PAY IT FORWARD: Support Spotlight PA now and your gift will be DOUBLED »

Top News Education

Chancellor Daniel Greenstein said the plan will involve the creation of “precise goals, action steps, and evaluation measures.” — Commonwealth Media Services

Pa.’s state university system adopts strategy to address campus racism

by Colin Deppen of Spotlight PA

Students who pushed officials to address campus racism applauded the progress but said they're withholding praise until they see results.

In the coming weeks, House Speaker Bryan Cutler and Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (pictured) plan to unveil a lobbying reform package. — Commonwealth Media Services

One ritzy fundraiser shows how tough selling lobbying reform in Pa. will be

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Brad Bumsted and Sam Janesch of The Caucus

Amanda Holt, a graphic artist and piano teacher from Allentown, drew her own political maps after noticing oddities in the ones drawn by lawmakers. — Charles Fox / Philadelphia Inquirer

Are Pa.’s state House and Senate maps gerrymandered? Depends on how you measure them.

by Marie Albiges of Spotlight PA

Ian Kalinowski’s brother, Adam, died by suicide in 2014 while he was a client at a treatment center run by Addiction Specialists Inc., in Fayette County. An Allegheny County judge later said the business, two of its owners, and an ASI physician were negligent in caring for Adam. — Kristina Serafini / TribLIVE for Spotlight PA

Addiction treatment providers in Pennsylvania face little state scrutiny despite harm to clients

by Aneri Pattani of KHN and Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

Like what you read?

Become a Member

Help Spotlight PA hold the powerful to account with a gift today.

Other Amount:

Donate now Yes, accountability matters

Most Popular Stories

Editor’s Pick

Live updates on the latest numbers of Pa. coronavirus cases, as well as a county-by-county coronavirus map. — DAN NOTT / For Spotlight PA

Live Pa. coronavirus tracker: County-by-county map of coronavirus cases, updates on case counts

by Daniel Simmons-Ritchie of Spotlight PA and Garland Potts of the Philadelphia Inquirer

More top stories

Gov. Tom Wolf's administration announced coronavirus mitigation efforts, except masking, will be lifted on Memorial Day. — ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pennsylvania will lift most COVID-19 restrictions on Memorial Day

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

In their order, the Pa. Supreme Court's justices, five Democrats and two Republicans, did not explain their pick. — CHRISTOPHER MILLETTE / PennLive

Pa. Supreme Court picks former Pitt chancellor to chair powerful redistricting commission

by Marie Albiges of Spotlight PA

Spotlight PA received 11 statewide journalism awards in competition with the largest newsrooms in Pennsylvania. — Kent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PA

Spotlight PA wins 11 statewide journalism awards

by Christopher Baxter

A five-member commission is tasked with drawing new state House and Senate maps every 10 years. — Madhuri Shukla / For Spotlight PA

Pa. Supreme Court will pick chair of powerful state redistricting panel

by Marie Albiges of Spotlight PA

The amount of feedback, as well as the coronavirus pandemic, contributed to the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs missing a June 2020 deadline to implement the licensing program, Secretary Jennifer Smith said during a February budget hearing. — Commonwealth Media Services

Oversight of Pa. recovery homes stalls as officials, advocates disagree on best approach

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

Kristina Serafini/TribLIVE for Spotlight PA

How we investigated Pennsylvania’s addiction treatment industry and found weak oversight of providers

by Aneri Pattani of KHN and Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

Criminal Justice

Pennsylvania State Police troopers have justified vehicle searches by saying a driver was nervous, sweating, or eating. — JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia Inquirer

How Pa. troopers use sweating, stuttering during traffic stops to launch vehicle searches

by Joseph Darius Jaafari of Spotlight PA

Pennsylvania’s congressional map is drawn by the 253-member General Assembly and must be approved by the governor. — Madhuri Shukla / For Spotlight PA

Anticipating ‘partisan’ impasse, Democrats ask court to prepare to draw Pa. congressional map

by Marie Albiges of Spotlight PA

The U.S. Census Bureau released the long-awaited state population totals Monday as part of the decennial count that determines the distribution of 435 congressional seats as well as Electoral College votes. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pennsylvania will lose a U.S. House seat after redistricting

by Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA and Colin Deppen of Spotlight PA

All Pennsylvania voters will be asked to consider four ballot questions. — Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PA

You’re invited! A guide and free reader Q&A on what you need to know before the May primary election.

by Spotlight PA Staff

Rebecca Britton, a school board director for the Downington Area School District and founder of the Uwchlan Safety Coalition, was one of several residents who contended that Sunoco, the operator of the Mariner East pipeline system, had failed to properly inform nearby residents and emergency responders of all of the risks should an accident occur. — MICHAEL BRYANT / Philadelphia Inquirer

Sunoco failed to disclose some risks of Mariner East pipeline, was ‘negligent’ in response to concerns, judge rules

by Rebecca Moss of Spotlight PA

Criminal Justice

State Corrections Secretary John Wetzel received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine earlier this month and recorded it to encourage staff and those incarcerated to do the same. — Courtesy of Pennsylvania Department of Corrections

Workers in Pa. prisons, COVID-19 hotspots, aren’t getting vaccinated. Here’s why that’s dangerous.

by Joseph Darius Jaafari of Spotlight PA

“If you believe as strongly as I do that abuse victims have been denied a fair remedy for far too long, then we are obligated to attempt every avenue to deliver a just result," said Sen. Lisa Baker, the chair of the chamber's Judiciary Committee. — Commonwealth Media Services

Relief for child sex abuse survivors revived in Pa. Senate after Wolf administration error

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Election officials hope Democrats and Republicans can finally agree on giving counties more time to process mail ballots before Election Day. — Matt Smith / For Spotlight PA

Key GOP lawmaker eyes photo ID, signature matching as Pa. considers voting changes

by Marie Albiges of Spotlight PA

All Pennsylvania voters — yes, that includes independents and minor-party members — will be asked to consider four ballot questions on May 18. — TYGER WILLIAMS / Philadelphia Inquirer

Your guide to Pa.’s 2021 primary ballot questions

by Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA

Robert Heist, a board member at Milton Hershey School, sued his own board, saying it withheld financial records he wanted to fulfill his oversight duties at the wealthy private school for low-income children. — Courtesy of PennLive

Board member sues powerful Hershey School, claims he’s being denied financial records

by Bob Fernandez of The Inquirer and Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

Pennsylvania is temporarily suspending its use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after rare reports of people forming blood clots after receiving it. — HEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. ‘pauses’ Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after blood clotting reports

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

Join Spotlight PA at 5 p.m. April 20 for a free reader Q&A on how to spot and fight back against misinformation in Pennsylvania. — Getty Images/iStockphoto

You’re invited! A free reader Q&A on how to fight back against misinformation in Pa.

by Spotlight PA Staff

Syringes containing vaccine stand at the ready for members of the public to get the vaccine administered to them in the Sullivan County Elementary School in Laporte Bourgh Sullivan County Pennsylvania Fred Adams/for Spotlight PA 1-29-21 — Fred Adams / For Spotlight PA

Pa. lawmaker wants to compel Wolf administration to release details of wasted COVID-19 vaccine doses

by Ese Olumhense of Spotlight PA

Criminal Justice

Attorney General Josh Shapiro on Thursday called it “the largest prevailing wage criminal case on record.” — MONICA HERNDON / Philadelphia Inquirer

Major Pennsylvania state contractor accused of fleecing employees to pump up profits

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Who We Are

Support Spotlight PA's essential investigative journalism today and for a limited time your gift will be DOUBLED.