Author Archive: Staff, Spotlight PA
Pa. Is on the Brink of Regulating Recovery Homes for the First Time. Here’s What You Need To Know.
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Wolf administration has cleared one of the final hurdles to enact oversight of Pennsylvania’s drug and alcohol recovery homes, an effort aimed at protecting vulnerable people from being exploited by unscrupulous owners.
Here’s How Pa.’s School Pension Fund Keeps Its Communications Secret From the Public
HARRISBURG, Pa. — In December 2020, Pennsylvania’s largest pension fund adopted a figure for investment profits that its executives said was rock solid.
Why $1 Billion in Rent Relief Isn’t Keeping Some Pa. Tenants Safe From Eviction
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The mother sat in the waiting area, wiping tears off her face.
Pa. Election 2021: Registration Deadline, Mail Ballot Details, and More Things To Know About Nov. 2
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Nov. 2, 2021 Pennsylvania election is fast approaching.
A Basic Guide To Vetting Your Local Candidates in Pennsylvania’s 2021 School Board Elections
HARRISBURG, Pa. — School board races across Pennsylvania are receiving an unusually high level of attention this fall because of the extreme views of many candidates.
A Full Guide to Pennsylvania’s 2021 Supreme Court Election and Other Appellate Judicial Races
HARRISBURG, Pa. — On Nov. 2, voters statewide will have the opportunity to choose a new justice for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, as well as judges for two other powerful appellate courts.
Pa. Lawmakers Hand Out Millions in Public Contracts to Law Firms That Fill Their Campaign Coffers
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A host of politically connected law firms are pouring millions of dollars into the campaigns of Pennsylvania legislators, who in turn hire those firms for all types of legal matters on the taxpayer’s dime — and it happens with very little public scrutiny.
See the Reasons Why Pennsylvania’s Legislature Paid Millions to Outside Law Firms in 2019 and 2020
At the beginning of the year, The Caucus and Spotlight PA filed public records requests with the state House and Senate for invoices, receipts, and other documents related to the private law firms lawmakers hired at taxpayer expense in 2019 and 2020.
Pa. Lawmakers Spend Millions of Tax Dollars on Private Lawyers but Often Don’t Reveal Why
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania legislature spent nearly $10 million during the last two years on private lawyers but routinely shielded the purpose of those expenses, hiding which lawmakers and their staffs required representation — and why, according to a new investigation.
Many Pa. School Districts Are Passing up Free Coronavirus Testing Even After a Rise in Cases
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Even after COVID-19 cases rose among children and district leaders worked to contain outbreaks among students, Pennsylvania schools have been slow to opt into a multimillion-dollar Wolf administration program providing free weekly testing.
