March 18, 2026Margo Reed / For Spotlight PABerks officials grappling with ICE's warehouse plans want assurances from the fedsby Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA
March 16, 2026Margo Reed / For Spotlight PAThe Trump admin’s secretive, fast-tracked process to pick who will run Pa.’s new detention centersby Molly Bilinski for Spotlight PA
March 14, 2026Courtesy of Kara SeawellMeet a West Reading volunteer who helps connect incarcerated parents with their childrenby Susan Shelly McGovern for Spotlight PA
March 11, 2026Margo Reed / For Spotlight PAICE warehouse has years of unresolved construction problems, records showby Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA
March 3, 2026Commonwealth Media ServicesICE told Pa. agency about warehouse plans in Januaryby Kate Huangpu and Gabriela Martínez of Spotlight PA
Feb. 28, 2026Courtesy of Suzanne HartegMeet a longtime volunteer who helps keep families in crisis togetherby Susan Shelly McGovern for Spotlight PA
Feb. 26, 2026Gabriela Martínez / Spotlight PAShapiro vows to block ICE detention centers, warns of devastating impact on local Pa. communitiesby Hanna Holthaus and Gabriela Martínez of Spotlight PA
Feb. 25, 2026Ann Rejrat / For Spotlight PACrowd rallies at first protest against planned ICE center in Upper Bernby Ann Rejrat for Spotlight PA
Feb. 24, 2026Courtesy of Lt. Rebecca ZentmyerEmergency services has largest gender gap in Reading city governmentby Hanna Holthaus of Spotlight PA
Feb. 23, 2026Margo Reed / For Spotlight PAOfficials warn ICE detention centers in Pa. could overwhelm sewer, other critical servicesby Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA
Feb. 20, 2026Margo Reed/ For Spotlight PAICE memo reveals timeline, scale of warehouse plans that include Berks, Schuylkill countiesby Gabriela Martínez of Spotlight PA
Feb. 17, 2026Margo Reed / For Spotlight PAShutdown may delay answers about planned ICE facility in Berks Countyby Hanna Holthaus of Spotlight PA
Feb. 14, 2026Courtesy of Rich DurinaMeet a retiree helping people who have been involved with the justice system get a second chanceby Susan Shelly McGovern for Spotlight PA
Feb. 13, 2026Margo Reed / For Spotlight PAShapiro admin tells ICE to drop plans for Pa. detention centers, warns facilities may not get permitsby Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA
Feb. 12, 2026Hanna Holthaus of Spotlight PANeighbors of planned ICE detention center in Berks County say opposition crosses political linesby Molly Bilinski for Spotlight PA
Feb. 11, 2026Gabriela Martínez / Spotlight PATodo lo que necesita saber sobre el plan de ICE de abrir un centro de detención en el condado de Berksby Gabriela Martínez de Spotlight PA
Feb. 5, 2026Margo Reed/ for Spotlight PAEverything you need to know about ICE’s plan to open a detention center in Berks Countyby Gabriela Martínez of Spotlight PA
Feb. 3, 2026Julia Demaree Nikhinson / APJudge blocks Trump administration from ending protections for Haitiansby Associated Press
Feb. 2, 2026Gabriela Martínez / Spotlight PAICE 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
Jan. 31, 2026Courtesy of Nancy C. BoyerMeet a Berks County teacher creating a new way for people with disabilities to live more independentlyby Susan Shelly McGovern for Spotlight PA
Jan. 30, 2026Gabriela Martínez / Spotlight PABerks’ tight-knit Haitian community braces for end of federal immigration protectionsby Gabriela Martínez of Spotlight PA
Jan. 26, 2026Susan Angstadt for Spotlight PAFrom dumpsters to doughnuts: How Reading Council used tax dollars for events and why that changedby Hanna Holthaus of Spotlight PA
Jan. 22, 2026Susan Angstadt / For Spotlight PABudget constraints, lack of options force Pa. district to rebuild where flood destroyed schoolby Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA
Jan. 17, 2026Courtesy of Jeffrey BornsteinMeet a Wyomissing man embracing service with faith, arts, and scouting groupsby Susan Shelly McGovern for Spotlight PA
Jan. 14, 2026Susan Angstadt / For Spotlight PAReading residents get rare chance to weigh in on major changes to city governmentby Hanna Holthaus of Spotlight PA
Jan. 9, 2026Berks County Community FoundationBerks Community Forum - Workforce Development in Berks Countyby Staff at Spotlight PA
Jan. 9, 2026Berks County Community FoundationBerks Community Forum - Solving PA Teacher Shortageby Staff at Spotlight PA
Jan. 5, 2026Courtesy of Alan PiperBerks planner previews changes ahead for two major highwaysby Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA
Jan. 3, 2026Courtesy of Ashley PriceMeet a Reading woman who advocates for quality childcareby Lisa Scheid of Spotlight PA
Dec. 22, 2025Courtesy of Charlie MillerWhat Berks County residents need to know if they encounter a rabid animalby Gabriela Martínez of Spotlight PA
Dec. 22, 2025Gabriela Martínez / Spotlight PAHow a Berks County family attacked by a rabid cat fell through gaps in Pa.’s animal control systemby Gabriela Martínez of Spotlight PA
