Spotlight PA

Budget sends $500M more to Pa.’s poorest schools, falling short of what some say is needed

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. HARRISBURG — After weeks of tense, secretive negotiations on Pennsylvania’s budget, the legislature has approved a $47.6 billion spending deal that falls short of the...

A big education fight stands in the way of a Pa. budget deal

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. HARRISBURG — How much money to spend on Pennsylvania’s public education system has become a key barrier to a budget deal as lawmakers launch a...

Cyber charter changes that could save public schools $530M may be in this year’s budget

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s public school districts could save roughly $530 million annually if the legislature makes long-sought changes to how cyber charters are funded. Democratic...

Nurse practitioners say they'd ease rural health care shortage with more authority; doctors say it won't work

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. HARRISBURG — Joyce Knestrick can independently give physical exams, diagnose health conditions, prescribe select medications, and make referrals as a nurse practitioner at a clinic...

Secret opioid cash meetings criticized by Pa. lawmaker after Spotlight PA and WESA reporting

This story first appeared in The Investigator, a weekly newsletter by Spotlight PA featuring the best investigative and accountability journalism from across Pennsylvania. HARRISBURG — A member of the board overseeing Pennsylvania’s opioid settlement money said he’s concerned the group’s actions don’t comply with the state’s Sunshine Act, echoing transparency...

Paid family leave draws bipartisan support as good for the economy, but some oppose cost, lost control

This story first appeared in How We Care, a weekly newsletter by Spotlight PA featuring original reporting and perspectives on how we care for one another at all stages of life. Alana Griffin was employed and on maternity leave when she and her infant son moved into a Tampa, Florida,...

Where Pennsylvania has lost Democrats since 2008, and what it means for November

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — For the first time in at least 16 years, the Democratic and Republican parties in Pennsylvania are...

How often does Gov. Josh Shapiro use Pennsylvania’s state plane?

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — The two-engine, eight-seat Beechcraft King Air 350i took off from a small regional airport across the Susquehanna...

Shapiro’s proposed energy policy needs GOP support

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — As part of what his administration is calling a “new era” of energy policy, Gov. Josh Shapiro...

Pa. local governments want long-term state money for cybersecurity as federal grant fills the gap

This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. Sign up for our north-central Pa. newsletter, Talk of the Town, at spotlightpa.org/newsletters/talkofthetown. STATE COLLEGE — Local governments in Pennsylvania could soon have access to...

Black Pa. country musicians celebrate the Beyoncé effect, invite new listeners to stick around

This story first appeared in PA Local, a weekly newsletter by Spotlight PA taking a fresh, positive look at the incredible people, beautiful places, and delicious food of Pennsylvania. As Beyoncé’s rootsy new country singles “16 Carriages” and “Texas Hold ‘Em” usher in a new era for the superstar, other...

Inside the Pa. court case pitting a genealogist against Ancestry.com

This story first appeared in The Investigator, a weekly newsletter by Spotlight PA featuring the best investigative and accountability journalism from across Pennsylvania. Sign up for free here. What began in 2022 as a one-paragraph public records request has morphed into a full-blown court fight over who owns digital copies...

Working the polls cleared up Jay Schneider’s 2020 suspicions. Now he’s taking charge as a judge of elections

This article is made possible through Spotlight PA’s collaboration with Votebeat, a nonpartisan news organization covering local election administration and voting. This article is available for reprint under the terms of Votebeat’s republishing policy. In 2022, when the judge of elections at Jay Schneider’s township polling place asked him to...

A new Democratic group and one libertarian billionaire are flooding the Pa. Supreme Court race with cash

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Political spending has kicked into high gear in the final stretch of Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court race. After...

Meet the podcaster, author, and hairstylist bringing Pa.’s haunted history to life

This story first appeared in PA Local, a weekly newsletter by Spotlight PA taking a fresh, positive look at the incredible people, beautiful places, and delicious food of Pennsylvania. Sign up for free here. Marlin Bressi has an affinity for stories of the strange-but-true variety, and he’ll tell you there’s...

Pennsylvania’s voting law is filled with obsolete provisions, troublesome conflicts

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s Election Code was written nearly 100 years ago, and some of its provisions are even older...

Pa. Election 2023: When to expect results, how officials are preparing, voting guides

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Officials and experts in Pennsylvania are confident that new technology and growing familiarity with mail ballots among...

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office quietly settled sexual harassment allegation against top aide

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds the powerful to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office quietly entered into a settlement agreement to resolve allegations of sexual harassment...

Jailbreaks in Pa. are not as common as recent events imply

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds the powerful to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania correctional institutions have been the subject of public scrutiny after two high-profile escapes this summer. But how frequent are these kinds...

Pa. is competing for billions to build hydrogen hubs. Will they really be green?

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — As the federal government prepares to dole out billions of dollars to encourage states to invest in hydrogen production...

Pa.’s latest attempt to regulate cyber charter schools would lower tuition payments, increase transparency

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — A bill making its way through the Pennsylvania legislature would cap the amount of money public school districts send...

Fear, distrust, and an ethics office in chaos erode Penn State’s post-Sandusky reforms

This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. Sign up for our regional newsletter, Talk of the Town. STATE COLLEGE — John Champagne submitted his report just before noon on Oct. 28, 2021....

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Spotlight PA

Budget sends $500M more to Pa.’s poorest schools, falling short of what some say is needed

A big education fight stands in the way of a Pa. budget deal

Cyber charter changes that could save public schools $530M may be in this year’s budget

Nurse practitioners say they'd ease rural health care shortage with more authority; doctors say it won't work

Secret opioid cash meetings criticized by Pa. lawmaker after Spotlight PA and WESA reporting

Paid family leave draws bipartisan support as good for the economy, but some oppose cost, lost control

Where Pennsylvania has lost Democrats since 2008, and what it means for November

How often does Gov. Josh Shapiro use Pennsylvania’s state plane?

Shapiro’s proposed energy policy needs GOP support

Pa. local governments want long-term state money for cybersecurity as federal grant fills the gap

Black Pa. country musicians celebrate the Beyoncé effect, invite new listeners to stick around

Inside the Pa. court case pitting a genealogist against Ancestry.com

Working the polls cleared up Jay Schneider’s 2020 suspicions. Now he’s taking charge as a judge of elections

A new Democratic group and one libertarian billionaire are flooding the Pa. Supreme Court race with cash

Meet the podcaster, author, and hairstylist bringing Pa.’s haunted history to life

Pennsylvania’s voting law is filled with obsolete provisions, troublesome conflicts

Pa. Election 2023: When to expect results, how officials are preparing, voting guides

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office quietly settled sexual harassment allegation against top aide

Jailbreaks in Pa. are not as common as recent events imply

Pa. is competing for billions to build hydrogen hubs. Will they really be green?

Pa.’s latest attempt to regulate cyber charter schools would lower tuition payments, increase transparency

Dark money group puts pressure on Pa. lawmakers after Shapiro vows voucher veto

Sara Innamorato resigns from state House amid budget impasse

How Spotlight PA and the Centre Daily Times reported ‘Missed Conduct’

Fear, distrust, and an ethics office in chaos erode Penn State’s post-Sandusky reforms

Rockaway Pizzeria moving to Regent Square