Mistake by ‘inexperienced’ staff forced 1000s to cast provisional ballots in Chester County, review finds https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/chester-county-pollbook-error-provisional-ballots-elections/

Philadelphia sues Trump admin over removal of slavery exhibit at former George Washington residence https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/philadelphia-slavery-trump-administration-criticism-george-washington-federal-government/

The goal is to clearly define when local governments can forgo the Sunshine Act requirement of publicizing agendas at least 24 hours in advance. https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/pennsylvania-supreme-court-transparency-sunshine-act-ruling-local-government/

PA Local Heroes: The former military interpreter who helps immigrants find community https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/erie-saeedullah-taraky-immigrant-advocate-afghanistan-pennsylvania-local/

Lawmakers move to close meeting notice loophole after ruling weakens Pa. transparency law https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/pennsylvania-supreme-court-transparency-sunshine-act-ruling-local-government/

Great PA News Quiz: County urged to ‘deport ICE,’ party infighting, and a Capitol rally https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/pennsylvania-news-quiz-week-of-january-19-2026/

Utility and AI interests are spending millions lobbying Congress, Trump to support data center boom https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/data-centers-tech-industry-lobby-energy-federal-government/

Two years after a flood inundated Antietam Middle-Senior High School, the district is building a new elementary school in the same flood-prone spot. https://www.spotlightpa.org/berks/2026/01/antietam-rebuild-flood-berks-education/

Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts on Spotlight PA and what you’d like to see us do next! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/spasocial

Police misreporting 100s of rapes ‘didn’t make any difference’ to how cases were handled, oversight board says https://www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege/2026/01/state-college-police-crime-data-pennsylvania-borough-council-local-government/

Without federal approval, Pennsylvania cannot begin construction on projects to expand high-speed internet access. https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/pennsylvania-broadband-spending-federal-approval-rural-issues/

Broadband expansion on hold as feds miss self-imposed deadline to review Pa.’s spending plan https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/pennsylvania-broadband-spending-federal-approval-rural-issues/

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s pick for a vacancy on the Board of Pardons is a prolific prosecution witness. He's also opposed by clemency advocates and criminal defense attorneys.

Shapiro pick for Board of Pardons vacancy opposed by clemency advocates

The White House proposed a meeting, document-signing and endorsement of Shapiro’s price cap all in the last week, according to a Shapiro aide. https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/shapiro-trump-electricity-prices-data-centers-pjm-federal-government/

Virtue, liberty, and milkshakes? How 1 beverage came to dominate the Pa. Farm Show. https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/farm-show-milkshakes-history-dairymens-association-pennsylvania-local/

Great PA News Quiz: Another state House exit, threats after ICE warning, and a big hire by big tech https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/pennsylvania-news-quiz-week-of-january-12-2026/

The Trump administration, which has embraced artificial intelligence and data centers wholeheartedly, is now trying to head off a growing political problem. https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/shapiro-trump-electricity-prices-data-centers-pjm-federal-government/

Child care providers recovering from budget impasse worry federal search for fraud could affect Pa. https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/child-care-investigations-funding-block-grants-tanf-caregiving/

Police misreporting 100s of rapes ‘didn’t make any difference’ to how cases were handled, oversight board says https://www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege/2026/01/state-college-police-crime-data-pennsylvania-borough-council-local-government/

Virtue, liberty, and milkshakes? How 1 beverage came to dominate the Pa. Farm Show. https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/farm-show-milkshakes-history-dairymens-association-pennsylvania-local/

Great PA News Quiz: Another state House exit, threats after ICE warning, and a big hire by big tech https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/pennsylvania-news-quiz-week-of-january-12-2026/

State Rep. Jamie Walsh (R., Luzerne) opposes a data center that is planned in his district, saying he’s seen “corporate bullying” on the part of developers. https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/data-centers-pennsylvania-debate-legislature-environment-environment/

DOJ launches probe of Pa.’s Houlahan, other Dems who directed military members to not follow illegal orders https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/trump-sedition-probe-doj-congress-democrats-illegal-orders-federal-government/

Bucks County can now use opioid settlement money for public defense, a change that could influence how other Pennsylvania counties spend their funds. https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/pennsylvania-opioid-money-public-defenders-settlement-funds-health/

