Aug. 25, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesShapiro open to using special transit funding to combat SEPTA cuts as part of broader packageby Stephen Caruso and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAHowever, the governor has rejected a GOP idea to use some of the transit money for roads and bridges.
Aug. 20, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesBelt tightening is underway for libraries, foster care, and more as Pa. budget sits unfinishedby Angela Couloumbis and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAThe budget is more than seven weeks late and there’s no sign of a deal in Harrisburg. That’s starting to mean cuts for funding recipients.
Aug. 19, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesAmtrak: SEPTA cuts could affect service all across Pennsylvaniaby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAImpacted Amtrak lines could include the Keystone and Pennsylvanian, which serve Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and Philadelphia.
Aug. 15, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesThe conflicting visions to fund SEPTA and Pa.'s other public transit agencies, explainedby Kate Huangpu and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PALawmakers have missed SEPTA’s deadline to act to forestall cuts, divided over where money for transit should come from.
Aug. 12, 2025A sign that reads Senate inside the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg.Budget impasse deepens as Democrats reject new GOP pitch to fund transit, government operationsby Kate Huangpu and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAA spokesperson for Gov. Josh Shapiro said the transit bill was “not a serious, long-term proposal” and called lawmakers to return to the drawing board.
Aug. 11, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesBudget ‘blame game’ continues between Pa. House, Senate as public transit cuts loomby Kate Huangpu and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAThe Pa. House has passed a transit funding bill, but the Senate may favor a stopgap deal for Harrisburg’s six-week-late budget.
Aug. 6, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesDemocrats advance transit funding, new fare evasion rules as SEPTA sets deadline for Pa. legislature to actby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAA new Pa. House bill also allows the state to take on debt for road repairs in a bid to win Republican support.
Aug. 6, 2025Matt Rourke / APNursing home industry fights additional oversight of Wall Street acquisitionsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAA group that lobbies for the industry says the bill, which aims to prevent the closure of more health care facilities, is duplicative of existing regulations.
July 29, 2025Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PACritical state payments to schools, county child welfare agencies will be delayed as budget impasse continuesby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAPennsylvania’s budget was due June 30, but lawmakers disagree over state spending and still haven’t reached a deal.
July 25, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesThe challenges facing Pa.’s huge, old road system, and what it means for the budgetby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PARepublicans want road money in exchange for more public transit funding, but resources are tight and a deal remains tricky.
July 21, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesLegal cannabis would be overseen by new state agency, sold by private dispensaries under key Republican's proposalby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAThe long-awaited GOP proposal moves Harrisburg’s marijuana talks forward, but the issue still divides the Pa. Senate.
July 18, 2025Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PASchools, transit agencies on high alert as Pa. ends another week without a finished budgetby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAKey lawmakers say talks are progressing, but privately, Democrats and Republicans are still struggling to agree on how much to spend.
July 17, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesMost Pa. cyber charters back mandatory weekly wellness checks for students as Senate moves to tighten lawby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAA bipartisan group of lawmakers wants to ensure that cyber charter students are seen and heard from weekly.
July 15, 2025Feixu Chen / Next Generation NewsroomData center boom inspires flurry of bills from Pa. lawmakers hoping to make state an AI hubby Abigail Hakas of Next Generation NewsroomLawmakers want to make the commonwealth more attractive to data center developers, and are proposing incentives and new regulations to lure them.
July 14, 2025The interior of the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg.How Harrisburg Works: The stealthy tool that lets leaders pass deals fastby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PATop legislators can cut sensitive deals behind closed doors, then use ‘vehicle bills’ to pass them with little warning.
July 11, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesA popular, bipartisan solar program to save Pa. schools on energy costs might soon go darkby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PATrump’s tax and spending bill will end federal support, and state lawmakers are unsure if they’ll renew their portion.
July 9, 2025Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPrices on certain goods, services could rise as Pa. lawmakers consider axing some sales tax exemptionsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAWith the budget overdue and facing significant deficits, one GOP leader says he’s willing to consider changes.
July 7, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesWages for low paid home care workers could rise under Pa. budget proposal. Is it enough?by Vincent DiFonzo for Spotlight PAThe proposal from Gov. Josh Shapiro would add $21 million to the budget for certain home care workers. But advocates say much more is needed before Pa. pay is competitive.
July 3, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesTrump’s massive tax bill could cost Pa. $800M to keep food benefits program goingby Angela Couloumbis and Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PATwo million Pennsylvanians rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, many of them children and older adults.
July 2, 2025Kalliyan Winder / Next Generation NewsroomLawmakers loosen restrictions on Pa. Lottery payouts to boost salesby Abigail Hakas of Next Generation NewsroomA recently approved bill would allow the state lottery to spend more money on payouts. Supporters say the change will increase profits and funding for senior services.
July 2, 2025Sarah Anne Hughes / Spotlight PACyber school facing wrongful death suit says it’s ‘unreasonable’ for teachers to see students weeklyby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAThe wellness check requirement, passed into state law last year, was inspired in part by the death of a 12-year-old Commonwealth Charter Academy student.
June 30, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesShapiro expects budget negotiators will reach a deal ‘very soon’ as deadline passesby Associated Press and Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PATalks between top lawmakers went through the weekend, Gov. Josh Shapiro told reporters on Monday.
June 30, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesThe unknown costs of Amazon’s $20B promise to build 2 data centers in Pennsylvaniaby Stephen Caruso and Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAMany key details, like the centers’ full impact on electricity supply and prices, and the amount of tax revenue the state will forfeit to Amazon, are still unknown.
June 27, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesFights over transit, skill games, and overall spending mean the Pa. budget will again be lateby Stephen Caruso and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAImpasses don’t mean much unless they stretch for more than a few weeks. Then, they start having serious consequences for schools, libraries, and more.
June 25, 2025Vincent DiFonzo / For Spotlight PAFree school lunch in Pennsylvania? Lawmakers want it to be part of the budget.by Vincent DiFonzo for Spotlight PAAdvocates say free school lunch would produce healthier, more engaged students — plus would save kids from stigma, and parents from debt.