Some counties are leaning on trusted community messengers to improve contact tracing success.
Spotlight PA
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Effort to track police use of force in Pa. would lack racial data, public transparency
The Senate on Wednesday approved a bill to require use-of-force tracking and reporting, but critics contend it falls short of broader efforts elsewhere.
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‘Clear as mud’: How Pa.’s chaotic coronavirus waiver program hurt small businesses
As Pennsylvania reopens, the long-term consequences of inconsistency and a lack of enforcement are becoming evident in downtowns throughout the state.
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Prospects dimming for behind-the-scenes push to expand video gaming in Pa.
A clash of deep-pocketed lobbying interests and concerns from some rank-and-file Republican lawmakers might stall the effort, though it will probably return in the fall.
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After sudden Turzai resignation, GOP elevates new leadership in Pa. House
Lancaster County Republican Bryan Cutler assumes control as new House speaker as the legislature faces mammoth challenges with the coronavirus, finances, and police reform.
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Mother of Antwon Rose II applauds confidential police hiring database, but does it go far enough?
While Pennsylvania takes its first steps on police reform, other states are far ahead in making misconduct data and records available to the public.
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Top Pa. GOP lawmaker fast-tracking a lucrative gambling expansion that would benefit a major campaign donor
The maneuvering offers a window into the raw intersection between politics and policy-making in Pennsylvania, and how campaign dollars can drive the legislative agenda.
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Despite landmark ruling, Pa. GOP leaders in no hurry to extend LGBTQ protections under state law
Advocates say action is necessary to close gaps in equality, but a House Republican committee chair said he’ll have “to see where this ranks” with other issues.
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Pa. will give health systems $175 million to lead coronavirus response inside state’s struggling nursing homes
These collaboratives will be tasked with implementing best practices for infection control and expanding testing “to include asymptomatic staff and residents,” a critical need.
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Health officials failed to safeguard trust in Pa.’s coronavirus data, sowing confusion
The pandemic posed a massive challenge for an underfunded public health system, but experts say officials failed to heed best practices when presenting the numbers.
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Parts of Pa. reopened without robust coronavirus contact tracing to keep residents safe
Health experts say the shortcoming is of critical concern because tracing is most needed as reopening begins, when the disease’s spread becomes more complex.
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Pa. advances reforms to create confidential police disciplinary database, as NY, NJ take steps to make records public
Democrats hailed the move as a long-awaited first step after seeing similar legislation languish. But transparency in officer discipline still lags behind New York and New Jersey.
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Red tape, lack of funding limit public’s oversight of Pa. police through body cameras
Hailed as a tool to better protect people from violent police officers, their use and effectiveness have been limited. Gov. Tom Wolf says it’s time to revisit the issue.
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The coronavirus exploited failure of Pa. health officials to improve long-standing problems with nursing home oversight
The Wolf administration was repeatedly warned of dangerously low minimum staffing and weak and inconsistent inspections, all problems that could have made the outbreak worse.
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Why Gov. Tom Wolf’s big effort to grant coronavirus reprieves to Pa. inmates came up small
The Department of Corrections has defended its response, saying it was a cautious approach that included all relevant parties to represent the public interest.
