Top News Criminal Justice

How many law enforcement agencies are there in Pennsylvania? Turns out, no one seems to know. — Photo illustration Kat Wawrykow / Getty Images

Conflicting reports, gaps in data obscure true number of Pa. law enforcement agencies

by Emma Dooling and Danielle Ohl, Spotlight PA

Spotlight PA’s attempt to count police agencies in Pennsylvania unearthed large discrepancies — and that has implications for accountability.

If Roe v. Wade is overturned, decisions about abortion access will be left to the states. — Thomas Hengge / Philadelphia Inquirer

What happens if Roe v. Wade is overturned? In Pa., the answer depends on the November governor’s race.

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Roughly 11,000 long-term care residents in Pennsylvania have died since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a toll that has brought renewed attention to problems in the nursing home industry. — HEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia Inquirer

Wolf pushes $91 million for nursing homes to offset costs of proposed new staffing regulations, but industry says it’s not enough

by Jaxon White of Spotlight PA

Pennsylvania lawmakers have a tentative deal to eliminate private funding from election administration and increase state funding, sources told Spotlight PA. A nonprofit financed by Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg gave millions to counties in the lead-up to the 2020 election, drawing criticism from the GOP. — MARGO REED

Top Pa. lawmakers have tentative deal to ban private money, increase funding for county election offices

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

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AMENDMENT TRACKER

Since 1968, the year Pennsylvania’s current constitution went into effect, voters rejected only six of 49 proposed amendments that reached them. — William Thomas Cain / For The Inquirer

A complete guide and amendment tracker for proposed changes to Pennsylvania’s Constitution

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

NEW INVESTIGATION

In parts of rural Pennsylvania where internet speeds lag, some local governments are building their own broadband networks. — Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PA

An obscure state law could blunt the impact of up to $1 billion in federal funding for Pennsylvania’s broadband expansion

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

THE LATEST ON COVID-19

Pa. COVID updates: Where to find reliable data and information about Pennsylvania’s COVID response, including at-home test kits and boosters. — Dan Nott / For Spotlight PA

Pa. COVID updates: Your guide to finding resources on cases, vaccines, and tests

by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA

NEW INVESTIGATION

An illustration shows a laptop with a marijuana leaf on it — Leise Hook for Spotlight PA

Companies blanket Pa. with ads about how to get a medical marijuana card, but doctors are silenced

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

More top stories

PA Post

Post-Roe reality, budget blitz, and Perry's pardon

Plus, Biden signs bipartisan gun bill into law.

News

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf has vowed to veto any efforts to further curtail access to the procedure. — ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Philadelphia Inquirer

Decision to overturn Roe v. Wade won’t have immediate impact on abortion access in Pennsylvania

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

PA Post

Roughly 11,000 long-term care residents in Pennsylvania have died since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a toll that has brought renewed attention to problems in the nursing home industry. — HEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia Inquirer

Nursing homes say Wolf's $91M rate hike not enough

Plus, Pa. Republicans' 2020 meddling on display.

PA Post

TOM GRALISH / PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

What May's primary revealed about Pa.'s politics

Plus, Pa. ban on private election money could be close.

PA Post

Matt Rourke / AP Photo

Pa. House speaker details 2020 pressure campaign

Plus, federal gun safety bill unveiled.

PA Post

Misconduct gaps, election power, and Pitt maneuver

Plus, COVID-19 'shots for tots' rollout to begin.

Criminal Justice

A Pennsylvania law passed in 2020 after the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the ensuing protests created the hiring database and required law enforcement agencies to use it, but did not include any enforcement measures if they failed to comply. — MONICA HERNDON / Philadelphia Inquirer

Statewide Pennsylvania police hiring database hindered by loopholes, lack of enforcement

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

PA Post

Gov. Tom Wolf and the legislature must agree to a budget by June 30. — TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. House sexual misconduct loophole could close

Plus, disputed ballots swing local Pa. judicial race.

Pennsylvania House leaders are quietly negotiating a deal to close a loophole in the chamber’s rules that protects lawmakers accused of sexual misconduct from facing institutional sanctions. — TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. House eyes expanding who can bring sexual misconduct complaints against lawmakers

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

PA Post

LEISE HOOK / FOR SPOTLIGHT PA

Tax-break team, armed teachers, and early polling

Plus, 2020 election rule fights are being rekindled.

