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Daniel Simmons-Ritchie/Spotlight PA

Email: dsimmons-ritchie@spotlightpa.org

Latest by Daniel Simmons-Ritchie/Spotlight PA

January 12, 2021 | 4:24 PM

Pa. State Police resume tracking racial data during traffic stops in response to Spotlight PA report

The data is critical to detecting potential racial profiling, but the agency had quietly stopped collecting it in 2012.

By Daniel Simmons-Ritchie/Spotlight PA
December 10, 2020 | 5:00 AM

Some Pa. judges enjoy light workloads as taxpayers pay millions for salaries, pensions, health care

A yearlong investigation by PennLive and Spotlight PA found huge variations in how much time each judge spends in the courtroom. Many also work second jobs as lawyers, business owners.

By Daniel Simmons-Ritchie/Spotlight PA and Christine Vendel/PennLive
June 23, 2020 | 5:50 AM

The deadliest day of the coronavirus in Pa., plus other insights we can glean from the data

Philadelphia area has been the epicenter of Pennsylvania’s outbreak.
By Daniel Simmons-Ritchie/Spotlight PA
May 2, 2020 | 6:00 AM

Pa. sets modest goal to conduct 8,500 coronavirus tests per day, far less than what some experts say is needed

A Harvard estimate says the state should test about 19,000 Pennsylvanians per day — or more than twice the rate of the Wolf administration’s plan.
By Daniel Simmons-Ritchie/Spotlight PA
April 29, 2020 | 12:23 PM

Pa. to set coronavirus testing, contact tracing benchmarks just days before gradual reopening is set to begin

The state could need to conduct about 19,000 tests per day and employ as many as 2,000 contact tracers, numbers that far exceed current levels.

By Angela Couloumbis/Spotlight PA and Daniel Simmons-Ritchie/Spotlight PA
February 18, 2020 | 5:22 AM

Pa.’s lobbying law got tougher in 2018. But it still falls short in exposing influence.

Pennsylvania lobbyists and lobbying groups do not have to report the bills or lawmakers they’re targeting or the positions they’re advocating for.
By Daniel Simmons-Ritchie/Spotlight PA
February 7, 2020 | 6:02 PM

Government watchdog group apologizes for violating Pa. lobbying law

The executive director of Common Cause Pennsylvania said the group would not fight the $19,900 penalty imposed by the state Ethics Commission.
By Daniel Simmons-Ritchie/Spotlight PA
February 6, 2020 | 11:00 AM

Champion of Pa. lobbying disclosure law was fined $19,900 for breaking it

Common Cause Pennsylvania attributed the error to technical difficulties, but state officials disputed that claim
By Daniel Simmons-Ritchie/Spotlight PA
January 23, 2020 | 11:00 AM

The Pa. State Police was warned about possible racial bias in car searches. The agency’s answer? End the research

Troopers were 2 to 3 times more likely to search black and Hispanic drivers. Officials are unsure if anything was done to address the problem.
By Daniel Simmons-Ritchie/Spotlight PA and Angela Couloumbis/Spotlight PA
September 20, 2019 | 11:33 AM

Pa. State Police stopped tracking the race of drivers who get pulled over, making bias much harder to detect

By Angela Couloumbis/Spotlight PA and Daniel Simmons-Ritchie/Spotlight PA