Liz Wagenseller will lead an office that plays a critical role for journalists and citizens whose requests for these records are denied, they believe, unfairly.
Spotlight PA
Redistricting will be the definitive political fight of 2021 in Pennsylvania
The state is set to lose a congressional seat. The representation of millions of people is on the line. And Republicans and Democrats will have to do what seems impossible — get along.
Angered by Pa. Supreme Court rulings, GOP moves to exert more control over judiciary branch
The majority party has made overhauling the courts a priority after a slew of unsuccessful litigation involving the administration of the 2020 election as well as the coronavirus pandemic.
Pa. GOP lawmakers want voters to give them the power to end governor’s emergency orders
The proposed constitutional amendment is the result of long-festering resentment against Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf over his actions to control the coronavirus pandemic.
Pa. State Police resume tracking racial data during traffic stops in response to Spotlight PA report
The data is critical to detecting potential racial profiling, but the agency had quietly stopped collecting it in 2012.
New Pa. GOP leader pushes transparency reforms despite party’s past reluctance, obstruction
Sen. Jake Corman wants to enact new transparency measures to restore trust in the legislature. But skeptics counter that the GOP has for years allowed reform efforts to fail.
A Pa. Republican lawmaker who marched to the U.S. Capitol before the mob attack is facing calls to resign
There’s no indication that Mastriano himself participated in the attack.
Pa. lags nation in people tested per day, is nowhere near level needed to suppress the virus
Suppression testing would require the state to increase daily testing nearly four times over, but that’s the only way to use it as a tool to actually slow down the virus.
Pa. GOP senators refused to seat a Democrat and removed Lt. Gov. Fetterman from presiding
The new session of the Pennsylvania Senate got off to a chaotic start Tuesday, with Republicans refusing to seat a Democratic senator whose election victory has been certified by the state.
Election officials want a say in Pa.’s voting reforms, but politics may get in the way
As two GOP lawmakers push to abolish mail voting, county election officials say the state should keep and improve the new system.
Former Pa. Gov. Dick Thornburgh dies at 88
The Pittsburgh native rose to serve two terms as Pennsylvania’s 41st governor, from 1979 to 1987.
Pa.’s ban on indoor dining, school sports won’t extend beyond Jan. 4
A formal announcement by the administration is expected Wednesday afternoon.
State-run psychiatric hospital can’t recruit enough workers as Pa. risks violating federal requirements
Staff is “running out of gas” at Torrance State Hospital, where federal inspectors said short-staffing created safety risks in 2018 and 2019.
As coronavirus hits home, Pa. GOP shifts messaging but still rejects mandates
Still, at least two Republican lawmakers said Gov. Tom Wolf’s COVID-19 diagnosis was proof masks and other mitigation efforts don’t work.
Mailed ballots, tight deadlines caused a crunch for Pa. elections officials. Now, comes the reckoning.
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.