July 11, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesA popular, bipartisan solar program to save Pa. schools on energy costs might soon go darkby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PATrump’s tax and spending bill will end federal support, and state lawmakers are unsure if they’ll renew their portion.
July 9, 2025Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPrices on certain goods, services could rise as Pa. lawmakers consider axing some sales tax exemptionsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAWith the budget overdue and facing significant deficits, one GOP leader says he’s willing to consider changes.
July 7, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesWages for low paid home care workers could rise under Pa. budget proposal. Is it enough?by Vincent DiFonzo for Spotlight PAThe proposal from Gov. Josh Shapiro would add $21 million to the budget for certain home care workers. But advocates say much more is needed before Pa. pay is competitive.
July 3, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesTrump’s massive tax bill could cost Pa. $800M to keep food benefits program goingby Angela Couloumbis and Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PATwo million Pennsylvanians rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, many of them children and older adults.
July 2, 2025Kalliyan Winder / Next Generation NewsroomLawmakers loosen restrictions on Pa. Lottery payouts to boost salesby Abigail Hakas of Next Generation NewsroomA recently approved bill would allow the state lottery to spend more money on payouts. Supporters say the change will increase profits and funding for senior services.
July 2, 2025Sarah Anne Hughes / Spotlight PACyber school facing wrongful death suit says it’s ‘unreasonable’ for teachers to see students weeklyby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAThe wellness check requirement, passed into state law last year, was inspired in part by the death of a 12-year-old Commonwealth Charter Academy student.
June 30, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesShapiro expects budget negotiators will reach a deal ‘very soon’ as deadline passesby Associated Press and Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PATalks between top lawmakers went through the weekend, Gov. Josh Shapiro told reporters on Monday.
June 30, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesThe unknown costs of Amazon’s $20B promise to build 2 data centers in Pennsylvaniaby Stephen Caruso and Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAMany key details, like the centers’ full impact on electricity supply and prices, and the amount of tax revenue the state will forfeit to Amazon, are still unknown.
June 27, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesFights over transit, skill games, and overall spending mean the Pa. budget will again be lateby Stephen Caruso and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAImpasses don’t mean much unless they stretch for more than a few weeks. Then, they start having serious consequences for schools, libraries, and more.
June 25, 2025Vincent DiFonzo / For Spotlight PAFree school lunch in Pennsylvania? Lawmakers want it to be part of the budget.by Vincent DiFonzo for Spotlight PAAdvocates say free school lunch would produce healthier, more engaged students — plus would save kids from stigma, and parents from debt.
June 24, 2025Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAGOP leaders accused of pressuring lobbyists to drop gaming client in 'ugly' Pa. budget fightby Stephen Caruso and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAIn a rare public rift, powerful skill games operator Pace-O-Matic is accusing the Pa. Senate of forcing lobbyists to drop them as a client.
June 24, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesShortage of new teachers is hurting Pa. kids’ academic prospects, report saysby Elena Eisenstadt for Spotlight PAPoor Pa. school districts are leaning heavily on less-rigorous emergency certifications to fill teaching gaps, a Penn State report found.
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 20, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesOlder, disabled Pennsylvanians could face higher fares for on-demand rides without more fundingby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAShared-ride services provide key transportation services in rural areas. It’s a little-known potential casualty of Pennsylvania’s transit deadlock.
June 11, 2025Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAMinimum wage would be $15 in big counties, $12 in smaller ones under novel bill passed by Pa. Houseby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAThe proposal is designed to appeal to Republican senators, and comes after Pa. Democrats unsuccessfully tried for years to pass a statewide $15 minimum wage
June 10, 2025Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAPennsylvania House advances bills to provide relief for abuse survivorsby Associated PressLawmakers advanced both a constitutional amendment and a traditional bill in a bid to create a two-year window for lawsuits.
June 9, 2025Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAKey Pa. senator says bipartisan energy bills on hold until contested climate program settledby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAThe legislation would rewrite an unused tax credit in an effort to boost energy production, in PA plus promote and regulate solar energy.
June 4, 2025Nate Smallwood / For Spotlight PACyber charter reform that could save public schools $616M advances with unclear future in Pa. Senateby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAAt least some of its concepts have support in both chambers, but the issue has always been complicated by the commonwealth’s tricky education politics.
June 2, 2025Jenny Kane / APAI boom drives states to offer big incentives for data center developmentby Associated PressIn Pennsylvania, lawmakers are writing legislation to fast-track permitting for data centers.
June 2, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesFederal uncertainty complicates Pa. budget haggling over transit, educationby Stephen Caruso, Kate Huangpu, and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PARepublicans want to balance the books and be picky about spending, while Democrats say large investments in public education and transit are needed.
May 30, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesOne question dogs Pa. cannabis debate: Should big businesses have a leg up?by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PABalancing the desire to get recreational cannabis off the ground quickly, while giving small business a chance in the market, is Harrisburg’s toughest task.
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 21, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesPressure from powerful hospital lobby prompts lawmakers to limit proposed merger crackdownby Stephen Caruso and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PANew legislation aims to restrict private equity's influence in hospital mergers, excluding nonprofits after pressure from industry lobby.
May 19, 2025Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PATop Pa. lawmakers took $119K in gifts, trips, and more from those seeking to influence them in 2024by Stephen Caruso and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAThat includes trips to Israel funded by the charity arm of AIPAC and to Taiwan funded by the government.
May 13, 2025Ed Mahon / For Spotlight PABill to sell legal marijuana through state stores rejected by GOP-led panelby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAA leading GOP supporter of legal marijuana said the proposal would shut out the private sector and create logistical challenges.
May 13, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesPowerful health systems oppose a growing effort to prevent hospital closures through more oversightby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAA bill with bipartisan support would give the Pennsylvania attorney general oversight of hospital mergers and closures. The powerful hospital lobby opposes it.
May 12, 2025Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAExtra money offered this Pa. school district a lifeline. Whether more is coming is an open question.by Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAScranton School District’s new state funding helped it compete with the cyber charters that are burdening its budget, bring back extracurriculars, and invest in STEM.
May 7, 2025Ed Mahon / Spotlight PADemocrats send ‘dead-on-arrival’ marijuana legalization bill to Pa. Senateby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAThe bill would create state stores where cannabis is sold to Pennsylvania adults, a legally untested model that Republicans oppose.
May 7, 2025Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PABill to ban transgender athletes in girls' sports passes Pa. Senate, but unlikely to reach governorby Associated PressThe bill passed, 32-18, with five Democrats crossing party lines to join with all 27 Republicans in voting "yes."
May 6, 2025Courtesy of Amy Kobeta of Children FirstPaid family leave is a work perk for Pa. lawmakers but probably not youby Sarah Boden for Spotlight PAAccess to paid leave in Pennsylvania is generally determined by where residents live and work. This includes the legislature, which grants paid parental leave to House staffers but not Senate ones.
Booklight PA: Read ancestral odyssey 'If Sons, Then Heirs' and discuss with author Lorene CaryAttendNov 18