June 11, 2026Lillian Bautista / NOTUSPa. among states uncommitted to Trump fair celebrating nation’s 250th anniversaryby Sam Fortier, Torrie Herrington, and Jenna Monnin of NOTUSAt least six states have confirmed they don’t plan to send a delegation to the Great American State Fair, a birthday bash organized by the president.
June 8, 2026Rod Lamkey Jr. / APFewer Americans say democracy is central to country's identity, AP-NORC poll findsby Gary Fields, Linley Sanders, and Nicholas Riccardi of the Associated PressThe findings present a jarring contrast as communities around the country commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary.
June 8, 2026Jose Luis Magana / AP2026 midterms poised to have less federal oversight as Trump admin defangs election watchdogby Jose Pagliery of NOTUSThe administration has canceled election-integrity training sessions, deleted a guide to prosecuting election offenses, and fired most of the lawyers in its Public Integrity Section.
June 4, 2026Allison Robbert / APWomen in Congress say a gender gap impedes sexual harassment probesby Oriana González and Kadia Goba of NOTUSThe US House Ethics Committee is and has always been dominated by men, which could limit its ability to police sexual misconduct.
June 4, 2026Abby Drey / Centre Daily TimesICE detainee who spoke out about conditions in Moshannon was punished, transferredby Melissa Pérez-Carrillo of Spotlight PA State College and Jordan Wilkie of WITFEdin Daniel Chinchilla-Roque was placed in solitary and later transferred after officials claimed he instigated the “proclaimed ‘hunger strike’” at Clearfield County detention center.
May 29, 2026J. Scott Applewhite / APHouse Freedom Caucus falls as Trump targets former GOP alliesby Paul Kane of NOTUSCome January, almost the entire top rung of the Freedom Caucus will leave the House, a hollowing out of one of the most influential power centers of the past decade.
May 22, 2026Commonwealth Media ServicesDemocrats push to delay SNAP cost-sharing hitting most states next yearby Tyler Spence of NOTUSThey’re hoping the pressure to pass a farm bill will convince Republicans to accept their demands.
May 18, 2026Commonwealth Media ServicesFetterman blames violation of federal transparency law on ‘administrative error’by Dave Levinthal of NOTUSFetterman was about a year late disclosing the purchase of a corporate bond made on behalf of one of his dependent children, U.S. Senate records indicate.
May 15, 2026J. Scott Applewhite / APSenate Democrats try to make nice with John Fettermanby Igor Bobic of NOTUSThe party is worried the unpredictable senator could become an independent or Republican.
May 13, 2026Steven Senne / APJohn Fetterman rejects setting limits on Trump’s Iran war powersby Hamed Ahmadi of NOTUSThe Senate rejected a measure 50-49 on Wednesday aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s authority over the military conflict.
May 12, 2026Sue Ogrocki / APOne in five HealthCare.gov enrollees dropped insurance coverage this yearby Paige Winfield Cunningham of NOTUSThe numbers support widespread fears that the end of extra, pandemic-era subsidies would leave Affordable Care Act plans unaffordable for some Americans.
May 11, 2026Matt Rourke / APCongressional Republicans don’t want to talk about gas prices anymoreby Daniella Diaz and Al Weaver of NOTUSThe recent spike has exposed what Democrats call the bad faith of the GOP’s yearslong gas price campaign.
May 8, 2026Commonwealth Media ServicesCongressional Dem campaign’s endorsements in Pa., other races give unselected candidates ammoby Christa Dutton of NOTUSThe Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee weighed in on four primary contests this week, including in Pennsylvania, where it endorsed Bob Brooks.
May 7, 2026Carolyn Kaster / APWhy has GOP US Rep. Bresnahan slowed his prolific stock trading?by Avani Kalra of NOTUSA Bresnahan spokesperson did not respond when asked what prompted him to stop trading individual stocks, but one observer says reelection concerns are a likely factor.
April 30, 2026Jenny Kane / APFar from the original in Philadelphia, these fans hunt for the Liberty Bell replica in each stateby Associated PressThere’s a small but growing group of “bell hunters” who’ve dedicated themselves to visiting as many of the replicas as possible
April 27, 2026Mariam Zuhaib / APCongress’ Pa. delegation is mostly millionaires. Here’s where their money comes from.by Avani Kalra, Shifra Dayak, and Amelia Benavides-Colón of NOTUSThe majority of members have built their wealth through stock holdings, cryptocurrency, or real estate — or a combination of all of those.
