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Danielle Ohl

Investigative Reporter

dohl@spotlightpa.org
@DTOhl

Ohl previously covered the state Capitol for Spotlight PA. She spent four years covering Annapolis for the Capital Gazette, where she earned a Pulitzer Prize special citation with her newsroom for covering the mass shooting of her own colleagues.

Stories by Danielle Ohl

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 of Spotlight PA

June 27, 2022

Politics

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

June 24, 2022

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

June 21, 2022

Coronavirus

Medical copays and limited in-person visitation have returned for people in Pennsylvania state prison, while restrictions remain for meals and other activities. — TIM TAI / PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

Despite high vaccination rates among Pa. prisoners, some COVID restrictions remain in place

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

May 18, 2022

Health

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

May 3, 2022

Criminal Justice

Bradford Gamble is one of only 33 people who have successfully petitioned to leave a Pennsylvania state prison in the past 13 years because of illness. — Danielle Ohl / For Spotlight PA

To successfully use Pennsylvania’s ‘compassionate release’ law, he had to choose to die

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

April 21, 2022

Criminal Justice

There is bipartisan agreement that it’s too hard for people serving life in prison to get out when they are aging and ailing. But two proposals to change that face an uncertain future. — Leise Hook / For Spotlight PA

Pennsylvania’s broken ‘compassionate release’ law, by the numbers

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

April 5, 2022

Criminal Justice

Gareth Hall, left, and his wife Fe Hall, right, look on during a vigil for their late son Christian Hall in December. Their lawsuit claims troopers used excessive force, killing Hall as he tried to surrender and after they said they would not shoot him. — Matt Smith / For Spotlight PA

Parents of teen shot by Pennsylvania State Police sue troopers, local DA

by Gary Harki of Spotlight PA and Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

March 30, 2022

Criminal Justice

There is bipartisan agreement that it’s too hard for people serving life in prison to get out when they are aging and ailing. But two proposals to change that face an uncertain future. — Leise Hook / For Spotlight PA

Broken ‘compassionate release’ rules strand Pa.’s sickest prisoners as costs to taxpayers soar

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

March 30, 2022

The Capitol

Gov. Tom Wolf delivered his final budget address to the legislature Tuesday. — Commonwealth Media Services

Wolf asks GOP-led legislature to spend Pa.’s federal aid dollars as he pitches $1.8B boost for education

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

Feb. 8, 2022

The Capitol

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

Jan. 26, 2022

Redistricting

Gov. Tom Wolf has vowed to veto the plan in its current form. — TYGER WILLIAMS / Philadelphia Inquirer

Pa. Republicans send doomed congressional map to Gov. Tom Wolf, likely handing the choice to state courts

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA and Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA

Jan. 24, 2022

The Capitol

Republicans in both the House and Senate have argued the constitutional amendment process ultimately gives voters the ability to set policy. — TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer

Voters could be flooded with proposed changes to the Pa. Constitution in 2023

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Jan. 14, 2022

Elections

A closely watched court case centers on whether Republicans in the state Senate have the power to subpoena sensitive voter information such as addresses and Social Security numbers. — William Thomas Cain

Court battle over Pa. GOP’s subpoena of sensitive voter data centers on legislative power vs. privacy

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Dec. 15, 2021

Health

With preexisting conditions that limit her mobility and increase her risk of getting seriously sick from COVID-19, Cheryl Gibson of Schuylkill Haven relies on telehealth appointments. — Matt Smith / For Spotlight PA

Lack of telehealth law in Pennsylvania a major headache for patients who need it most

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Dec. 13, 2021

Elections

Republicans are moving forward with the review despite an active court fight over its legality. — TOM GRALISH / Philadelphia Inquirer

What we know about the firm hired by the GOP to review Pennsylvania’s 2020 election

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA and Andrew Seidman of The Philadelphia Inquirer

Nov. 19, 2021

Elections

The margin in the race between Republican Drew Crompton (left) and Democrat Lori Dumas (right) was .33% as of Wednesday. — Courtesy campaigns

Recount triggered for open Commonwealth Court seat, with Democrat Lori Dumas leading

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Nov. 10, 2021

The Capitol

"Many of the administrative laws, quite frankly, simply handed that power over to the executive agencies, sometimes to avoid difficult decisions," House Speaker Bryan Cutler (R., Lancaster) said Tuesday. — Matt Rourke / AP

Top Pa. House Republican wants to greatly expand lawmakers’ power over the governor, executive branch

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Nov. 9, 2021

Elections

State law currently prohibits, in most cases, anyone other than the voter from returning a mail ballot to a county board of elections or drop box, an act punishable by up to one year in prison, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. — Commonwealth Media Services

Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf’s wife dropped off his mail ballot, violating state election law

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Nov. 4, 2021

Elections

The candidates in the 2021 Pa. Supreme Court race, Democrat Maria McLaughlin (left) and Republican Kevin Brobson, have raised more than $6 million this year. — Tyger Williams / Philadelphia Inquirer

GOP wins 2021 election for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, plus other results

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

Nov. 2, 2021

Elections

The candidates in the 2021 Pa. Supreme Court race, Democrat Maria McLaughlin (right) and Republican Kevin Brobson, have raised more than $5 million this year. — Contributed Photo / Inquirer File Photo

See the top donors in this year’s hotly contested 2021 Pa. Supreme Court election

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

Oct. 27, 2021

Elections

The flow of dollars in an off-year race underscores the importance of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which has been the final arbiter in recent years of high-stakes and highly partisan conflicts surrounding elections and redistricting. — Kent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PA

Powerful special interests are pouring millions into the 2021 Pa. Supreme Court race

by Angela Couloumbis and Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Oct. 26, 2021

Elections

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

Oct. 14, 2021

Elections

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

Oct. 11, 2021

Coronavirus

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

Sept. 29, 2021

Elections

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

Sept. 23, 2021

Elections

Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman (R., Centre), seen here in 2018, has pushed for the controversial review of last year's election results. — Commonwealth Media Services

Pa. Senate GOP moves to collect private voter information in controversial review of 2020 election

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Sept. 15, 2021

Elections

Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R., Centre) has pushed for the "election integrity" audit, which includes issuing subpoenas for election information. — Matt Rourke / AP

Pa. GOP lawmakers to subpoena personal information on every voter in controversial 2020 election review

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Sept. 14, 2021

The Capitol

One waiver expanded who could administer a vaccine dose. — Fred Adams / For Spotlight PA

Expiring COVID-19 waivers could make Pa. health-care staffing shortages worse

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Sept. 13, 2021

The Capitol

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf in 2017 vetoed legislation that would ban abortion after 20 weeks. — MICHAEL BRYANT / Philadelphia Inquirer

The Supreme Court’s decision on a Texas abortion ban raises the stakes for the Pa. governor’s race

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Sept. 2, 2021

Elections

Supporters of ex-President Donald Trump have pushed for an audit of Pennsylvania's election results as they advance false claims of widespread voter fraud. — Sue Dorfman / For Votebeat

What we know about the renewed push for a ‘forensic audit’ of Pennsylvania’s 2020 election

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Aug. 26, 2021

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