Spotlight PA

Oversight Board Will Secretly Review How Pa. Counties Spent Millions of Dollars to Fight Opioid Crisis

March 6, 2024 | Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Counties will soon have to report how they spent millions of dollars they received from the first rounds of opioid settlement payments in Pennsylvania. But members of a trust that oversees county spending are preparing to first review the information in secret, despite a court order requiring the trust to follow the state's Sunshine Act.

Pa. Pays Property Owners for Land Lost to Eminent Domain, but Farmers Want More for Their Loss

March 5, 2024 | Spotlight PA

BELLEFONTE, Pa. — A massive highway project in Centre County that will likely result in some farmers losing their properties has prompted calls to update how agricultural land is valued in Pennsylvania’s eminent domain process.

Pa. Was Deluged by Election Lawsuits in 2020. Experts Say 2024 Will Be Even More Intense.

March 4, 2024 | Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Earlier this year, a group of Republican state lawmakers filed suit in federal court to throw out executive actions aimed at expanding voter registration, claiming the legislature’s constitutional right to determine how presidential elections are run in Pennsylvania had been violated.

How to Judge the Effectiveness of Your Local Government in Pennsylvania

March 1, 2024 | Spotlight PA

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — What do your nearest park’s playground equipment, your neighborhood’s trash pickup frequency, and your closest library’s services all have in common?

Great Pa News Quiz: Vetting 2024’s Voting Machines, Harrisburg Haggling, and the Beyoncé Effect

March 1, 2024 | Spotlight PA

In this week’s quiz: State House control, behind the voting machines, costly cleanups, and the Beyoncé effect.

Five Takeaways From Our Event on the Whole-Home Repairs Program

February 29, 2024 | Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A new Pennsylvania program to help homeowners with the cost of repairs launched last year with $125 million in federal pandemic aid. It’s one of the largest state investments of its kind in years.

Pa. Election 2024: the State House Races to Watch as Democrats Try to Keep the Majority

February 28, 2024 | Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. — When voters go to the polls this November, control of the Pennsylvania House could rest on the outcome of a single race.

Elections 101: Everything You Need to Know About Pennsylvania’s Voting Machines, How the State Keeps Them Safe, and More

February 27, 2024 | Spotlight PA

During what is likely to be another contentious presidential election in Pennsylvania, you may hear contradictory, confusing, or downright false claims about voting machines.

Black Pa. Country Musicians Celebrate the Beyoncé Effect, Invite New Listeners to Stick Around

February 26, 2024 | Spotlight PA

As Beyoncé’s rootsy new country singles “16 Carriages” and “Texas Hold ‘Em” usher in a new era for the superstar, other Black artists in the genre are seeing new interest in their music and discussing familiar patterns of exclusion.

Great PA News Quiz: Penn State Pushback, Election Exodus, and Shapiro’s ‘Sin Tax’

February 23, 2024 | Spotlight PA

In this week’s quiz: A controversial Penn State proposal, Shapiro’s “sin tax” spending, mail ballot dates, and surprising snow.

What to Know About Shapiro’s Pitch to Legalize Marijuana, Its Chances in the Pa. Legislature, and More

February 22, 2024 | Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. — In his state budget pitch, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro called for the Pennsylvania legislature to legalize recreational marijuana.

Pennsylvania Mortgage Program, Closed for More Than a Year to Resolve Backlog, Will Reopen in March, Officials Say

February 21, 2024 | Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A Pennsylvania mortgage relief program to help homeowners catch up after the pandemic will reopen in March after being closed for more than a year to resolve a backlog of applications and a series of internal problems.

A Bill to Legalize Syringe Services in Pa. Just Passed an Historic Hurdle, But GOP Opposition Remains

February 20, 2024 | Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. — In what advocates are calling a historic move, a bill that would legalize syringe services throughout Pennsylvania is making progress in the legislature.

