Oct. 19, 2021Leise Hook / For Spotlight PAWhy $1 billion in rent relief isn’t keeping some Pa. tenants safe from evictionby Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PAWhile a long-feared wave of evictions hasn’t come to pass, a lack of coordination between programs and courts leaves some renters in a pinch.
Sept. 24, 2021Jelani Splawn / For Spotlight PAUnemployment refunds going out to those Pa. overcharged five years after issue discoveredby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAIn all, the agency estimates it owes $19.4 million to tens of thousands of people who were erroneously charged an inflated interest rate between 2006 and 2016.
Sept. 14, 2021Stephen Caruso / Pennsylvania Capital-StarGov. Wolf’s coronavirus business waiver program was flawed, secretive, Pa. auditor saysby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThough the program was well-intentioned — designed to provide relief to businesses during the early months of the pandemic shutdown — it was confusing and lacked transparency and accountability.
Sept. 3, 2021Jelani Splawn / For Spotlight PAPa. to refund $19 million to 109,000 people it overcharged in unemployment errorby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe state first learned it had overcharged thousands of people unemployment interest in 2016, but didn’t disclose it until Spotlight PA asked about the problem.
July 16, 2021Commonwealth Media ServicesWolf admin sat on 2017 probe of unemployment error but denies ‘cover-up’by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe state’s top labor official said there was never an attempt to deliberately conceal an error that resulted in thousands of people being overcharged millions of dollars in interest.
July 13, 2021Jelani Splawn / For Spotlight PA‘Human error,’ lack of oversight led to multimillion-dollar unemployment mistake, Wolf admin disclosesby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAAn internal investigation was completed in mid-2017, but a summary of the probe was not released until Spotlight PA began asking questions.
July 12, 2021Jelani Splawn / For Spotlight PAJobless Pennsylvanians, attorneys fear more problems as work-search requirement returnsby Lindsay Weber for Spotlight PABeginning July 18, people seeking unemployment must attest that they applied for two jobs and completed a “work search activity” the week prior.
July 9, 2021Jelani Splawn / For Spotlight PADepartment of Labor admits it overcharged unemployed Pennsylvanians millions of dollarsby Rebecca Moss of Spotlight PAThe agency publicly estimated Friday that the mistake affected roughly 250,000 people, after months of inquiries from Spotlight PA about the issue.
June 8, 2021DAVID MAIALETTI / Philadelphia InquirerJobless in Pa. livid over new unemployment system errors as state declares victoryby Rebecca Moss of Spotlight PA and Christian Hetrick of The Philadelphia InquirerA new wave of problems blocked numerous people from filing for benefits they had already been approved for.
March 8, 2021Shane Dunlap / Tribune-ReviewA Pennsylvania county went from bust to boom times with natural gas. Now, it’s nearly broke.by Jamie Martines of Spotlight PACommissioners, led by Republicans, raised taxes amid a pandemic and for the first time since 2010, despite the county having received more than $37 million in gas impact fees.