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The Willow School in Montgomery County is unable to serve as many children as it could because of a staffing shortage. — THOMAS HENGGE / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pennsylvania’s child care and staffing crisis, by the numbers

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

A roughly $2 trillion social spending plan could transform the industry, but right now providers are struggling to attract and retain workers.

Republicans are moving forward with the review despite an active court fight over its legality. — TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia Inquirer

What we know about the firm hired by the GOP to review Pennsylvania’s 2020 election

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA and Andrew Seidman of The Philadelphia Inquirer

With no explanation and after a meeting closed to the public and media, the PSERS board said that executive director Glen Grell is retiring. — TYGER WILLIAMS / Philadelphia Inquirer

2 top executives quit giant Pa. pension fund amid FBI, SEC probes

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Joseph N. DiStefano and Craig R. McCoy of The Philadelphia Inquirer

Criminal Justice

In a redacted video released by the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, Christian Hall’s final moments are obscured. In unredacted footage obtained by Spotlight PA and NBC News, Hall is shown with his hands remaining in the air as troopers opened fire and struck Hall three times. — Screenshot of PA State Police video

Christian Hall, 19, had his hands up when police fatally shot him, videos show

by Gary Harki of Spotlight PA

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Editor’s Pick

In many instances, Republicans and Democrats in both chambers blacked out the reason for hiring lawyers, flouting case law that requires them to make public those critical details. — Leise Hook for Spotlight PA

Pa. lawmakers spend millions of tax dollars on private lawyers, but often don’t reveal why

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

More top stories

PA Post

MONICA HERNDON / Staff Photographer

A special Thanksgiving Scrambler edition

Today, we're thankful for you, our readers and supporters.

News

TYGER WILLIAMS / Philadelphia Inquirer

Answers to Spotlight PA’s 2021 Thanksgiving Day Scrambler and Riddler puzzles

by Colin Deppen of Spotlight PA

PA Post

Tanisha Baylor (right) during “circle time” with the 4-year-old students under her care at The Willow School. The Montgomery County center for children has been significantly impacted by staffing shortages. — THOMAS HENGGE / Philadelphia Inquirer

Child care staffing crisis has parents scrambling

Plus, GOP candidate concedes Commonwealth Court race.

Kym Ramsey had to close the infant room at her Montgomery County child care facility because of a staffing shortage. — THOMAS HENGGE / Philadelphia Inquirer

A staffing crisis at Pa. child care centers is upending family routines and slowing the economic recovery

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

PA Post

Steve Mellon / AP

Parnell exits Senate race amid abuse claims

Plus, why some Pennsylvania power plants plan to stop using coal.

PA Post

Pennsylvania is one of 30 member states plus Washington, D.C. that contributes data to ERIC to improve the quality of their voter rolls. — YONG KIM / Philadelphia Inquirer

Taxpayers pony up $270K for GOP election review

Plus, former House Speaker Mike Turzai plans run for governor.

Criminal Justice

A family photo hangs on a wall in the dining room of Fe and Gareth Hall's home in Stroudsburg. — Fred Adams for Spotlight PA / NBC News

What you need to know about the killing of Christian Hall, 19, by Pennsylvania State Police

by Gary Harki of Spotlight PA

PA Post

TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

Top execs quit Pa. pension fund as scandal swirls

Plus, House GOP threatens local officials over mail ballot count.

PA Post

TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia Inquirer

Teen in crisis had hands up when killed by police

Plus, Pa.'s highly paid lawmakers are getting a raise.

Criminal Justice

Sen. Art Haywood (D., Montgomery) wants to change the way use-of-force cases are investigated in Pennsylvania so families of victims and the public will have more faith in the findings. — Commonwealth Media Services

Who investigates police killings in Pennsylvania, and why there are few checks and balances

by Gary Harki of Spotlight PA

PA Post

HEATHER KHALIFA / PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

New legal peril for Pa.'s school mask rule

Plus, Pennsylvania's long-running hunt for lottery fraud.

PA Post

JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. powerbroker, councilman guilty of conspiracy

Plus, Pa.'s high lead poisoning rate is about to get higher.

PA Post

AMANDA BERG / FOR SPOTLIGHT PA

Trump loyalists take control of Pa. polling places

Plus, misconduct haunts record of Pa.'s 'King of Death Row.'

PA Post

Commonwealth Media Services

One lawmaker could derail lobbyist gift clampdown

Plus, shuttered by scandal, Pa. school looks to reopen with new name.

Pennsylvania has some of the weakest gift laws in the country, allowing elected officials and government employees to accept almost anything of value, as long as they report it on their annual statements of financial disclosure. — Marc Levy / AP

New limits would curtail lobbyist perks for Pa. lawmakers, but one leader could stand in the way

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

PA Post

Matt Rourke / AP Photo

Ex-Pa. Sen. Scott Wagner sued over serious crash

Plus, Pa. court tosses school mask rule, appeal pending.

The margin in the race between Republican Drew Crompton (left) and Democrat Lori Dumas (right) was .33% as of Wednesday. — Courtesy campaigns

Recount triggered for open Commonwealth Court seat, with Democrat Lori Dumas leading

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

PA Post

TYGER WILLIAMS / PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

Possibly 'damaging' PSERS report could stay hidden

Plus, top Pa. House Republican looks to curtail executive power.

PSERS — the Public School Employees’ Retirement System — admitted in March that it had botched its crucial official calculation of investment returns. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

A massive probe of Pa.’s largest pension fund is nearly done, but taxpayers may never know the results

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Craig R. McCoy and Joseph N. DiStefano of The Philadelphia Inquirer

"Many of the administrative laws, quite frankly, simply handed that power over to the executive agencies, sometimes to avoid difficult decisions," House Speaker Bryan Cutler (R., Lancaster) said Tuesday. — Matt Rourke / AP

Top Pa. House Republican wants to greatly expand lawmakers’ power over the governor, executive branch

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

PA Post

ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa.'s school mask rule expected to end in January

Plus, Senate candidate Sean Parnell takes the stand to refute abuse claims.

Gov. Tom Wolf — HEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. mask mandate for public and private schools expected to end in January, Wolf says

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

PA Post

JOSE F. MORENO / PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

Almost no Pa. police report lethal force to FBI

Plus, GOP state Sen. Jake Corman set to enter governor’s race.

PA Post

The Nov. 2 general election will feature judicial, municipal, and school board races. — TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia Inquirer

First lady delivered Gov. Wolf’s ballot, broke law

Plus, crashed drone aimed to sabotage Pa. power grid, officials say.

State law currently prohibits, in most cases, anyone other than the voter from returning a mail ballot to a county board of elections or drop box, an act punishable by up to one year in prison, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. — Commonwealth Media Services

Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf’s wife dropped off his mail ballot, violating state election law

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

PA Post

TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. elections heighten 2022 anxiety for Democrats

Plus, Pa. official sues Trump, Giuliani over Big Lie

PA Post

Matt Smith / For Spotlight PA

GOP sweeps Pa. Supreme Court, other appellate races

Plus, more results from Tuesday's municipal election.

The candidates in the 2021 Pa. Supreme Court race, Democrat Maria McLaughlin (left) and Republican Kevin Brobson, have raised more than $6 million this year. — Tyger Williams / Philadelphia Inquirer

GOP wins 2021 election for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, plus other results

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Pennsylvania has one of the highest drug overdose death rates in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. — TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia Inquirer

WATCH: A free panel on using cannabis to treat opioid addiction

by Spotlight PA Staff

PA Post

Tyger Williams / Philadelphia Inquirer

Read this before you vote today

Plus, Pa. lawmaker named in 'slush fund' complaint.

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