Aug. 16, 2023Min Xian / Spotlight PASpotlight PA seeks to unseal key document in DuBois official’s corruption caseby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Brad Bumsted of LNP | LancasterOnlineTogether with three partner newsrooms, Spotlight PA has asked a judge to release the grand jury presentment in the case against Herm Suplizio.
Aug. 15, 2023Georgianna Sutherland / For Spotlight PA5 takeaways from our event on holding local Pennsylvania officials accountableby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeLocal government officials, whether elected or appointed, shape residents’ lives in a range of ways. Here’s how to become involved in your municipality and what to do when problems arise.
Aug. 11, 2023Commonwealth Media ServicesHow a recent court ruling could put the brakes on water and sewer privatization in Pennsylvaniaby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAPennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court found a state commission should not have approved the sale of a municipal sewer system to a private company.
July 31, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPa. begins to miss education, human services payments as budget impasse continuesby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAA dispute over private school vouchers has left Pennsylvania’s budget undone. The consequences for schools and counties are starting to emerge.
July 5, 2023Min Xian / Spotlight PARocky governance persists in tiny Pa. borough that hired Tamir Rice’s killerby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeTioga borough’s new officials promised better leadership following last July’s controversial hire, but misuse of public funds and complaints of hostility continue to trouble the small town.
June 7, 2023Georgianna Sutherland / For Spotlight PAA Pa. town seeks to pause consolidation with its scandal ridden neighbor cityby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeIn a rare move, Sandy Township argues that Herm Suplizio’s alleged theft of public funds in DuBois and the city’s lack of oversight justify a delay of consolidation proceedings.
May 30, 2023Daniel Fishel / Spotlight PAA DuBois official was arrested on corruption charges. Then nearly $100K in cash arrived at city hall.by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeThe mysterious money was apparently stored at a local nonprofit then delivered weeks after former DuBois City Manager Herm Suplizio was arrested on corruption charges.
May 22, 2023Dan Nott / For Spotlight PAHow Local Government Works: Are government officials’ personal social media posts public records?by Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeA recent decision by the Pa. Commonwealth Court established a new three-factor test to judge when social posts on public officials' personal accounts are public records.
May 17, 2023Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAProposed Pa. budget nearly quadruples funding for local government cooperationby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeA 266% funding increase for Pennsylvania’s Municipal Assistance Program could help local governments spend tax dollars more efficiently while providing public services collectively.
May 2, 2023Abby Drey / Centre Daily TimesWhy State College’s anti-gambling movement failed to stop the Nittany Mall casinoby Lilly Riddle for the News Lab at Penn State and Spotlight PA State CollegeFor years, State College area residents have expressed their grievances regarding a casino slated to go in College Township’s Nittany Mall. They just didn’t do it early enough.
April 24, 2023Georgianna Sutherland / For Spotlight PADuBois official’s corruption arrest puts consolidation with Sandy Township at riskby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeAfter DuBois City Manager Herm Suplizio’s arrest for alleged theft of over $600,000 in public funds, Sandy Township officials question how the two municipalities’ consolidation can go forward.
April 10, 2023Min Xian / Spotlight PAHow a Pa. city manager allegedly stole thousands of taxpayer dollars with virtually no oversightby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State College and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAAuthorities say Herm Suplizio, the politically connected manager of DuBois, stole more than $600,000 from public accounts. He now faces sweeping corruption charges.
March 23, 2023Sara Simon / Spotlight PAHow Local Government Works: A basic guide to requesting public records in Pa.by Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeAccessing government information is fundamental to keeping elected officials’ actions transparent. Here are four basics of citizens’ rights to open records.
March 17, 2023Abby Drey / Centre Daily TimesPolice killed Osaze Osagie four years ago. Here’s what has and hasn’t happened since.by Sarah Rafacz of Spotlight PA State CollegeThe killing of a Black man in a mental health crisis by a white cop in State College prompted several reports and promises for change. Four years later, progress has been sluggish in some areas.
