The move to eliminate “prison gerrymandering” will benefit communities of color when new House and Senate maps are drawn, but Republicans are questioning its legitimacy.
Spotlight PA
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Wolf admin unexpectedly pulls the plug on controversial revamp of Pa. safety net program
The Department of Health did not explain why it abandoned a plan to change who administers a nutrition program for pregnant people and young children.
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Wolf asks Republican leaders to return to Harrisburg and pass school mask mandate
Few school districts are requiring masks inside classrooms, something the Democratic governor said it needed to ensure safety.
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What we know about the renewed push for a ‘forensic audit’ of Pennsylvania’s 2020 election
Spotlight PA cut through the noise to revisit how this effort came about, what we know about it thus far, and what it might look like in the future.
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How to get involved in Pa.’s pivotal redistricting process
Redistricting will shape the balance of power in Washington and Harrisburg for years to come — and there are numerous ways for members of the public to have a say.
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4 takeaways from new Pa. census data and what it means for redistricting
The 5-member panel that draws new state House and Senate maps will have to consider how to evenly distribute Pennsylvania’s shifting population.
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The Pa. counties that lost and gained the most population in the last 10 years, ranked
Data released this week by the U.S. Census Bureau reveals that Pennsylvania’s population grew by 2.4% between 2010 and 2020.
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How many people in Pa. use cannabis for addiction? The Wolf admin won’t say.
The state Department of Health said it was unable to “share specifics regarding patient use,” despite doing so in the past.
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Pa.’s political mapmakers finally have new census data. Now the hard work begins.
Because of census data delays, lawmakers have only a few months to create final congressional and legislative maps in time for the spring 2022 primary.
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You’re invited! A free reader Q&A on rising COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania
On Wednesday, Aug. 25 at noon, join Spotlight PA for a free Q&A on Pennsylvania’s response to the surge in COVID-19 cases and what you need to know going into the fall.
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Pennsylvania Senate plans first step to enhance public access to expense information
Following reporting by The Caucus and Spotlight PA, the Pennsylvania Senate said it will post expenses online, though it’s unclear in what format.
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What renters in Pa. need to know about available relief, the new eviction ban
Pennsylvania has more than $1 billion in rental aid available to people who have fallen behind because of the pandemic.
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Pa. is trying county fairs, text messages, and door-knocking to raise the vaccination rate. Success is slow coming.
Nearly 64% of Pennsylvania adults are fully vaccinated, a small increase compared to July and a worrying plateau as the delta variant surges across the country.
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Pa. patients swear by cannabis as a tool to fight opioid addiction. The research still isn’t there.
Pennsylvania approved opioid use disorder as a condition that qualifies a person for medical marijuana in 2018, but experts are still conflicted about its use as an addiction treatment.
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Theft charges against Philly pol highlight Pa.’s lax reimbursement system for state lawmakers
Per diems allow legislators to collect flat-rate payments intended for food and lodging without turning over any receipts. They were front and center in the charges against Margo Davidson.