|
A daily newsletter by  |
|
|
|
| Today: Legal fight, backpay, gun bills, environmental record, back to Butler, hornet buster, and Guiliano gets the gold. |
|
Commonwealth Court has ordered the governor’s office to reveal details about why it spent tens of thousands of public dollars on private law firms.
The ruling follows a public records fight by Spotlight PA and LNP | LancasterOnline for unredacted copies of legal bills and other documents.
The Shapiro administration, and Wolf’s before it, argued the information does not have to be disclosed under Pennsylvania’s public records law.
But the ruling orders the office to remove certain redactions, and leaves the door open for other disclosures related to the office’s use of private law firms.
Read Spotlight PA’s full report: Court tells governor’s office to reveal more details about why it hired private law firms |
|
NOTABLE / QUOTABLE
“I’m excited to be able to go back to some of these schools and have … a real program that they’re able to apply for to try to turn a really cool idea into a reality.”
—State Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler (D. Philadelphia) on a new law that gives Pennsylvania schools access to grants to install solar panels; the panels could help slash schools’ energy bills. |
|
| A stained glass window in St. Thomas of Villanova Church in Delaware County, via Don N. Send us your photos by email, use #PAGems on Instagram, or tag us @spotlightpennsylvania. |
|
 BIG PAYBACK: A federal judge has ordered Pennsylvania-based nursing home company Comprehensive Healthcare Management Services to pay almost $36 million in back wages and penalties, TribLIVE reports. The payroll practices of the company, which operates facilities across Western Pennsylvania, were found to be in violation of federal labor standards. Issues included failing to pay mandatory overtime and paycheck errors.
 GUN LAWS: In the aftermath of the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, safety advocates and lawmakers are reviewing Pennsylvania’s gun laws, PublicSource reports. The shooter, 20, was too young to buy a handgun in Pennsylvania, but the long gun he used was legally purchased, and various bills aimed at raising the age to buy long guns, requiring background checks on all sales, and other restrictions, have languished in Harrisburg.
 CONTESTED RECORD : The environmental policies of Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro are under renewed scrutiny as his name recurs in conversations about who will become Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate. Inside Climate News surveys Shapiro’s actions as governor and attorney general, detailing the controversies and accomplishments that define his environmental record.  DEFINE ‘AFFORDABLE’: As living expenses increase, prospective homebuyers in central Pennsylvania are wondering whether affordable housing actually exists and what the term truly means. PennLive reports that such housing is out there, but realtors, developers, and nonprofits, say inventory and slowed construction have changed the equation, and buyers might have to adjust their terms. |
|
‘SOBER SPACE’: Pittsburgh-based venue Stage AE has held its first event with a “sober space,” TribLIVE reports. The space, which will be a permanent feature of its live events, offers nonalcoholic drinks and information on recovery programs. |
|
Unscramble and send your answer to scrambler@spotlightpa.org. We'll shout out winners here, and one each week will get some Spotlight PA swag. Answers submitted by 5:30 p.m. on issue date will be counted. Please include your first name and last initial. O E F L T O R O M Y
Friday's answer: Olympian or palimony
Congrats to our weekly winner: Krishana S.
Congrats to our daily winners: Eric F., Jody A., Bob C., Stacy S., Marty M., Elaine C., Karen K., Barb K., mamba.lynxes0r., Barbara F., Lex M., Marsha B., Jill M., Tracy S., David T., Jane R., Susan F., Ted W., Mike B., Brandie K., Ruth M., Karen W., Randy I., Jon W., Bruce B., Daniel M., Nan S., Susan N., Sherri A., Don H., Richard A., Shelley D., MaryLou P., Janice H., Daniel S., Fran C., Lorine O., Bill M., Stanley J., Cynthia B., Kathy M., Brian B., Amy S., Leslie B., Marie B., Brooke S., Perry H., Jeff F., Timothy A., Amelia M., Pat P., Robin H., Karyl S., Annette I., Jeffrey F., Vance D., Ann and John P., John. C., Jasper L., Cassandra N., Nancy H., Paula B., Ada M., Linda G., Melinda A., Mark P., Wendy A., Rick D., Alex E., John V., Mary M., Joe M., Tom M., George B., Tish M., Alice C., Ronnee G., Holly H., Starr B., and John H.
|
|
|
| |
|
