Spotlight PA: Pennsylvania news and investigations

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John Schueller is a Tulpehocken Township farmer.

Pa. farmer wins transparency battle after township spent thousands fighting to keep records secret

by Ann Rejrat for Spotlight PA

A farmer’s victory over a Pennsylvania township's refusal to release drafts of a proposed agriculture law came at a cost of thousands of dollars for residents and taxpayers.

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The Capitol

Lawmakers, Shapiro admin push to end practice of counties taking Social Security money owed to foster kids

by Steve Volk / Resolve Philly for Spotlight PA

After a 2025 Resolve Philly / Spotlight PA investigation, a federal directive urged states to end the practice

The exterior to the Pennsylvania Judicial Center.

Pennsylvania judges say blocking Medicaid for abortion violates state constitution

by Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA

Investigations

An illustration of two police officers standing in front of filing cabinets with hands coming out of the files.

Hundreds of rapes in the State College area weren’t reported in public police data over nearly a decade

by Min Xian of Spotlight PA State College and Mark Fazlollah for Spotlight PA

The missing data masked the true extent of the crime surrounding Penn State. The central Pa. department never publicly disclosed the error until contacted by Spotlight PA.

A photo illustration of Raymond Hohl encircled by images of the Penn State Cancer Institute, a medical device, and a nurse’s binder of thank you notes.

Alarming internal probes found chemo errors, delays, and ‘toxic’ leadership by Penn State’s cancer chief

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

Good News from Pennsylvania

The Media Theater in Media, Pennsylvania.

Meet a Mayor: Hidden gems and hometown charm in one of the last streetcar suburbs

by Colin Deppen of Spotlight PA

Joi Washington became Media’s first Black mayor and first woman mayor in last year’s election, at the age of 39.

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State College Bureau

Melissa Pérez-Carrillo

Meet Melissa Pérez-Carrillo, local accountability reporter for Spotlight PA State College

by Melissa Pérez-Carrillo of Spotlight PA State College

Pérez-Carrillo previously covered breaking news and public safety at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune in Florida.

Gov. Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding visit the Lancaster County Rapid Response Center to host poultry producers and industry leaders for a roundtable discussion on the ongoing surge in Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) infections.

Hotline for Pa. farmers sees major drop in calls, texts amid mental health crisis

by Marley Parish of Spotlight PA State College

Berks County Bureau

Ge Fangyuan, a farmer in Washington Township, stands with his dog for a portrait at the farm Feb. 20, 2026. Fangyuan's farm was disrupted after a sewer main break dumped about 8,000 gallons of raw sewage in November 2024.

When a public pipe bursts on private land, who fixes it? One PA farmer wants answers

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

A fence installation struck an unregistered sewer pipe on a disabled veterans’ farm, spewing 8,000 gallons of raw sewage and exposing years of missing township records.

Christine Kreisher

Meet a business leader connecting teens to entrepreneurship

by Susan Shelly McGovern for Spotlight PA

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