Nov. 14, 2024Georgianna Sutherland / For Spotlight PAPennsylvania, most of its municipalities on track to decide how to spend pandemic relief funding as deadline nearsby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeThe commonwealth and most of its cities, counties, and local governments are on track to obligate about $13 billion in American Rescue Plan Act pandemic relief dollars.
Oct. 23, 2024Georgianna Sutherland / For Spotlight PARoutine process or ‘financial scandal’? Legal bills divide some elected officials involved in Pa. county solar projectby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeAn intergovernmental cooperation among 10 public agencies to purchase solar power, likely the first of its kind in Pennsylvania, has been embroiled in controversy.
Sept. 20, 2024Georgianna Sutherland / For Spotlight PALawsuits are a last resort when local government goes wrong. Here's why one Pennsylvanian is suing.by Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeBringing a civil lawsuit is one of the few ways Pennsylvanians can force corrective action from municipalities, but it’s often costly and difficult.
Aug. 15, 2024Courtesy frankieleon / Flickr Creative CommonsDid Pa. township missing $532K in taxpayer dollars have financial safeguards? Officials won't say.by Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeLocal officials believe a suspended employee may have stolen more than half a million dollars in public funds. No one has been charged with a crime.
Aug. 9, 2024Commonwealth Media ServicesA half million dollars in taxpayer money went missing in this Pa. townshipby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeA Gregg Township, Centre County, official said Thursday that supervisors previously “didn’t see” bank and credit card statements.
Aug. 5, 2024Min Xian / Spotlight PAElk County 911 radio upgrades in jeopardy due to property owners’ legal disputeby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeA temporary 911 tower is at the center of a legal dispute. The ongoing litigation could threaten the county’s ability to use American Rescue Plan Act funding to build a permanent structure.
July 18, 2024Bob Bushell / U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionThis year’s budget overturns local bans on rodeos. No Pa. lawmaker will take credit.by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAThe provision was quietly included in a budget-enabling code bill and appears to target Pittsburgh.
July 11, 2024Nate Smallwood for Spotlight PASecret bank accounts, $1M deficit plague city as official's corruption case is repeatedly delayedby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State College and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAAs the federal case against former DuBois City Manager Herm Suplizio is beset by delays, officials in the small Pennsylvania city confront myriad challenges.
May 10, 2024Georgianna Sutherland / For Spotlight PAState College area encouraged to consolidate to improve economy almost 3 decades after failed attemptby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeVoters in the State College area rejected a proposal to consolidate three of its local governments in 1995. Is there renewed interest nearly three decades later?
May 1, 2024Dan Nott / For Spotlight PAWhy a thorny union of two Pa. municipalities can still succeed despite lack of legal remedyby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeThe ongoing consolidation between DuBois and Sandy Township is only the second one in Pennsylvania after lawmakers standardized the process. It has shown the limits of state law.
March 13, 2024Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPa. local governments want long-term state money for cybersecurity as federal grant fills the gapby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeFederal cybersecurity funding included in Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal isn’t enough to help local governments keep up with rising costs, officials say.
Feb. 2, 2024Georgianna Sutherland / For Spotlight PA5 takeaways from Spotlight PA’s event on the DuBois corruption case and local government oversightby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeSpotlight PA hosted a virtual discussion on Jan. 25 about the corruption case in DuBois, Pennsylvania, and what it revealed about ethical conduct and fiscal responsibility in local government.
Jan. 5, 2024Min Xian / Spotlight PADuBois paid more than $307,000 in legal fees related to city manager corruption investigation, records showby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeDuBois initially denied an open records request related to how much it spent on legal bills related to the criminal probes of Herm Suplizio. Spotlight PA won an appeal to access the information.
Dec. 21, 2023Daniel Fishel / For Spotlight PAPa. voters play little role in choosing who fills vacant municipal officesby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State College and Halie Kines of the Centre Daily TimesSpotlight PA and the Centre Daily Times reviewed 3 years of meeting minutes from Centre County municipalities to determine how involved the public was in filling vacancies on governing boards.
Nov. 23, 2023Nate Smallwood / For Spotlight PABig bonuses, vast powers, and corruption charges: 5 takeaways from an investigation into DuBois’ Herm Suplizioby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State College and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAA Spotlight PA investigation delved into how suspended DuBois City Manager Herm Suplizio ended up at the center of one of the most sweeping political corruption cases in recent years in Pennsylvania.
