Pa.’s Failure to Mandate Quicker Death Reporting Before the Coronavirus Fueled Wild Data Fluctuations, Mistrust
For years, Pennsylvania has had a hard time counting its dead. FULL ARTICLE
Articles by: Staff, Spotlight PA
Top Pa. Republican’s Campaign Sues Journalists Over Public Records Costs
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The campaign committee of the state Senate’s top Republican is suing a publication of LNP Media Group and two journalists who uncovered questionable spending by the lawmaker and other politicians. FULL ARTICLE
Federal Judge Rules Gov. Wolf’s Shutdown Orders Unconstitutional
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A federal judge has ruled that key components of Gov. Tom Wolf’s coronavirus mitigation strategy are unconstitutional, including a statewide limit on how many Pennsylvanians can gather in one place. FULL ARTICLE
Top PA. GOP Lawmaker Taps Politically Connected Lobbyist to Be Chief of Staff
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman has tapped a top lobbyist with a politically connected Harrisburg firm to serve as his new chief of staff, the latest high-profile example of the cozy relationship between elected officials in the Capitol and special interests trying to influence them. FULL ARTICLE
Wolf Allows Restaurants to Serve More Customers Indoors, but Timing Raises Eyebrows
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration preempted a Senate committee hearing Tuesday by announcing it would allow restaurants to serve more customers indoors, leading critics to question the timing of the move and whether it was based on data or politics. FULL ARTICLE
A Vital Rental Assistance Program Is Riddled With Problems As Pa. Prepares to Resume Evictions
HARRISBURG, Pa. — It wasn’t until the summer, after leaving his job as a drug treatment counselor, that James Pride began to fall behind on rent. Pride, 61, has a chronic lung condition and the risk of getting sick at work was too high. FULL ARTICLE
Gov. Tom Wolf Wants Pa. to Legalize Marijuana, Provide More COVID-19 Relief This Fall
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Gov. Tom Wolf wants state lawmakers to legalize recreational cannabis this fall and spend $1 billion in federal funds to expand access to child care and provide more COVID-19 relief to small businesses and others affected by the pandemic. FULL ARTICLE
Dark Money Mystery: Top Pa. Lawmaker Helped Raise Cash for Nonprofit Whose Agenda is Largely a Secret
HARRISBURG, Pa. — In early March, a little-known Pennsylvania nonprofit called the Growth and Opportunity Fund Inc. hosted a gathering of donors at a California golf resort frequented by professional athletes, Hollywood celebrities, and presidents. FULL ARTICLE
Public Record or Trade Secret? Battle Over Number of Liquor Licenses Could Go to Pa. High Court
HARRISBURG, Pa. — What began as a simple request for information about liquor licenses in Pennsylvania has turned into a protracted court battle pitting the public’s right to government records against the state-run liquor board’s ability to make money. FULL ARTICLE
Pa. Cancels on Volunteer Coronavirus Contact Tracers, Moves to Hire 1,000 Paid Staff
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Health Department last week abruptly canceled a session to train volunteers to trace the contacts of people infected with the coronavirus, a critical practice in slowing the spread of COVID-19. FULL ARTICLE
