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The legislature provided more than 4,100 pages of records, but information was often heavily redacted. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

See the reasons why Pennsylvania’s legislature paid millions to outside law firms in 2019 and 2020 (FULL LIST)

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

We sorted through thousands of heavily redacted documents to reveal how the legislature spends your tax dollars on private lawyers.

Rampant misinformation makes vetting candidates for Pennsylvania's coming school board races especially important. — DAVID MAIALETTI / Philadelphia Inquirer

A basic guide to vetting your local candidates in Pennsylvania’s 2021 school board elections

by Ethan Edward Coston of Spotlight PA

In the past few years, appellate courts have been asked to settle major disputes between Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration and the Republican-controlled legislature. — Kent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PA

A full guide to Pennsylvania’s 2021 Supreme Court election and other appellate judicial races

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Sen. Cris Dush (R., Jefferson), who took over and renewed the election investigation in August after it was inactive for months, said any legislative fixes to the voter registration system will come after the inquiry ends. — Kalim A. Bhatti / For The Inquirer

GOP wants personal voter data to root out fraud. Pa. already uses a more secure system.

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

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Luke Shultz’s back pain started as a teenager and led him to quit his job. He tried back braces, surgery, prescribed opioids and other medication, and physical therapy. Eventually, he turned to cannabis and became an advocate for its benefits. — Maria Nuñez / For Spotlight PA

Pa. patients swear by cannabis as a tool to fight opioid addiction. The research still isn’t there.

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

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As recently as June, Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R., Centre) assured colleagues he was focused squarely on the future: “We don’t need to relitigate 2020.” — Commonwealth Media Services

No gift ban in Pa. GOP’s lobbying reform plan

Plus, unmasking Pa. lawmakers’ secretive legal spending.

PA Post

TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia Inquirer

Your guide to the key races on November’s ballot

Plus, a 'catastrophe in the making' for Pa.’s forests.

PA Post

Matt Rourke / AP

Lawyers back Pa. political bids, win big contracts

Plus, Pa. newspaper publisher hit with ‘significant ransomware attack.’

In the last two years, lawmakers have paid nearly $10 million to many of the same law firms and lawyers making contributions to wage all types of legal battles. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. lawmakers hand out millions in public contracts to law firms that fill their campaign coffers

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

PA Post

JOSE F. MORENO / PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

Pa. lawmakers rack up big legal bills, hide details

Plus, AG Shapiro set to formally enter the governor’s race.

On Nov. 2, voters statewide will decide the future makeup of Pennsylvania’s appellate judicial system. — Fred Adams / Spotlight PA

You’re invited! A free virtual panel on the Nov. 2 election and why it matters

by Spotlight PA Staff

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

PA Post

YONG KIM / Philadelphia Inquirer

GOP fraud probe pushes riskier voter vetting

Plus, Pa. Columbus statues literally shrouded in controversy.

PA Post

TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. lawmaker central to Trump's election meddling

Plus, satirical Pa. bill targets male reproductive rights.

PA Post

ELIZABETH ROBERTSON / PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

Pa. schools shunned free testing as COVID climbed

Plus, district attorney charged with rape ‘won’t resign,’ lawyer says.

Experts say testing is one way to verify whether mitigation efforts, like masks and social distancing, are working. — ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Philadelphia Inquirer

Many Pa. school districts are passing up free coronavirus testing even after a rise in cases

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

PA Post

Michael Bryant / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. pipeline spills fuel sprawling criminal case

Plus, a ‘vicious cycle’ for Pa.’s working parents.

PA Post

TYGER WILLIAMS / PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

Leaks spur crackdown amid PSERS probes

Plus, another Republican has joined Pa.’s push for legal weed.

The panel’s chair, teacher Christopher Santa Maria, and board member Frank Ryan (seen here), a Republican state representative from Lebanon County, have also told board members they were considering asking for an investigation into the disclosures, according to people familiar with the matter. — TYGER WILLIAMS / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. school pension fund leaders seek to gag board members over leaks to media

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

PA Post

Mary Altaffer / AP Photo

How to find a COVID-19 booster shot in Pa.

