Spotlight PA: Pennsylvania news and investigations

State College Region Local Government

Benner Commerce Park in Centre County

Benefits unclear 20 years after Pennsylvania governor, legislators gave away land with promise of jobs, revenue

by Min Xian of Spotlight PA State College

In 2006, Pennsylvania sold 135 acres of land for $1 to start a business park in Centre County. As Amazon moves, local business leaders think the vision has been realized.

Related Stories

End of federal relief money will push some Pa. municipalities off a financial cliff, Shapiro admin fears
The alleged theft of more than $532K from a Pa. township shows the limits of routine audits
New records detail Pa. township secretary’s alleged half-million-dollar heist. How did sports betting, trips, and more go unnoticed?

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Photo illustration of the PA Capitol building, checks and bills, and their related iconography.

Powerful interests poured $18M into top Pa. lawmakers’ campaign coffers

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

Lobbyists say such donations can lead to access, but the state's weak transparency laws make it nearly impossible to trace influence.

Illustration of people holding a gavel

You can decide how billions to fight the opioid epidemic should be spent with our new tool

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

The Capitol

The Pennsylvania Capitol at night.

Emails between Pa. lawmakers and lobbyists will remain hidden from the public after court ruling

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Advocates called the ruling a missed opportunity to create more transparency around the state legislature and multimillion-dollar lobbying industry.

An illustration of a gun adorned with dollar signs aiming at pigeons flying from the Pa. Capitol.

Campaign cash flowed to key Pa. lawmakers as hunters launched an offensive to save pigeon shoots

by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA

Investigations

Sometimes people who spent time in foster care discover their Social Security benefits were taken only after they apply for benefits later as adults.

Foster care agencies in Pa. took millions owed to kids in their care, often keeping them in the dark

by Julie Christie and Steve Volk / Resolve Philly for Spotlight PA

A Spotlight PA and Resolve Philly investigation found hundreds of kids each year are made to pay for their own foster care, a practice advocates describe as an unfair “tax”.

From left: The Philadelphia Corporation for Aging; Luen Ng and her Northeast Philadelphia home; Pennsylvania Aging Secretary Jason Kavulich

Ailing Pa. woman died after months of pleas for help, a victim of a safety net in tatters

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Impact

The Pennsylvania Capitol at night.

Emails between Pa. lawmakers and lobbyists will remain hidden from the public after court ruling

by Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA

Advocates called the ruling a missed opportunity to create more transparency around the state legislature and multimillion-dollar lobbying industry.

Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Debra Bogen faced questions about her department's oversight of medical marijuana doctors, during a February 2025 state Senate budget hearing.

Medical marijuana oversight bill advances after Spotlight PA investigations reveal doctor concerns

by Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA

Good News from Pennsylvania

Phoenixville Mayor Peter Urscheler hugs someone at an event.

Meet a Mayor: There’s more than beers and Blobs in this Pa. borough

by Asha Prihar of Spotlight PA

Phoenixville’s population has grown by a third since the turn of the millennium. Its mayor says the 20,000-person borough has become “like an extended family” to him.

PA Local Heroes: A Montco mom’s mission to provide friendly foods to all

by Asha Prihar of Spotlight PA

Garden of Health started in 2015 as a pantry that specialized in allergy-friendly foods, and it’s since grown into a nonprofit that distributes millions of pounds of “food for all.”

20 years after 'The Office' premiered, cameos still paying off for Scranton businesses

by Asha Prihar of Spotlight PA

Two decades after the NBC sitcom’s premiere, fans are still making pilgrimages to the city where it was set.

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State College Bureau

Chickens walking around on grass.

Proposed $25M cut to bird flu aid for farmers could leave Pa. unprepared for surge, GOP lawmakers fear

by Marley Parish of Spotlight PA State College

The Shapiro administration says Pennsylvania has enough in reserves to address avian influenza, but Republican lawmakers aren’t convinced that reallocating that funding is responsible.

Houses on a street in Tyrone, Pennsylvania

End of federal relief money will push some Pa. municipalities off a financial cliff, Shapiro admin fears

by Min Xian of Spotlight PA State College

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