Map of latest Pa. coronavirus cases, county-by-county numbers

Top News The Capitol

Counties are anxiously waiting to see if lawmakers and Gov. Tom Wolf will extend the amount of time elections boards have to begin “pre-canvassing” mailed ballots. — TYGER WILLIAMS / Philadelphia Inquirer

Voting victories for Democrats in Pa. might have closed the door on more election reform

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Election boards want to start processing mail-in ballots before Election Day, but such a move would require cooperation between the Democratic governor and Republican leaders.

The Wolf administration on Wednesday filed a motion to stay the decision in order to ensure “life-saving mitigation tools ... remain in place.” — Commonwealth Media Services

Why the ruling against Wolf’s COVID-19 restrictions faces long odds on appeal, explained

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA and Paula Reed Ward of the Tribune-Review

Senate President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati’s campaign is seeking $6,070 from The Caucus, Caucus Bureau Chief Brad Bumsted, and Spotlight PA reporter Angela Couloumbis. — STEVEN M. FALK / Philadelphia Inquirer

Top Pa. Republican’s campaign sues journalists over public records costs

by Mike Wereschagin of The Caucus and Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman is widely considered next in line to ascend to the chamber’s top leadership post. — JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia Inquirer

Top Pa. GOP lawmaker taps politically connected lobbyist to be chief of staff

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

Most Popular Stories

Editor’s Pick

Ada Bailor, a student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, said the "campus doesn’t allow Black students to feel safe." — Sean Simmers / PennLive for Spotlight PA

Pa.’s public universities recruit students of color but fail them on campus

by Aneri Pattani of Spotlight PA

More top stories

In March, Gov. Tom Wolf shuttered all but "life-sustaining" businesses to slow the spread of COVID-19. — Commonwealth Media Services

Wolf’s COVID-19 business closures, limit on gatherings unconstitutional, federal court rules

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA, Jeremy Roebuck of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA

As advocates rush to parse the often ambiguous language of the federal order, gray areas remain. — Dan Nott / For Spotlight PA

From relief to despair, one Pa. family struggles with the ambiguity of federal eviction ban

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

Lawmakers in Harrisburg say it's too early to discuss the budget. — KALIM BHATTI / The Philadelphia Inquirer

Huge budget cuts could hurt people with mental illness, disabilities most, Pa. providers fear

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

On Sept. 21, restaurants can increase indoor dining to 50% of overall capacity. — MONICA HERNDON / Philadelphia Inquirer

Wolf allows restaurants to serve more customers indoors, but timing raises eyebrows

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

There’s widespread agreement in the Capitol that Pennsylvania’s $150 million rental assistance program to keep families in their homes during the coronavirus pandemic isn’t working. — Dan Nott / For Spotlight PA

Want to help Pa. renters avoid eviction? Give them cash directly, experts say.

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

Criminal Justice

The state inspector general will determine if protocols are followed and training is sufficient. — DAN GLEITER / PennLive

Pa. inspector general reviewing legality of some state police traffic stops, searches

by Joseph Darius Jaafari of Spotlight PA

Gov. Tom Wolf is still calling on the Pennsylvania legislature to pass a state moratorium on evictions and foreclosures. — DAVID MAIALETTI / Philadelphia Inquirer

Federal order protects many Pa. renters from eviction, though legal challenges may arise

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

An at-times tense debate was the latest in what’s become a war between the executive and the GOP-controlled legislative branch over the state’s coronavirus response. — Kalim A. Bhatti / Philadelphia Inquirer

Latest Pa. GOP attempt to strip Gov. Tom Wolf of his coronavirus emergency powers fails

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Weekly reports released by the Department of Health are consistently missing data for more than 100 of the state’s 693 nursing homes. — DAN NOTT / For Spotlight PA

Nursing home COVID-19 case, death data still missing from Pa.’s public reports

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

Drop boxes were used in Philadelphia during the June primary and have been embraced by other counties as a way to ease the anticipated Election Day burden. — YONG KIM / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. GOP advances election bill that would ban drop boxes, get mail-in ballots to voters earlier

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Gov. Tom Wolf on Tuesday dashed any hope of a last-minute reprieve for the thousands of Pennsylvanians who have fallen behind on rent during the coronavirus pandemic. — Commonwealth Media Services

After waffling, Gov. Tom Wolf says he can’t extend Pa.’s eviction ban, looks to lawmakers

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

Editor's Notes

View of the south side of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex at night. — Kent M. Wilhelm / FOR SPOTLIGHT PA

Spotlight PA named a finalist for 2 national online journalism awards

by Christopher Baxter

Criminal Justice

To justify their searches, state police often claimed that a driver was nervous, sweating, or eating. — Photo illustration Kat Wawrykow / Getty Images

Highway ‘stop-and-frisk’: How Pennsylvania state troopers conduct illegal traffic searches

by Joseph Darius Jaafari of Spotlight PA and Joshua Vaughn of The Appeal

“I think what we need to do is make people feel comfortable and safe in terms of their voting,” Gov. Tom Wolf said. — Commonwealth Media Services

Surge in mail-in ballots could delay election results, so Wolf wants to change the rules

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

James Pride needed help to pay rent on his Lebanon apartment. His landlord, Morgan Properties, told him it won’t take part in the state's rental assistance program. — Cheyenne Snow / For Spotlight PA

A vital rental assistance program is riddled with problems as Pa. prepares to resume evictions

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

Many people are also reluctant to seek treatment right now, fearing they’ll contract COVID-19. — DAN NOTT / For Spotlight PA

‘You’ve got to do something’: Pa. rehabs buckle, begin to close under COVID-19 strain

by Aneri Pattani of Spotlight PA and Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

In June, the legislature voted to force Wolf to end the state’s COVID-19 disaster declaration, which greatly expanded the Democratic governor’s powers. — KALIM A. BHATTI / For Spotlight PA

Thwarted at every turn, Pa. GOP lawmakers hatch new plan to curtail Wolf’s emergency powers

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Gov. Tom Wolf delivered a message to lawmakers Tuesday: "We’ve got to get back to doing things that actually matter to people.” — Commonwealth Media Services

Gov. Tom Wolf wants Pa. to legalize marijuana, provide more COVID-19 relief this fall

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

CRIME

The Pennsylvania State Police are investigating who shot at peaceful civil rights marchers traveling through Pennsylvania on their way from Milwaukee to Washington, D.C. — Alexandru Cuznetov / MCT

Civil rights marchers shot at in Pa. while on trek from Milwaukee to Washington, D.C.

by Joseph Darius Jaafari of Spotlight PA

State Sen. Judy Schwank asked the PASSHE board to add racial equity to every meeting agenda moving forward and to make it a key part of the system’s redesign. — Commonwealth Media Services

After Spotlight PA report on campus racism, lawmaker tells state system to take action

by Aneri Pattani of Spotlight PA

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