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Angela Couloumbis/Spotlight PA

Angela Couloumbis has covered government, politics, courts and crime for The Philadelphia Inquirer since 1996. She has reported on forest fires in the Rocky Mountains, riots in Washington, D.C. and Cincinnati, the mob’s effort to infiltrate city hall in New Jersey’s poorest city and the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece.

For the past 13 years, she has focused on government and politics in the Pennsylvania State Capitol, shedding light on backroom dealing and corruption. She was part of a two-member reporting team that, in 2014, exposed a secret effort by the state Attorney General’s office to shut down an investigation into lawmakers who accepted envelopes stuffed with cash from an undercover government informant. The reporting led to a series of resignations and criminal convictions over several years. She has spent the past 18 months focused on investigative reporting on the #metoo movement in Pennsylvania. Her coverage has included projects on secret, taxpayer-funded sexual harassment settlements in the Legislature and state government.

Latest by Angela Couloumbis/Spotlight PA


Pa. legislature paid $280K to settle harassment, other claims while requiring secrecy in many cases

Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office has come under fire for similarly agreeing to settle a claim of sexual harassment with a nondisclosure agreement.

By Angela Couloumbis/Spotlight PA

How Spotlight PA reported its investigation into suspended DuBois City Manager Herm Suplizio

A 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.

By Min Xian/SpotlightPA and Angela Couloumbis/Spotlight PA

Feds take over corruption case against embattled Pa. city manager

Herm Suplizio, the suspended city manager of DuBois, has been charged by federal authorities with conspiracy and federal program fraud.

By Min Xian/SpotlightPA and Angela Couloumbis/Spotlight PA

Updated: October 23, 2023 | 8:56 am

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office will pay $295K to settle sexual harassment allegation against top aide

The settlement, paid for using state funds, came after a top aide to Shapiro was accused of sexually harassing a female subordinate.
By Angela Couloumbis/Spotlight PA and Katie Meyer/Spotlight PA

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office quietly settled sexual harassment allegation against top aide

The settlement included a confidentiality clause, Spotlight PA has learned, a practice that has garnered widespread scrutiny following the #MeToo movement.

By Angela Couloumbis/Spotlight PA

Inside Spotlight PA’s fight to unseal lobbyist communications with the legislature

The PA legislature says its communications with lobbyists should be secret. Spotlight PA is making a case that the state’s right-to-know law says otherwise.
By Angela Couloumbis/Spotlight PA

Scandals, power struggles and policy: 3 new state reps weather a wild 1st session

One of the biggest-ever classes of new lawmakers joined the Pa. legislature this year. Spotlight PA followed 3 of them as they navigated a freshman year full of power struggle and scandal.
By Kate Huangpu/Spotlight PA and Angela Couloumbis/Spotlight PA

Pa. legislature must show proof before redacting legal bills, court finds

Commonwealth Court ruled the legislature cannot use a blanket reason to redact bills from private law firms.
By Angela Couloumbis/Spotlight PA

Pa. lawmakers ask for investigations after gaming regulators met privately with casino lobbyists

Lobbyists for Parx Casino embarked on an intense, behind-the-scenes effort to get the Gaming Control Board to abandon its hands-off stance toward a major competitor.
By Angela Couloumbis/Spotlight PA
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