Pennsylvania category, Page 50
A new Democratic group and one libertarian billionaire are flooding the Pa. Supreme Court race with cash
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Political spending has kicked into high gear in the final stretch of Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court race. After...
Meet the podcaster, author, and hairstylist bringing Pa.’s haunted history to life
This story first appeared in PA Local, a weekly newsletter by Spotlight PA taking a fresh, positive look at the incredible people, beautiful places, and delicious food of Pennsylvania. Sign up for free here. Marlin Bressi has an affinity for stories of the strange-but-true variety, and he’ll tell you there’s...
Pennsylvania’s voting law is filled with obsolete provisions, troublesome conflicts
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s Election Code was written nearly 100 years ago, and some of its provisions are even older...
Pa. Election 2023: When to expect results, how officials are preparing, voting guides
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Officials and experts in Pennsylvania are confident that new technology and growing familiarity with mail ballots among...
York man takes plea deal in Capitol riots
A York County man charged with being part of the Jan. 6 riots at the United States Capitol Building signed a plea deal with federal prosecutors. Cameron Campanella II, 46, of York, signed the document in which he agreed to plead guilty to disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted...
Man sentenced to jail in Lake Erie fishing tournament scandal facing new charges
HERMITAGE, Pa. — One of two men who admitted stuffing fish with lead weights and fish fillets last year in an attempt to win thousands of dollars in a walleye fishing tournament on Lake Erie in Ohio is facing new charges in Pennsylvania. Chase Cominsky, 36, of Hermitage was charged...
Tree of Life synagogue massacre led to little action by Pa. Legislature
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. HARRISBURG — Five months after 11 Jewish worshippers were murdered in a Pittsburgh synagogue, Cheryl Klein rose during a rare joint session of the Pennsylvania...
Multiple people injured after tent collapses at Pennsylvania Amish wedding
Multiple people were injured Thursday after a tent that was set up for an Amish wedding in Pennsylvania partially collapsed. The incident occurred around 9 a.m. along the 900 block of Lower George’s Valley Road in Gregg Township. About 300 to 400 people were inside the tent when it collapsed,...
Penn State suspends ‘Skulls’ fraternity over ‘widespread’ hazing violations
For the second time this month, Penn State University has suspended a fraternity over hazing violations. The school announced on Wednesday that the Psi Chapter of Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity is on indefinite suspension for hazing violations and conduct prohibited by the university’s anti-hazing policy. In a statement, school officials...
Putting an armed security officer in every school gains Pa. Senate panel’s support
Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering requiring every public school building to have a trained armed security officer present during school hours. The Senate Education Committee on a party-line vote sent legislation to the full Senate for consideration that would impose this mandate, starting in 2024-25. Having an armed school police officer,...
Judge reinstates murder charge against Philadelphia police officer in fatal shooting of motorist
PHILADELPHIA — A judge on Wednesday reinstated all charges, including a murder count, against a former police officer who shot and killed a driver through a rolled-up car window — a confrontation police initially described as the officer shooting the driver after he lunged at him with a knife outside...
Pa. Superior Court candidate Maria Battista suffered broken collarbone when struck by car, campaign says
Pennsylvania Superior Court candidate Maria Battista has been released from a hospital and is “doing well” after she was injured Sunday when a car hit her, according to her campaign. A statement issued by the campaign Tuesday afternoon said that Battista, a Clarion County Republican, was “putting out her campaign...
High-ranking Penn State executive accused of strangling woman, placed on administrative leave
A high-ranking Penn State executive who served as a member of the President’s Council was charged Monday with a felony count of strangulation after an argument with a woman turned physical. Keith Brautigam, the university’s interim vice president for information technology and chief information officer, was charged after a fight...
Man arrested, accused of secretly recording 2 women as they showered in Penn State dorm
A Boalsburg man was arrested last week after two women alleged he surreptitiously recorded them as they showered in a Penn State dorm. Xinyu Li, 24, admitted to recording the women earlier this month after illegally entering Hamilton Hall, Penn State police wrote in an affidavit of probable cause. Li...
Pa. Senate passes bill opponents worry targets books about LGBTQ+, marginalized people
HARRISBURG — A bill passed the GOP-controlled state Senate to require Pennsylvania parents to opt in their children to access book deemed sexually explicit after more than an hour of passionate floor debate Tuesday. The bill passed 29-21, with objection from most Democrats. It goes to the Democrat-controlled House, where...
Officials celebrate Pa.’s 2 hydrogen hubs, but many details remain shrouded in secrecyVideo
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania officials are celebrating the Biden administration’s announcement that it will invest $1.6 billion to build hydrogen hubs partially located in the state...
Theft of 2 million dimes off truckload from U.S. Mint leaves 4 facing federal charges
PHILADELPHIA — Federal authorities have released more details and unsealed charges in the theft of more than 2 million dimes earlier this year from a tractor-trailer that had picked up the coins from the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. The truck driver was bound for Miami when he pulled into a...
Panera Bread sued after Pa. student dies from ‘charged lemonade’
Panera Bread has been sued after the death of a University of Pennsylvania student. The student — who had a heart condition — had reportedly drank one of the chain’s “charged lemonades” prior to passing away. NBC News reports how the lawsuit was filed Monday in the Philadelphia Court of...
Bad tech, staffing shortages hinder Pa. as it reassesses health care coverage for thousands
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania is struggling with faulty technology, persistent staffing shortages, and flawed procedures as it reassesses health care coverage for hundreds of thousands of...
3rd person dies after tanker truck with jet fuel hits 2 cars on Pennsylvania Turnpike, police say
WORCESTER — Authorities say a third person has died as a result of a weekend crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike involving a tanker truck carrying jet fuel and a pair of stopped cars. State police said the crash occurred in the northbound lanes of I-476 on the turnpike’s Northeast Extension...
Allegheny County executive, prosecutor, as well as Philly mayor race, could offer lessons for 2024 election
Local elections in Democratic strongholds at both ends of Pennsylvania next month could show how voters feel about progressive candidates and issues such as abortion and crime ahead of the 2024 election. Philadelphia will get a new mayor, and Allegheny County will see a new executive. Voters there will also...
Turnover has plagued local election offices since 2020. Luzerne County is trying to recover.
WILKES-BARRE — The polls had just opened for last year’s midterms in Pennsylvania when the phones began ringing at the election office in Luzerne County. Polling places were running low on paper to print ballots. Volunteers were frustrated, and voters were worried they might not be able to vote. Emily...
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office will pay $295K to settle sexual harassment allegation against top aide
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. HARRISBURG — Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office agreed to pay $295,000 to quietly settle a sexual harassment complaint against one of his most trusted advisors, according...
PennWest, other universities weigh options for unused student housing
“Live here, live well.” That’s the online pitch promoting “Vulcan Village” apartments near PennWest University’s California campus in Washington County. The student complex has a resort-inspired outdoor pool, around-the-clock maintenance and a fitness center. But these days, there aren’t enough students living there. Fewer than half of its 770 beds...
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office quietly settled sexual harassment allegation against top aide
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds the powerful to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office quietly entered into a settlement agreement to resolve allegations of sexual harassment...
