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Top News Education

A classroom is seen inside the former Longview Elementary School in Punxsutawney, PA, on April 5, 2023.

'AI-driven' cyber charter school wants to teach Pa. kids core academics in 2 hours per day

by Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA

The fact that Unbound Academy has a viable path toward approval shows that Pennsylvania needs to radically rethink its charter school law, critics say.

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After Hershey Medical Center stopped performing kidney transplants, Jessica Clark scrambled to find another hospital that would add her to its waiting list.

As problems roiled Penn State Health’s transplant programs, unknowing patients kept hope. Then they were blindsided.

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

Already sick, former patients of the failed kidney and liver transplant units face rejection and despair as they look elsewhere and grapple with the one thing they cannot afford to lose: time.

Pennsylvania's medical marijuana program has allowed doctors with past misconduct to certify patients.

Prior misconduct rarely an obstacle for doctors in Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

The Capitol

Pennsylvania skill game machine at a business near Harrisburg.

Negotiations to tax skill games fell apart last year. GOP leaders are restarting the debate.

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

Lawmakers will again wade into a tricky debate over taxing skill games this session. The slot-like machines are currently unregulated.

Students on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh walk past a ‘vote’ sign on Election Day, Nov. 5., 2024.

Expanded voter ID, mail ballot changes on the table as Pa. lawmakers begin new session

by Carter Walker of Votebeat

Investigations

Local Government

An illustration of a woman walking away from a crumbling road and out of a credit card with a phone in hand and shopping bags around.

New records detail Pa. township secretary’s alleged half-million-dollar heist. How did sports betting, trips, and more go unnoticed?

by Min Xian of Spotlight PA State College

Pamela Hackenburg allegedly used Gregg Township’s credit cards to steal almost $533,000 from local taxpayers. The township’s supervisors never looked at a statement.

Pennsylvania Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich (center)

Breaking rules intended to keep Pa.’s older adults safe is rarely met with state sanctions

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Impact

Pennsylvania's medical marijuana program has allowed doctors with past misconduct to certify patients.

New limits, oversight for Pa.’s medical marijuana doctors proposed in response to Spotlight PA investigation

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

The bill would give the Department of Health discretion on which doctors in the medical marijuana program would receive extra scrutiny.

Editor’s Notes

Spotlight PA reporting airs on PHL17 in Philadelphia, PA

Groundbreaking deal between Spotlight PA, TV stations to bring in-depth reporting to millions more people

by Christopher Baxter

Good News from Pennsylvania

Wendy Gale (A Book a Day), Jessica Lohre (Jefferson ICU), Sibylla Shekerdjiska-Benatova (ABaD), Flora Ward (ABad), Shelby Bentley (Justamere Foundation), and Heather Etzl (Jefferson ICU) at the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital NICU in December 2024, launching a new “Bonding Through Books” program.

PA Local Heroes: The Philadelphia nonprofit sharing ‘books and beauty’ with local kids

by Asha Prihar of Spotlight PA

Led by book collector and paper conservationist Sibylla Shekerdjiska-Benatova, A Book a Day has distributed over 13,000 children’s books in the past decade.

Blacksmiths forge unorthodox biz inside struggling Pa. mall’s vacated Victoria’s Secret

by Asha Prihar

As shopping malls nationwide see traditional retailers depart, businesses like the Drunken Smithy in Lebanon are making creative use of the vacancies.

Residents of this Philadelphia block create neighborhood ‘magic’ every December

by Asha Prihar of Spotlight PA

Neighbors come together every year to create Miracle on 13th Street, a beloved holiday tradition of lights and cheer that draws crowds to South Philly.

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A fresh look at the incredible people, beautiful places, and delicious food Pennsylvania has to offer.

State College Bureau

Linnet Brooks, a Rock Spring Water Company customer, keeps bottled water in her pantry due to frequent outages.

Lawyers for troubled Pa. water company ask court to force a takeover, calling system ‘a clear and present danger’

by Marley Parish of Spotlight PA State College

Lawyers have asked a Centre County court to intervene and allow a municipal-run water authority to take over operations of the privately owned company.

A Shippensburg Borough Water Authority building

What to do if you have an issue with your municipal water or wastewater authority

by Marley Parish of Spotlight PA State College

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