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Colin Deppen/Spotlight PA

Colin Deppen is a newsletter editor/reporter with Spotlight PA. He crafts and grows the site’s daily and weekly newsletters, while contributing to the organization’s mission of producing journalism that serves readers and holds powerful people to account. He came to Spotlight PA from The Incline, a digital news outlet in Pittsburgh, where he served as director and author of a daily newsletter hyper-focused on the city and region. Colin has worked at newspapers and outlets across Pennsylvania during his 10-year career — from the Northern Tier to the south. This includes PennLive/The Patriot-News, where he won statewide awards for written features, personality profiles, and political coverage. He is a native of New York City with deep family ties in Pennsylvania and has been a longtime resident of the commonwealth. He still refuses to try scrapple.

Latest by Colin Deppen/Spotlight PA


Erie’s view of the 2024 solar eclipse will be exceptional. It’s also going to cost you.

Erie and Pennsylvania’s northwest corner are in the path of totality, where the moon will 100% cover the sun on April 8, 2024.

By Colin Deppen/Spotlight PA


Another big week in Pennsylvania news is wrapping up. Let’s see how closely you were paying attention.

Think you’re pretty smart? Prove it with this week’s PA news quiz.
By Colin Deppen/Spotlight PA

Why these Pa. teams got left out of the minor league baseball union

The historic unionization effort in minor league baseball aims to address chronic low pay and poor working conditions, but your local players might not benefit.
By Colin Deppen/Spotlight PA

A Pennsylvania county is charging people to search court documents — an unusual and undue burden, experts say

In a one-year period, Washington County collected $1,026.50 from the fee, which experts say is almost impossible to challenge.

By Colin Deppen/Spotlight PA

These Pa. voters haven’t missed a single November election for at least 50 years

PA Local spoke to more than a dozen of Pennsylvania’s Hall of Fame voters from geographically and politically diverse corners of the state.

By Colin Deppen/Spotlight PA

Pa.’s unemployment trust fund is broke. The Wolf admin says a long-term fix will save taxpayers millions.

The state’s new budget pays off $42 million in debt, but backers say a bigger policy change is needed to prepare the system for future downturns.

By Colin Deppen/Spotlight PA

Pennsylvania revises Confederate markers, recasts forces as “enemy” soldiers

Pennsylvania has revised or removed historical markers and plaques about the Confederacy amid a nationwide reckoning over how the army is remembered.

By Colin Deppen/Spotlight PA

A last-minute guide to essential Pa. voter prep for the 2021 general election

Spotlight PA offers a final primer on everything you need to know to cast your ballot and vet and select candidates.
By Colin Deppen/Spotlight PA

Pa. lawmakers know a dementia care crisis is coming. Will they agree on a response?

“The problem is now. It’s today. It’s not coming, it’s here.”

By Colin Deppen/Spotlight PA
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