scammed was very hurt by the exchange and how this person manipulated them. I’m only bringing this up because it needs to be widely… (Nextdoor Lakewood) - Join the Erie County History Group
Erie's Commerce building, which sat at the NE corner of 12th and State, was demolished in 1989. It was very well-built and the wrecking ball bounced… (Nextdoor Eastlawn pack)
- Updated: Roadwork on I-90 westbound between miles west of Exit 16: PA 98 - FRANKLIN CENTER/FAIRVIEW and miles east of Exit 9: PA 18 - PLATEA... (X: 511PAErie)
- Erie County wants to hear from you! There is still time to complete the Envision Erie resident survey, and share your perspectives on county services... (X: ErieCountyNY)
- Gannon University posted a job opening for Adjunct Faculty - Justice Studies and Human Services Department in Erie. Apply here.
- White Lodging Services Corporation posted a job opening for Housekeeper in Erie. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Erie here.
Ok Erie! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: It was just ground this morning (Thank you Robin C. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
👉 Help make Patch AM better
- Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
- Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
- List items for sale or services offered
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.