Police Chief Ed Mahon looks back on 42 years of serving South Sioux City South Sioux City Police Chief Ed Mahon is preparing for his next career milestone: retirement.

I watched this clip just to see how the last name was pronounced. (We are not related, to be clear.) www.ktiv.com/2025/09/30/p...

Thanks, Tim!

Ed Mahon of Spotlight PA honored with the Institute’s Sheehan Award for Investigative Journalism - Journalism Institute Ed Mahon, an investigative reporter at Spotlight PA, will receive the 2025 Neil and Susan Sheehan Award for Investigative Journalism.

The Institute is proud to honor @edmahon.bsky.social, an investigative reporter at @spotlightpa.org, with the 2025 Neil and Susan Sheehan Award for Investigative Journalism.

Join us at @pressclubdc.bsky.social on Dec. 9 to celebrate: www.pressclubinstitute.org/2025/09/12/e...

Session is over. Stay tuned for more from me on this.

Voices of the Epidemic: A Call for Transparency in Opioid Settlement Spending | WITF Aired; March 27th, 2025.The opioid epidemic has devastated families and communities across Pennsylvania, leaving countless individuals searching f […]

Kathleen Strain speaking now. More about here here: www.witf.org/2025/03/28/v...

"We're angry because no one's listening," Ousterman said.

Failure by Pa. officials to clarify rules around medical marijuana, addiction treatment had serious consequences Tyler Cordeiro was denied funding for treatment despite a state program offering help for anyone, even without insurance. The problem: his medical marijuana card.

Susan Ousterman is the next speaker. More about her and her story here: www.spotlightpa.org/series/turne...

Sharon White speaking now, talking about a family member.

Public voices often ignored in states’ opioid cash decisions Many see the billions in opioid cash coming to states as blood money. But in many places, the public is routinely shut out of spending decisions

More on Gail's views here. I've spoken with her before.

www.spotlightpa.org/news/2024/08...

Gail Groves Scott, public health researcher and advocate, is speaking now and criticizing what she calls the trust's secrecy.

A county commissioner was called next, but said he was just there to learn. He thanked the board.

Carla Sofronski of PA Harm Reduction Network talking now and she's criticizing money going to what she considers wasteful programs.

"I'm tired of being shut out. ...I still do not feel heard," she said.

Advocate Marianne Sinisi is speaking now. She's talking about her child that she lost, and she's also talking about families aren't being given a say in these settlement spending decisions.

Those programs often rely on fear-based messaging, information only approaches which aren't effective or personal testimonies that do not resonate with youth, Hanley said.

What type of prevention doesn't work? One-time presentations, assemblies or classroom talks rarely build skills, change attitudes or reduce substance use, Jeff Hanley told the opioid trust.

Now up is Jeff Hanley with the Commonwealth Prevention Alliance. He's talking about the importance of spending settlement money on prevention programs that are proven to work, that are effective or evidence-based.

Next speaker was with the Institute for Research, Education and Training in Addictions.

Can opioid settlement money fund public defense? Billions of dollars have begun flowing to Pennsylvania and other states.

Here's the link: www.spotlightpa.org/news/2024/04...

Andrew Capone, an attorney and official with the Public Defender Association of Pennsylvania, is speaking now. He's urging the trust to remove guidance discouraging settlement funds from being spent on public defenders. @dtohl.bsky.social and I wrote about the conflict last year.

Listening session starting now. Event link is available here: www.paopioidtrust.org/meetings/202...

About 17 people signed up, VanKirk said. But only 10 people responded to a follow-up outreach for confirmation, he said. Trust is going to reconvene for that session at 1 p.m.

A listening session is scheduled for later today at 1 p.m. Info to view virtually is also available here: www.paopioidtrust.org/meetings/202...

The board for the Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust is meeting now. Info to view virtually is available here.

www.paopioidtrust.org/meetings/202...

Big day*.

Big fay: I have TWO photos in Spotlight PA’s weekday newsletter. One was for a news article. The other was inspired by my kids’ obsession with the “Hamilton” soundtrack.

PA Local Heroes nomination form Know a person in your community who deserves some praise? Let us help. Spotlight PA is spotlighting one community do-gooder each month with a feature, sponsored by Ballard Spahr, in our PA Local newsl...

Pennsylvanians: Do you know someone who deserves recognition for doing good in their PA community?

Nominate them to be featured in our monthly PA Local Heroes series! You can submit their name & a few lines about them here: forms.gle/9WBuEgLrTkxS...

Examples of some previous profiles in thread 🧵

Great reporting out of West Virginia - by great student journalists - about where opioid settlement money is going in a state that's long been considered the epicenter of the opioid and overdose crisis.

The ‘big, beautiful bill’ is poised to cut Medicaid. Here’s what’s at stake for five Philly-area families. Medicaid insures one in four Pennsylvania residents, and it is poised for cuts under President Donald Trump’s first major policy package, “The Big Beautiful Bill."

As the Senate passes unprecedented Medicaid cuts, my colleague Sarah Gantz profiled five Philly-area families who are worried about affording food, medications, and mental health services going forward: www.inquirer.com/health/medic...

Real stories of recovery shape Spotlight PA’s addiction reporting. How Spotlight PA used community conversations, a survey, and data tools to elevate public voices in Pennsylvania’s opioid settlement rollout.

One of Jessica Berry's overdoses ended up in a news article, she said, and some of the online comments questioned why people like her were even worth saving.

“It really broke my heart,” she said. “But it also lit a fire in me.”

www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/06...