Pennsylvania

Pennsylvanians should get vaccine advice from professional medical associations, not Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Department of Health and Human Services, state officials said Monday. The Pennsylvania Department of Health is telling patients and doctors to consult three organizations for guidance on shots: the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy...

HARRISBURG — Despite the contentious issue of mass transit funding being off the table, top Pennsylvania legislative leaders are still unable to agree on the most basic question when it comes to state budget negotiations: how much money they should spend. The state’s cooling financial outlook — plus federal uncertainty...

This article is made possible through Spotlight PA’s collaboration with Votebeat, a nonpartisan news organization covering local election administration and voting. Sign up for Votebeat’s free newsletters here. When Pennsylvania’s highest court gathered in Philadelphia on Sept. 10 to hear arguments on whether voters must write the date on their...

HARRISBURG — The White House said Monday that it intervened under the terms of a 3-month-old national security agreement with Japan-based Nippon Steel to block a decision to stop processing raw steel at U.S. Steel’s Granite City Works plant in Illinois. In a statement, the White House said Commerce Secretary...

In an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” Sunday, Gov. Josh Shapiro called on the nation “to universally condemn political violence, no matter where it is, whether it’s against Charlie Kirk or someone else. ” NBC’s Kristen Welker asked Shapiro to speak on the arson attempt at the Pennsylvania...

HARRISBURG — The three detectives killed this week in one of Pennsylvania’s deadliest days for police this century are men who will be missed for their humility, hard work and willingness to help others, say those who knew them. The detectives — Mark Baker, Cody Becker and Isaiah Emenheiser —...

Excerpts from Kamala Harris’ book “107 Days” have gotten pushback from other prominent Democrats, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who was once in consideration to be her running mate during her presidential campaign. In the memoir, Harris inferred Shapiro seemed overly confident. She portrayed Shapiro as too eager for the...

Pennsylvania has joined a coalition of northeastern states in an effort to develop public health and immunization guidelines amid concerns about the direction of federal health agencies. The group will meet regularly to coordinate on public health efforts such as emergency preparedness and the creation of immunization guidelines. “Pennsylvania is...

NORTH CODORUS — A suspected stalker armed with a rifle hid inside his ex-girlfriend’s home in the rolling farmland of southern Pennsylvania and ambushed police officers who came to arrest him, killing three of them in a shootout, a prosecutor said Thursday. Two other officers were seriously wounded before police...

Thursday morning, law enforcement personnel are investigating after a shooting killed three police officers and wounded two others in Southcentral Pennsylvania the day before. Here’s what is known so far: York County officers from as-yet unidentified departments were following up on a domestic-related investigation that began Tuesday. They went to...

Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity on Wednesday accused Gov. Josh Shapiro of making the assassination of Charlie Kirk “about himself” during his keynote speech at an anti-hate conference earlier this week. Then, in a separate announcement released one hour later, Garrity, a Republican challenging Shapiro for governor in 2026, also said...

U.S. Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick condemned political violence and extreme rhetoric during a joint appearance Tuesday on Fox News’ “Special Report.” The senators said their joint appearance was an attempt to turn down the political temperature following last week’s assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. “I feel like...

A Perry County man shot and killed his wife after a Sunday argument, leaving her body on the floor where their son found her the next morning, police said in court documents. “I guess I shot her by accident,” Douglas Snyder initially told Pennsylvania State Police when they arrived around...

The nearly century-old Valley Forge Military Academy is set to close for good in May, following years of declining enrollment, numerous abuse scandals, and allegations of financial mismanagement. In a statement posted online Monday, the board of trustees said the academy’s future “is no longer viable” due to rising tuition...

Hundreds of Pennsylvania school district administrators are calling for cyber charter funding reform to be included in the state’s 2025-26 budget. A letter featuring signatures from administrators at 215 schools was sent to state legislators Thursday — calling for a cyber charter funding formula that reflects the true cost of...

In 2020, Philadelphia fired a police lieutenant who sent sexual text messages and a pornographic video to two subordinates, then asked one to lie to investigators. Whether that termination stands was the subject of a state Supreme Court argument Thursday in Philadelphia that could have statewide implications — including in...

Gov. Josh Shapiro has ordered United States and Commonwealth flags on all facilities, public buildings, and grounds across Pennsylvania to fly at half-staff as a mark of respect for the memory of Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist who was shot dead at a university in Utah on Wednesday. The flags...

HOLLIDAYSBURG — A Blair County judge is asking a U.S. Attorney in New York to release Luigi Mangione to U.S. Marshals for a Blair County hearing on forgery and weapon charges. It comes as the U.S. Department of Justice has indicated that it will not release Mangione from the New...

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 — A national political group is spending tens of thousands of dollars to urge voters to reject new...

Three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices dismissed suggestions that their decisions were political as they made their case for retention Monday in Philadelphia. In a rare public speaking event Justices Kevin Dougherty, David Wecht, and Christine Donohue spoke about their work over the last 10 years on the state Supreme Court...

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration has approved a request from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority to use up to $394 million earmarked for capital improvements to help the deficit-plagued transit agency cover operating costs. Shapiro’s office said in a news release Monday that the move would prevent service cuts at the...

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 — SEPTA has asked the Shapiro administration to tap hundreds of millions of dollars set aside for critical...

Pennsylvania Democrats have elected a new leader after a staggering set of losses in the 2024 elections. Eugene DePasquale, the state’s former auditor general, ran in a special election to replace state Sen. Sharif Street, who represents part of Philadelphia County. Street held the position for five years but resigned...

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 — More than two months in, the effects of Pennsylvania’s budget impasse are compounding. Many of the programs...