A Spotlight PA analysis reveals the program has funds to help more than 3,000 homeowners.
Spotlight PA
DOJ settlement will bring new protections for people with opioid use disorder in Pa. courts
Under the settlement, officials overseeing Pa.’s court system will encourage all county courts to adopt an anti-discrimination policy for opioid use disorder medications.
Josh Shapiro accepted $1,650 in ‘event tickets’ from powerful Pa. lobbyist
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro received $1,650 in event tickets and catering from prominent lobbyist Michael Brunelle, despite his ban on executive branch employees accepting such gifts.
Flawed claims fueled backlash against tool meant to improve voter roll accuracy
A Spotlight PA / Votebeat investigation found that flawed claims fueled a backlash against a tool intended to make voter rolls more accurate.
Pa. could wipe out up to $400M in medical debt under proposal from Gov. Josh Shapiro
Under a new Pennsylvania budget proposal, $4 million could potentially wipe out $400 million of medical debt for the state’s poorest citizens.
Shapiro pitches legal cannabis, regulated skill games in budget that bumps education spending by $2.2B
The $48.3 billion plan represents a departure for first-term Gov. Josh Shapiro, who last year proposed to keep spending relatively flat.
Pennsylvania’s drug laws complicate funding for syringe services programs
Billions of dollars are coming to states to help them respond to the opioid epidemic, but Pennsylvania’s drug paraphernalia law is creating conflict.
Transit, education expected to headline Shapiro’s 2024 Pa. budget address
Proposals to restructure Pennsylvania’s higher education system and boost public transit funding are expected to be centerpieces of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s upcoming Feb. 6 budget address.
Gov. Shapiro is pitching more funding for Pa.’s struggling transit systems
Transit systems across Pennsylvania are struggling with inflation, even as ridership rebounds from the pandemic. State lawmakers are struggling to agree on funding to help.
Proposed update to state gaming rules could offer relief to Pa.’s fire companies, nonprofits
Pennsylvania lawmakers have proposed letting nonprofits accept credit and debit card payments for small games of chance, which is currently illegal.
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s admin blames ‘human error’ for deletion of Pa. State Police records
The Office of Administration under Gov. Josh Shapiro accidentally deleted thousands of records including State Police evidence logs. Some records haven’t been recovered.
Long-sought charter school changes on the table as Pa. lawmakers plot education funding overhaul
Pennsylvania lawmakers say a court mandate to overhaul public school funding has opened avenues for compromise on charter school reform.
Pa.’s broadband authority reverses position on key state law before new federal funding arrives
The Broadband Development Authority initially said it would waive a key section of the 2004 law that restricts publicly owned broadband networks. The agency reversed course after public comments.
Utility shut-off protections in Pa. would be expanded to summer months under bill
The legislature must reauthorize a law that shields people from winter utility shut-offs before the end of the year. That’s spurred a debate between consumer advocates and utilities about additional protections.
Relief for abuse survivors, other constitutional amendments halted in Pa.’s split legislature
Deep partisan differences are keeping proposals with bipartisan support from voters, including one that would give survivors of childhood sexual abuse a chance to sue their abusers.