Amanda Fries

Reading and Berks County

Amanda Fries

Regional Accountability Reporter

Email:: afries@spotlightpa.org

Focus: Regional Government & Institutions

Stories by Amanda Fries

Local government

A yellow sign next to a driveway says “University Rifle Club. Attention this is an active shooting facility.” To the left of the road is a housing development and a hill in the background.

A legal battle over a Berks County firearms range shows the power of Pa.'s gun laws

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

Sept. 22, 2026

Albright College entrance sign

Albright College gets OK for tax-exempt bonds as it moves to restructure $42M in debt

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

July 24, 2026

Local Government

The exterior of Hamburg Area High School.

A Berks County district temporarily froze a major renovation amid loss of $600K to ICE warehouse sale

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

July 23, 2026

Higher Education

Albright College entrance sign

Albright College warned by accreditors over financial instability, budgeting issues

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

July 7, 2026

Local government

3501 Mountain Road warehouse owned by the federal government in Upper Bern Township on May 18, 2026

Berks County officials await answers from Trump admin on ICE warehouse’s future

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

June 26, 2026

Higher Education

Albright College entrance sign

Albright College's touted $10M surplus was actually less than half that size, audit reveals

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

June 5, 2026

Local Government

3501 Mountain Road warehouse owned by the federal government in Upper Bern Township on May 18, 2026.

ICE warehouse developer to pay $82K to resolve deficiencies

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

May 27, 2026

A row of lockers in a school hallway.

First Amendment rights at center of clash between Pa. schools and students over ICE walkouts

by Amanda Fries

May 12, 2026

Local Government

Ge Fangyuan, a farmer in Washington Township, stands with his dog for a portrait at the farm Feb. 20, 2026. Fangyuan's farm was disrupted after a sewer main break dumped about 8,000 gallons of raw sewage in November 2024.

When a public pipe bursts on private land, who fixes it? One Pa. farmer wants answers.

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

April 29, 2026

Federal Government

A warehouse in Upper Bern Township, Berks County, that ICE wants to use as a detention facility.

Berks officials grappling with ICE's warehouse plans want assurances from the feds

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

March 18, 2026

Federal government

The Trump administration finalized the $87.4 million purchase of a warehouse in Upper Bern Township, Berks County, that it wants to use as an ICE detention facility, February 9, 2026.

ICE warehouse has years of unresolved construction problems, records show

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

March 11, 2026

Federal Government

A view of homes from the Upper Bern Township building near Shartlesville, Pennsylvania, Feb. 9, 2026.

Officials warn ICE detention centers in Pa. could overwhelm sewer, other critical services

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

Feb. 23, 2026

Federal Government

A warehouse in Upper Bern Township, Berks County, PA, was purchased by ICE and the Trump administration.

ICE buys $87M warehouse in Berks County as it plots expansion of immigration detention centers across the U.S.

by Amanda Fries and Gabriela Martínez of Spotlight PA

Feb. 2, 2026

Stony Creek flows past construction of the new Antietam School District elementary school in January 2026.

Budget constraints, lack of options force Pa. district to rebuild where flood destroyed school

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

Jan. 22, 2026

Local Government

Alan Piper is Berks County’s longtime transportation planner

Berks planner previews changes ahead for two major highways

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

Jan. 5, 2026

Local Government

Berks Park 78 is a warehouse center located in Bethel Township.

More Berks communities turn to tax breaks for developers

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

Dec. 17, 2025

Local Government

A Western Berks Ambulance Association ambulance.

EMS funding crisis forces some Berks municipalities to consider new taxes, fees

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

Nov. 10, 2025

ByHeart baby formula factory in Exeter Township in October 2025.

These Berks County projects are competing for a slice of coveted state grant funding

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

Oct. 24, 2025

A warehouse under construction at Route 222 and Evans Road in Berks County, PA.

As warehouses boom in Berks County, officials plot Route 222 expansions to keep up

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

Oct. 20, 2025

Local government

The former Crowne Plaza hotel in Wyomissing has been shuttered for three years.

Major hotel in Berks County faces government seizure as owners vow to do more

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

Sept. 23, 2025

Modular elementary school classrooms in Antietam School District near where a new elementary school will be built.

Mold delayed the start of classes in Antietam. The school district wants to find the cause

by Amanda Fries/ Spotlight PA

Sept. 22, 2025

Exterior of Oley Valley High School

Pa. election 2025: A complete guide to the candidates for Oley Valley school board

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

Sept. 11, 2025

Outside Wyomissing Borough Hall

Records reveal officer fired by Pa. borough was subject of $500K false arrest settlement

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

Aug. 25, 2025

A voting sign is displayed Nov. 5, 2024, at Sheridan Elementary School in Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.

Municipal Elections 101: Tax collectors, auditors, and other key local finance positions on Pa.’s November ballot

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

Aug. 25, 2025

The former Crowne Plaza hotel in Wyomissing has been shuttered for three years.

A major hotel in this Pa. county is sitting vacant. Officials are considering taking control.

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

Aug. 4, 2025

Higher Education

Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania

This Pa. college made dramatic cuts to avoid closure. Experts say its financial future is still murky.

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

July 22, 2025

Higher Education

Painting of a landscape with cows by Christopher High Shearer.

Albright College in Berks County nets unexpected $1M in art auction

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

July 21, 2025

A row of lockers at Bennetts Valley Elementary School in Weedville, Pennsylvania on April 5, 2023.

Here are Berks County school property tax changes

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA

July 14, 2025

Higher education

An office with four pieces of art on the walls

A Pa. college with a budget gap is selling its art collection, but it might not be worth that much

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA Berks Bureau

June 25, 2025

Amanda Fries / Spotlight PA Berks

Meet Amanda Fries, regional accountability reporter for Spotlight PA Berks

by Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA Berks

June 4, 2025

Professor Erin Kraal in her classroom at Kutztown University

Trump admin cuts off funding for Pa. university’s NASA program amid DEI purge

by Amanda Fries for Spotlight PA

April 16, 2025

A child receives a vaccine from a nurse

Public health improvements aren’t a priority for Berks County amid budget crunch, officials say

by Amanda Fries for Spotlight PA

Feb. 17, 2025

An exterior sign for Albirght College

Facing a $20 million deficit, Albright College is making cuts, borrowing from endowment

by Amanda Fries for Spotlight PA

Jan. 20, 2025

Exterior of Mount Penn Borough's municipal building

This struggling Pa. community could raise more revenue with a new form of government. But the process is complex.

by Amanda Fries for Spotlight PA

Dec. 4, 2024

Melissa Caterini and Christopher Crafton moved their young family to the Antietam School District to give their kids a “perfect childhood”.

From left: Jayden Alvarez, 15, Mikayla Alvarez,14, Christopher Crafton, and Melissa Caterini.

A flood reveals deep divisions between two Pa. bedroom communities

by Amanda Fries for Spotlight PA

Nov. 22, 2024

Sign outside Oley Valley High School

Controversy and conspiracies dominate this Pa. school district after extremist takeover

by Amanda Fries for Spotlight PA

Oct. 29, 2024

Exterior of the Mount Penn municipal building

First came tax hikes, then a flood — then resentment. Can a merger heal this Pa. community?

by Amanda Fries for Spotlight PA

Sept. 19, 2024