Special Projects & InvestigationsSpecial projects and investigations showcasing the best of Spotlight PA
One Vote, Two PAsCommonwealth Media ServicesThis series clearly articulates through policy proposals and issue-based reporting the vastly different visions the candidates for governor have for the future of Pennsylvania.
Voting Guides 2026Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAPennsylvanians will be asked to vote on races for governor, the state legislature, and more in 2026. Here’s what you need to know to make an informed vote.
Missing RapesDaniel Fishel / For Spotlight PAOver nearly a decade, the State College Police Department underreported hundreds of rapes in public data, a Spotlight PA investigation found, masking the true extent of the crime in the community surrounding Penn State.
The InstituteCut It Out Design Studio / For Spotlight PAAlarming internal probes found chemo errors, delays, and ‘toxic’ leadership by Penn State’s cancer chief
Municipal Elections 101Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAThis series educates readers about the local positions on their ballots and empowers them to make informed decisions.
The Cost of FailingNate Smallwood / For Spotlight PAA mother's fight to save her son shows the tragic consequences of Pa.'s failure to build a better mental health system
Public SafetyRobert Devonshire Jr. / LNPTeen volunteers were harassed, groped, and pressured into sex by adults at a popular Pa. haunted attraction, former staff say.
Voting Guides 2025Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAPennsylvanians will be asked to vote on local municipal races, judicial contests, and more in 2025. Here’s what you need to know to make an informed vote.
For the ChildDylan Caleho / For Resolve PhillyFoster care agencies in Pa. took millions owed to kids in their care, often keeping them in the dark.
Access HarrisburgEmily Scherer / For Spotlight PAPowerful interests poured $18M into top Pa. lawmakers’ campaign coffers
No Coming HomeEmily Scherer / For Spotlight PARare 2nd chance at freedom for Pa. woman serving life sentence reversed in unprecedented revote
Half-Million HeistDaniel Fishel / For Spotlight PAMore than half a million dollars in public money went missing from Gregg Township, Centre County, without anyone noticing.
UnprotectedDaniel Fishel / For Spotlight PAMost of Pennsylvania’s 52 county agencies responsible for protecting older adults are failing, in varying degrees, to swiftly review complaints of suspected abuse or neglect and craft plans to keep people safe — in some cases, even in emergencies.
Rocky WatersGeorgianna Sutherland / For Spotlight PAA Spotlight PA investigation found customers served by privately owned Rock Spring Water Company have been failed by the company, state regulators, and elected officials.
Penn State HealthCourtesy Penn State HealthPenn State Health discontinued its liver and kidney transplant programs amid federal scrutiny.
Voting Guides 2024Daniel Fishel / For Spotlight PAPennsylvanians will be asked to vote on races for president, U.S. Senate, row offices, and more in 2024. Here’s what you need to know to make an informed vote.
Elections 101Fred Adams / For Spotlight PAThis series from Spotlight PA protects you against election misinformation and empowers you to make informed decisions.
Broken CodeDaniel Fishel / For Spotlight PAPennsylvania's Election Code is badly outdated. That could have serious consequences in 2024.
PA Courts 101Daniel Fishel / For Spotlight PALearn more about Pennsylvania's three appellate courts, the judges who sit on them, and more.
Richest Little CityNate Smallwood / For Spotlight PAThe inside story of how one man remade a small Pa. city while allegedly ripping off his neighbors.
The Waiting GameSteven M. Falk / Philadelphia InquirerBacklogs and bottlenecks have dragged out wait times for a $350 million Pennsylvania mortgage relief program.
Missed ConductDaniel Fishel / For Spotlight PAA yearlong Spotlight PA/CDT investigation of misconduct reporting systems at the university reveals widespread distrust, fear of retaliation, and reports of wrongdoing getting lost in the shuffle.
Opioid Settlement MoneyShane Dunlap / TribLIVE for Spotlight PABillions of dollars are expected to come to Pennsylvania to help the state respond to the opioid epidemic. Spotlight PA has been tracking the funds in this ongoing accountability series.
Voting Guides 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPennsylvanians will be asked to vote on races for state Supreme Court, Superior Court, Commonwealth Court, and more in 2023. Here’s what you need to know to make an informed vote.
Shapiro's PromisesTom Gralish / Philadelphia InquirerIn the coming months, Spotlight PA will track Shapiro’s progress on some of the key commitments he made on the campaign trail.
A Criminal SolutionNate Smallwood / For Spotlight PA and PINJDetermining whether someone is mentally fit to stand trial in Pennsylvania often traps them in the very place making them worse — jail.
