Oct. 31, 2025Kate Huangpu / Spotlight PAAll the major players in Pa.’s budget impasse met in person this week. Will a deal follow?by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAThe talks are occurring as Pennsylvania’s budget approaches four months late, and counties and nonprofits increasingly sound the alarm about the impasse.
Oct. 27, 2025Nate Smallwood / For Spotlight PASchool districts forced to cut programs, take out loans as Pa. budget impasse continuesby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PADistricts in poorer areas are the hardest hit by the budget impasse, as they tend to rely more heavily on the state for funding.
Oct. 24, 2025Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PABudget impasse continues as Pa. lawmakers travel abroad and hold pricey fundraisersby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAHarrisburg has seen more than 130 legislative fundraisers and two international trips since the June 30 budget deadline.
Oct. 15, 2025Stephen Caruso / Spotlight PAFinancial pain for many Pa. service providers will continue after budget impasse endsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAPennsylvania has made $40 million on frozen cash during the budget impasse. But it won’t pass on interest to service providers once that funding is released.
Oct. 8, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesPennsylvania’s budget impasse hits 100 days, and a new proposal seems unlikely to end itby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAState House Democrats passed a $50.3 billion plan, while GOP leaders again emphasized spending concerns.
Oct. 1, 2025Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PATaxpayers could end up footing the bill as counties weigh borrowing to survive Pa. budget impasseby Stephen Caruso and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PASome counties are draining their own reserves, cutting services, or laying off workers as state lawmakers continue debating the budget.
Sept. 26, 2025Peter Morrison / APLawmakers, Shapiro admin officials in Ireland during budget crisis for Steelers game, trade talksby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAAttendees include Kim Ward, the top lawmaker in the state Senate. She said the trip allows her to work on behalf of “Pennsylvania and Steeler Nation.”
Sept. 19, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesCuts, fare hikes, canceled expansions: How failed Pa. transit funding talks could affect small systemsby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAThe funding scheme keeping money flowing to Philly, Pittsburgh transit systems may not be available to smaller agencies across Pennsylvania.
Sept. 18, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesA big transit deal is off the table, but Pa.’s budget still isn’t done. What gives?by Stephen Caruso and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAAll of the major players are still fighting for their priorities, and no one seems ready to make the next move.
Sept. 8, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesShapiro admin approves major SEPTA cash infusion to reverse cuts without legislative actionby Stephen Caruso and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAThe request comes shortly after a court ruling that is forcing SEPTA to reverse major service cuts.
Sept. 5, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesSEPTA agrees to reverse major service cuts that were struck down by judgeby Associated PressThe transit agency slashed services to make up for a $200 million budget deficit, but the move was successfully challenged in court. Restoration of the cuts could take 10 days, SEPTA estimates.
Sept. 5, 2025Courtesy Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance RespectSmall programs like rape crisis centers bear heavy burden of Pa.’s budget impasseby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PASafety net programs across the commonwealth are laying off staff, cutting back services, or taking out loans.
Aug. 29, 2025Gene J. Puskar / APUber says it has a solution to Pa.’s public transit funding problem. There’s a big catch.by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAUber wants Pa. lawmakers to officially classify its drivers as independent contractors, stripping them of certain rights.
Aug. 29, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesSEPTA service cuts, the late Pa. budget, and what you need to knowby Spotlight PA StaffMore funding for SEPTA is tied up in Pennsylvania’s two-month-late budget. Lawmakers may be getting closer to a solution.
Aug. 27, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesShapiro’s office pitches $49.9B compromise budget in bid to end 2-month impasseby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PADemocrats support the proposal, which would increase Pennsylvania’s spending by 5% instead of the 8% Shapiro originally wanted.
Aug. 25, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesShapiro open to using special transit funding to combat SEPTA cuts as part of broader packageby Stephen Caruso and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAHowever, the governor has rejected a GOP idea to use some of the transit money for roads and bridges.
Aug. 20, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesBelt tightening is underway for libraries, foster care, and more as Pa. budget sits unfinishedby Angela Couloumbis and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAThe budget is more than seven weeks late and there’s no sign of a deal in Harrisburg. That’s starting to mean cuts for funding recipients.
Aug. 19, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesAmtrak: SEPTA cuts could affect service all across Pennsylvaniaby Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAImpacted Amtrak lines could include the Keystone and Pennsylvanian, which serve Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and Philadelphia.
Aug. 15, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesThe conflicting visions to fund SEPTA and Pa.'s other public transit agencies, explainedby Kate Huangpu and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PALawmakers have missed SEPTA’s deadline to act to forestall cuts, divided over where money for transit should come from.
Aug. 12, 2025A sign that reads Senate inside the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg.Budget impasse deepens as Democrats reject new GOP pitch to fund transit, government operationsby Kate Huangpu and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAA spokesperson for Gov. Josh Shapiro said the transit bill was “not a serious, long-term proposal” and called lawmakers to return to the drawing board.
Aug. 11, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesBudget ‘blame game’ continues between Pa. House, Senate as public transit cuts loomby Kate Huangpu and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PAThe Pa. House has passed a transit funding bill, but the Senate may favor a stopgap deal for Harrisburg’s six-week-late budget.
Aug. 6, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesDemocrats advance transit funding, new fare evasion rules as SEPTA sets deadline for Pa. legislature to actby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAA new Pa. House bill also allows the state to take on debt for road repairs in a bid to win Republican support.
Aug. 6, 2025Matt Rourke / APNursing home industry fights additional oversight of Wall Street acquisitionsby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAA group that lobbies for the industry says the bill, which aims to prevent the closure of more health care facilities, is duplicative of existing regulations.
July 29, 2025Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PACritical state payments to schools, county child welfare agencies will be delayed as budget impasse continuesby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PAPennsylvania’s budget was due June 30, but lawmakers disagree over state spending and still haven’t reached a deal.
July 25, 2025Commonwealth Media ServicesThe challenges facing Pa.’s huge, old road system, and what it means for the budgetby Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PARepublicans want road money in exchange for more public transit funding, but resources are tight and a deal remains tricky.