What Shapiro’s Budget Pitch Could Do for Pennsylvania’s Rural Communities

February 19, 2024 | Spotlight PA

BELLEFONTE, Pa. — As the populations of Pennsylvania’s rural counties shrink, officials hope future state spending can help slow projected losses by making investments that attract new residents and support local economies.

Shapiro Wants to Tax Skill Games. He Must First Navigate Pa.’s Wealthy, Warring Gambling Interests.

February 17, 2024 | Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. — As part of his budget pitch this year, Gov. Josh Shapiro says he wants to regulate and tax skill games to raise tens of millions of dollars in revenue.

Great Pa News Quiz: 2024 Ballots, Flawed Election Claims, ‘Spring’ Snow, and Shapiro’s Debt Eraser

February 16, 2024 | Spotlight PA

In this week’s quiz: primary lineups, merchant of doubt, state House majority, and when Punxsutawney Phil gets it wrong.

Treasurer Stacy Garrity’s Decision to Invest More Pa. Money in Israel Bonds Draws Protest, Democratic Opposition

February 15, 2024 | Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. — As protesters push Pennsylvania’s state treasurer to divest from Israel amid mounting Palestinian deaths, Stacy Garrity is defending her decision to send taxpayer money to the country and drawing flak from political opponents who question her motives.

Josh Shapiro Accepted $1,650 in ‘Event Tickets’ from Powerful Pa. Lobbyist

February 14, 2024 | Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Democrat Josh Shapiro accepted $1,650 worth of “event tickets and catering” from a powerful Harrisburg lobbyist last year, a perk his campaign insists was a political contribution.

DOJ Settlement Will Bring New Protections for People with Opioid Use Disorder in Pa. Courts

February 14, 2024 | Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A recent settlement between the U.S. Department of Justice and the Pennsylvania court system offers new protections to people who county courts allegedly barred from taking medications for opioid use disorder.

PA Could Wipe Out Up to $400M in Medical Debt Under Proposal from Gov. Josh Shapiro

February 10, 2024 | Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Up to $400 million in medical debt held by Pennsylvanians would be cleared under Gov. Josh Shapiro’s new budget proposal, with relief targeted at the state’s poorest and most underwater residents.

Great Pa News Quiz: Shapiro’s Big Budget, Cannabis Cash, State House Control, and a Bogus Voter Fraud Claim

February 9, 2024 | Spotlight PA

In this week’s quiz: Gov. Josh Shapiro's big budget ask, cannabis cash, state House control, and a bogus voter fraud claim.

Former Top Pa. Lawmaker’s Lobbying Firm Paid $41K by Game Commission in Unusual Arrangement

February 8, 2024 | Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The state agency that promotes hunting in Pennsylvania has hired a lobbying firm run by a former top lawmaker using tens of thousands of dollars in public funds, an unusual arrangement that at least one legislator has tried to ban.

Raising Taxes on the Table as Pa. Weighs How to Pay for Education Court Ruling

February 6, 2024 | Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania likely needs billions of dollars to shore up its public schools following a landmark court ruling, but lawmakers are entering a new state budget cycle with few concrete proposals.

Opioid Settlement Money Is Supposed to Expand Syringe Services. A Pa. Nonprofit Just Lost $150K Because of Them.

February 5, 2024 | Spotlight PA

BOLIVAR, Pa. — Kim Botteicher decided to speak out about her work offering syringe services in Westmoreland County, hoping to prompt change that she believes would help save lives.

5 Takeaways From Spotlight Pa’s Event on the DuBois Corruption Case and Local Government Oversight

February 2, 2024 | Spotlight PA

A November Spotlight PA investigation reported how the former city manager of a small Pennsylvania city landed at the center of one the state’s most sweeping political corruption cases in recent years.

Transit, Education Expected to Headline Shapiro’s 2024 Pa. Budget Address

February 2, 2024 | Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Proposals to restructure Pennsylvania’s higher education system and boost public transit funding are expected to be centerpieces of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s upcoming Feb. 6 budget address.