Broken BoroughMin Xian / Spotlight PAAfter Tioga hired Timothy Loehmann, long-simmering personal grudges and infighting exploded and brought local government to a halt.
Voting Guides 2022ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Philadelphia InquirerThe 2022 election for governor, U.S. Senate, and more in Pennsylvania could dramatically change the course of the state. Here’s what you need to know to make an informed vote.
One Vote, Two PennsylvaniasLeise Hook / For Spotlight PAThis series clearly articulates through policy proposals and issue-based reporting the vastly different visions the candidates for governor have for the future of Pennsylvania.
The DisconnectAmanda Berg / For Spotlight PAAn obscure state law could blunt the impact of up to $1 billion in federal funding for Pennsylvania’s broadband expansion.
Compassionate ReleaseLeise Hook / For Spotlight PAThere are few ways for people getting older behind bars to get out unless their death is imminent.
Ghost WritersKIM WEIMER / BUCKS COUNTY COURIER TIMESDraft bills and late-night emails reveal cozy ties between Pa. state lawmaker, casino lobbyists.
Cannabis Card GameLeise Hook / For Spotlight PAAn investigation into Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana card program, including questionable health claims, weak oversight, and unfair rules.
The Final MomentsFred Adams for Spotlight PA / NBCNewsChristian Hall, 19, had his hands up when police fatally shot him, videos show.
Crisis of CareQuinn Glabicki for Spotlight PA / PublicSourceThe number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease is expected to swell exponentially in Pennsylvania, one of the oldest states in the nation. But efforts to prepare are falling short.
Unemployment ErrorJelani Splawn / For Spotlight PAThe state overcharged thousands of people millions of dollars in unemployment interest payments.
Turned AwayKim Yong / Philadelphia InquirerFailure by Pa. officials to clarify rules around medical marijuana, addiction treatment had serious consequences
The PSERS ScandalHandoutChronicling an FBI investigation into Pennsylvania's $64 billion public school pension fund and the resulting fallout.
The Hidden TabLeise Hook / For Spotlight PATaxpayers foot huge bill to run Pa.’s full-time legislature, but are blocked from many details.
Fundamental FlawsKristina Serafini / TribLIVE for Spotlight PAA Spotlight PA/KHN investigation shows the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs uses an inherently flawed oversight system that does little to ensure high-quality or effective care.
The Milton Hershey SchoolMARGO REED / The Philadelphia InquirerAn ongoing collaborative investigation with The Philadelphia Inquirer and ProPublica into oversight and operations at the Milton Hershey School, the wealthiest precollege educational institution in the U.S.
Short Days, Big BenefitsDAN GLEITER / PennLiveDespite good salaries, pensions, and health care paid by taxpayers, some of Pennsylvania’s elected magisterial district judges enjoy short days and light workloads.
At Risk, In The DarkMichael Bryant / Philadelphia InquirerAs the Mariner East pipelines become a permanent underpinning of Pennsylvania, secrecy and a patchwork of emergency plans have left many communities in the dark about what to do in case of an accident.
'Highway Stop-and-Frisk'Jose F. Moreno / Philadelphia InquirerHow Pennsylvania state troopers conduct illegal traffic searches.
Locked OutDAN NOTT / FOR SPOTLIGHT PAAn ongoing investigation into Pennsylvania's failure to help families at risk of eviction during the coronavirus pandemic.
A Dark Money MysteryChristine Bake / THE PATRIOT-NEWSNext in line to lead the state Senate, Jake Corman helped raise cash for a nonprofit whose donors — and agenda — are largely a secret.
Condemn, Discuss, RepeatSean Simmers / PennLive for Spotlight PAStudents of color say Pennsylvania's higher education system follows a tired formula to respond to racism instead of enacting the support they need.
Coronavirus TrackerDAN NOTT / For Spotlight PALive updates on the latest numbers of Pa. coronavirus cases, as well as a county-by-county coronavirus map.
Decided in SecretDAN NOTT / For Spotlight PAThe Wolf administration decided the fate of thousands of businesses during the coronavirus shutdown with almost no transparency.
Big Spending, Little AccountabilityAndre Schönherr / St. Peter StiftskulinariumA year-long investigation into how Pennsylvania lawmakers obscured nearly $3.5 million in campaign spending from 2016 through 2018.
State Police Race DataDAN GLEITER / PennLiveThe Pennsylvania State Police stopped tracking the race of drivers who get pulled over, making detecting potential racial bias nearly impossible.