March 17, 2023Tom Gralish / Philadelphia InquirerSunshine Week: 5 tips to win a Pa. open records fight and overcome secrecy in governmentby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PASuccess isn’t guaranteed. But in honor of Sunshine Week — an annual celebration of access to public information and open government — Spotlight PA offers some strategies to improve your odds.
Feb. 14, 2023Georgianna Sutherland / For Spotlight PAState College wants nearby municipalities to adopt LGBTQ protectionsby Sarah Rafacz of Spotlight PA State CollegeTwo Centre County municipalities have protections for LGBTQ people against discrimination in housing and employment. Officials in State College and Ferguson Township hope more municipalities sign on.
Feb. 3, 2023Min Xian / Spotlight PA5 takeaways from our event on Pennsylvania’s fragmented local governmentsby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeSpotlight PA hosted a discussion on Jan. 26 about the challenges of Pennsylvania’s fragmented system of local governments — including lack of critical oversight and limited resources.
Dec. 30, 2022Min Xian / Spotlight PAHow Spotlight PA uncovered the chaos in a tiny Pa. borough after the hiring of Tamir Rice’s killerby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeA behind-the-scenes look at how our investigative reporter spent five months getting the real story of how Tioga nearly collapsed after hiring Timothy Loehmann.
Dec. 22, 2022Min Xian / Spotlight PA3 key takeaways from Spotlight PA’s investigation of how a local government nearly collapsed after hiring Tamir Rice’s killerby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeLong-simmering personal grudges and infighting exploded after officials in tiny Tioga hired Timothy Loehmann, the cop who killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice in Cleveland in 2014.
Dec. 19, 2022Min Xian / Spotlight PAGrudges, tribalism, and infighting rife in Pennsylvania borough that hired the cop who killed Tamir Riceby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeAfter Tioga hired Timothy Loehmann, long-simmering personal grudges and infighting exploded and brought local government to a halt.
Nov. 22, 2022Abby Drey / Centre Daily Times4 things to know about State College’s new police complaint processby Sarah Rafacz of Spotlight PA State CollegeThe new civilian complaint process, scheduled to go live in January, was prompted by outrage following the March 2019 police killing of Osaze Osagie.
Nov. 14, 2022Abby Drey / Centre Daily TimesGovernment and elected officials deal with service funding questions as Centre Region growsby Sarah Rafacz of Spotlight PA State CollegeCentre Region municipal managers take “unprecedented” action against a proposal to significantly increase the funding their local governments contribute to the Council of Governments for services.
Oct. 28, 2022Kent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PAA Pa. county is charging people to search court documents — an unusual and undue burden, experts sayby Colin Deppen of Spotlight PAIn a one-year period, Washington County collected $1,026.50 from the fee, which experts say is almost impossible to challenge.
Oct. 25, 2022Matt Smith / For Spotlight PATrack how your Pa. municipality is using federal stimulus fundingby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegePennsylvania counties, cities, and local governments have received $6.15 billion in stimulus money as part of the American Rescue Plan Act. Here’s how to find out what your community will do with the money.
Sept. 19, 2022Abby Drey / Centre Daily TimesAn attempt to deter more student high-rises in State College raises larger debate about the future of downtownby Sarah Rafacz of Spotlight PA State CollegeA proposed zoning change has forced officials and the community to grapple with competing visions of an ideal downtown versus what the market would support.
Sept. 7, 2022Photo Courtesy Chris HarterTalk of a tax increase is driving a wedge between leaders of a growing Pa. township and its fire companyby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeWith costs rising and donations down, more volunteer fire companies are turning to public support — and facing questions about transparency.
Aug. 15, 2022Daniel Fishel for Spotlight PAPenn State spent half a million dollars on police overtime at football games in 2021by Emma Dooling of Spotlight PALocal police officers make double their hourly rate when working overtime at Penn State football games, a cost the university reimburses.
July 14, 2022Daniel Fishel for Spotlight PASpotlight PA tested government transparency in Centre County. Tell us what to look for in the salary data.by Emma Dooling of Spotlight PAWhen Spotlight PA requested employee salary data from Centre County and its 35 municipalities, more than 70% of the agencies responded quickly. Help us figure out what to focus on in the data.