Dec. 29, 2025Screenshot of Board of Pardons meetingBoard of Pardons seat left empty after concerns over member’s ‘inappropriate’ questioningby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAOutgoing member John Williams faced criticism from advocates after asking sexual questions and consistently voting no against pardons and commutations.
Nov. 7, 2025Nate Smallwood / For Spotlight PA and PINJSystem for determining if someone is mentally fit for trial in Pa. is in crisis, new report findsby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAThe study found the mentally ill are swept up by low-level criminal offenses and kept in state hospitals too long, confirming a past Spotlight PA report.
Nov. 4, 2025A screenshot from the freesubu.org websiteCourts order ICE not to deport man who spent 43 years in prison before murder case overturnedby Associated PressAn immigration judge stayed Subramanyam Vedam’s deportation until the Bureau of Immigration Appeals decides whether to review his case.
Oct. 29, 2025A screenshot from the freesubu.org websiteA man who spent 43 years in Pa. prison before his conviction was overturned now faces deportationby Associated PressSubramanyam Vedam came to the U.S. legally from India when he was 9 months old. Now, he may be deported after winning a battle for freedom.
Oct. 26, 2025Courtesy of Lincoln UniversityShooting at Lincoln University's homecoming fest in Pennsylvania kills 1 and wounds 6by Associated PressAuthorities say the shooting took place where tents and tables were set up for tailgating and socializing after a football game earlier in the day.
Oct. 2, 2025Screenshot via Compass.dhs.pa.govBeing suspected of child abuse can land you in this Pa. database—even without a convictionby Sarah Boden for Spotlight PAPennsylvania maintains a registry of people convicted and suspected of child abuse and neglect to protect kids. But people get added to the database without a chance to defend themselves.
Sept. 25, 2025Matt Rourke / APThree Pennsylvania detectives killed in ambush remembered as heroes at funeralby Associated PressThe service honored Northern York County Regional Police detectives Cody Michael Becker, Mark Edward Baker, and Isaiah Emenheiser.
Sept. 19, 2025Matt Slocum / APStalking suspect ambushed Pennsylvania police officers, killing 3, prosecutor saysby Associated PressPolice shot the suspect to death in a hail of gunfire that capped a 15-hour ordeal.
Sept. 18, 2025Matt Slocum / APAuthorities identify the suspect in the fatal shooting of 3 Pennsylvania police officersby Associated PressThe officers were killed while following up on a domestic-related investigation that began on Tuesday. Police killed the gunman.
Sept. 17, 2025Commonwealth Media Services3 police officers killed and 2 injured in rural Pennsylvania shootingby Associated PressPolice have not provided any details about who was involved in the shooting.
Sept. 12, 2025Jared Wickerham / For Spotlight PAPa. election 2025: What is judicial retention, and why does it matter for Supreme Court balance?by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA and Carter Walker of VotebeatThree Pennsylvania Supreme Court judges are running in a yes-or-no retention election for another 10-year term.
Sept. 10, 2025Kent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PAAbortion rights at center of Democratic-backed group’s advertising for key Pa. Supreme Court retention electionsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAPennsylvanians for Judicial Fairness gets its funding from labor, trial lawyers, out-of-state billionaires, and “dark money” groups.
Aug. 29, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesRansomware attack targeting Pa. attorney general leads to case delays, takes down some critical internal systemsby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAThe attack has impaired many functions of the agency, as some staff and prosecutors remain unable to access archived emails, files, and more.
Aug. 25, 2025Amanda Fries / Spotlight PARecords reveal officer fired by Pa. borough was subject of $500K false arrest settlementby Amanda Fries of Spotlight PAWyomissing officials fired the officer without revealing his name to the public, possibly violating a Pennsylvania transparency law.
Aug. 21, 2025Matt Slocum / APVillanova says a report of a campus shooter was a 'cruel hoax'by Associated PressPolice responded Thursday to a report of an active shooter on the campus of Villanova University, days before the start of classes.
Aug. 18, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesPeople seeking to clear their record of a criminal conviction can now do so online in Pa.by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAThe state’s new online pardon application aims to speed reviews and expand access for people seeking to clear criminal records.
July 31, 2025Susan L. Angstadt / For Spotlight PAFear grips one of Pa.'s biggest Latino communities as ICE raids take place nearbyby Gabriela Martínez of Spotlight PALarge-scale immigration raids haven’t hit Berks County, but ICE’s presence is still having a chilling effect.
July 24, 2025Courtesy of Berks County JailHow Berks County cooperates with ICE without helping it make arrestsby Gabriela Martínez of Spotlight PAThe county doesn’t have a formal agreement with ICE, but it does honor detainers to temporarily hold people in jail.
July 22, 2025Kent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PAA district attorney is using the death penalty to pressure defendants, petition to Pa. high court claimsby Associated PressTwo defendants suggested a range of actions to limit Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh's discretion.
June 23, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesShapiro says prison closures will save $100M, but critics want Pa. to explore alternativesby Elena Eisenstadt for Spotlight PAGov. Josh Shapiro’s administration has delayed making a final decision on the closures as the plan faces pushback.
June 5, 2025The Sleep Judge / Flickr Creative CommonsParents accused of putting their infants in unsafe sleep positions charged with feloniesby Ann Rejrat for Spotlight PAWhile experts and family advocates said young babies should sleep on their backs without anything in the crib, simply failing to follow the recommendations shouldn’t amount to a crime.
May 29, 2025Nate Smallwood / For Spotlight PAPeople with mental illness can languish in jail. This Pa. county thinks a new mobile clinic can help.by Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAThe move by Allegheny County expands access to treatment for people who can’t aid in their own defense due to mental illness
May 26, 2025Courtesy Pa. House Democrats5 years after George Floyd’s murder, Pa.’s police misconduct database remains full of loopholesby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PASince creating the database, lawmakers have become even less focused on legislating changes to policing or fixing flawed reforms.
May 19, 2025Kent M. Wilhelm / Spotlight PAThese primary judicial races could affect caregiving statewide. 4 court cases show how.by Sarah Boden for Spotlight PAIn recent years, cases heard by the powerful Commonwealth and Superior Courts have changed how public education is funded and created a new legal pathway to parenthood.
May 1, 2025Matt Rourke / APPhilly judge dubbed ‘Whiz Honor’ slapped with complaint over ties to high-end cheesesteak shopby Associated PressThe state Judicial Conduct Board accused Judge Scott DiClaudio of using his status to promote the business, which sells $19 cheesesteaks.
March 21, 2025Emily Scherer / For Spotlight PA. Sources, from left: Commonwealth Media Services; courtesy of Cornelius Harp; via YouTube.GET THE DATA: Spotlight PA makes 25 years of Board of Pardons votes available to the publicby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAThe Board of Pardons meets in public but does not publish records of its commutation votes. Spotlight PA is making that data available for the first time.
Dec. 12, 2024Commonwealth Media ServicesUnder Shapiro, half of clemency recommendations remain unsignedby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAGov. Josh Shapiro has approved about half of the clemency applications recommended to him by the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons in his first two years.
Aug. 21, 2024Commonwealth Media ServicesReport: Pa. State Police pull over drivers at similar rates regardless of a driver’s raceby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PADisparities in searches, seizures remain, but have narrowed
July 16, 2024Former Gov. Tom Wolf / Shared under Creative Commons LicenseThousands of Pa. prisoners endure summer heat without air conditioningby Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PAMultiple state prisons in Pennsylvania lack air conditioning, leaving thousands of incarcerated people at risk during increasingly common high temperatures.
Spotlight PA Event: The past, present, and future of Pennsylvania’s mental health care systemsAttendJul 30