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Top News Coronavirus

Pointing to declining case numbers and increasing vaccination numbers, Gov. Tom Wolf said he’s taking a “measured approach” to easing restrictions put in place by his administration over the past year. — Fred Adams / For Spotlight PA

More people can gather indoors in Pa. as coronavirus cases decline, Wolf announces

by Colin Deppen of Spotlight PA

In addition, travelers to the state no longer have to quarantine for 14 days or provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test.

Spotlight PA — an independent, nonpartisan newsroom covering the Pennsylvania state government and urgent statewide issues — is dedicated a year and a reporter to investigating the redistricting process. To support this effort, become a member of Spotlight PA at https://www.spotlightpa.org/donate — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

Why Spotlight PA is spending a year investigating Pennsylvania’s redistricting process

by Christopher Baxter

In Pennsylvania, the governor has the power to appoint roughly 1,000 people to dozens of boards and positions across state government, including his own cabinet. — Commonwealth Media Services

The placeholder: Meet the man Wolf taps to (temporarily) hold key appointments

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

A new COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program is giving counties the option to tap into a state network of small business lenders that focus on communities often neglected by mainstream financial institutions. — HEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia Inquirer

New coronavirus grants for small Pa. businesses aim for inclusivity, but can’t track success

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

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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

Rachel Levine, who was nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as assistant health secretary, oversaw the Pennsylvania Department of Health through the first year of the pandemic, which has killed thousands of people in long-term care facilities. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

Levine questioned on missing Pa. nursing home data in federal confirmation hearing

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

Local officials in Pennsylvania are facing another election without extra time to process mail ballots, likely leading to delayed results and putting increased pressure on counties reeling from the most expensive contest ever. — Robert Frank / For Spotlight PA

Counties will again be unable to process mail ballots early during Pa.’s primary election

by Marie Albiges of Spotlight PA

The proposal was inspired by former Lt. Gov. Mike Stack, who had a "painfully distant" relationship with Gov. Tom Wolf. — JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia Inquirer

Voters may never again get to choose Pa.’s lieutenant governor candidates

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Fred Adams / For Spotlight PA

Preguntas frecuentes sobre el frustrante despliegue de vacunas en Pensilvania

by Ese Olumhense of Spotlight PA

Five years after quietly pleading guilty in an embezzlement scheme, much of the case against former state Rep. Leslie Acosta remains under a shroud of secrecy. — CLEM MURRAY / Philadelphia Inquirer

Spotlight PA sues to unseal records in ex-Democratic state lawmaker’s embezzlement case

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Timothy DeFoor (right) became the first Republican in more than two decades to win the row office, a major victory for the party. — Commonwealth Media Services

Pa.’s new auditor general says his election was fair, but he won’t talk about the others

by Marie Albiges of Spotlight PA

Only a fraction of state education funding actually goes through a far funding formula, designed to help poor and underfunded districts. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

The $1 billion plan to close the gap between growing and shrinking Pa. school districts

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Criminal Justice

The decision to exclude Pennsylvania State Police comes after a year dominated by police brutality protests and a harder look within law enforcement agencies across the country at how they interact with Black and brown communities. — CHARLES FOX / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pennsylvania State Police will escape legislative scrutiny in 2021 budget process

by Joseph Darius Jaafari of Spotlight PA

The U.S. Census Bureau announced Friday that it can’t release the population figures needed for redistricting until Sept. 30, citing setbacks in collecting responses to questionnaires during the coronavirus pandemic. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

Delay in census data could put transparency in Pa.’s redistricting process at risk

by Marie Albiges of Spotlight PA

Unlike other tenants, Michael Salemno, 44, of Reading, had a landlord willing to work with him to apply for the state's first batch of rent relief. But they never heard anything back. — Michael Salemno, 44, of Reading. ELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Philadelphia Inquirer

The inside story of how Pennsylvania failed to deliver millions in coronavirus rent relief

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

On Feb. 11, Spotlight PA hosted a panel of medical experts and health advocates from across Pennsylvania to answer your questions on the state's vaccine distribution efforts, and latest variants. — HEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia Inquirer

WATCH: A live reader Q&A on Pa.’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution and the latest variants

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. — Fred Adams / For Spotlight PA

The most frequently asked questions about Pa.’s frustrating vaccine rollout

by Ese Olumhense of Spotlight PA

The Wolf administration has provided few details of exactly what occurred, how it happened, who else was responsible for the error, and whether any other disciplinary action or terminations had occurred as a result of it. — JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia Inquirer

Wolf administration refuses to release details after failure derails Pa. clergy sex abuse relief

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

The state’s patchwork approach has left particularly at-risk residents and communities at a tremendous disadvantage. — Dan Nott / For Spotlight PA

Lack of targeted outreach, translated materials leaves Latino community behind as Pa. struggles with vaccine rollout

by Ese Olumhense of Spotlight PA

Frank Dermody, the top House Democrat who lost reelection in 2020 after 30 years in the legislature, was appointed to a two-year term on the Gaming Control Board. — Commonwealth Media Services

How some Pa. lawmakers score a ‘golden parachute’ to pad their pensions

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Currently, Gov. Tom Wolf is the only person who can end a disaster declaration. That would change under the proposed constitutional amendment. — Commonwealth Media Services

Pa. voters will get the last word in struggle between Wolf and lawmakers. Here’s what you need to know.

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Rural counties like Sullivan are banding together to ensure older residents who lack transportation, access to providers, and internet connections can get the coronavirus vaccine. — FRED ADAMS / For Spotlight PA

In race for COVID-19 vaccinations, older residents in rural Pa. face tough obstacles

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

Rep. Mark Rozzi (seen here in 2018) announced Thursday there was support in the House for an emergency constitutional amendment.

Pa. House moves to get legal relief for clergy abuse victims back on spring ballot

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar announced she would step down after it was revealed the Department of State failed to advertise a constitutional amendment to create a two-year window so adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse can sue the perpetrators and institutions that covered it up. — Commonwealth Media Services

What the exit of Pa.’s top election official means for the future of voting

by Marie Albiges of Spotlight PA

“No matter how great a parent you are, if your local school system lacks the resources it needs to provide your kids with a quality education, that’s a barrier to giving them a better life," Gov. Tom Wolf said in his budget address Wednesday. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

Wolf asks for tax increase on Pa.’s top earners amid pandemic, GOP pans proposal as ‘irresponsible’

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

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