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"I am taking this action to help families know they will have a roof over their heads and a place to live while all of us fight the COVID-19 pandemic," Gov. Tom Wolf said in a statement. — Commonwealth Media Services

Pa. issues new eviction moratorium after fears rent relief would be too slow

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

Advocates say the order, which puts evictions on ice until Aug. 31, gives the state’s new rental assistance program more time to reach those who need help.

The Pennsylvania legislature has adjourned for its summer recess with two police reform bills sent to Gov. Tom Wolf and others still pending. — KALIM BHATTI / The Philadelphia Inquirer

Everything you need to know about Pa. police reform efforts by the legislature

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Independent research shows gerrymandering protects incumbents and strips communities of political power by heavily concentrating one party’s voters into a single district or spreading them out unnaturally. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

Lawmakers will rule again over redrawing of Pa. political boundaries, but critics aren’t giving up

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

States lawmakers are considering a proposal that would allow certain municipalities to ban residents from setting off fireworks. — Paul Vasiliades / Flickr

In Pa.’s growing fireworks war, it’s fed-up residents versus cold, hard cash

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

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As of early June, more than 4,200 residents of Pennsylvania’s long-term-care facilities have died from the coronavirus, nearly 70% of all the deaths attributed to the disease in the state. — Dan Nott / For Spotlight PA

The coronavirus exploited failure of Pa. health officials to improve long-standing problems with nursing home oversight

by Rebecca Moss of Spotlight PA

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“Estoy tomando esta medida para ayudar a las familias a que sepan que tendrán un techo y un lugar para vivir mientras todos luchamos contra la pandemia de COVID-19”, dijo Wolf en un comunicado. — Commonwealth Media Services

Pa. emite nueva moratoria de desalojo después de temores de que el alivio de alquiler sería demasiado lento

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

Asked at a press conference Monday whether he would extend the eviction moratorium, Gov. Tom Wolf said he was “not ready to say anything.” — YONG KIM / Philadelphia Inquirer

Evictions loom large as Pa. renter relief program stumbles, lacks Spanish-language application

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

Philadelphia paused some aspects of its plan for reopening, delaying the start of indoor dining until at least Aug. 1. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

A promising year for Pennsylvania’s state budget ends with a $3.2 billion thud

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

In March, Gov. Tom Wolf issued the emergency order as Pennsylvania began reporting its first COVID-19 infections. — Commonwealth Media Services

Pa. GOP can’t unilaterally end Gov. Tom Wolf’s coronavirus disaster declaration, state Supreme Court rules

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Gov. Tom Wolf said new "hot spots can be traced to situations where Pennsylvanians were not wearing masks or practicing social distancing." — Commonwealth Media Services

Pennsylvania mandates masks in public for most people amid coronavirus increases

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Gov. Tom Wolf issued a statewide moratorium on evictions for non-payment, which runs through July 10. — DAVID MAIALETTI / Philadelphia Inquirer

Evictions could begin before Pa. rental assistance program can provide relief

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

Locating infected individuals, identifying their close contacts, and asking those contacts to quarantine limits the spread of the disease without imposing sweeping stay-at-home orders. — DAN NOTT / For Spotlight PA

Politics, fear keep some COVID-positive people from disclosing contacts. What’s the solution?

by Aneri Pattani of Spotlight PA

Black Democrats who demanded action in the wake of Floyd’s death called the reform a first step. — ELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Philadelphia Inquirer

Effort to track police use of force in Pa. would lack racial data, public transparency

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Public health experts agree business closures were necessary to slow the spread of the coronavirus. But the Wolf administration has faced widespread criticism for how it carried out that shutdown. — Dan Nott / For Spotlight PA

How Pa.’s chaotic coronavirus waiver program hurt small businesses

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Senate GOP leaders said they are still hoping for a vote this week, but they are working against the clock: The legislature will break for the summer later this month. — KALIM BHATTI / The Philadelphia Inquirer

Prospects dimming for behind-the-scenes push to expand video gaming in Pa.

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

Bryan Cutler's rise comes as the state is grappling with how to best respond to a continuing public health crisis. — Matt Rourke / AP Photo

After sudden Turzai resignation, GOP elevates new leadership in Pa. House

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

It’s been three months since Pennsylvania’s first reported cases of the coronavirus. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

The deadliest day of the coronavirus in Pa., plus other insights we can glean from the data

by Daniel Simmons-Ritchie of Spotlight PA

“It all begins and ends with this database,” said Michelle Kenney, the mother of Antwon Rose II. — Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo

Mother of Antwon Rose II applauds confidential police hiring database, but does it go far enough?

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati is retiring later this year. — MATT ROURKE / AP

Top Pa. GOP lawmaker fast-tracking a lucrative gambling expansion that would benefit a major campaign donor

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

The LGBT flag flies at the Capitol building in Harrisburg. — Office of Gov. Tom Wolf

Despite landmark ruling, Pa. GOP leaders in no hurry to extend LGBTQ protections under state law

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

More than 4,300 people have died of COVID-19 inside the state's long-term-care facilities. — DAN NOTT / For Spotlight PA

Pa. will give health systems $175 million to lead coronavirus response inside struggling nursing homes

by Rebecca Moss of Spotlight PA and Jordan Wolman for Spotlight PA

While there is no evidence of intentional manipulation, the state’s coronavirus data blunders have created openings for confusion and baseless conspiracy theories. — Dan Nott / For Spotlight PA

Health officials failed to safeguard trust in Pa.’s coronavirus data, sowing confusion

by Sara Simon of Spotlight PA

With no treatment for the coronavirus and a vaccine still months — if not years — away, public health experts say there is only one way to prevent another society-wide shutdown: timely and robust contact tracing. — DAN NOTT / For Spotlight PA

Parts of Pa. reopened without robust coronavirus contact tracing to keep residents safe

by Aneri Pattani of Spotlight PA and Sarah Gantz of The Philadelphia Inquirer

It's unclear how many law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania are even equipped with body cameras. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

Red tape, lack of funding limit public’s oversight of Pa. police through body cameras

by Jordan Wolman for Spotlight PA

The House Judiciary Committee considered the bills one week after Black Democrats took control of the chamber to demand Republicans consider a host of reforms in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd and widespread protests. — MONICA HERNDON / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. advances reforms to create confidential police disciplinary database, as NY, NJ take steps to make records public

by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PA

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