Voters could request a mail ballot just seven days before the Nov. 3 election, making it difficult for county offices to send them out and receive them back by the deadline.
Author Archives: Spotlight PA
Thousands of Pa. families face potential eviction come the new year
Hundreds of thousands of families across Pennsylvania could lose their homes in January, after emergency unemployment benefits and federal eviction protections expire and as the state grapples with record numbers of new coronavirus cases.
The 2020 election cost Pa. counties millions in OT, was most expensive ever, officials say
The pandemic and a new vote-by-mail system overwhelmed already overworked election offices, but some tapped federal pandemic stimulus money to help cover costs.
Wolf temporarily suspends Pa. indoor dining, school sports
The 4 p.m. announcement comes as confirmed coronavirus cases in Pennsylvania continue to break records, and hospitals struggle with rising admissions and a potential staffing crisis.
Some local 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 workloads among Pennsylvania’s more than 500 local judges, despite good salaries and benefits paid by taxpayers.
Piles of records and months of reporting lead to eye-opening report on Pa. district judges
A yearlong investigation by PennLive and Spotlight PA included a detailed analysis of more than 3.8 million case events, as well as more than 40 interviews.
Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf tests positive for the coronavirus, other officials in quarantine
“During a routine test yesterday, I tested positive for COVID-19,” Wolf said in a Wednesday statement.
GOP leaders ask Congress to reject Pa.’s electors for Joe Biden
GOP lawmakers sent a letter to the state’s U.S. representatives and senators Friday, claiming that Gov. Tom Wolf and the secretary of the commonwealth “undermined” the state’s new vote-by-mail law and the certification of its Electoral College delegation.
Pandemic, partisan attacks exposed gaps in Pa.’s new mail-in voting law
While many lawmakers agree changes are needed, finding common ground in the current hyper-partisan climate might be impossible.
Pa. hospitals on the brink of a staffing crisis as COVID-19 surges
At least a third of the hospitals in the southwest and south-central part of the state expect shortages in the next week, state data shows. Some rural facilities are already in crisis.
‘Mistakes were made’ at maskless election hearing held by COVID-positive lawmaker, Pa. Senate leader says
Breaking his silence, top GOP Sen. Jake Corman said his office is reviewing how the hearing was organized and executed.
Pa. counties reported no major issues with Dominion voting machines, a target of Trump and his campaign
Donald Trump won 86% of the Pennsylvania counties that used Dominion devices, while state Republicans who are now echoing the president’s distrust of the machines performed well in the 2020 election.
In rare move, bipartisan panel rejects Pa. House request to audit 2020 election
In voting down the measure, the panel’s two Democrats said the audit would be duplicative of one already required by law.
Financially distressed Pa. towns faring better than expected, while others in pain
Years of financial oversight through Act 47 has prepared cities that were thought to be doomed by the pandemic, while others face cuts and potentially massive tax hikes.
Pa. budget doesn’t raise taxes or bail out industries hit by the coronavirus
House lawmakers were forced to vote remotely after additional COVID-19 cases were identified in the Capitol, sources said.
