Skip Navigation

Jamie Martines/Spotlight PA

Jamie Martines joined Spotlight PA in 2020 after four years with Triblive/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. While in Pittsburgh, she spent two years on the education beat before transitioning to covering Allegheny County government and special projects. She has covered major breaking news in the Pittsburgh region, including the novel coronavirus outbreak, the Tree of Life mass shooting, concerns about air quality following a series of fires at the Clairton Coke Works, and the Pennsylvania grand jury investigation of clergy abuse in the Catholic church. Before pursuing journalism, Martines worked for a nonprofit in China’s Yunnan Province and lived there for three years.

Latest by Jamie Martines/Spotlight PA


Public database significantly undercounts former drug labs in Pa. Here’s why home buyers, renters should care.

A hot housing market has buyers and renters making quick decisions to compete for properties, but in Pennsylvania ensuring those homes are clean from former drug activity is difficult.

By Jamie Martines/Spotlight PA

5 Pennsylvania newsrooms fighting alleged First Amendment violations in York County

5 Pennsylvania newsrooms filed a federal civil rights lawsuit that seeks to end the York County Clerk of Courts practice of reviewing and redacting records before they are released to the public.

By Jamie Martines/Spotlight PA

Pennsylvania isn’t likely to see more local health departments anytime soon. We found out why.

Pennsylvania’s public health system has been the focus of plenty of discussion but little change, even as the pandemic created new challenges for local leaders.

By Jamie Martines/Spotlight PA

As virus surged, few Pa. schools signed up for free COVID-19 testing

Despite spikes in coronavirus infections and low child vaccination rates, schools across Pennsylvania have been slow to enroll in a free testing program offered by the state health department.

By Jamie Martines/Spotlight PA

Many Pa. school districts pass up free coronavirus testing despite rising cases

Officials offered different reasons for the lack of participation, including fear of finding too many cases and simply being too overwhelmed by a chaotic start to the academic year.

By Jamie Martines/Spotlight PA

Eligible for a COVID-19 booster? Here’s how to get one in Pa.

Anywhere from one to two million Pennsylvania adults are now eligible for a COVID-19 booster.

By Jamie Martines/Spotlight PA

Pa. school mask lawsuit backed by group that challenged 2020 election results

Rudy Giuliani once described the Amistad Project as a “partner” in the Trump campaign’s legal efforts to overturn the 2020 election. But little else is known about the group or its donors.

By Jamie Martines/Spotlight PA and Angela Couloumbis/Spotlight PA

Wolf admin unexpectedly pulls the plug on controversial revamp of Pa. safety net program

The Department of Health did not explain why it abandoned a plan to change who administers a nutrition program for pregnant people and young children.

By Jamie Martines/Spotlight PA and Ed Mahon/Spotlight PA

Pa. will hire 100 coronavirus contact tracers to replace 1,000. Experts say it’s not enough.

The rapid spread of the delta variant, a slowing vaccination rate, and fewer mitigation efforts in place make contact tracing even more critical.

By Jamie Martines/Spotlight PA

Pa. is trying county fairs, texts and door-knocking to raise the vaccination rate. Success is slow coming.

Nearly 64% of Pennsylvania adults are fully vaccinated, a small increase compared to July and a worrying plateau as the delta variant surges across the country.

By Jamie Martines/Spotlight PA
LOAD MORE