Nov. 17, 2023Nate Smallwood / For Spotlight PAHow Spotlight PA reported its investigation into suspended DuBois City Manager Herm Suplizioby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State College and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAA 7-month investigation by Spotlight PA found that Herm Suplizio, the suspended DuBois city manager, helped make the city a success story while allegedly stealing from it.
Nov. 16, 2023Screenshot via YouTubeFeds take over corruption case against embattled Pa. city managerby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeHerm Suplizio, the suspended city manager of DuBois, Pennsylvania, has been charged by federal authorities with conspiracy and federal program fraud.
Nov. 9, 2023Nate Smallwood / For Spotlight PAThe inside story of how one man remade a small Pa. city while allegedly ripping off his neighborsby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State College and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAIn Herm Suplizio’s quest to make DuBois, Pa., a destination, state prosecutors allege that he lined his own pockets with hundreds of thousands of public and nonprofit dollars.
Oct. 17, 2023Leise Hook / For Spotlight PASeveral Pa. pension systems kept working with financial adviser after SEC settlementby Ed Mahon of Spotlight PAFederal officials accused a Pennsylvania adviser of causing public retirement funds to invest in a class of shares with higher fees. In the settlement, he did not admit or deny the allegations.
Oct. 4, 2023Min Xian / Spotlight PAMore corruption charges brought against suspended DuBois city managerby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Brad Bumsted of LNP | LancasterOnlineHerm Suplizio now faces a total of 23 criminal counts, including ones that involve a mysterious bag of cash delivered to city hall.
Aug. 21, 2023Georgianna Sutherland / For Spotlight PANew bills would let Pennsylvania local governments hire firms as managersby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeAdvocates say allowing Pennsylvania municipalities to outsource management could improve public services while saving taxpayers money.
Aug. 16, 2023Min Xian / Spotlight PASpotlight PA seeks to unseal key document in DuBois official’s corruption caseby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Brad Bumsted of LNP | LancasterOnlineTogether with three partner newsrooms, Spotlight PA has asked a judge to release the grand jury presentment in the case against Herm Suplizio.
Aug. 15, 2023Georgianna Sutherland / For Spotlight PA5 takeaways from our event on holding local Pennsylvania officials accountableby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeLocal government officials, whether elected or appointed, shape residents’ lives in a range of ways. Here’s how to become involved in your municipality and what to do when problems arise.
Aug. 11, 2023Commonwealth Media ServicesHow a recent court ruling could put the brakes on water and sewer privatization in Pennsylvaniaby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAPennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court found a state commission should not have approved the sale of a municipal sewer system to a private company.
July 31, 2023Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPa. begins to miss education, human services payments as budget impasse continuesby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAA dispute over private school vouchers has left Pennsylvania’s budget undone. The consequences for schools and counties are starting to emerge.
July 5, 2023Min Xian / Spotlight PARocky governance persists in tiny Pa. borough that hired Tamir Rice’s killerby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeTioga borough’s new officials promised better leadership following last July’s controversial hire, but misuse of public funds and complaints of hostility continue to trouble the small town.
June 7, 2023Georgianna Sutherland / For Spotlight PAA Pa. town seeks to pause consolidation with its scandal ridden neighbor cityby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeIn a rare move, Sandy Township argues that Herm Suplizio’s alleged theft of public funds in DuBois and the city’s lack of oversight justify a delay of consolidation proceedings.
May 30, 2023Daniel Fishel / Spotlight PAA DuBois official was arrested on corruption charges. Then nearly $100K in cash arrived at city hall.by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeThe mysterious money was apparently stored at a local nonprofit then delivered weeks after former DuBois City Manager Herm Suplizio was arrested on corruption charges.
May 22, 2023Dan Nott / For Spotlight PAHow Local Government Works: Are government officials’ personal social media posts public records?by Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeA recent decision by the Pa. Commonwealth Court established a new three-factor test to judge when social posts on public officials' personal accounts are public records.
May 17, 2023Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAProposed Pa. budget nearly quadruples funding for local government cooperationby Min Xian of Spotlight PA State CollegeA 266% funding increase for Pennsylvania’s Municipal Assistance Program could help local governments spend tax dollars more efficiently while providing public services collectively.
Booklight PA: Read ancestral odyssey 'If Sons, Then Heirs' and discuss with author Lorene CaryAttendNov 18