Dec. 3, 2024Courtesy U.S. Department of Energy via FlickrUtility law will lapse after Pa. legislature deadlocks on expanding consumer protectionsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAThe law was designed to make it easier for utility companies to reclaim unpaid bills while increasing consumer protections. Advocates say it’s not strong enough.
Dec. 2, 2024Stephen Caruso / Spotlight PAA court loss isn’t the end of the fight for stricter gun laws in Pa., advocates sayby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAPennsylvania is one of 42 states with a law that preempts local governments from passing or enforcing gun statutes stricter than those allowed by the legislature.
Nov. 26, 2024Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAHow did Democrats keep their Pa. House majority during a red wave? Redistricting is part of the answer.by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAPennsylvania’s state House map makes districts politically representative, but less competitive. This makes it hard for either party to get a big majority.
Nov. 22, 2024Commonwealth Media ServicesShapiro will give SEPTA $153M in federal funding to avoid cuts and fare hikesby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAShapiro’s announcement came less than two weeks before SEPTA planned to follow through on fare hikes.
Nov. 19, 2024Commonwealth Media ServicesShapiro says he won’t let SEPTA ‘fail’ as struggling transit agency warns of looming cutsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PATransit supporters want him to use federal highway dollars as a stopgap, something at least one previous governor has done.
Nov. 2, 2024Kate Huangpu / Spotlight PAAt least $34M has been spent on key races that will determine Pa. House, Senate controlby Stephen Caruso and Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAAn analysis by Spotlight PA found the average spending on a competitive state House or Senate race was over $1.1 and $3.5 million, respectively.
Oct. 15, 2024Commonwealth Media ServicesMore funding for SEPTA unlikely this year thanks to deep conflicts over gaming expansionby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PASenate Republicans say they’ll support transit funding in exchange for taxing skill games, but a deal has been elusive.
Oct. 14, 2024Courtesy of U.S. Department of EnergyNobody is using $2.6B in Pa. tax credits. Gov. Josh Shapiro wants a rewrite to boost electricity production.by Stephen Caruso and Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAA union-backed rewrite by the Shapiro admin would subsidize energy production as well as lower the bar for investment.
Oct. 11, 2024Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAThe (basically) secret list of campaign donations by no-bid contractorsby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAPennsylvania's no-bid contractors must report campaign donations, but accessing those records is hard. Here's why it matters.
Oct. 8, 2024Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAAs Democrats fight to keep control of the Pa. House, poll shows their agenda is popularby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAA new poll finds broad support for Democrats’ top issues, including gun background checks and a minimum wage increase, as control of the Pennsylvania House comes down to a few races.
Oct. 7, 2024Nate Smallwood / For Spotlight PAPrivate school vouchers opposed by more than half of Pa. voters, poll showsby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAPennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has thrown his support behind private school vouchers, but most voters aren’t on the same page.
Sept. 26, 2024Commonwealth Media ServicesThe obscure health care middlemen at the center of an election year policy fightby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAAt issue are pharmacy benefit managers, drug middlemen who regulators say inflate prices to boost their profits, and oversight by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
Sept. 20, 2024Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PADoug Mastriano sues critics of his book on WWI hero for defamation, asks for $10Mby Associated PressMastriano, who lost the 2022 gubernatorial election in PA, says criticisms of his book about a WWI hero have caused "sleepless nights, physical illness, and extreme emotional pain and suffering."
Sept. 18, 2024Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PADemocrats retain control of Pa. House after 2 special election winsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAPa. Democrats have their voting majority back for the fall session after winning two special elections for Philly state House districts.
Sept. 11, 2024Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPublic transit funding, utility protections, and more top Pa. legislature’s fall to-do listby Stephen Caruso and Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAThere are a dozen days left in the Pa. legislative session. They’ll likely feature debates over transit, hospitals, and utilities.