Pennsylvania opens door for opioid funds to support overwhelmed public defenders. https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/pennsylvania-opioid-money-public-defenders-settlement-funds-health/

US House Republicans push back against Trump’s Venezuela plans behind closed doors https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/venezuela-criticism-house-gop-trump-oil-briefing-federal-government/

Lycoming County residents have formed a network to support their immigrant neighbors amid rising concerns over the Trump administration’s mass deportations. https://www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege/2026/01/ice-federal-immigration-enforcement-pennsylvania-lycoming-county-williamsport-rural-issues/

Fetterman open to armed US intervention in Iran, while GOP defers to Trump https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/iran-protests-senate-fetterman-intervention-federal-government/

Trump’s 2020 election pardon doesn’t apply to Pennsylvania man charged with double voting, judge says https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/trump-pardon-double-voting-pennsylvania-2020-election-elections/

ICE concerns prompt Lycoming County residents to form aid networks for immigrant neighbors https://www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege/2026/01/ice-federal-immigration-enforcement-pennsylvania-lycoming-county-williamsport-rural-issues/

Tulpehocken Township is challenging a state Office of Open Records decision requiring the release of a draft agriculture ordinance. https://ow.ly/5fFE50XUfIw

Tulpehocken Township is challenging a state Office of Open Records decision requiring the release of a draft agriculture ordinance. https://ow.ly/OmoL50XUfIt

Gen Z has entered city hall. Meet 4 young Pa. mayors who want to bring new ideas to local government. https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/gen-z-mayors-first-terms-pennsylvania-local/

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose claimed Pennsylvania was “finalizing an agreement” to join a program to “identify people who try to vote illegally.” https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/pennsylvania-ohio-voter-data-sharing-elexa-eric-dispute-elections/

Gen Z has entered city hall. Meet 4 young Pa. mayors who want to bring new ideas to local government. https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/gen-z-mayors-first-terms-pennsylvania-local/

Great PA News Quiz: Mastriano's decision, Shapiro's campaign coffers, and no news is bad news https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/pennsylvania-news-quiz-week-of-january-5-2026/

Pa. says it isn’t in talks to enter ‘election integrity network,’ despite Ohio official’s claim https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/pennsylvania-ohio-voter-data-sharing-elexa-eric-dispute-elections/

Environmental and labor advocates are skeptical that lawmakers can overcome partisanship in the state Capitol and take meaningful action to address rising energy costs. https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/pennsylvania-electric-bill-harrisburg-energy-policy-environment/

A Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court judge raised questions about the use of AI when confronted with an error-filled brief. https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/pennsylvania-commonwealth-court-ai-hallucinations-allegations-justice-system/

Judges are identifying suspected AI hallucinations in Pa. court cases — including one at the highest levels https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/pennsylvania-commonwealth-court-ai-hallucinations-allegations-justice-system/

Shapiro opens 2nd term bid with $30M on hand, a record for a candidate heading into an election year https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/fundraising-reelection-campaign-record-josh-shapiro/

Democrats and Republicans will each vie to maintain control of one legislative chamber while attempting to flip the other. https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/pennsylvania-election-results-2026-state-house-senate-governor-elections/

The State College Police Department underreported hundreds of rapes in its public crime data over nearly a decade, a 10-month investigation by Spotlight PA found. Here are three key takeaways:

Environmental and labor advocates are skeptical that lawmakers can overcome partisanship in the state Capitol and take meaningful action to address rising energy costs. https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/pennsylvania-electric-bill-harrisburg-energy-policy-environment/

Trump tariffs, Venezuela actions draw ire of GOP critics worried about congressional authority https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/trump-venezuela-tariffs-congress-authority-fitzpatrick-federal-government/

The man leading transportation planning in Berks County, PA, discusses two major projects that will impact parts of Routes 222 and 422. https://www.spotlightpa.org/berks/2026/01/berks-county-transportation-projects-alan-piper-local-government/

The partisan balance of the Pennsylvania General Assembly is on the ballot in 2026, setting up an expensive and far reaching fight for control of policymaking in the Keystone State. https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/pennsylvania-election-results-2026-state-house-senate-governor-elections/

Quiz: Which of these iconic products was made or designed in Pa.? https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01/quiz-made-in-pennsylvania-inventions-pennsylvania-local/