New from me. Field of Screams didn't allow minors to volunteer for the company at a recent event due to new state safety requirements, according to a company post to staff. The changes were put in place after my 2025 investigation with @spotlightpa.org www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/05...

New state policies stopped popular Pa. haunted attraction from using minor volunteers https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/05/pennsylvania-field-of-screams-new-labor-rules-public-safety/

An update on Field of Screams from @annrejrat.bsky.social

New from me. A Berks County township has turned over drafts of a proposed agriculture law to a farmer after spending thousands of tax dollars in a legal fight to keep them secret — even after the township had abandoned its effort to enact the law. www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/05...

In a huge moment in sports history, Sabastian Sawe smashed the men's world record by 65 seconds in winning the London Marathon in 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds on Sunday. n.pr/4vQBtk3

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA-11) sues his hometown paper (my employer, LNP | LancasterOnline) for defamation, arguing an editorial that described his + other GOPers' arguments last fall that Dems wanted to fund health care for illegal immigrants were a "lie." www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

Recent story from me with Spotlight PA. A rural Pa. township has spent 1000s of dollars to hide a proposed law from local residents. www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/01...

Part three of my investigation with @spotlightpa.org came out today. www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...

Advocates want the legislature to reform a state clearance law to protect children at businesses like Field of Screams in Pennsylvania. https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10/field-of-screams-volunteer-past-conviction-indecent-exposure-corruption-minors-public-safety/

Field of Screams, the popular haunted attraction in Central Pennsylvania, allowed a man convicted of exposing his genitals to children to volunteer alongside teenagers for three years. New story from @annrejrat.bsky.social

Latest from me with Spotlight PA: www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege...

This is Sue’s story. But it could be the story of any of the roughly half a dozen families I spoke to for this investigation. And it’s the story of what failure over three decades means for real people, a mother and son.

Local CEO caught CHEATING at Phillies game?!

Here’s a piece I did for Spotlight Pa monthly Local Heroes series. I spoke with Cathleen Palm, who founded the Center for Children’s Justice in Berks County. www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/07...

Part two of my series with @spotlightpa.org came out today. Took a look at labor law regulations, how a business can use volunteers, and state regulations around minors in a performance. www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/07...

New story today from @annrejrat.bsky.social and @spotlightpa.org about the regulatory failures at Field of Screams that contributed to a culture that saw teenage volunteers at the popular haunted attraction. The owners continue to remain silent about @annrejrat.bsky.social's findings.

Update on Lancaster County hazmat contract that expires next week — the county says nothing is official but doesn’t seem likely to keep working with HazMat 2. HazMat 2 said it’s already been told to leave its building

Big Manheim Township news via @tommylisi.bsky.social !!!

Former LNP reporter @annrejrat.bsky.social began working on this project more than a year ago. Take time to read it today: lancasteronline.com/news/local/t...

"Teen volunteers were harassed, groped, and pressured into sex by adults at a popular Pa. haunted attraction, former staff say." From @annrejrat.bsky.social for @spotlightpa.org

If you live in Pennsylvania, you know about Field of Screams. But a new Spotlight PA investigation by @annrejrat.bsky.social shows the real horror was behind the scenes, as underage volunteers continually reported sexual harassment by adult employees.

Proud of @annrejrat.bsky.social and everyone at SpotlightPA.org for getting this story told: lancasteronline.com/news/local/t...

This investigation was done by @annrejrat.bsky.social and we're proud to publish it. Ann started this project when she was at LNP. Unfortunately, she got laid off last year. She brought it to us, asking if we'd consider working with her to get it out. She did an amazing job on a difficult story.

Here is the latest from me with @spotlightpa.org A little over a year ago I started looking into harassment and abuse allegations at Field of Screams in Lancaster County. I interviewed 18 volunteers who worked at Field of Screams from 2006 through 2024. www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/06...

Pennsylvania parents face felony charges after police say their infants died in unsafe sleep positions. But sleep experts say that simply failing to follow the safe sleep recommendations shouldn’t amount to a crime. Recent from me with Spotlight PA www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/06...

A March death at Lancaster County prison was ruled a fentanyl overdose this week. Now, the man's mother is seeking answers - via @tommylisi.bsky.social lancasteronline.com/news/local/d...

This is blockbuster of a story from NPR. Just jaw dropping.

As Janet Diaz faces calls to resign, she told followers on Facebook Monday: "I will continue to fight until the very end." lancasteronline.com/news/local/l...

A late-night fire at Gov. Josh Shapiro’s official state residence in Harrisburg on Sunday was caused by arson, according to the Pennsylvania State Police www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/04...

happy friday Election season is officially underway - last night 7/8 Democratic City Council candidates came together for a debate (more like a forum?) to break down their platforms. For the most part, everyone was on the same page. Here's what to know lancasteronline.com/news/local/k...

The Associated Press wins reinstatement to White House events after judge rules government can’t bar its journalists, citing the 1st Amendment.

the state legislature exempted itself from having to disclose many records — including emails — that the executive branch (the governor) routinely makes public. www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/04...

“Our client, who was in the middle of seeking asylum, just disappeared.” Lindsay Toczylowski represents 31-year-old Andry, a gay makeup artist from Venezuela who was flown to a notorious prison by the Trump administration after seeking asylum in the U.S. MORE: www.cbsnews.com/news/venezue...

Photojournalist witnesses Venezuelan migrants' arrival in El Salvador: "They had no idea what was coming" www.cbsnews.com/news/photojo...

The commonwealth has the second-largest population of Ukrainians and Ukrainian Americans in the country with more than 150,000 people living in the state. Schuylkill County is home to four of the top 10 communities in the country with Ukrainian roots.

I spoke with Ukrainian Americans living in Pennsylvania about their feelings about the current administration and the status of the war. penncapital-star.com/national-new...

EXCLUSIVE: The Trump administration has acknowledged that it grabbed a Maryland father with protected status and mistakenly deported him to El Salvador—but claims that courts are powerless to order his return, @nickmiroff.bsky.social reports: theatln.tc/Bot5mE4O

In 25 years of covering national security, I’ve never seen a story like this: Senior Trump officials discussed planning for the U.S. attack on Yemen in a Signal group--and inadvertently added the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...

This is remarkable reporting. www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/03...

A lot of detail here from my colleague Jordan Wilkie on this evolving situation. Six men from Dauphin and Cumberland counties, all legal residents, originally from Bhutan or Nepal, were detained without explanation. www.witf.org/2025/03/18/i...

Since @iankarbal.bsky.social's @penncapital-star.com story seems to have resonated with you, I pull the curtain back a bit and share a little about our decision-making process as it took shape. I will do my best to be as transparent as possible about the work we do. @trustingnews.bsky.social

Lancaster County state Rep. Tom Jones is offering his constituents a free history class taught by Christian nationalist instructors. lancasteronline.com/news/politic...

With more than 9,000 precincts across the state, this means upwards of 27,000 positions are up for election this year. penncapital-star.com/voting/helpi... From our friends at @votebeat.org

@dtohl.bsky.social ‘s piece about a rare commutation reversal is compelling reporting and writing. www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/03...

Just pointing out (again b/c Chad Umble wrote about it, too) that this “investment” was marketed to Amish and Mennonites with the selling point that they could make profits off ATM fees paid by poor people for whom it was the only way to access the banking system. share.inquirer.com/9pLhba

Folks on FB are arguing over how the Rock Lititz tax credits “lift up” the local economy — despite experts including the PA IFO questioning otherwise. That’s why I asked about tax credits being sold— which happens A LOT.

Last three LNP bylines.