HomeAuthorsAngela CouloumbisAngela CouloumbisInvestigative Reporteracouloumbis@spotlightpa.org@angelasinkBefore joining Spotlight PA, Couloumbis worked at The Philadelphia Inquirer, where she wrote about local and state governments, politics, courts, and crime in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The CapitolKent M. Wilhelm / For Spotlight PAPennsylvania’s highest court could give cities the go-ahead to craft their own gun lawsby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAJune 1, 2022
ElectionsAmanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPa. primary 2022: Doug Mastriano wins GOP nomination for governor, will face Democrat Josh Shapiroby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAMay 17, 2022
ElectionsWilliam Thomas Cain / For The InquirerPa. primary 2022: Candidates for governor raised $12.8 million in April aloneby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAMay 13, 2022
ElectionsTHOMAS HENGGE / Philadelphia InquirerPa. Election Day 2022: See how much money Democrat Josh Shapiro has raised in the race for governorby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAApril 28, 2022
ElectionsRobert Frank / For Spotlight PAPa. primary election 2022: See how much money the GOP candidates for governor have raisedby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA, Ethan Edward Coston of Spotlight PA and Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAApril 14, 2022
The CapitolKIM WEIMER / BUCKS COUNTY COURIER TIMESDraft bills and late-night emails reveal cozy ties between Pa. state lawmaker, casino lobbyistsby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAApril 11, 2022
The CapitolKeith Srakocic / APWhat are skill games, and why are they at the center of a multimillion-dollar fightby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAApril 11, 2022
ElectionsAmanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPa. election 2022: A guide to the primary race few voters are paying attention toby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAApril 4, 2022
The CapitolTIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerThe public could gain easy access to info about how Pa. lawmakers spend taxpayer money on perksby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAMarch 29, 2022
PoliticsMICHAEL BRYANT / Philadelphia InquirerFormer Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane arrested for DUIby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Craig R. McCoy of The InquirerMarch 14, 2022
ElectionsMatt Smith / For Spotlight PAPa. Supreme Court weighs future of state’s popular mail voting lawby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAMarch 8, 2022
The CapitolCommonwealth Media ServicesWolf asks GOP-led legislature to spend Pa.’s federal aid dollars as he pitches $1.8B boost for educationby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAFeb. 8, 2022
PensionsTYGER WILLIAMS / Philadelphia InquirerBig PSERS report gives new details on top staff’s actionsby Joseph N. DiStefano, Craig R. McCoy and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAFeb. 1, 2022
The CapitolTIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerGov. Tom Wolf’s final budget address will seek to cement his legacyby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAFeb. 1, 2022
PensionsTIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerKey consultant refused to cooperate with probe into Pa.’s $73 billion school pension: sourcesby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Joseph N. DiStefano and Craig R. McCoy of The InquirerJan. 31, 2022
ElectionsRobert Frank / For Spotlight PAA court just struck down Pennsylvania’s mail voting law. Here’s what you need to know.by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAJan. 29, 2022
ElectionsMatt Smith / For Spotlight PAPennsylvania’s mail voting law ruled unconstitutional, but remains in place as Wolf appealsby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAJan. 28, 2022
PensionsTIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerPa. pension fund says it won’t require board to sign secrecy oaths to hear key reportby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Joseph N. DiStefano and Craig R. McCoy of The InquirerJan. 27, 2022
NewsTYGER WILLIAMS / Philadelphia InquirerBoard members of Pa.’s largest pension fund asked to sign secrecy oathsby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Joseph N. DiStefano of The InquirerJan. 21, 2022
The CapitolTIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerPa. legislature’s redacted legal bills flout court ruling, leave taxpayers guessingby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Sam Janesch of The CaucusJan. 11, 2022
RedistrictingLegislative Reapportionment CommissionDemocrats could make sizeable gains in Pennsylvania legislature under proposed new mapsby Kate Huangpu and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PADec. 16, 2021
PoliticsHEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia InquirerVaunted Pennsylvania Society weekend loses luster among politicosby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PADec. 3, 2021
PensionsTYGER WILLIAMS / Philadelphia Inquirer2 top executives quit giant Pa. pension fund amid FBI, SEC probesby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Joseph N. DiStefano and Craig R. McCoy of The Philadelphia InquirerNov. 18, 2021
The CapitolMarc Levy / APNew limits would curtail lobbyist perks for Pa. lawmakers, but one leader could stand in the wayby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PANov. 11, 2021
PensionsTIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerA massive probe of Pa.’s largest pension fund is nearly done, but taxpayers may never know the resultsby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Craig R. McCoy and Joseph N. DiStefano of The Philadelphia InquirerNov. 9, 2021