Great Pa News Quiz: Budget Season, Abortion Ruling, Election Plans, and 2024’s River of the Year

February 2, 2024 | Spotlight PA

In this week’s quiz: a river runs through it, Shapiro’s second budget, the 2024 election, and a Medicaid-funded abortion ban.

How Spotlight PA Will Cover Pennsylvania’s 2024 Election

February 1, 2024 | Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The 2024 presidential election will again make Pennsylvania a central focus of national politics. But voters here will also weigh in on critical state races that tend to get less attention despite the big impact these contests will have on the future of the commonwealth.

Gov. Shapiro Is Pitching More Funding for Pa.’s Struggling Transit Systems. Will the State Senate Agree?

January 31, 2024 | Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Dwindling federal stimulus dollars and shifting ridership have placed Pennsylvania’s dozens of transit agencies on high alert as they map out their future operations.

Pa. Supreme Court Sets the Stage to Consider Whether the State Constitution Protects Abortion

January 30, 2024 | Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered a lower appellate court on Monday to reconsider a case that will determine whether Medicaid must cover abortions and that could have far-reaching implications in a post-Roe world.

Spotlight Pa Court Victory Leads to New Academic Research Into Pa. Medical Marijuana Program

January 29, 2024 | Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG — After a 15-month legal battle, Spotlight PA in 2022 won access to data showing the reasons why hundreds of thousands of patients qualify for the state’s medical marijuana program. We published a big investigation based on the records last year.

Great Pa News Quiz: Trump Travel, ‘Monopoly Power,’ a Rare Ethics Complaint, and Punxsutawney PETA

January 26, 2024 | Spotlight PA

In this week’s quiz: state records deleted, Trump in Pennsylvania, antitrust lawsuit, and a rare ethics complaint.

Justice Department Expands Claims Against Pa. Courts in Opioid Addiction Treatment Case

January 25, 2024 | Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG — The U.S. Department of Justice has broadened its accusations that Pennsylvania courts discriminate against people with opioid use disorder by restricting access to medications widely seen in the medical community as life-saving.

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Admin Blames ‘Human Error’ for Deletion of Pa. State Police Records

January 24, 2024 | Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Thousands of records, including evidence logs from the Pennsylvania State Police’s crime labs, were accidentally deleted from state servers at the start of the year — the result of “human error,” Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration said.

Long-Sought Charter School Changes on the Table as Pa. Lawmakers Plot Education Funding Overhaul

January 24, 2024 | Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering significant changes to the way charter schools are funded as they undertake a monumental overhaul of public education mandated by a court ruling.

Proposed Update to State Gaming Rules Could Offer Relief to Pa.’s Fire Companies, Nonprofits

January 23, 2024 | Spotlight PA

BELLEFONTE, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s volunteer fire companies rely on raffles and bingo to stay open, but state law prohibits them from accepting cashless payments for these small games of chance, a condition that limits their fundraising abilities and has some of them considering breaking the rules.

Pa.’s Broadband Authority Reverses Position on Key State Law Before New Federal Funding Arrives

January 22, 2024 | Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A state agency recently reversed its position on whether Pennsylvania law could cause problems for an unprecedented surge of federal investment for expanding access to high-speed internet.

Pa.’s Outdoor Recreation Office Identifies Early Priorities, but Some Specifics Remain Unclear

January 19, 2024 | Spotlight PA

BELLEFONTE, Pa. — A Pennsylvania office launched last year to support the state’s outdoor sector has announced its initial priorities in a new report that broadly details its mission but also includes gaps.

Great Pa News Quiz: Fetterman Memoir, Seriously Cold, Bidenomics, and Underfunded Schools

January 19, 2024 | Spotlight PA

In this week’s quiz: U.S. Sen. John Fetterman is writing a book; and the coldest temperature ever recorded in Pennsylvania.

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