Spotlight PA: Pennsylvania news and investigations

Top News Justice System

The exterior of the Pennsylvania Judicial Center.

Pa.'s first-ever investment in public defense allowed offices to hire attorneys, improve case management

by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA

But the $7.5 million annual investment wasn't enough to fix long-standing issues with the struggling system.

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Recent Videos

The Capitol

OpenAI's ChatGPT app is displayed on an iPhone in New York, May 18, 2023.

Shapiro parodies and chatbot phone banks — how AI is popping up in Pa. elections

by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA

A bill pending in the Pa. Capitol would impose consequences for using AI to misrepresent candidates close to an election.

People wait in line to vote Nov. 5, 2024, at the Banana Factory in Bethlehem, Pa.

Will independents ever get to vote in Pa. primaries? Advocates hope a lawsuit moves the needle.

by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA

Investigations

An illustration of two police officers standing in front of filing cabinets with hands coming out of the files.

Hundreds of rapes in the State College area weren’t reported in public police data over nearly a decade

by Min Xian of Spotlight PA State College and Mark Fazlollah for Spotlight PA

The missing data masked the true extent of the crime surrounding Penn State. The central Pa. department never publicly disclosed the error until contacted by Spotlight PA.

A photo illustration of Raymond Hohl encircled by images of the Penn State Cancer Institute, a medical device, and a nurse’s binder of thank you notes.

Alarming internal probes found chemo errors, delays, and ‘toxic’ leadership by Penn State’s cancer chief

by Wyatt Massey of Spotlight PA State College and Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

Good News from Pennsylvania

Illustration of Pennsylvania with select food items and location pins placed across the state.

Meet the voracious food mappers trying to make it easier to find Pa.’s best eats

by Asha Prihar of Spotlight PA

Three Pennsylvanians are using their palates and technical skills to map the commonwealth’s culinary landscape. Their maps cover fish fries, niche hot dogs, and so much more.

A weekly dose of positive news

A fresh look at the incredible people, beautiful places, and delicious food Pennsylvania has to offer.

State College Bureau

A dental procedure

Pitt’s ‘homegrown’ approach to training rural dental providers aims to make it easier to access care

by Marley Parish of Spotlight PA State College

A new program at the University of Pittsburgh aims to train dentists in rural PA, where aging providers and limited access leave many without care.

An illustration of water coming from a tap, houses, pipes, a Rock Spring Water Company sign, and a PUC sign.

Judge recommends sale of troubled rural water company to one of Pa.’s largest private utilities

by Marley Parish of Spotlight PA State College

Berks County Bureau

Stella Belinski

Meet a Shillington teen who wants to increase community engagement

by Susan Shelly McGovern

Stella Belinski is a teen from Shillington who is working to increase community engagement through her internship at the O’Pake Institute at Alvernia University.

Shut Down Berks coalition protests outside the Berks County Residential Center on July 15, 2018.

ICE wants to return to Berks County. The fight against it will look very different.

by Gabriela Martínez of Spotlight PA

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