Author Archive: Staff, Spotlight PA
High Court Gives Bucks County ‘Ok’ to Delay Eviction Cases While Tenants Wait for Rental Relief
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Opening the door for local courts across Pennsylvania to protect thousands of tenants still waiting for urgently needed aid, the state Supreme Court on Monday approved a request from Bucks County to pause eviction cases for up to 60 days if someone has applied for rental relief.
Tracking Pa.’s Pandemic Spending, By the Numbers
Spotlight PA’s tallying of Pennsylvania’s pandemic-related spending led us to the state’s emergency procurement program — a faster and, critics say, less transparent way for agencies to purchase urgently needed supplies and services.
Thousands of Pa. Households Still Waiting for Rental Relief as Eviction Ban Nears Its End
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Almost every day for the past month, as the end of a federal freeze on evictions edges closer, Brian Bastian has checked the status of his application for rental assistance online, only to experience a familiar thud of disappointment.
Pa. Health Officials Request $124 Million in Pandemic-Related Emergency Contracts as GOP Calls for Oversight
Wolf administration officials doubled down this week on pursuing more than $100 million in new pandemic-related emergency contracts as they faced questions from state lawmakers about the health department’s spending.
Pa. State Lawmaker From Delaware County Charged With Theft After Years-Long Investigation
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A Delaware County state lawmaker has been charged with theft and other crimes following a years-long investigation into allegations that she misused campaign and taxpayer funds when seeking reimbursement for expenses.
Nursing Homes to Provide More Direct Care for Residents Under Proposed Pa. Rule
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Wolf administration on Wednesday released a long-awaited update to Pennsylvania’s decades-old nursing home regulations, acknowledging it must raise low quality care requirements experts have called dangerous.
Pa. Republicans Are Bringing Their Election Bill Back After Gov. Tom Wolf Said He’s Open to Voter ID Changes
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania Republicans plan to reintroduce their election overhaul legislation — which Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed last month — now that Wolf has changed his public position to say he’s open to new voter ID requirements.
Pennsylvania’s 2022 U.S. Senate Race: What We Know So Far
One of Pennsylvania’s two U.S. Senate seats is up for grabs in 2022 as two-term Republican incumbent Pat Toomey prepares to step aside and the state braces for a particularly high-stakes election year.
Pa. Requested $340 Million in Emergency Contracts in 2020 with Little Oversight
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Lawmakers this week will probe whether state agencies had too much leeway in securing emergency contracts during the pandemic, following controversy over a data breach with a vendor hired to administer Pennsylvania’s contact tracing program.
Wolf Admin Sat on 2017 Probe of Unemployment Error but Denies ‘Cover-up’
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s top labor official said Thursday there was never an attempt within her department to deliberately conceal an error that resulted in thousands of people being overcharged millions of dollars in interest on payments they owed the agency.
