LIVE CORONAVIRUS TRACKER: The latest county-by-county cases, hospitalizations, and more

Top News Elections

Mail-in ballots are sorted and counted by workers on Election Day in Northampton County. Pennsylvania lawmakers instituted no-excuse mail voting for the first time in 2019. — Matt Smith / For Spotlight PA

Pandemic, partisan attacks exposed gaps in Pa.’s new mail-in voting law

by Marie Albiges for Spotlight PA

While many lawmakers agree changes are needed, finding common ground in the current hyper-partisan climate might be difficult — if not impossible.

In the interview Wednesday, interim Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R., Centre) said organizers of the hearing did not adhere to social distancing and mask-wearing guidelines. — JOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia Inquirer

‘Mistakes were made’ at maskless election hearing held by COVID-positive lawmaker, Pa. Senate leader says

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Editor's Notes

The Diverse Source Database by Spotlight PA is a public-service resource to improve representation and inclusion in journalism across Pennsylvania. — STEPHANIE STRASBURG / Post-Gazette

Spotlight PA launches Diverse Source Database of Pennsylvania-based experts

by Spotlight PA Staff

Spotlight PA wants to talk to people who have been traced for coronavirus exposure or are tracers or investigators. — DAN NOTT / For Spotlight PA

Are you a Pa. contact tracer, or have you been contacted by one? Tell us your story.

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA and Ese Olumhense of Spotlight PA

Like what you read?

Become a Member

Help Spotlight PA hold the powerful to account with a gift today.

Other Amount:

Donate now Yes, accountability matters

Most Popular Stories

Editor’s Pick

For years, Pennsylvania lawmakers considered public health nurses expendable. Now, amid the coronavirus pandemic, they are critical to the state's plan to reopen. But only a skeleton crew remains. — DAN NOTT / For Spotlight PA

Pa. slashed the ranks of its contact tracing nurses. Now, they are pivotal to reopening, but only a fraction remain.

by Aneri Pattani of Spotlight PA

More top stories

A hearing organized by Sen. Doug Mastriano (R., Franklin), one of the chamber’s most conservative members, appears to have violated policies the chamber adopted in the wake of the pandemic. — Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PA

GOP leadership silent after Pa. senator tests positive for COVID-19 following maskless election event

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Events

At 4 p.m. Dec. 7, join Spotlight PA’s panel of health experts to talk about testing, schools, holiday stress, tracing effectiveness, what to expect from those vaccines, and more. — CHARLES FOX / Philadelphia Inquirer

You’re invited! A live reader Q&A on COVID-19 in Pa. and the vaccine

by Spotlight PA Staff

Erie County is one of 14 Pennsylvania counties that use machines from Dominion Voting Systems. — JACK HANRAHAN / ERIE TIMES-NEWS

Pa. counties reported no major issues with Dominion voting machines, a target of Trump and his campaign

by Marie Albiges for Spotlight PA

State Sen. Doug Mastriano (R., Franklin), one of the Senate’s most conservative members, was among the lawmakers who went to the White House, legislative sources said. Mastriano played a key role in organizing the Senate Majority Policy Committee hearing in Gettysburg. He did not return a phone call seeking comment. — Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PA

President Trump invited Pa. lawmakers to the White House. Then everyone went silent.

by William Bender of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Trump lawyer Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani pressed his baseless case that the election had been stolen and the truth covered up by “Big Tech” and the mediapressed his baseless case that the election had been stolen and the truth covered up by “Big Tech” and the media. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

Trump campaign takes its complaints over Pa. election before GOP lawmakers, after string of court losses

by Jeremy Roebuck and Sean Collins Walsh of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

About two weeks before Election Day, Becca Levine, 27, got a phone call from a county official telling her she would be a judge of elections on Nov. 3. — Nate Smallwood / Tribune-Review

