Top News EnvironmentCommonwealth Media ServicesPa. small towns set to get latest wave of federal funding for EV chargersby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAPennsylvania leads the nation in building new federally funded electric vehicle charging stations.Related StoriesPa. election 2026: Where governor candidates Garrity and Shapiro stand on energy costs, the environment, and more
CaregivingCommonwealth Media ServicesState temporarily shutters rural aging agency after finding ‘serious performance issues’by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA
Josh ShapiroCommonwealth Media ServicesGov. Josh Shapiro has sued the Trump admin dozens of times. Here’s everything to know about those lawsuits.by Kate Huangpu and Jaxon White of Spotlight PA
EnvironmentCommonwealth Media ServicesPa. election 2026: Where governor candidates Garrity and Shapiro stand on energy costs, the environment, and moreby Charlotte Keith and Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA
Justice SystemEd Mahon / Spotlight PASupplying drugs in fatal overdoses has led to 100s of Pa. prison sentences. Grieving families are divided.by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAPennsylvania is a leader in prosecuting people for providing drugs used in fatal overdoses.
Justice SystemEd Mahon / Spotlight PAA Pa. mom's fight reveals the messy reality of treating overdoses like homicidesby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA
July 30, 2026Cassandra Harris / PMP NewsroomPennsylvania to spend $14 million fighting SNAP benefits theft with new chip cardsby Cassandra Harris of Pittsburgh Media Partnership NewsroomAt least 2 million new EBT cards will be issued to minimize theft through skimming devices.
July 27, 2026Courtesy Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance RespectShapiro planned to flat fund rape crisis centers. They convinced him to double their line item.by Natalie Javitt for Spotlight PA
July 31, 2026Molly Bilinski / For Spotlight PACamping with … air conditioning? Pa. launches glamping pilot to woo newcomers to outdoor fun.by Molly Bilinski for Spotlight PAThe state has signed a five-year agreement with Timberline Glamping that allows the company to construct and operate glamping sites at several parks.
Aug. 4, 2026Phira Phonruewiangphing / iStockCentre County restaurant inspections for July 27-Aug. 2by Spotlight PA StaffPennsylvania inspected eight retail food establishments in Centre County between July 27 and Aug. 2. Zero had violations. See what inspectors found.
July 30, 2026Georgianna Sutherland / For Spotlight PAMillions from state lands could be redirected to rural Pennsylvania to help make up for tax-exempt propertyby Marley Parish of Spotlight PA State College
Aug. 4, 2026Susan Angstadt / For Spotlight PA¿Qué protecciones tienen los inquilinos de Pensilvania más allá de las leyes locales?by Gabriela Martínez de Spotlight PAEsta es una guía para conocer los derechos que tienen actualmente todos los inquilinos de Pensilvania según la ley estatal.
Aug. 4, 2026Wavebreakmedia / iStockCracked faucet, temperature issues, and other Berks County restaurant inspections for July 27-Aug. 2by Spotlight PA Staff
EnvironmentKeith Srakocic / Associated PressAdvocates call for wider buffers between homes, fracking sites as data centers up energy demandby Jon Hurdle of Inside Climate NewsEnvironmental groups urged Pennsylvania towns and lawmakers to support a plan to widen the distance between communities and natural gas infrastructure.
EnvironmentGene J. Puskar / APData centers are slowing America’s shift away from coalby Jake Bittle of GristCarbon emissions from the U.S. power sector rose by 4% last year because of an increase in coal generation — partially driven by the proliferation of large-scale data centers.
Federal GovernmentJacquelyn Martin / APThe struggle of being a no-corporate-PAC-money Democratby Oriana González and Kadia Goba of NOTUSThe time constraints attached to calling and meeting individual donors can cut into lawmakers’ legislative responsibilities.
Federal GovernmentTed Shaffrey / APPower grids can't handle AI boom as summer heat triggers emergency ordersby Mara Hoplamazian of NOTUSSince May, the Energy Department has issued emergency authorization six times for PJM Interconnection, the grid operator that covers much of the mid-Atlantic.
PA LocalMolly Bilinski / For Spotlight PACamping with … air conditioning? Pa. launches glamping pilot to woo newcomers to outdoor fun.by Molly Bilinski for Spotlight PAThe state has signed a five-year agreement with Timberline Glamping that allows the company to construct and operate glamping sites at several parks.
Federal GovernmentJulia Demaree Nikhinson / APRep. Ryan Mackenzie returns donation from pardoned Republican megadonorby Avani Kalra of NOTUSAdam Kidan donated $2,600 to Mackenzie’s leadership PAC on June 30. Trump pardoned Kidan on July 3.
ElectionsCommonwealth Media ServicesPennsylvania asks Trump admin how it identified potential noncitizens registered to voteby Carter Walker of VotebeatThe Department of Homeland Security has said there may be more than 14,000 noncitizens registered to vote in the state but hasn’t provided details.
The CapitolCassandra Harris / PMP NewsroomPennsylvania to spend $14 million fighting SNAP benefits theft with new chip cardsby Cassandra Harris of Pittsburgh Media Partnership NewsroomAt least 2 million new EBT cards will be issued to minimize theft through skimming devices.
Week of July 27, 2026Georgianna Sutherland / For Spotlight PAGreat PA News Quiz: top athlete heads to Philly, Penn State shakeup, and the year in tornadoesby Asha Prihar of Spotlight PAIn this quiz: What happens after lawmakers miss a deadline, a leadership shakeup at Penn State, and a funeral home receives a mysterious package.
Federal GovernmentMatt Rourke / APPaige Cognetti refuses corporate PAC money. But some is arriving indirectly.by Avani Kalra of NOTUSThe Democratic candidate in a hot Pennsylvania congressional race has accepted money from political groups that are themselves funded by corporate PACs.
Federal GovernmentMatt Rourke / APMajor GOP donor pardoned by Trump 3 days after donation to Pa. congressmanby Avani Kalra of NOTUSU.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie’s office told NOTUS that the Republican did not speak with the White House or President Donald Trump about the pardon.
ElectionsMatt Rourke / APDem harnesses data center backlash in ad targeting swing Pa. congressional district held by GOPby Marc Levy of the Associated PressThe race between Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti and U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan is considered one of the Democratic Party’s best opportunities to pick up a seat in the November election.