Spotlight PA: Pennsylvania news and investigations

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State Sen. Dave Argall speaks at a 2023 event for older Pennsylvanians.

Looser education rules floated as fix to Pa.’s troubled home care workforce

by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA

A bill would require direct care workers to pass a competency exam rather than have a diploma or GED. Advocates argue a more direct solution to the staffing shortfall would be to increase wages.

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Illustration of people holding a gavel

You can decide how billions to fight the opioid epidemic should be spent with our new tool

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

Use our interactive tool to decide what type of opioid settlement spending should be allowed in Pennsylvania — and compare your results to the choices of a secretive oversight board.

The exterior of the Pennsylvania Judicial Center.

Republicans have a chance to transform the Pa. Supreme Court this year

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Carter Walker of Votebeat

The Capitol

Chickens walking around on grass.

Proposed $25M cut to bird flu aid for farmers could leave Pa. unprepared for surge, GOP lawmakers fear

by Marley Parish of Spotlight PA State College

The Shapiro administration says Pennsylvania has enough in reserves to address avian influenza, but Republican lawmakers aren’t convinced that reallocating that funding is responsible.

Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Debra Bogen faced questions about her department's oversight of medical marijuana doctors, during a February 2025 state Senate budget hearing.

Medical marijuana oversight bill advances after Spotlight PA investigations reveal doctor concerns

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

Investigations

From left: The Philadelphia Corporation for Aging; Luen Ng and her Northeast Philadelphia home; Pennsylvania Aging Secretary Jason Kavulich

Ailing Pa. woman died after months of pleas for help, a victim of a safety net in tatters

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Aging officials in Philadelphia took months to get Luen Ng help before she was killed. She’s one of 1,511 older adults who died in the state in 2023 with open abuse and neglect investigations.

From left: Lt. Gov. Austin Davis (Commonwealth Media Services); Gail Stallworth (courtesy of Cornelius Harp); then-Attorney General Josh Shapiro at a Board of Pardons meeting (via YouTube).

Rare 2nd chance at freedom for Pa. woman serving life sentence reversed in unprecedented revote

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

Impact

Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Debra Bogen faced questions about her department's oversight of medical marijuana doctors, during a February 2025 state Senate budget hearing.

Medical marijuana oversight bill advances after Spotlight PA investigations reveal doctor concerns

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

A bipartisan bill to increase oversight of Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program cleared the state House after Spotlight PA investigations revealed concerns about doctor practices and patient care.

Gov. Josh Shapiro arrives in Philadelphia to discuss a partial Interstate 95 collapse.

Public will no longer be in the dark about Shapiro flights on taxpayer-funded State Police planes

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

Good News from Pennsylvania

Garden of Health founder Carol Bauer and two other people at a farm.

PA Local Heroes: A Montco mom’s mission to provide friendly foods to all

by Asha Prihar of Spotlight PA

Garden of Health started in 2015 as a pantry that specialized in allergy-friendly foods, and it’s since grown into a nonprofit that distributes millions of pounds of “food for all.”

20 years after 'The Office' premiered, cameos still paying off for Scranton businesses

by Asha Prihar of Spotlight PA

Two decades after the NBC sitcom’s premiere, fans are still making pilgrimages to the city where it was set.

License plate overhaul offers window into Pa.’s rich history of designs

by Asha Prihar of Spotlight PA

Over the years, Pennsylvania’s been a hub for eye-catching license plates honoring everything from river otters to D.A.R.E to Quaker friendliness.

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State College Bureau

Chickens walking around on grass.

Proposed $25M cut to bird flu aid for farmers could leave Pa. unprepared for surge, GOP lawmakers fear

by Marley Parish of Spotlight PA State College

The Shapiro administration says Pennsylvania has enough in reserves to address avian influenza, but Republican lawmakers aren’t convinced that reallocating that funding is responsible.

Houses on a street in Tyrone, Pennsylvania

End of federal relief money will push some Pa. municipalities off a financial cliff, Shapiro admin fears

by Min Xian of Spotlight PA State College

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