Last-minute assignments, lack of training left Pittsburgh-area poll workers unprepared on Election Day

by Tom Lisi for Spotlight PA

Counties were required to submit their certified results to Secretary of the Commonwealth Kathy Boockvar by Monday. — Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PA

Pa. declares Biden as winner of state’s 2020 presidential election, certifies results

by Marie Albiges for Spotlight PA and Tom Lisi for Spotlight PA

Elections

In voting against the state House's request to audit the election, Rep. Jake Wheatley (D., Allegheny) said it was duplicative of the Department of State's audit, which is required by law. — Commonwealth Media Services

In rare move, bipartisan panel rejects Pa. House request to audit 2020 election

by Marie Albiges for Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Education

The Milton Hershey School. — MARGO REED / The Philadelphia Inquirer

Did you go to Milton Hershey School? Tell us about your experience.

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA, Bob Fernandez of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Beena Raghavendran of ProPublica, and Zipporah Osei of ProPublica

Kristy Hagan, owner of Flood City Cafe in downtown Johnstown, photographed at her restaurant on Nov. 11, 2020. She received a portion of the city's CARES Act funding to help keep her business going during the coronavirus pandemic. — Jamie Martines / Spotlight PA

Financially distressed Pa. towns faring better than expected, while others in pain

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

House lawmakers voted 104-97 to approve the main budget bill and expected late Friday to also consider the enabling fiscal code, which provides spending instructions. — KALIM BHATTI / The Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. budget doesn’t raise taxes or bail out industries hit by the coronavirus

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

House Minority Whip Jordan Harris (D., Philadelphia) also announced this week he had tested positive for COVID-19. — Joe Hermitt / The Patriot-News

Pa. lawmaker claims Capitol unsafe after fifth member tests positive for COVID-19

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Volunteers opened and sorted mail-in ballots while poll watchers observed in Erie County on Nov. 3. The Erie County Board of Elections unanimously voted to certify its election results Thursday without any fanfare. — Robert Frank / For Spotlight PA

Pa. counties expect to sign off on election results by Monday despite Trump’s attempts to delay certification

by Marie Albiges for Spotlight PA and Tom Lisi for Spotlight PA

The U.S. Treasury Department gives states broad discretion to use aid funding to pick up payroll costs for state employees who spend substantial time responding to the pandemic. — KALIM BHATTI / The Philadelphia Inquirer

Remaining $1.3 billion in coronavirus cash to prop up Pa. state budget rather than help ailing industries

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Representatives for Republicans who control the General Assembly and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf were tightlipped Wednesday evening on the ongoing budget negotiations and their plans to use that remaining money. — Kalim A. Bhatti / The Philadelphia Inquirer

With $1.3 billion in coronavirus cash left to spend, the Pa. government might be the big winner

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

Though Republicans performed exceptionally well in down-ballot races — flipping two row offices and maintaining their legislative majorities — both rank-and-file members and leadership have repeatedly accused the Wolf administration and state Supreme Court of attempting to undermine the election’s integrity. — Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PA

Pa. GOP advances audit of 2020 election, says it’s not about fraud

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Victim Advocate Jennifer Storm — Commonwealth Media Services

Pa. victim advocate claims Senate rejection was ‘vindictive,’ could remain on the job for weeks or longer

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Sen. Kim Ward, a Republican, is the first woman to become majority leader in the General Assembly’s 338-year history, replacing Centre County’s Jake Corman (left). — Senate Republican Caucus

Two women just made history in the Pa. legislature. Will that be the last thing they have in common?

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

The Hispanic and Latino populations in Pennsylvania have steadily grown over the past few decades, making up nearly 8% of the population as of 2019. — HEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia Inquirer

Spanish speakers in Pa. faced confused poll workers, lack of interpreters on Election Day

by Marie Albiges for Spotlight PA

Tim Tai / Philadelphia Inquirer

Senate axes second term for Pa.'s victim advocate, who angered GOP leader

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Who We Are

Donate to Spotlight PA, Get an Exclusive Tote Bag