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Top News Eviction

Stacey Horrocks is one of thousands of Pennsylvania tenants still waiting for rent relief. — JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia Inquirer

High court gives Pa. county OK to delay eviction cases while tenants wait for rental relief

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

Advocates hope the ruling will prompt other counties to issue similar orders, guaranteeing that tenants won’t lose their homes while waiting for help.

After a slow start, Pennsylvania used the emergency procurement process to hire a consulting firm to help with the state's vaccine rollout. — Fred Adams / For Spotlight PA

Tracking Pa.’s pandemic spending, by the numbers

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

Criminal Justice

The office of DA Larry Krasner (pictured here) is set to try ex-officer Ryan Pownall for fatally shooting David Jones, a 30-year-old unarmed man, as Jones ran from a traffic stop. — JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia Inquirer

A police killing in Philadelphia could change Pa. use-of-force cases forever

by Colin Deppen of Spotlight PA

About $20 million went into lawmakers’ pockets over four years in the form of reimbursements for meals, mileage subsidies, per diems, and other expenses. — Leise Hook / For Spotlight PA

WATCH: A live reader Q&A on how lawmakers spend millions of taxpayer dollars on perks

by Spotlight PA Staff

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Editor’s Pick

Tyler Cordeiro died of an overdose in October 2020 after being told he couldn't access treatment while uninsured and using medical marijuana. — YONG KIM / Philadelphia Inquirer

Failure by Pa. officials to clarify rules around medical marijuana, addiction treatment had serious consequences

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

More top stories

PA Post

Keith Srakocic / AP Photo

Why two prosecutors are suing Pa.'s top cop

Plus, Pa. floats fix amid wave of phony jobless claims.

PA Post

TYGER WILLIAMS / Philadelphia Inquirer

No counties comply with election audit deadline

Plus, Black people are 12% of Pa.’s population and half of its prison population.

PA Post

JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. renters still waiting for pandemic relief

Plus, ‘election integrity committee’ accused of voter intimidation.

Stacey Horrocks (seen here at her home in Boyertown) applied for rent relief in March, but her application stalled in April when Berks County’s program began trying to contact her landlord, Rose Gross. — JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia Inquirer

Thousands of Pa. households still waiting for rental relief as eviction ban nears its end

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

PA Post

Commonwealth Media Services

COVID climb could test Wolf’s pandemic powers

Plus, why Pa. churches are more polarized than ever.

PA Post

Pa. has an infrastructure problem

Plus, CDC says some fully vaccinated people should wear masks indoors.

The federal eviction moratorium lifts July 31. — Dan Nott / For Spotlight PA

You’re invited! A free panel on what we know about evictions and rental assistance in Pennsylvania.

by Spotlight PA Staff

PA Post

JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia Inquirer

‘Election denial’ fuels a bid for Toomey’s seat

Plus, Pa. police killing sparks constitutional test.

PA Post

Courtesy Charlie Gerow

Pa. guv candidate ‘cooperating’ after fatal crash

Plus, DOJ declines to investigate Pa. policy blamed for COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes.

Republican strategist Charlie Gerow. — Courtesy Charlie Gerow

Pa. GOP strategist running for governor being investigated for fatal crash on Turnpike

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

PA Post

Pa. pol charged with theft of taxpayer money

Plus, lawmakers want more oversight of Pa.’s emergency spending.

State lawmakers are calling into question whether the Department of Health should be jumping into emergency, pandemic-related contracts after a severe data breach from contact tracing. — Elizabeth Robertson

Health officials request $124 million in pandemic-related emergency contracts as GOP calls for oversight

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

Rep. Margo Davidson — ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. state lawmaker from Delaware County charged with theft after years-long investigation

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Vinny Vella of The Philadelphia Inquirer

PA Post

Pa. axes voting machines after Trump-backed audit

Plus, PSERS scandal prompts new push for pension reform.

Gov. Tom Wolf criticizing a Republican election overhaul bill in Delaware County last month. Now that he says he's open to voter ID changes, Republicans plan to introduce an updated version of the legislation. — JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. Republicans are bringing their election bill back after Gov. Tom Wolf said he’s open to voter ID changes

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Jonathan Lai of The Philadelphia Inquirer

“I can tell you that we are taking an aggressive approach to ensure that nursing home residents get the care they need and deserve,” Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam said during an afternoon news conference. — Commonwealth Media Services

Nursing homes would provide more direct care to residents under proposed Pa. rule

by Jaime Martines of Spotlight PA and Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA

PA Post

ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Philadelphia Inquirer

GOP pol ‘dumbfounded’ as Wolf warms to voter ID

Plus, key regulator pitches new pipeline safeguards following a string of Mariner East mishaps.

PA Post

Fracking bombshell fuels Pa. chemical concerns

Plus, what the Pa. GOP actually thinks about contested audit push.

PA Post

Emergency spending soared amid pandemic, protests

Plus, scores of Pa. hospitals don’t make their prices public, in violation of federal rule.

Lawmakers will question top health department officials this week about why they are rushing another contact tracing program agreement after the state fired the last company for a data breach. — Dan Nott / For Spotlight PA

Pa. requested $340 million in emergency contracts in 2020 with little oversight

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

PA Post

New data reveal Pa. pandemic-era overdose surge

Plus, a look at the expensive and crowded race for Pa.’s open U.S. Senate seat.

Department head Jennifer Berrier wrote in an email to the chairs of the state legislative committees that oversee labor issues that “there is no cover-up.” — Commonwealth Media Services

Wolf admin sat on 2017 probe of unemployment error but denies ‘cover-up’

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

The race is on in Pennsylvania for U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey's open seat, with a large field of interested candidates and lots of money in the mix. — JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pennsylvania’s 2022 U.S. Senate race: What we know so far

by Colin Deppen of Spotlight PA

PA Post

Public can’t access Pa.’s police misconduct data

Plus, merger of six Pa.-owned universities gets official go-ahead.

PA Post

Jelani Splawn / For Spotlight PA

Wolf admin sat on 2017 jobless scandal probe

Plus, President Joe Biden makes voting rights plea in Pennsylvania visit.

The Department of Labor & Industry admitted it owes millions of dollars to formerly unemployed Pennsylvanians. — Jelani Splawn / For Spotlight PA

‘Human error,’ lack of oversight led to multimillion-dollar unemployment mistake, Wolf admin discloses

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

PA Post

Pa. GOP vows ‘most transparent’ redistricting ever

Plus, scandal-plagued PSERS looks to rein in lavish travel.

The state's next congressional map will begin its journey through the legislature in the House and Senate State Government Committees, chaired by Rep. Seth Grove (pictured) and Sen. David Argall. — ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. House GOP commits to public meetings, vows ‘most transparent’ congressional redistricting process ever

by Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA

PA Post

Pa. overcharged unemployed millions in interest

Plus, Wolf admin moves to block Trump-backed election audit.

For unemployed Pennsylvanians, the requirement could create more hurdles to navigate a system riddled with inefficiencies that has left some without benefits for weeks and months. — Jelani Splawn / For Spotlight PA

Jobless Pennsylvanians, attorneys fear more problems as work-search requirement returns

by Lindsay Weber for Spotlight PA

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