Dec. 20, 2025Courtesy of Faith BentzMeet a Berks County engineer blazing a trail for women in the fieldby Susan Shelly McGovern for Spotlight PA
Dec. 17, 2025Amanda Fries / Spotlight PAMore Berks communities turn to tax breaks for developersby Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA
Dec. 10, 2025Photo illustration by Charles Huettner. Photo sources, from left: Courtesy Karen Leung; Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PA; courtesy Karen Leung; Commonwealth Media ServicesUnprotected Premiere - Berks Countyby Staff at Spotlight PA
Dec. 9, 2025Gabriela Martínez / Of Spotlight PAWithout legal help, fewer Reading tenants prevail in eviction casesby Gabriela Martínez of Spotlight PA
Dec. 6, 2025Susan Shelly McGovern / For Spotlight PAMeet 2 Berks County women who want to bring fresh produce to a local food bankby Susan Shelly McGovern for Spotlight PA
Dec. 5, 2025Susan Angstadt for Spotlight PAReading risks deep cuts without tax hike, administration saysby Hanna Holthaus of Spotlight PA
Dec. 3, 2025Berks County Community FoundationSpotlight PA to host Community Forums starting in January 2026by Spotlight PA Staff
Nov. 22, 2025Courtesy of Lauren ConradMeet a Berks County woman who is turning her loss into support for studentsby Susan Shelly McGovern for Spotlight PA
Nov. 21, 2025Susan Angstadt / For Spotlight PASpecial funds help Berks County avoid property tax increase despite $16M shortfallby Hanna Holthaus of Spotlight PA
Nov. 18, 2025Amanda Fries / Spotlight PABaby formula company linked to botulism outbreak stopped production at Berks plant in 2023by Angela Couloumbis, Kate Huangpu, and Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA
Nov. 14, 2025Susan Angstadt / For Spotlight PAOvertime and unexpected bills force Reading to pull from its reservesby Hanna Holthaus of Spotlight PA
Nov. 10, 2025Jason Hugg/ Berks WeeklyEMS funding crisis forces some Berks municipalities to consider new taxes, feesby Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA
Nov. 8, 2025Courtesy of Alexander CivilMeet a Berks County activist who wants to empower neighbors to change their communityby Gabriela Martínez of Spotlight PA
Nov. 3, 2025Hanna Holthaus/ Spotlight PAWhy Erie and Reading’s special redevelopment districts are getting off to such different startsby Hanna Holthaus of Spotlight PA
Oct. 30, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesMiles de personas en el condado de Berks se enfrentan a la pérdida de ayudas alimentarias bajo las nuevas reglas del SNAP. Esto es lo que necesita saber.by Gabriela Martínez de Spotlight PA
Oct. 30, 2025Screenshot via the Internet ArchiveBerks County may have violated federal law by failing to update Spanish-language elections siteby Gabriela Martínez of Spotlight PA
Oct. 29, 2025Susan L. Angstadt / For Spotlight PASpotlight PA Berks County: Listening session at the Muhlenberg Community Libraryby José Joel Delgado-Rivera of Spotlight PA
Oct. 27, 2025Commonwealth Media ServiceReading weighs proposal that would formally bar police from collaborating with ICEby Gabriela Martínez of Spotlight PA
Oct. 25, 2025Courtesy of Suzanne ErnestoMeet a retired Berks County nurse who wants to bring dignity and care to those at the end of lifeby Susan Shelly McGovern for Spotlight PA
Oct. 24, 2025Amanda Fries / Spotlight PAThese Berks County projects are competing for a slice of coveted state grant fundingby Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA
Oct. 23, 2025Mark Schiefelbein / APDan Meuser’s campaign, Pa. GOP among Republican groups that have spent $1M at Trump propertiesby Taylor Giorno and Dave Levinthal of NOTUS
Oct. 20, 2025Amanda Fries / Spotlight PAAs warehouses boom in Berks County, officials plot Route 222 expansions to keep upby Amanda Fries of Spotlight PA
Oct. 13, 2025Commonwealth Media Services1000s in Berks County face food aid loss under new SNAP rules. Here’s what you need to know.by Gabriela Martínez of Spotlight PA
Oct. 11, 2025Courtesy of Janine GonyeaMeet a Berks County man who wants to be a positive force and build a mutual aid networkby Susan Shelly McGovern for Spotlight PA
Oct. 10, 2025Susan Angstadt / For Spotlight PAReading looks to raise property taxes, dip into reserve funds to break evenby Hanna Holthaus of Spotlight PA
Oct. 6, 2025Susan Angstadt / For Spotlight PAFederal funding for housing under threat as Berks County faces record homelessnessby Hanna Holthaus of Spotlight PA
Sept. 29, 2025Susan Shelly McGovernMeet a Berks County program manager guiding men in recoveryby Susan Shelly McGovern for Spotlight PA
Sept. 25, 2025Susan L. Angstadt / For Spotlight PASpotlight PA Berks County: Listening session at the GoggleWorks’ Gardensby José Joel Delgado-Rivera of Spotlight PA
Sept. 24, 2025Gabriela Martínez / Spotlight PAAs Trump tightens English requirements, this Pa. career center adds new class for truckersby Gabriela Martínez of Spotlight PA