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Pat Loughney (right) cared for his wife, Candy, in their home until she went into anaphylactic shock after eating medicated soap. Candy is one of 280,000 Pennsylvanians over the age of 64 living with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia. — Quinn Glabicki for Spotlight PA / PublicSource

Pa.’s looming dementia care crisis, by the numbers

by Colin Deppen of Spotlight PA

Experts warn Pennsylvania is headed for a profound eldercare crisis as Alzheimer's disease and dementia rates continue to climb. Statistics illustrate the cause of their concern.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R., Centre), seen here in 2018, has pushed for the controversial review of last year's election results. — Commonwealth Media Services

Pa. Senate GOP moves to collect private voter information in controversial review of 2020 election

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy DeFoor says the Wolf administration's COVID-19 business waiver program was inconsistent and sowed confusion. — Stephen Caruso / Pennsylvania Capital-Star

Gov. Wolf’s coronavirus business waiver program was flawed, secretive, Pa. auditor says

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

The public could soon know for the first time how many patients use medical marijuana to treat opioid use disorder in Pennsylvania, one of the few states to specifically endorse that treatment option. — TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia Inquirer

Wolf administration ordered to reveal details of cannabis use as drug addiction treatment

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

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One waiver expanded who could administer a vaccine dose. — Fred Adams / For Spotlight PA

Expiring COVID-19 waivers could make Pa. health-care staffing shortages worse

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

More top stories

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MONICA HERNDON / PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

Sued over 'sellout' opioid deal, AG Shapiro counters

Plus, the numbers behind a Pa. dementia care crisis.

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Matt Rourke / AP Photo

Pa. GOP’s voter info grab sets up a legal showdown

Plus, the long wait for Pa.'s 'forever chemical' controls.

PA Post

MATT SMITH / FOR SPOTLIGHT PA

GOP election probe seeks info on every Pa. voter

Plus, auditor general pans Pa.’s secretive COVID-19 business waivers.

Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R., Centre) has pushed for the "election integrity" audit, which includes issuing subpoenas for election information. — Matt Rourke / AP

Pa. GOP lawmakers to subpoena personal information on every voter in controversial 2020 election review

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

PA Post

PA Department of Corrections

Pa. prison guards sue over ‘vax-or-test’ rule

Plus, Wolf pulls election nominee, slams GOP motives.

PA Post

Iris Samuels / AP Photo

Doctors writing 'blanket' school mask exemptions

Plus, a people's map reimagining Pa.'s political districts.

One waiver expanded who could administer a vaccine dose. — Fred Adams / For Spotlight PA

Expiring COVID-19 waivers could make Pa. health-care staffing shortages worse

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

PA Post

Students line up after recess for their third grade teacher Ms. Melissa Russo, far left, at Lower Gwynedd Elementary School in Ambler, PA, Thursday, September 3, 2020. The school's outdoor policy is that masks are worn outdoors if the person is within 6 feet of another person outdoors. Masks are required at all times indoors. JESSICA GRIFFIN / Staff Photographer — JESSICA GRIFFIN / Philadelphia Inquirer

'Big Lie' backers behind Pa. school mask lawsuit

Plus, how Pennsylvania will commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

The Amistad Project firm has led litigation to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election, including in Pennsylvania. — Matt Smith / For Spotlight PA

Pa. school mask lawsuit backed by group that challenged 2020 election results

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

The Online News Association has recognized recent work on hidden lawmaker spending, as well as an examination of the Mariner East pipeline system, as finalists for its national investigative journalism award. — Matt Rourke / AP

Spotlight PA named a finalist for national investigative journalism award

by Christopher Baxter

PA Post

As recently as June, Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R., Centre) assured colleagues he was focused squarely on the future: “We don’t need to relitigate 2020.” — Commonwealth Media Services

Subpoenas likely coming as GOP relaunches audit

Plus, the state will pay $8.5 million after a prisoner died from pepper spray.

PA Post

COMMONWEALTH MEDIA SERVICES

Pa. clergy abuse victim expects death before reform

Plus, GOP bid to thwart school mask rule will end summer break early.

PA Post

“For most of the past 18 months, the legislature has asked for my administration to defer to local governments and local organizations when making mitigation decisions,” Gov. Tom Wolf wrote in a letter to Republican leaders. “It is clear that action is needed to ensure children are safe as they return to the classroom.” — HEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia Inquirer

GOP takes Pa.'s new school mask mandate to court

Plus, thousands will be refunded $19 million after unemployment error.