ElectionsTyger Williams / Philadelphia InquirerGOP wins 2021 election for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, plus other resultsby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PANov. 2, 2021
ElectionsContributed Photo / Inquirer File PhotoSee the top donors in this year’s hotly contested 2021 Pa. Supreme Court electionby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAOct. 27, 2021
ElectionsKent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PAPowerful special interests are pouring millions into the 2021 Pa. Supreme Court raceby Angela Couloumbis and Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAOct. 26, 2021
EconomyTIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerHere’s how Pa.’s school pension fund keeps its communications secret from the publicby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Craig R. McCoy and Joseph N. DiStefano of The Philadelphia InquirerOct. 22, 2021
The CapitolTIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerSee 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 CaucusOct. 14, 2021
The CapitolTIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerPa. lawmakers hand out millions in public contracts to law firms that fill their campaign coffersby Sam Janesch of The Caucus and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAOct. 13, 2021
The CapitolLeise Hook for Spotlight PAPa. lawmakers spend millions of tax dollars on private lawyers, but often don’t reveal whyby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Sam Janesch of The CaucusOct. 12, 2021
PensionsTYGER WILLIAMS / Philadelphia InquirerPa. school pension fund leaders seek to gag board members over leaks to mediaby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Joseph N. DiStefano and Craig R. McCoy of The Philadelphia InquirerOct. 4, 2021
PensionsTIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerSEC’s probe of Pa. school pension fund examines staff gifts and trips from Wall Street firmsby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA, Joseph N. DiStefano of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Craig R. McCoy of The Philadelphia InquirerSept. 30, 2021
PensionsTIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerEmbattled Pa. teacher pension fund subpoenaed by SEC over ‘compensation and gifts’ to staffby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA, and Craig R. McCoy and Joseph N. DiStefano of The Philadelphia InquirerSept. 25, 2021
EconomyJelani Splawn / For Spotlight PAUnemployment refunds going out to those Pa. overcharged five years after issue discoveredby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PASept. 24, 2021
ElectionsMatt Smith / For Spotlight PAWolf admin sues Pa. Senate Republicans over bid to collect private voter informationby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PASept. 23, 2021
The CapitolCommonwealth Media ServicesPa. state Democratic lawmaker quietly stripped of committee leadership, Capitol accessby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PASept. 21, 2021
CoronavirusStephen Caruso / Pennsylvania Capital-StarGov. Wolf’s coronavirus business waiver program was flawed, secretive, Pa. auditor saysby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PASept. 14, 2021
CoronavirusMatt Smith / For Spotlight PAPa. school mask lawsuit backed by group that challenged 2020 election resultsby Jamie Martines of Spotlight PA and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PASept. 9, 2021
EconomyJelani Splawn / For Spotlight PAPa. to refund $19 million to 109,000 people it overcharged in unemployment errorby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PASept. 3, 2021
The CapitolJOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerFor the first time, Pa. Senate gives public online access to spending recordsby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Mike Wereschagin, Brad Bumsted, and Sam Janesch of The CaucusSept. 1, 2021
ElectionsTim Tai / Philadelphia InquirerPa.’s legislative leaders wield extraordinary power, and the audit fight proves itby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAAug. 27, 2021
ElectionsCommonwealth Media ServicesThe Pa. Senate leader resisted his pro-Trump wing for months. Now he wants a MAGA makeover.by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Andrew Seidman of The Philadelphia InquirerAug. 26, 2021
CoronavirusHEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia InquirerRepublican leaders reject Wolf’s call to pass school mask mandateby Jamie Martines and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAAug. 25, 2021
The CapitolALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Philadelphia InquirerTheft charges brought down a state lawmaker. But Pa.’s taxpayer-funded system for perks was already ripe for abuse.by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Sam Janesch, Mike Wereschagin, and Brad Bumsted of The CaucusAug. 6, 2021
PoliticsCourtesy Charlie GerowPa. GOP strategist running for governor being investigated for fatal crash on Turnpikeby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAJuly 23, 2021
The CapitolALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Philadelphia InquirerPa. state lawmaker from Delaware County charged with theft after years-long investigationby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Vinny Vella of The Philadelphia InquirerJuly 22, 2021
ElectionsJOSE F. MORENO / Philadelphia InquirerPa. Republicans are bringing their election bill back after Gov. Tom Wolf said he’s open to voter ID changesby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Jonathan Lai of The Philadelphia InquirerJuly 21, 2021
EconomyCommonwealth Media ServicesWolf admin sat on 2017 probe of unemployment error but denies ‘cover-up’by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAJuly 16, 2021