Spotlight PA: Pennsylvania news and investigations

Top News The Capitol

The Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg was lit green in 2016 to celebrate the passage of medical marijuana.

Lack of Senate support could again sink Shapiro’s call for Pa. to legalize weed

by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA

A legalization bill needs to win majority support from an 11-person state Senate committee. Just 3 members are publicly on board.

Related Stories

Shapiro renews calls for legal weed, regulated skill games in budget that would send $526M to poorest schools
The legal weed debate is starting up again in Pa. Here’s what’s on the table.

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Editor's Picks

After Hershey Medical Center stopped performing kidney transplants, Jessica Clark scrambled to find another hospital that would add her to its waiting list.

As problems roiled Penn State Health’s transplant programs, unknowing patients kept hope. Then they were blindsided.

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA and Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

Already sick, former patients of the failed kidney and liver transplant units face rejection and despair as they look elsewhere and grapple with the one thing they cannot afford to lose: time.

Pennsylvania's medical marijuana program has allowed doctors with past misconduct to certify patients.

Prior misconduct rarely an obstacle for doctors in Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

The Capitol

Gov. Josh Shapiro delivers his 2025 budget speech before the legislature.

Shapiro renews calls for legal weed, regulated skill games in budget that would send $526M to poorest schools

by Stephen Caruso, Kate Huangpu, and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA

The governor’s latest budget pitch would send an additional $290 million to the state’s public transit agencies, invest more in a new student-teacher stipend, and more.

Gov. Josh Shapiro visited Pittsburgh International Airport to announce his energy-focused Lightning Plan in January 2025.

Legal weed, more money for Pa.’s poorest schools will likely be in Shapiro’s budget pitch

by Stephen Caruso, Kate Huangpu, and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA

Investigations

Local Government

An illustration of a woman walking away from a crumbling road and out of a credit card with a phone in hand and shopping bags around.

New records detail Pa. township secretary’s alleged half-million-dollar heist. How did sports betting, trips, and more go unnoticed?

by Min Xian of Spotlight PA State College

Pamela Hackenburg allegedly used Gregg Township’s credit cards to steal almost $533,000 from local taxpayers. The township’s supervisors never looked at a statement.

Pennsylvania Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich (center)

Breaking rules intended to keep Pa.’s older adults safe is rarely met with state sanctions

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Impact

Pennsylvania's medical marijuana program has allowed doctors with past misconduct to certify patients.

New limits, oversight for Pa.’s medical marijuana doctors proposed in response to Spotlight PA investigation

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

The bill would give the Department of Health discretion on which doctors in the medical marijuana program would receive extra scrutiny.

Editor’s Notes

Spotlight PA reporting airs on PHL17 in Philadelphia, PA

Groundbreaking deal between Spotlight PA, TV stations to bring in-depth reporting to millions more people

by Christopher Baxter

Good News from Pennsylvania

A sign in Punxsutawney, Pa., welcomes visitors to Gobbler's Knob.

Groundhog Day annually draws crowds to the world ‘Weather Capital.’ Which other Pa. regions claim ‘capital’ status?

by Asha Prihar of Spotlight PA

Punxsutawney is one of many “world capitals” located in Pennsylvania, including the purported global hubs for cheesesteaks, murals, mushrooms, snack foods, and more.

PA Local Heroes: The Philadelphia nonprofit sharing ‘books and beauty’ with local kids

by Asha Prihar of Spotlight PA

Led by book collector and paper conservationist Sibylla Shekerdjiska-Benatova, A Book a Day has distributed over 13,000 children’s books in the past decade.

Blacksmiths forge unorthodox biz inside struggling Pa. mall’s vacated Victoria’s Secret

by Asha Prihar

As shopping malls nationwide see traditional retailers depart, businesses like the Drunken Smithy in Lebanon are making creative use of the vacancies.

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A fresh look at the incredible people, beautiful places, and delicious food Pennsylvania has to offer.

State College Bureau

Old Main on Penn State’s University Park campus

Penn State faculty fear the school will close campuses across the state. Officials won’t give them a straight answer.

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College

Penn State’s commonwealth campuses enroll a more racially diverse group of people, a greater percentage of Pennsylvania residents, and more first-generation college students, than its flagship at University Park.

Bucktail Medical Center in Renovo, Clinton County

$1M from the state prevented this rural hospital from closing, but its troubles aren’t over

by Marley Parish of Spotlight PA State College

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