spotlight pa

November 7, 2025 | 5:12 AM

System for determining if someone is mentally fit for trial in Pa. is in crisis, new report finds

The study found the mentally ill are swept up by low-level criminal offenses and kept in state hospitals too long, confirming a past Spotlight PA report.

By Danielle Ohl/Spotlight PA

November 6, 2025 | 5:00 AM

How Pennsylvania voters reacted to big national spending on judicial retention

By Carter Walker/Votebeat

November 5, 2025 | 5:36 AM

Pa. election results: All 3 Democratic Supreme Court justices win retention races

Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht survived an expensive election.

By Kate Huangpu/Spotlight PA

November 5, 2025 | 5:35 AM

Democrats Stella Tsai, Brandon Neuman win open seats on Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth and Superior Courts

Pennsylvania’s intermediate Commonwealth and Superior appellate courts play critical roles in the state’s justice system.

By Katie Meyer/Spotlight PA

November 3, 2025 | 5:00 AM

All the major players in Pa.’s budget impasse met in person last week. Will a deal follow?

The talks are occurring as Pennsylvania’s budget approaches four months late, and counties and nonprofits increasingly sound

By Stephen Caruso/Spotlight PA

November 1, 2025 | 5:00 AM

Why tracking spending in this year’s critical Pa. Supreme Court retention races is so difficult

Blame it on a mix of lagging reporting, weakly enforced rules, and a campaign finance system that requires little transparency.

By Stephen Caruso and Katie Meyer/Spotlight PA

October 31, 2025 | 5:00 AM

Pa. criminal case highlights problems with third-party voter registration drives

By Carter Walker/Votebeat

October 29, 2025 | 5:00 AM

Republican voters drive increase in mail ballot requests in Pennsylvania

The uptick could be a sign that this year’s judicial retention races are stirring interest in the 2025 election.

By Carter Walker/Votebeat

October 29, 2025 | 5:00 AM

School districts forced to cut programs, take out loans as Pa. budget impasse continues

Districts in poorer areas are the hardest hit by the budget impasse, as they tend to rely more heavily on the state for funding.

By Kate Huangpu/Spotlight PA

October 28, 2025 | 5:00 AM

$1M in taxpayer money will be used to make security upgrades at Gov. Josh Shapiro’s private residence

Administration officials also disclosed safety upgrades totalling $32.3 million at the governor’s official residence in Harrisburg.

By Angela Couloumbis/Spotlight PA

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