A growing band of board dissidents says PSERS leaders must go immediately to fix “an irrevocable loss of trust and confidence that is a consequence of persistent underperformance.”
Spotlight PA
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Wolf sticks by $1 billion plan to close Pa.’s education gap, minus his proposed tax increase
While Democrats say the state should put some of its $3 billion revenue surplus into education, Republicans counter Pennsylvania’s financial picture isn’t that rosy.
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Jobless in Pa. livid over new unemployment system errors as state declares victory
A new wave of problems blocked numerous people from filing for benefits they had already been approved for.
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Facing FBI probe, PSERS backtracks on disclosure that staffers were on both sides of real estate dealings
The $64 billion pension fund claimed in a new IRS filing that its previous disclosures were poorly worded and filed in “error.”
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With $10 billion to spend, advocates press Wolf, Pa. lawmakers to prioritize poor people
Buoyed by $3 billion in excess tax revenue and more than $7 billion in stimulus dollars, Democrats want the state to go big, while Republicans are wary of huge new spending.
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Five takeaways from a year-long investigation on lawmaker spending
The Caucus and Spotlight PA wanted to find out how one of the largest and most expensive full-time legislatures in the country spends tax money on itself.
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Bill would force Pa. to post online how lawmakers spend millions in tax dollars each year
The bipartisan measure comes in response to an ongoing investigation by Spotlight PA and The Caucus into how taxpayers shell out millions each year for perks but are largely unaware of that spending.
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Internal PSERS documents show how Pa’s biggest pension fund got key financial calculation wrong
A federal probe is examining the $64 billion fund’s exaggerated investment returns and real estate spending.
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Anxiety runs high as Pa. begins massive overhaul of 60-year-old unemployment computer system
Claims will be put on hold until June 8 as the state makes an ambitious leap to a new, cloud-based benefits system. But experts warn this “all-at-once” approach often fails.
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Zuckerberg-funded support of Pa. counties’ election expenses draws scrutiny
More than 20 Pennsylvania counties turned to private philanthropy when it became apparent the Republican-led General Assembly wasn’t going to help them cover COVID-related expenses.
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America’s richest school serves low-income kids. But much of its Hershey-funded fortune isn’t being spent.
The nonprofit Milton Hershey School says its founding deed prevents it from spending more money on its core mission, even though that hasn’t stopped the school from making significant changes before.
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‘Internal systemic failures’ led to Wolf administration blunder that derailed child sex abuse amendment
The report by the state inspector general’s office concluded that there was no evidence that the administration’s mistake was deliberate or the result of “intentional malfeasance.”
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A stark racial divide on vaccinations leaves many at risk as Pa. reopens
As the state eases distancing and mask mandates, health officials are still failing to successfully vaccinate communities that have been disadvantaged from the start.
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Newly empowered, Pa. GOP lawmakers move to end parts of Wolf’s coronavirus disaster order
Gov. Tom Wolf called the vote “a discouraging development” following a “productive meeting with the legislature” after the May 18 primary, when voters backed curtailing his powers.
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After citing privacy law, Pa. backtracks and discloses wasted vaccine details
Just 0.18% of more than 10 million doses given to hospitals, pharmacies, and other providers through May 21 were discarded.