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Ed Mahon

Ed Mahon comes to Spotlight PA from PA Post, where he covered state politics and policy, produced radio stories that were broadcast on public media stations throughout the state and on NPR’s national newscasts, and co-wrote a weekday newsletter. Prior to joining PA Post, Ed worked for six years as an investigative and political reporter for the York Daily Record, part of the USA Today Network. His reporting on failures in Pennsylvania’s system for protecting domestic abuse victims was a finalist in the national 2018 Livingston Awards for Young Journalists in the local reporting category. He was also part of a team whose coverage of the criminal justice system, including the aggressive use of civil asset forfeiture by York County prosecutors, received the 2018 G. Richard Dew Award for Journalistic Service from the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association. Before joining the York Daily Record, Ed covered K-12 education at the Centre Daily Times in State College and worked as a stringer for suburban sections of The Philadelphia Inquirer. He grew up in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

Latest by Ed Mahon


Oversight board will secretly review how Pa. counties spent millions of dollars to fight opioid crisis

Counties must report how they spent tens of millions of dollars they received in the first rounds of opioid settlement payments.
By Ed Mahon/Spotlight PA and Kate Giammarise/WESA

A bill to legalize syringe services in Pa. just passed a historic hurdle, but GOP opposition remains

The CDC says new users of syringe services programs are more likely to enter drug treatment. But providers in most of Pennsylvania risk arrest.

By Ed Mahon/Spotlight PA

Pa. medical marijuana cards and anxiety: What the research says

Anxiety disorders are the leading reason doctors approve patients for a medical marijuana card in Pennsylvania. If you’re considering using cannabis for anxiety, here are some resources that could be useful.

By Ed Mahon/Spotlight PA

Opioid settlement: Allegheny County won’t receive a $479,000 penalty after questions from WESA and Spotlight PA

With McKeesport signing on in November, Allegheny County will get a full payout from the opioid settlement fund this year.
By Ed Mahon/Spotlight PA and Kate Giammarise/WESA

Several Pa. pension systems kept working with financial adviser after SEC settlement

Federal officials accused a Pennsylvania adviser of causing public retirement funds to invest in a class of shares with higher fees. In the settlement, he did not admit or deny the allegations.

By Ed Mahon/Spotlight PA

Secret meetings by board overseeing Pa.’s $1 billion in opioid settlements draw criticism

The oversight board also does not let the public speak at meetings and says it’s not subject to the state’s Right-to-Know Law
By Ed Mahon/Spotlight PA and Kate Giammarise/WESA

Pa. Department of Health sues to keep medical marijuana program data secret

Patients need a doctor’s permission to get a medical cannabis card in Pa. But data on those approvals remain secret.
By Ed Mahon/Spotlight PA


How anxiety came to dominate the big business of medical marijuana cards in Pennsylvania

An unprecedented Spotlight PA analysis of 1 million medical marijuana certifications reveals how a change by policymakers made it possible for virtually anyone to get a card.
By Ed Mahon/Spotlight PA

A behind-the-scenes look at Spotlight PA’s analysis of 1 million medical marijuana certifications

The Pennsylvania Department of Health sued Spotlight PA in an attempt to keep data on qualifying conditions secret, but a court ruling in favor of the newsroom forced their release.
By Ed Mahon/Spotlight PA
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