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FINAL WEEK: We're in the final stretch of our Week of Giving 2024 fundraising event. Our unique journalism at Spotlight PA depends entirely on reader support. That's why we're asking for your support today.
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| Today: Treasury change, missing money, failing buildings, union allegations, green burial, and Tropical Storm Debby's aftermath. Welcome to the week. |
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Starting next year, Pennsylvania will return some unclaimed money directly to the people it belongs to instead of requiring them to first file a claim with the state Treasury.
A bill to allow the change passed the state legislature in July with unanimous support, and was signed into law by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro.
The change marks a significant election year victory for state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, a Republican who proposed the legislation last year and will face Democrat Erin McClelland in November.
Read Spotlight PA's full report: New Pennsylvania law will return some unclaimed money without a claim. |
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NOTABLE / QUOTABLE
"I love what I do."
—Gov. Josh Shapiro in a post-veepstakes interview with the Washington Examiner. |
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| A natural submission, via Rocky R. Send us your photos by email, use #PAGems on Instagram, or tag us @spotlightpennsylvania. |
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BERKS BUREAU: Join Spotlight PA for a 45-minute Zoom session on our plans for a Berks County reporting bureau. Register for the session on Aug. 13 at noon here, and the session on Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. here.
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 MISSING MONEY: More than a half million dollars in taxpayer money is missing from a Centre County township, and local officials say it might have been misappropriated, Spotlight PA reports. Gregg Township officials suspect a suspended employee may be behind the transactions, though no charges have been filed. State Police is investigating.  NO ANSWERS: Community members still don't know what caused a massive explosion last year in the Rustic Ridge neighborhood of Plum that killed six people and destroyed three houses, TribLIVE reports. Allegheny County has not released any information about the investigation for 11 months and can't say how much longer it will take.  AT RISK: Services for older Pennsylvanians including home-delivered meals are at risk because state lawmakers did not boost the budget for a Department of Aging program. The Morning Call (paywall) reports that Lehigh County is facing a $400,000 deficit that may lead to the closures of some of the area's 12 senior centers. FAILING BUILDINGS: Roughly 90% of Pittsburgh Public Schools' facilities require "moderate to major renovations" that come with a significant price tag, PublicSource reports. It's one metric officials are considering as they weigh school closures.  NEW ALLEGATIONS: A complaint filed with the Office of Attorney General alleges the Pennsylvania State Education Association routed $1.5 million in membership fees to Josh Shapiro's 2022 gubernatorial campaign, the Center Square reports. A union spokesperson said no funds "were used to make direct contributions to the Shapiro campaign.” |
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DEBBY FALLOUT: Tropical Storm Debby caused flash flooding that prompted helicopter rescues in northern Pennsylvania and spawned at least one tornado that pummeled parts of the Harrisburg area.
GREEN BURIAL: A Franklin County farm is making biodegradable caskets from mushrooms, the only company doing so in the U.S., per Fox43.
MAD TV: The York Daily Record obtained Pennsylvanians' complaints to the FCC about what they see on TV. A sample: "TV has become a cesspool."
CLIMATE CHANGE: The state Supreme Court is collecting arguments in a pricey case that will determine the future of a key climate change program.
WHOOPS: A federal court accidentally shared sealed documents related to U.S. Rep. Scott Perry's Jan. 6-related search warrant case. |
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Unscramble and send your answer to scrambler@spotlightpa.org. We'll shout out winners here, and one each week will get some Spotlight PA swag. Answers submitted by 5:30 p.m. on issue date will be counted. Please include your first name and last initial. N I U O S P E U H O
Friday's answer: Earmarking
Congrats to our daily winners: Stacy S., Jody A., Timothy A., Bob C., Eric F., Jon W., Richard A., Don H., Ted W., Barbara F., Elaine C., Kimberly D., Kimberly S., Tracy S., Jane R., Louie C., Beth H., Judith D., Jeff F., Tom M., Stanley J., Annette I., Jeffrey F., Susan N.-Z., William S., Marc G., Wendy A., George C., Joel S., William Z., Jill C., and Mot.
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