Articles by: Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Pa. Victim Advocate Claims Senate Rejection was ‘Vindictive,’ Could Remain on the Job for Weeks or Longer

Pa. Victim Advocate Claims Senate Rejection was ‘Vindictive,’ Could Remain on the Job for Weeks or Longer

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Despite a Senate vote denying her another six years in office, Pennsylvania Victim Advocate Jennifer Storm could remain on the job for weeks — and possibly longer. FULL ARTICLE
U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Expedite Pa. Mail Ballot Case, but Could Still Intervene

U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Expedite Pa. Mail Ballot Case, but Could Still Intervene

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an eleventh-hour plea by Pennsylvania Republicans to strike down a three-day extension for counties to accept mail ballots, but has left open the possibility that it will hear the case and that those votes might not ultimately be counted. FULL ARTICLE
Counties Cannot Reject Mail Ballots Because of Mismatched Signatures, Pa. Supreme Court Rules

Counties Cannot Reject Mail Ballots Because of Mismatched Signatures, Pa. Supreme Court Rules

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Counties cannot reject mail-in and absentee ballots if a voter’s signature on the outer envelope does not match what’s on file, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Friday, making drawn-out challenges on Election Day less likely. FULL ARTICLE
Pa. Could Become ‘Ground Zero’ for Court Battles on — and After — Election Day

Pa. Could Become ‘Ground Zero’ for Court Battles on — and After — Election Day

HARRISBURG, Pa. — In the weeks leading up to November’s historic election, there has been one constant: lawsuits and court decisions that have shaped the way Pennsylvanians can cast ballots, and how their votes will be counted. FULL ARTICLE
Pa. Democratic State Senator Tests Positive for the Coronavirus

Pa. Democratic State Senator Tests Positive for the Coronavirus

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Democratic state Sen. Anthony Williams has tested positive for the coronavirus, becoming the second Pennsylvania legislator to contract the virus. FULL ARTICLE
Prospects Dimming for Behind-the-Scenes Push to Expand Video Gaming in Pa.

Prospects Dimming for Behind-the-Scenes Push to Expand Video Gaming in Pa.

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Despite intense lobbying in recent days, prospects are dimming for top Republican senators to push through a controversial proposal to vastly expand gambling in Pennsylvania before lawmakers leave the Capitol for a summer of campaigning. FULL ARTICLE
Pa. House Democrats Say They Were in the Dark for a Week About Republican’s Positive Coronavirus Test

Pa. House Democrats Say They Were in the Dark for a Week About Republican’s Positive Coronavirus Test

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A Republican state lawmaker from Central Pennsylvania confirmed Wednesday that he tested positive for the coronavirus earlier this month, leading at least one of his House colleagues to self-quarantine. FULL ARTICLE
Facing Nearly $5 Billion Shortfall, Pa. Lawmakers Plan to Pass Short-Term Budget

Facing Nearly $5 Billion Shortfall, Pa. Lawmakers Plan to Pass Short-Term Budget

HARRISBURG, Pa. — With the true financial fallout from the coronavirus still unknown, and the prospects for recovery uncertain, the Pennsylvania legislature is on track this week to approve a temporary, five-month spending plan that does not raise taxes and keeps funding level for all state departments. FULL ARTICLE
Pa. Officials Revoked Business Waivers the Night before Publishing List of Recipients

Pa. Officials Revoked Business Waivers the Night before Publishing List of Recipients

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Late in the evening last Thursday, Tiffany Kuhn was at her home outside Harrisburg reading an e-book on her cell phone when a notification popped up that she had an email from Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration. FULL ARTICLE
Some Pa. Counties Push to Exclude Nursing Home Cases From Reopening Formula, But Experts Caution Against It

Some Pa. Counties Push to Exclude Nursing Home Cases From Reopening Formula, But Experts Caution Against It

HARRISBURG, Pa. — As the coronavirus continues to tear through Pennsylvania’s nursing and personal-care homes, pressure is mounting on the Wolf administration to exclude those cases when deciding which counties can relax restrictions so people can begin resuming some of the normal patterns of daily life. FULL ARTICLE