Cutting that tax has become a rare area of bipartisan agreement between the Republican-controlled General Assembly and Wolf, a former businessman. — TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia Inquirer

The bipartisan push to cut corporate taxes in Pennsylvania, explained

by Jaxon White for Spotlight PA

PA Post

Keith Srakocic / Associated Press

Outlooks mixed as contested Pa. plant nears launch

Plus, Mastriano equates J6 response with Hitler power grab.

PA Post

Gun bills punted, Mastriano doubles down, and Krasner singled out

Plus, Pa. transgender athlete bills are 'anti-evidence,' experts say.

Supporters of the legislation argue that transgender women have an unfair physical advantage when competing in women’s sports. — Jelani Splawn / For Spotlight PA

Pa. is considering a ban on trans athletes. Experts say it’s discriminatory and ‘anti-evidence.’

by Ethan Edward Coston of Spotlight PA

The state House Judiciary Committee sent four bills, including a proposed ban on assault weapons, to the chamber’s Local Government Committee, which brings them no closer to becoming law. — Matt Rourke /AP Photo, File

Facing pressure from Democrats, Pa. panel avoids considering gun bills in wake of mass shootings

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

PA Post

KARL MERTON FERRON / MCT

Delta-8 controls, gun deal, and Mastriano timeline

Plus, records fight threatens a rural broadband push.

Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — known as delta-8 — is a cannabinoid derived from hemp. — Commonwealth Media Services

Unregulated hemp derivative delta-8 thrives in Pa.’s thorny marijuana landscape

by Christina Baker for Spotlight PA

PA Post

Robert Frank / For Spotlight PA

Lawmaker eyes more state control over election cash

Plus, SCOTUS lets undated ballots count in Pa.

Broadband equipment installed on a tower in Bedford County, part of a new regional initiative in the Southern Alleghenies to improve internet access. — Crowsnest Broadband

A fight over public records could threaten novel approach to broadband in rural Pennsylvania

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

Pennsylvania’s Capitol building in Harrisburg on the morning of Election Day 2020. — Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PA

Pa. lawmaker wants more state control over millions in outside spending on federal elections

by Jaxon White for Spotlight PA

PA Post

LM Otero / Associated Press

Surplus spending, Senate reruns, and prohibited acts

Plus, the U.S. Senate recount results are in.

Gov. Tom Wolf and the legislature must agree to a budget by June 30. — TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pennsylvania is sitting on billions in stimulus money. Lawmakers may actually agree on a plan to spend some of it.

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

Lawmakers' fears of unscrupulous doctors who might exploit Pennsylvania's medical marijuana program for profit led them to impose strict advertising prohibitions on physicians. — Leise Hook / For Spotlight PA

WATCH: A free virtual Q&A on Pa.’s uneven rules for medical marijuana cards

by Spotlight PA Staff

PA Post

The outsiders, constitution edits, and political food fights

Plus, what the NRA spent on Pa.'s federal lawmakers.

“It’s a much smoother path for candidates that don’t have those barriers in the way and those barriers are placed there too often to prevent BIPOC individuals to get into office,” said Yamelisa Taveras, a recent candidate for the Pennsylvania State Senate seen here at her office in Allentown. — Matt Smith / For Spotlight PA

Candidates of color say they need more party support, financial backing to be successful in Pa.

by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA

PA Post

Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press

Rare sedition charge for Pa. Proud Boys leader

Plus, Pa.'s definition of broadband internet is stuck in the past.

PA Post

Philadelphia Inquirer / Tribune News Service

Fetterman vs. Oz: Senate showdown takes shape

Plus, Pa.’s first case of monkeypox confirmed.

Pennsylvania’s definition of broadband was once ahead of the curve. But lawmakers failed to raise the speeds in the early 2000s and the state standard later fell significantly behind the federal one. — Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PA

Pennsylvania’s definition of broadband hasn’t changed in nearly 20 years

by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

PA Post

Radios and a microwave dish, installed on top of a farm silo, provide internet service to nearby homes. It’s one of 21 sites that make up the broadband network built by DRIVE, an economic development organization in the Central Susquehanna region. — Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PA

Obscure Pa. law could hinder broadband expansion

Plus, unofficial medical marijuana directory draws scrutiny.

PA Post

Court could clear way for local gun laws in Pa.

Plus, U.S. Steel cuts costs, ducks unions in the south.

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