Top News PA LocalAsha Prihar / Spotlight PASurvey: Tell us how you define Pa.’s many regionsby Asha Prihar of Spotlight PAAs part of a series on Pennsylvania regions, their names, their identities, and whether it all matters, Spotlight PA needs your input. Review our maps and weigh in.Related StoriesA hyper-regional Pa. holiday touts geese. Observers joke it could become the next Groundhog Day.Meet the voracious food mappers trying to make it easier to find Pa.’s best eats
ElectionsCommonwealth Media ServicesStacy Garrity is ambitious, Trump-endorsed, and experienced. Is that enough to beat Josh Shapiro?by Katie Meyer and Jaxon White of Spotlight PA
The CapitolAmanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPa. has quietly passed a law undermining a court decision on lucrative mineral rightsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA
ImmigrationAbby Drey / Centre Daily TimesICE considering buying immigrant detention facilities, other options to maintain capacity in Pa.by Melissa Pérez-Carrillo of Spotlight PA State College
Justice SystemEd Mahon / Spotlight PASupplying drugs in fatal overdoses has led to 100s of Pa. prison sentences. Grieving families are divided.by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAPennsylvania is a leader in prosecuting people for providing drugs used in fatal overdoses.
Justice SystemEd Mahon / Spotlight PAA Pa. mom's fight reveals the messy reality of treating overdoses like homicidesby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA
Aug. 5, 2026Nate Smallwood / For Spotlight PASEARCH: How much supplemental money did your Pa. school district get?by Jaxon White of Spotlight PAEach school district got at least $50,000 of the $565 million in new spending.
July 30, 2026Cassandra Harris / PMP NewsroomPennsylvania to spend $14 million fighting SNAP benefits theft with new chip cardsby Cassandra Harris of Pittsburgh Media Partnership Newsroom
Aug. 14, 2026Asha Prihar / Spotlight PASurvey: Tell us how you define Pa.’s many regionsby Asha Prihar of Spotlight PAAs part of a series on Pennsylvania regions, their names, their identities, and whether it all matters, Spotlight PA needs your input. Review our maps and weigh in.
Aug. 6, 2026Courtesy of Berks WeeklyPa. counties face rising emergency costs. The legislature didn’t include an increase to the 911 phone fee in the budget to help them.by Melissa Pérez-Carrillo of Spotlight PA State CollegeWhile the 911 surcharge increased in 2023, local officials and the state county association say it still needs to be higher.
Aug. 4, 2026Phira Phonruewiangphing / iStockCentre County restaurant inspections for July 27-Aug. 2by Spotlight PA Staff
Aug. 4, 2026Susan Angstadt / For Spotlight PA¿Qué protecciones tienen los inquilinos de Pensilvania más allá de las leyes locales?by Gabriela Martínez de Spotlight PAEsta es una guía para conocer los derechos que tienen actualmente todos los inquilinos de Pensilvania según la ley estatal.
Aug. 4, 2026Wavebreakmedia / iStockCracked faucet, temperature issues, and other Berks County restaurant inspections for July 27-Aug. 2by Spotlight PA Staff
EnvironmentNina Sablan / Inside Climate NewsNorth Philly community garden offers relief from heat, model for climate proofingby Nina Sablan of Inside Climate NewsAs climate change accelerates, places like Tioga-Hope Park and Garden can help communities that face disproportionate risks from heat and air pollution.
HealthCassandra Harris / PMP NewsroomPharmacists in Pa. hope congressional bill targeting industry middlemen will offer lifelineby Cassandra Harris of Pittsburgh Media Partnership NewsroomAs hundreds of Pennsylvania pharmacies have closed, independent druggists increasingly blame industry reimbursement practices for making prescriptions unprofitable.
Week of Aug. 10, 2026Commonwealth Media ServicesGreat PA News Quiz: Sunday sues tech company, Amtrak plans more service, and Pa. peaches run shortby Asha Prihar of Spotlight PAIn this quiz: counties’ unsuccessful surcharge proposal, state workers and AI, and the economic impact estimates are in for a big Pittsburgh event.
EconomyTed Shaffrey / APNew owners of Bethlehem Steel hire lobbyists to help resurrect brandby Taylor Giorno of NOTUSTwo brothers are resurrecting the Bethlehem Steel name amid big changes to the industry, and turning to D.C. lobbyists to helm the effort.
EnvironmentTracie Van Auken / Inside Climate NewsSlow cleanup of Pa. pipeline leak shows effects of Trump admin rolling back environmental oversightby Marianne Lavelle of Inside Climate NewsCaught between gaps in state and federal environmental law, and relaxed oversight under the Trump administration, a Bucks County township is frustrated by the slow cleanup of a fuel spill.
EnvironmentMatt Rourke / APRise in wildfire smoke poses new challenges for Pa. as noxious air threatens healthby Marie Cusick of Inside Climate NewsAs the climate warms, people in places like Pennsylvania will have to figure out how to adapt as wildfire smoke becomes a more common summer hazard.
Public SafetyCommonwealth Media ServicesPa.’s attorney general is backing a hemp product ban. The industry says it goes way too far.by Jaxon White of Spotlight PAGrowers say the federal overhaul is too restrictive and would kill business for even non-intoxicating products.
Federal GovernmentJulia Demaree Nikhinson / APTrump is losing the battle with public opinion on data centersby Mara Hoplamazian of NOTUSHis administration’s efforts to speed up data center construction are stoking the very backlash that could stymie growth.
EnvironmentCommonwealth Media ServicesPhiladelphia juggles short-term budget plans and long-term climate goalsby Daniel Perrin of Inside Climate NewsThe city has made serious strides toward its long-term sustainability goals. But lawmakers and experts say political priorities keep crowding out climate discussions.
Week of Aug. 3, 2026Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAGreat PA News Quiz: Party-candidate clash, agency temporarily shuttered, and major museum renovationsby Asha Prihar of Spotlight PAIn this quiz: campaign finance rules, a new medical school’s applicant surge, the latest on WPSU, and an e-commerce company’s brick-and-mortar plans.
EnvironmentSarah Anne Hughes / Spotlight PAComing to some of Pennsylvania’s most picturesque places: data centersby Emilie Lounsberry of Inside Climate NewsIn the Pocono Mountains, residents fear planned data centers could ruin beloved landscapes and pristine waterways.
EducationNate Smallwood / For Spotlight PASEARCH: How much supplemental money did your Pa. school district get?by Jaxon White of Spotlight PAEach school district got at least $50,000 of the $565 million in new spending.