Plus, police say guv hopeful ‘sideswiped’ in fatal crash.

People 65 and older, those with certain medical conditions, and workers in high-risk jobs who received a second Pfizer dose more than six months ago are now eligible to receive a booster. — Fred Adams / Spotlight PA

Eligible for a COVID-19 booster? Here’s how to get one in Pa.

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

PA Post

PSERS — the Public School Employees' Retirement System — is one of the largest such plans in the nation. It has been under federal investigation for months. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

What the SEC wants from Pa.'s school pension fund

Plus, Philly is almost out of rental assistance money.

The SEC’s new 30-page subpoena comes six months after the U.S. Attorney’s office in Philadelphia and the FBI opened a criminal investigation into possible bribery linked to exaggerated investment returns and Harrisburg land deals at the Public School Employees' Retirement System. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

SEC’s probe of Pa. school pension fund examines staff gifts and trips from Wall Street firms

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

TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia Inquirer

Philadelphia set to run out of rental relief money in two weeks as it waits for federal funds

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA and Michaelle Bond of The Philadelphia Inquirer

PA Post

Luis Angel Guzman, a 19-year-old carnival ride worker from Mexico, talks with Wayne Memorial Community Health Center nurses at the Wayne County Fair before he got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. — Fred Adams / For Spotlight PA

Millions in student loan relief coming for Pa. nurses

Plus, lawmakers vote to extend dozens of COVID-19 waivers.

Wednesday’s action will keep the waivers in place until March 2022 while the legislature considers a number of bills that would make the regulatory suspensions permanent. — Fred Adams / For Spotlight PA

At last minute, Pa. lawmakers vote to extend dozens of COVID-19 waivers

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

PA Post

After her son’s overdose death, Susan Ousterman (right) spent months this year reaching out to the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs with concerns over confusion about the marijuana rules. Ousterman took her questions directly to the department’s secretary, Jennifer Smith, during an overdose awareness event at the state Capitol on Aug. 31, 2021. — Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PA

New records reveal extent of Wolf admin failure

Plus, the state's two largest cities are searching for new school superintendents.

Susan Ousterman spent months this year reaching out to the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs with concerns over confusion about marijuana funding rules. Her son, Tyler Cordeiro, was wrongly denied treatment funding assistance in September 2020. — Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PA

New records reveal the cost of Pa.’s failure to clarify rules around addiction treatment and marijuana

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

PA Post

ROBERT FRANK / FOR SPOTLIGHT PA

Pa. voters could get final say on stricter ID rules

Plus, Gov. Tom Wolf calls for state rep. to resign after arrest.

The House State Government Committee advanced the proposal Monday. — ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Philadelphia Inquirer

To avoid Wolf’s veto, Pa. GOP proposes giving voters final say on stricter ID rules, other election changes

by Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA

PA Post

State Rep. Kevin Boyle (D., Philadelphia) — Commonwealth Media Services

Philly state rep. agrees to treatment after arrest

Plus, the SEC subpoenas embattled Pa. teacher pension fund.

PSERS — the Public School Employees' Retirement System — is one of the largest such plans in the nation. It has been under federal investigation for months. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

Embattled Pa. teacher pension fund subpoenaed by SEC over ‘compensation and gifts’ to staff

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

PA Post

A ballot return box seen in Mifflin County. November 2020 was the first general election with no-excuse mail voting. — Sue Dorfman / For Votebeat

Wolf admin sues over GOP’s private voter info grab

Plus, Pa. begins repaying millions in overcharged unemployment interest.

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

Unemployment refunds going out to those Pa. overcharged five years after issue discovered

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Senate Republicans are pursuing an investigation of the 2020 election despite no evidence of widespread fraud. — Matt Smith / For Spotlight PA

Wolf admin sues Pa. Senate Republicans over bid to collect private voter information

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

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