Sept. 6, 2024Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAAction unlikely on relief for abuse victims, other proposed constitutional amendments before deadlineby Stephen Caruso and Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAA proposal to allow lawsuits from people sexually abused as children is on a list of Pa. constitutional amendments at risk of failing.
Aug. 19, 2024Commonwealth Media ServicesHow Harrisburg Works: What happens if Pennsylvania’s governor steps downby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAThe resignation of Pennsylvania's governor sets in motion the line of succession, elevating the lieutenant governor and head of the state Senate.
Aug. 14, 2024Nate Smallwood / For Spotlight PAThese 50 Pa. school districts are getting extra money because of their high tax burdensby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAThe state wants school districts to use $32 million from this year’s Pennsylvania budget to lower the tax burden for local residents.
Aug. 13, 2024Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAWithout cuts or new revenue, Pa.'s budget surplus is on track to run dryby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAWithout cuts or an infusion of cash, Pennsylvania’s budget surplus is projected to run dry next fiscal year. But lawmakers aren’t saying much about a solution.
Aug. 12, 2024Commonwealth Media ServicesNew Pennsylvania law will return some unclaimed money without a claimby Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PAA newly passed bill allows Pennsylvania to return unclaimed funds to a person without a claim. The law was originally proposed by state Treasurer Stacy Garrity last year.
Aug. 2, 2024Commonwealth Media ServicesLegal bills top $4.2M in fight over key climate change programby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAThe Shapiro administration and legislative Republicans are on opposite sides of court cases involving the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
July 29, 2024Kent M. Wilhelm / For SpotlightCourt tells governor’s office to reveal more details about why it hired private law firmsby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PASpotlight PA has been fighting to find out why Pennsylvania’s governor spent $367,538 in public money to hire private law firms.
July 24, 2024Commonwealth Media ServicesFederal dollars driving energy policy in Pennsylvania toward solar, hydrogenby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAThanks to federal dollars, Pennsylvania is passing new energy bills that require bipartisan compromise. Carbon capture, solar investments, and more are on the table.
July 22, 2024Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAMore funding for home repair program left out of state budget despite high demandby Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PADespite high demand, PA’s Whole-Home Repairs program didn’t get additional funding in the latest state budget, leaving thousands of homeowners waitlisted.
July 19, 2024Commonwealth Media ServicesPennsylvania expands protections against frivolous suits aimed at curtailing free speechby Sarah Nicell for Spotlight PAMeritless SLAPP lawsuits, aimed at silencing critics, can drain people's pockets. A new Pennsylvania law strengthens protections against those cases.
July 18, 2024Bob Bushell / U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionThis year’s budget overturns local bans on rodeos. No Pa. lawmaker will take credit.by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAThe provision was quietly included in a budget-enabling code bill and appears to target Pittsburgh.
July 16, 2024Commonwealth Media ServicesFree period products coming to some Pa. schools thanks to $3M budget commitmentby Sarah Nicell for Spotlight PAGov. Josh Shapiro signed off on a $3 million grant program to provide free period products to Pennsylvania schools. Many key details still need to be worked out.
July 15, 2024Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PALegal marijuana, big tax cuts, and minimum wage: This year’s budget losersby Stephen Caruso, Kate Huangpu, and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAMajor goals for both Democrats and Republicans fell by the wayside in Pennsylvania’s new $47.6 billion budget.
July 11, 2024Commonwealth Media ServicesCompromises on education spending, tax cuts, and transit headline Pa.’s $47.6B budgetby Stephen Caruso and Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAPennsylvania’s new budget includes less transit funding than Democrats wanted, tax cuts, permitting reform, and changes to the higher education system.
July 11, 2024Nate Smallwood / For Spotlight PABudget sends $500M more to Pa.’s poorest schools, falling short of what some say is neededby Stephen Caruso and Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAPennsylvania lawmakers approved a budget that boosts education funding by more than $1 billion, but doesn’t invest what advocates say is needed to help poor schools.
