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A daily newsletter by  |
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| Today: No input, RFK impact, WashCo ruling, Amish abuse, key details, Mastriano materials, and the 76ers arena studies are out. |
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The state oversight board governing local expenditures of massive opioid settlements in Pennsylvania is unusual.
Unlike two dozen similar opioid councils nationwide, Pennsylvania's doesn't allow members of the public to speak at its meetings, Spotlight PA and KFF Health News report. Pennsylvania's council also routinely deliberates in private, closed-door sessions despite Sunshine Act requirements.
Stephen Loyd, chair of Tennessee’s Opioid Abatement Council, which regularly allows public attendance and comment, called shutting the public out of spending discussions “unconscionable,” adding, “This is the population we’re there to serve. They have to have a voice in this process.”
Debates are ongoing around how the money should be used, with some advocating for boosting war on drugs tactics and others urging more treatment and social services. For communities of color, lessons from law enforcement crackdowns on crack cocaine linger loudly, and being shut out of opioid settlement discussions now can compound negative effects from both epidemics.
Read Spotlight PA and KFF Health News' full report: Public voices often ignored in states’ opioid settlement money decisions. |
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NOTABLE / QUOTABLE
"In these times of heightened convictions, we are emphasizing and clarifying our policies on expressive activity to ensure safety and protect the rights of our students, faculty and staff."
—Carnegie Mellon University on an updated policy restricting protests and demonstrations as students return to class with the Israel-Hamas war ongoing |
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| 📱CHECK OUT OUR NEW MOBILE APP |
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In case you missed it, Spotlight PA launched a new mobile app. Download for free to see our latest stories in an accessible, easy-to-read format and get the latest on events, product offerings, and more.
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| Backlit clouds in a photo that almost looks like a painting, via Jane L. Send us your photos by email, use #PAGems on Instagram, or tag us @spotlightpennsylvania. |
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| BERKS BUREAU: Join us TODAY at 6 p.m. for a session on our plans for a Berks County reporting bureau. Register here. |
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  BALLOT ORDER: Washington County violated state law when it refused to tell voters their mail ballot had been rejected in April, a judge ruled. The county has been ordered to notify November voters of any such rejection for errors, like a missing signature or missing date, and give them time to make a challenge. According to a lawsuit, the board’s policy disenfranchised 259 otherwise eligible voters in April.  AMISH ABUSE: Dozens of offenders from Plain church affiliations have been convicted of sexually abusing children in the past two decades, the AP reported in May of 2022. In a report published Sunday by LNP (paywall), community members said more Amish parents are teaching their children to report abuse, but a committee of Amish men remains the only liaison to outside law enforcement and social services.
 ON THE EVIDENCE: Defense lawyers seeking a new trial for a State College man now 40 years into a life sentence for murder have enlisted one of the nation's 70 board-certified forensic anthropologists in support. Ann Ross, a North Carolina State faculty member, says Centre County prosecutors got key details, including the caliber of gun involved, wrong, CDT (paywall) reports. A judge is set to weigh in.  UNDER SEAL: A judge hearing state Sen. Doug Mastriano's lawsuit against the University of New Brunswick for releasing his thesis says the Franklin County Republican can't keep allegedly libelous material in the case under seal. University of California, Los Angeles professor and Reason blogger Eugene Volokh sued to unseal two documents. The court said his right to access trumps Mastriano's arguments. |
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HARRISBURG HEAT: StateImpact reported in late July that the number of 90+ degree days in Harrisburg had hit 30, three times more than seen in the 1990s. By 2090 that number could be up to 90 days, the outlet notes.
AUCTION BLOCK: The Allentown Art Museum has agreed to sell a 16th century painting that was left behind by a Jewish family fleeing Nazi Germany, the AP reports. A restitution claim was filed by the heirs.
STADIUM STUDY: The impact studies of the proposed 76ers arena in Center City Philadelphia are in and say while 1 in 5 small businesses in Chinatown could benefit, half would see no benefit or a negative effect.
PERCEPTION GAP: Researchers at Princeton say local Pennsylvania officials assume their constituents don't support solar energy projects, but the data show otherwise — and that could slow the energy transition.
BAT DOG: Starting a new job is nerve-wracking. A Phillies minor league bat dog in Florida went viral her first night on the job after getting distracted, running around the field, and relieving herself near second base. |
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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. S A R M O G E S
Yesterday's answer: Crankiness
Congrats to our daily winners: Mike B., Ada M., Timothy A., Elaine C., Lissa C., Jane R., Jody A., Barb K., Don H., Stacy S., Diane A., Bob C., Jon W., Richard A., Johnny C., Zachary R., Barbara F., William Z., Perry H., Wendy A., Beth H., Craig E., Jill C., Jack R., Jeffrey F., Annette I., Judith D., Jeff F., Tom M., Dennis M., Susan N.-Z., and Jodi M. |
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