Top News ElectionsErin Hooley / APPa. election results, Shapiro’s speeches, and state laws are all prediction market bets. Could this lead to corruption?by Jaxon White of Spotlight PAFederal officials argue states can’t regulate prediction markets. 44 state attorneys general, including Pa.’s, argue otherwise.Related StoriesPennsylvania county bans poll workers from using election prediction markets
ElectionsCommonwealth Media ServicesPa. election 2026: Where governor candidates Garrity and Shapiro stand on LGBTQ rightsby Jaxon White of Spotlight PA
The CapitolAmanda Berg / For Spotlight PADozens of former Pa. lawmakers are now registered to lobby their old workplaceby Stephen Caruso and Jaxon White of Spotlight PA
ElectionsCommonwealth Media ServicesPa. election 2026: Where governor candidates Garrity and Shapiro stand on Medicaid, fraud, and moreby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA
Justice SystemEd Mahon / Spotlight PAA Pa. mom's fight reveals the messy reality of treating overdoses like homicidesby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PASome Pennsylvania lawmakers want to give prosecutors more time to bring charges against people who supply drugs in fatal overdoses.
Josh ShapiroCommonwealth Media ServicesJosh Shapiro built national fame on getting things done, but his full record is complexby Stephen Caruso and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA
Aug. 21, 2026Sophia Lucente / NewsWorks LabSkill games' roots in Pa. trace to allegedly arranged Beaver County raidby Sean D. Hamill of NewsWorks LabThe raid had been pre-planned to test the game’s legality in Pennsylvania, according to court documents and multiple sources.
Aug. 19, 2026Feixu Chen / Pittsburgh Media Partnership NewsroomData center developers are pushing Pa. government officials to sign secrecy agreements. At least some are saying yes.by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA
Aug. 21, 2026Asha Prihar / Spotlight PAWhy Pennsylvanians care so dang much about regional names, bordersby Asha Prihar of Spotlight PARegional identities shape how Pennsylvanians relate to each other, what they call areas of the state, and where they decide to put down roots, PA Local found in interviews with residents.
Sept. 1, 2026Phira Phonruewiangphing / iStockDried food residue and other Centre County restaurant inspections for Aug. 24-30by Spotlight PA StaffPennsylvania inspected three retail food establishments in Centre County between Aug. 24 and 30. One had violations. See what inspectors found.
Aug. 31, 2026Courtesy of GuthrieMedicaid will likely shed patients under new rules. This health system is working to keep them covered.by Marley Parish of Spotlight PA State College
Sept. 1, 2026Years / iStockSwollen canned items, hot soup in walk-in cooler, and other Berks County restaurant inspections for Aug. 24-30by Spotlight PA StaffPennsylvania inspected 22 retail food establishments in Berks County between Aug. 24 and 30. Twelve had violations. See what inspectors found.
Aug. 21, 2026Gabriela Martínez / Spotlight PAAs elevator repairs drag on, older residents of subsidized Berks County apartment building endure outages, injuryby Gabriela Martínez of Spotlight PA
Federal GovernmentAlex Brandon / APFitzpatrick, other swing-state Republicans are skipping Trump’s midterm conventionby Avani Kalra of NOTUSWith 60 days until the midterms, many lawmakers are forgoing the event, dubbed “Trumpapalooza,” to campaign.
ElectionsCarter Walker / VotebeatHow an American professor’s contested work was used to fuel election doubts in South Koreaby Carter Walker of VotebeatIn South Korea, experts said an analysis from an American professor was interpreted as evidence of election manipulation.
ElectionsMichelle Perez / For VotebeatHis model was built to detect voter fraud. Now it’s testing the limits of election trust.by Carter Walker and Jessica Huseman of VotebeatInside the “perfect storm” that put Walter Mebane Jr.’s election fraud model in the hands of a movement to question the 2024 election results.
Week of Aug. 31, 2026Commonwealth Media ServicesGreat PA News Quiz: Universal healthcare proposal, new food plant, and museum closureby Asha Prihar of Spotlight PAIn this quiz: State lobbying rules, a deceptive advertising lawsuit, and the former Pa. candidate under consideration for the Army’s top job.
Justice SystemMatt Rourke / APPennsylvania police officer charged with voluntary manslaughter in killing of college studentby Tassanee Vejpongsa and Kate Brumback of the Associated PressBody camera footage reveals the victim had raised hands and posed no threat before fatal gunfire, officials say.
HealthRobert F. Bukaty / APAt 91, Dale 'Grey Beard' Sanders reclaims record as oldest hiker to complete the Appalachian Trailby Holly Ramer and Robert F. Bukaty of the Associated PressDale Sanders, whose trail name is Grey Beard, first set the Appalachian Trail record in 2017 at age 82.
Federal GovernmentMarc Levy / APWant an animal shelter? A lazy river? Cash? Data centers want to know.by Mara Hoplamazian of NOTUSNorthPoint Development has proposed giving $10,000 to every household in Hazle Township, PA, if it’s allowed to build a massive data center for Amazon.
EducationChuck Burton / APAs Pell grants expand, students see openings to afford short-term job trainingby Heather Hollingsworth of the Associated PressCommunity colleges nationwide race to qualify as federal officials weigh dozens of applications for career certificate funding.
ElectionsAlex Brandon / APNoncitizen voting claims animate Trump's attacks on midterms and set up potential result challengesby Mike Catalini and Ali Swenson of the Associated PressPresident Donald Trump and his allies are pressing hard about the perceived threats of voting by people who aren't U.S. citizens as the November election approaches.
EnvironmentMatt Rourke / APWill a data center join the Philadelphia Bellwether District’s mix of manufacturers and warehouses?by Daniel Perrin of Inside Climate NewsUrban planners and neighborhood leaders wanted to see the former refinery site remediated beyond the current plan—and many strongly oppose a data center.
EnvironmentKyle Bagenstose / Inside Climate NewsWhile renewables languish, Pennsylvania pays millions to coal waste companiesby Kyle Bagenstose of Inside Climate NewsMore than 20 years after passing a landmark clean energy law, the state gets more of its power from burning coal waste than from solar.
HealthMary Conlon / APMeasles deaths reported in Pennsylvania spark fight among politicians and health officialsby Mike Stobbe of the Associated PressA newborn's death and an unexplained second case have unleashed accusations of fabrication and score-settling.