Top News ElectionsCommonwealth Media ServicesData centers are ‘redefining’ midterm races across Pennsylvaniaby Jaxon White of Spotlight PACandidates in at least 20 competitive legislative races are staking out data center positions, and Gov. Josh Shapiro has pivoted to a tougher stance.Related StoriesData center developers are pushing Pa. government officials to sign secrecy agreements. At least some are saying yes.Coming to some of Pennsylvania’s most picturesque places: data centersTrump is losing the battle with public opinion on data centers
PA LocalAsha Prihar / Spotlight PAWhy Pennsylvanians care so dang much about regional names, bordersby Asha Prihar of Spotlight PA
ElectionsMatt Smith / For Spotlight PAPa. election 2026: Where governor candidates Garrity and Shapiro stand on electionsby Carter Walker of Votebeat
Penn StateGeorgianna Sutherland / For Spotlight PAPenn State trustees lift ‘gag policy’ on emeriti members amid First Amendment lawsuitby A.J. Rao of Spotlight PA State College
Justice SystemEd Mahon / Spotlight PAA Pa. mom's fight reveals the messy reality of treating overdoses like homicidesby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PASome Pennsylvania lawmakers want to give prosecutors more time to bring charges against people who supply drugs in fatal overdoses.
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 PA
Aug. 19, 2026Feixu Chen / Pittsburgh Media Partnership NewsroomData center developers are pushing Pa. government officials to sign secrecy agreements. At least some are saying yes.by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAFirst amendment advocates argue non-disclosure agreements create conflicts with existing public record law
Aug. 17, 2026Commonwealth Media ServicesSome Pa. schools are cutting off charter students’ access to yellow buses after court rulingby Jaxon White of Spotlight PA
Aug. 21, 2026Asha Prihar / Spotlight PAWhy Pennsylvanians care so dang much about regional names, bordersby Asha Prihar of Spotlight PARegional identities shape how Pennsylvanians relate to each other, what they call areas of the state, and where they decide to put down roots, PA Local found in interviews with residents.
Aug. 18, 2026Commonwealth Media ServicesPenn State cocaine trafficking ring involved 2 fraternities, authorities sayby Josh Kelety of the Associated PressThe cocaine was packaged mainly at the Sigma Chi and Delta Upsilon fraternity houses off-campus and distributed primarily to Penn State students, the AG says.
Aug. 10, 2026Abby Drey / Centre Daily TimesICE considering buying immigrant detention facilities, other options to maintain capacity in Pa.by Melissa Pérez-Carrillo of Spotlight PA State College
Aug. 4, 2026Susan Angstadt / For Spotlight PA¿Qué protecciones tienen los inquilinos de Pensilvania más allá de las leyes locales?by Gabriela Martínez de Spotlight PAEsta es una guía para conocer los derechos que tienen actualmente todos los inquilinos de Pensilvania según la ley estatal.
Aug. 4, 2026Wavebreakmedia / iStockCracked faucet, temperature issues, and other Berks County restaurant inspections for July 27-Aug. 2by Spotlight PA Staff
Justice SystemCommonwealth Media ServicesInvestigators probe a dramatic midair crash as a landing plane hits hovering police helicopterby Associated PressThere is no immediate explanation for Wednesday's fatal collision that killed the pilot of the small aircraft and injured two state troopers.
EnvironmentGene Puskar / APSafety failures led to last year’s fatal explosion at US Steel plant in Pa.by Jon Hurdle of Inside Climate NewsA deadly accident at the Clairton Coke Works in 2025 could have been prevented, federal investigators concluded.
Week of Aug. 17, 2026Commonwealth Media ServicesGreat PA News Quiz: New data center rules, Little League World Series, and alleged frat crime ringby Asha Prihar of Spotlight PAIn this quiz: PA’s response to the Trump vaccine order, a drag queen considers a lawsuit, and the Little League World Series begins.
ElectionsMatt Rourke / APDemocrats narrow their list of 2028 presidential convention sites to Boston, Denver and Philadelphiaby Mike Catalini of the Associated PressParty officials eliminated two other contenders after weighing logistics and fundraising ahead of a wide-open race to succeed Trump.
ElectionsMatt Smith / For Spotlight PADems declare upset victory in special election for exurban Pittsburgh state House seatby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAThe candidates will meet again for a rematch in the November general election.
The CapitolFeixu Chen / Pittsburgh Media Partnership NewsroomData center developers are pushing Pa. government officials to sign secrecy agreements. At least some are saying yes.by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAFirst amendment advocates argue non-disclosure agreements create conflicts with existing public record law
ElectionsJulia Demaree Nikhinson / APConservative activist Scott Presler violated campaign finance law, complaint allegesby Carter Walker of VotebeatPresler didn’t disclose his spending in Pennsylvania’s 2025 judicial retention races, the complaint says.
Federal GovernmentKate Huangpu / Spotlight PATrump admin plans to deploy ‘historic number’ of election monitors to swing states for midtermsby Torrie Herrington of NOTUSAt least 1,000 election monitors will oversee voting in a number of precincts across the country, according to Harmeet K. Dhillon, head of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.
EnvironmentTed Shaffrey / APShapiro puts conditions on fast-track perks for data centers amid community backlashby Marc Levy of the Associated PressData centers will need to pay the full cost of their electricity, limit water use, and more if they want permitting perks.
EducationCommonwealth Media ServicesSome Pa. schools are cutting off charter students’ access to yellow buses after court rulingby Jaxon White of Spotlight PACharters say it’s unfair to cut off their students’ access to school buses. Public districts say it’s about their budgets.
PA LocalAsha Prihar / Spotlight PASurvey: Tell us how you define Pa.’s many regionsby Asha Prihar of Spotlight PAAs part of a series on Pennsylvania regions, their names, their identities, and whether it all matters, Spotlight PA needs your input. Review our maps and weigh in.
EnvironmentNina Sablan / Inside Climate NewsNorth Philly community garden offers relief from heat, model for climate proofingby Nina Sablan of Inside Climate NewsAs climate change accelerates, places like Tioga-Hope Park and Garden can help communities that face disproportionate risks from heat and air pollution.