April 23, 2026Pablo Martinez Monsivais / APLawmakers say World Cup security in Pa., other states hampered by DHS shutdownby Torrence Banks and Avani Kalra of NOTUSThe department has operated without full funding from Congress for more than 100 days over the past year, interrupting agencies’ coordination with city and state officials and delaying trainings
April 21, 2026Margo Reed for Spotlight PAThe Shapiro admin’s unusual challenge to new ICE detention centers could take years to play outby Molly Bilinski for Spotlight PAA state agency has barred ICE from connecting to water or sewer via orders that the feds have appealed.
April 14, 2026Mark Schiefelbein / APCongress’ ultrarich think they can sell an affordability agendaby Emily Kennard of NOTUSMembers tasked with translating broad economic promises about affordability into law, while defending the results back home, are often many tax brackets removed from their constituents.
April 10, 2026Margo Reed / For Spotlight PAICE appeals Pa. orders blocking water and sewer to planned detention centersby Gabriela Martínez of Spotlight PA and Molly Bilinski for Spotlight PAMeanwhile, Upper Bern Township officials say they’ve heard nothing new about the planned facility amid a federal review of ICE warehouse contracts.
April 10, 2026Marc Levy / APVulnerable midterm Republicans focus on tax cuts as opponents spotlight rising gas pricesby Avani Kalra of NOTUSOne of Republican Rep. Scott Perry’s Democratic opponents highlighted his support for Trump and the Iran war.
April 9, 2026Steve Helber / APProtesters rally against planned Maryland immigration detention facility that's now pausedby Associated PressDHS' plan for the Washington County building is paused — mired in a court battle like some of the other warehouse-to-detention projects across the U.S.
April 7, 2026Trump admin terminates agreements to protect transgender students with Pa. district, other schoolsby Associated PressSchools are no longer obligated to train faculty on using preferred pronouns and allow students to use bathrooms that align with their gender identity.
April 6, 2026Joed Viera / For Spotlight PAPa. county jails earn millions of dollars detaining immigrants for ICEby Kate Huangpu and Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAPartnerships between Pennsylvania counties and ICE are receiving new attention as the president executes a mass deportation campaign.
April 1, 2026Pablo Martinez Monsivais / APTrump administration halts $1 billion immigration warehouse expansion amid backlashby Associated PressThe Department of Homeland Security is pausing the purchase of new warehouses intended to house immigrants as it scrutinizes all contracts signed under Kristi Noem.
March 31, 2026Matt Rourke / APPenn must give Trump admin information on Jewish employees, judge ordersby Associated PressA federal judge has ordered the University of Pennsylvania to hand over records about Jewish employees on campus to a federal agency as part of an investigation into antisemitic discrimination.
March 31, 2026Yuki Iwamura/APCiting PA crash, federal safety regulators say hands-free driving doesn’t improve safetyby Associated PressThe NTSB cited two fatal crashes, including one in Philadelphia, and took issue with claims by some car companies.
March 31, 2026Commonwealth Media ServicesAs Shapiro opposes ICE detention centers, his GOP opponent for Pa. governor stays vagueby Jaxon White of Spotlight PAGarrity’s campaign for Pa. governor notes she commanded an Iraq internment camp, accuses Shapiro of “grandstanding” in opposing ICE detention
March 30, 2026Matt Smith / For Spotlight PATrump administration remains open to placing federal agents at polls during midtermsby Adora Brown and Manuela Silva of NOTUSElection officials and lawmakers are alarmed that the administration hasn’t been clear about the circumstances under which it would send federal agents to the polls in November.
March 28, 2026Andrew Medichini / AP'No Kings' rallies draw crowds across Europe, US, including in Pennsylvaniaby Associated PressTens of thousands of people joined “No Kings” protests across the U.S. and in Europe Saturday, including in Pennsylvania’s electorally competitive suburbs.
Spotlight PA Event: The past, present, and future of Pennsylvania’s mental health care systemsAttendJul 30