Top News The CapitolAmanda Berg / For Spotlight PAAs Pennsylvania’s legislature wraps up its session, many bipartisan bills are poised to failby Stephen Caruso, Kate Huangpu, and Jaxon White of Spotlight PAThe General Assembly is expected to pass its fewest individual bills this session since at least 1973.Related StoriesTrifecta could unlock action on stalled renewable energy, climate bills, Democrats sayThe legislature didn’t act on skill games by the Pa. Supreme Court’s deadline. What happens now?Pa. election 2026: Where Garrity, Shapiro stand on taxes, spending, skill games, and more
The CapitolAmanda Berg / For Spotlight PAA bill funding Pa. child advocacy centers by fining sex offenders passes with bipartisan supportby Jaxon White of Spotlight PA
The CapitolAmanda Berg / For Spotlight PALawmakers send Shapiro bill to close meeting notice loophole in Pa. transparency lawby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA
ElectionsJose Luis Magana / APTrump admin charges more Pa. residents with noncitizen votingby Carter Walker of Votebeat
Josh ShapiroCommonwealth Media ServicesJosh Shapiro built national fame on getting things done, but his full record is complexby Stephen Caruso and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAAs voters nationwide get to know Josh Shapiro, Spotlight PA examines where he has succeeded as governor but also where he has arguably fallen short.
ElectionsCommonwealth Media ServicesStacy Garrity is ambitious, Trump-endorsed, and experienced. Is that enough to beat Josh Shapiro?by Katie Meyer and Jaxon White of Spotlight PA
Oct. 20, 2026Commonwealth Media ServicesTrifecta could unlock action on stalled renewable energy, climate bills, Democrats sayby Ben Seal of Inside Climate NewsFlipping the state Senate could pave the way for environmental action, but Gov. Josh Shapiro may be “the limiting factor.”
Oct. 16, 2026Sarah Anne Hughes / Spotlight PAThe legislature didn’t act on skill games by the Pa. Supreme Court’s deadline. What happens now?by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA
Oct. 9, 2026Courtesy of Todd WilsonMeet the Instagrammer documenting and celebrating Pittsburgh’s bridgesby Asha Prihar of Spotlight PATodd Wilson’s images of Pittsburgh bridges have amassed him 34,000 followers since he launched his @pghbridges Instagram account. The civil engineer admires their style and studies their history.
Oct. 20, 2026LightFieldStudios / iStockImproper handwashing, and other Centre County restaurant inspections for Oct. 12-18by Spotlight PA StaffPennsylvania inspected seven retail food establishments in Centre County between Oct. 12 and Oct. 18. One had violations. See what inspectors found.
Oct. 13, 2026Svitlana Hulko / iStockCentre County restaurant inspections for Oct. 5-11by Spotlight PA Staff
Oct. 20, 2026mapo / iStockUncleaned beer taps, greasy floors, and other Berks County restaurant inspections for Oct. 12-18by Spotlight PA StaffPennsylvania inspected 42 retail food establishments in Berks County between Oct. 12 and Oct. 18. Eighteen had violations. See what inspectors found.
Oct. 16, 2026Susan Angstadt for Spotlight PAReading could pull up to $24M from reserves to balance its next 2 budgetsby Hanna Holthaus of Spotlight PA
ElectionsJared Wickerham / For Spotlight PAFederal judge orders Trump administration to halt noncitizen voting investigation in Pa., other statesby Geoff Mulvihill of the Associated PressThe Trump admin’s effort relies on data that is full of errors, a federal judge found.
EconomyDaljeet Kaur Sandhu / Kaurtoon StudioPa.’s liquor laws make popular canned cocktails more expensiveby Jason McGahan, NewsWorks Lab Enterprise JournalistPennsylvania’s Liquor Control Board plays a unique role as regulator, customer, and competitor.
ElectionsMatt Smith / For Spotlight PAIn ‘human error,’ Westmoreland County sends 157 duplicate mail ballots to Pa. votersby Carter Walker of VotebeatThe state emphasized that safeguards are in place to make sure only one ballot per voter will be counted.
EnvironmentEmilie Lounsberry / Inside Climate NewsData centers are ‘front and center’ in Pennsylvania’s competitive congressional electionsby Emilie Lounsberry of Inside Climate NewsBut with bipartisan opposition growing, it’s still unclear how the issue will affect the midterm results.
PA LocalCourtesy of Jazmin EvansPA Local Heroes: The advocate making healthcare accessible and funby Asha Prihar of Spotlight PAFollowing a long wait for a kidney transplant, scholar and advocate Jazmin Evans now works to make healthcare more accessible for others.
Week of Oct. 19, 2026Commonwealth Media ServicesGreat PA News Quiz: County passes parental leave rule, and a grocery store recovers from cyberattackby Asha Prihar of Spotlight PA and Colin Deppen of Spotlight PAIn this quiz: the party requesting fewer mail ballots, a former governor encourages trust in election officials, and the Sixers’ first game with LeBron James.
EducationCara Penquite / APIt's not just gas and groceries. Childcare costs weigh on some voters before the midterm electionsby Moriah Balingit of the Associated PressIn the 7th Congressional District north of Philadelphia, both candidates are making childcare part of their pitch to voters.
EnergyU.S. Department of EnergyHigher bills, greater risk of shutoff: Pa.'s largest electric company seeks new protections for customers who shop for suppliersby Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PAFirstEnergy wants regulators to end automatic contract renewals after data reveals steep costs for some shoppers.
ElectionsAmanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPa. election 2026: A guide to vetting state legislative candidatesby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAThe entire Pennsylvania House and half of the state Senate will be on the ballot in 2026. Learn more about how to research the candidates.
ElectionsCourtesy of the candidates’ campaignsPa. election 2026: Where Brooks, Mackenzie stand on campaign finance reform, anti-corruption policiesby Molly Bilinski for Spotlight PAThe candidates in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District both favor stock trading bans and term limits for members of Congress.
EnvironmentCommonwealth Media ServicesTrifecta could unlock action on stalled renewable energy, climate bills, Democrats sayby Ben Seal of Inside Climate NewsFlipping the state Senate could pave the way for environmental action, but Gov. Josh Shapiro may be “the limiting factor.”
ElectionsMatt Smith / For Spotlight PAPolls showed Trump policies might chill mail voting. But early data in Pennsylvania is inconclusive.by Carter Walker of VotebeatDemocratic mail ballot requests are down from both 2022 and 2024, though it's impossible to draw clear conclusions about why.