Refund amounts go as high as $13,500, with the majority of people owed less than $500, according to the agency’s calculations. — Jelani Splawn / For Spotlight PA

Pa. to refund $19 million to 109,000 people it overcharged in unemployment error

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

PA Post

Alice “Candy” Loughney grew up in Pittsburgh, where her father, Joseph M. Barr (pictured here), was mayor. Candy, now 71, has Alzheimer’s disease and moved into a long-term care facility in Monroeville after her symptoms became too much for her husband to manage. — Quinn Glabicki for Spotlight PA / PublicSource

The ‘staggering costs’ of Pa.’s dementia crisis

Plus, Pa. Republicans who backed vote-by-mail law now suing to overturn it.

PA Post

PATRICK SEMANSKY / AP PHOTO

What Texas' six-week abortion ban means for Pa.

Plus, the public now has easy access to the Pa. Senate's spending records.

Gov. Tom Corbett in 2013 signed an executive order establishing the Pennsylvania Alzheimer's Disease State Planning Committee. — Commonwealth Media Services

Scoring Pennsylvania’s response to the growing Alzheimer’s and dementia crisis

by Colin Deppen of Spotlight PA

Pat Loughney (right) cared for his wife, Candy, in their home until she became ill after eating medicated soap. Candy is one of 280,000 Pennsylvanians over the age of 64 living with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia. — Quinn Glabicki for Spotlight PA / PublicSource

The coming crisis in dementia care and why Pa. is woefully unprepared

by Colin Deppen of Spotlight PA and Juliette Rihl of PublicSource

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf in 2017 vetoed legislation that would ban abortion after 20 weeks. — MICHAEL BRYANT / Philadelphia Inquirer

The Supreme Court’s decision on a Texas abortion ban raises the stakes for the Pa. governor’s race

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Reports that show all 50 senators’ spending for the month of July were posted to the Senate’s website Wednesday morning, alongside spending information for the chief clerk and secretary. — JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia Inquirer

For the first time, Pa. Senate gives public online access to spending records

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

PA Post

JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia Inquirer

Wolf reimposes school mask rule after GOP refuses

Plus, Milton Hershey School spat boils over in court.

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. — PennLive

‘Have they locked the doors?’ Judge presses for details on Hershey charity spat with board member

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

Gov. Tom Wolf previously asked the legislature to institute a school mask mandate, but GOP leaders said no. — HEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia Inquirer

Gov. Tom Wolf mandates masks in Pa. schools, daycares

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

PA Post

DAVID MAIALETTI / PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

‘Unemployment cliff’ coming for 550K in Pa.

Plus, the little borough with a big police overtime budget.

PA Post

LEISE HOOK / FOR SPOTLIGHT PA

Your COVID-19 questions, answered by Pa. experts

Plus, Pa. high court asked to step in after U.S. eviction ban lifted.

Coronavirus

Cases of the coronavirus are steadily climbing in Pennsylvania to levels not seen since the beginning of the year, driven by the highly contagious delta variant. — Fred Adams / Spotlight PA

Your questions about climbing COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania, answered

by Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA

New Journeys in Recovery faces criminal charges for allegedly bribing recovery homes for referrals and forcing patients into substandard care, which prompted renewed calls from state lawmakers to strengthen oversight. — JESSICA GRIFFIN / Philadelphia Inquirer

WATCH: A free panel on how Pennsylvania can keep people in addiction recovery safe

by Spotlight PA Staff

PA Post

AP

Why a Pa. GOP leader embraced the pro-Trump audit

Plus, GOP rejects Wolf’s call for school mask mandate.

At the start of every session, legislators in the Democratic and Republican caucuses in both chambers gather behind closed doors to elect a slate of leaders. — Tim Tai / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa.’s legislative leaders wield extraordinary power, and the audit fight proves it

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

As recently as June, Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R., Centre) assured colleagues he was focused squarely on the future: “We don’t need to relitigate 2020.” — Commonwealth Media Services

The Pa. Senate leader resisted his pro-Trump wing for months. Now he wants a MAGA makeover.

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Andrew Seidman of The Philadelphia Inquirer

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