Inside the Shapiro admin’s plan to prevent maternal deaths Pennsylvania’s new maternal health plan has been praised as ambitious, but advocates warn funding may fall short of long-term goals.

Problem-solving at the laundromat. Prenatal nutrition advice at the pharmacy. Mental health screenings through an app.

Inside the Shapiro administration’s ‘absolutely ambitious’ plan to prevent maternal deaths www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/04...

Calls to PA farmer crisis hotline drop after early surge Despite an ongoing mental health crisis, fewer Pennsylvania farmers are calling a helpline designed for them.

Between February 2022 and June 2024, the AgriStress Helpline fielded 107 calls and texts from Pennsylvania farmers and those calling on their behalf. Of those, 58 came in the first 11 months after the number launched with help from a $500,000 federal grant.

Just one week after announcing plans to shut down inpatient, emergency, and long-term care services at Bradford Regional Medical Center in rural McKean County, Kaleida Health says it is now in talks with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine about a possible acquisition.

PA judge recommends private company to buy Rock Spring After years of unreliable service, a judge has recommended a private sale of Rock Spring Water Company to Pennsylvania American.

Officials at the State College Borough Water Authority were disappointed but not surprised by the recommendation.

PA judge recommends private company to buy Rock Spring After years of unreliable service, a judge has recommended a private sale of Rock Spring Water Company to Pennsylvania American.

Nearly two years after a Spotlight PA investigation found that customers served by Rock Spring Water Company were failed by the private utility, state regulators, and elected officials, a judge has recommended a forced sale.

A Spotlight PA investigation found customers served by privately owned Rock Spring Water Company have been failed by the company, state regulators, and elected officials. A Spotlight PA investigation found customers served by privately owned Rock Spring Water Company have been failed by the company, state regulators, and elected officials.

🚰 And check out our nearly two years of coverage here:

A utilities judge has recommended the sale of Rock Spring Water Company to Pennsylvania American Water.

👀 Order here: www.puc.pa.gov/pcdocs/19145...

📝 Story to come!

New money for rural health care isn't easing closure worries The five-year Rural Health Transformation Program is meant to expand and strengthen access to care, but state officials and experts warn the money isn’t enough to fix every problem.

The outlook for rural hospitals in Pennsylvania remains grim as the state prepares to make the best of decreased federal investments and faces budgetary challenges that officials say make it impossible to absorb the cuts.

These PA artists sculpt the coins that end up in your pocket The U.S. Mint’s production facility in Philadelphia employs a team of sculptors and designers who translate iconic history into pocked-sized art.

Did you know that the art for US coins comes to life right here in PA?

I talked to two artists at the US Mint in Philadelphia who design & sculpt art for coins (and Congressional medals) about their work, including some of their latest for the semiquincentennial.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/02...

ICE buys $87M warehouse in Berks County Deed records show the Trump administration purchased a 520,000-square-foot warehouse in Hamburg, PA, for $87.4 million on Feb. 2.

NEW: ICE buys $87M warehouse in Berks County as it plots expansion of immigration detention centers across the U.S. www.spotlightpa.org/berks/2026/02/ice-wareho...

Meet the ‘Shop Ladies of Brookville’ They left big cities for rural Pennsylvania and have formed a network of support in downtown Brookville.

Each came for different reasons — a house, family, a slower pace — and together, they’ve formed a network of support within the local business community and built friendships.

PA judge to decide what’s next for Rock Spring Water Company Rock Spring, Pennsylvania American, and utility regulators have proposed competing plans for the future of the water system in rural Centre County.

Recent legal filings lay out a number of paths for consideration: Give Rock Spring more time to raise rates and reorganize; allow Pennsylvania American Water to file for bankruptcy to enable a municipal sale; or direct the State College Borough Water Authority to acquire the system.

Reading may become a ‘Welcoming City’ for immigrants. What does that actually mean? The measure would formally bar Reading, PA, police from collaborating with ICE.

Reading City Council is considering a “Welcoming City” ordinance that would formally bar local police from enforcing federal immigration laws or entering into agreements with ICE.

It would also prohibit city employees from gathering or sharing information regarding a person’s immigration status.

PA budget impasse drags on while lawmakers raise campaign cash With the state budget nearly four months late, Pennsylvania schools, nonprofits and local governments are paying the price while lawmakers keep fundraising.

Lawmakers who spoke to Spotlight PA defended the fundraisers and trips, saying that legislating and politicking are unrelated and can coexist.

But two good-government watchdogs said they represent the dysfunction that has contributed to the state’s inability to pass a spending plan.

PA water company faces forced sale after years of violations Rock Spring Water Company could still voluntarily sell to the State College water authority, but a judge overseeing the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission process said time for a deal will run out...

Attorneys for those involved in the case met during a recess to discuss a possible deal, but no new progress was reported.

How PA Supreme Court rulings impact cities like Philadelphia On Nov. 4, Pennsylvania voters will decide whether to retain three state Supreme Court justices. Here’s how the court has shaped urban communities.

Pennsylvania voters will decide the future of three state Supreme Court justices when they cast their ballots on Nov. 4.

Who serves on the high court matters for everyone. From Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, here are some decisions that have impacted communities living in cities across the state:

How Pennsylvania Supreme Court decisions impact rural areas Three justices on Pennsylvania’s highest court are up for retention on Nov. 4. Here’s a look at how past rulings have influenced rural communities.

When Pennsylvania voters head to the polls on Nov. 4, they’ll weigh in on the future of the state’s highest court.

Here’s a look at how the state Supreme Court's rulings have influenced rural communities:

What do Mr. Rogers and George A. Romero have in common? The answer might shock you. The University of Pittsburgh's new Horror Studies Center is home to a global research network dedicated to the genre, which has deep Pennsylvania ties.

Horror is as Pennsylvanian as scrapple.

From the Gothic fiction of authors like Charles Brockden Brown and Edgar Allan Poe, to the creature features of George A. Romero and mindbenders of M. Night Shyamalan, the commonwealth has long been a hub for the genre.

Penn State trustees to revisit sale of WPSU during special meeting Monday The finance and investment committee last month unanimously voted against moving forward with a proposal for WHYY to acquire WPSU..

The finance and investment committee last month unanimously voted against moving forward with a proposal for WHYY to acquire WPSU..

Seeking answers about Centre County ICE arrests, CDT sues for body cam footage The Centre Daily Times has filed a lawsuit against the Pennsylvania State Police to force the release of the footage.

“There’s just not a lot of cases like this out there, which makes the CDT’s case so important,” @rcfp.org attorney Paula Knudsen Burke said.

Clearfield County to make $1 million over 5 years on detention center contracts Clearfield County will make $1 million to act as the middleman between ICE and GEO Group, which operates Moshannon Valley Processing Center.

Clearfield County will make $1 million over five years to act as the middleman between ICE and the private contractor that operates the Moshannon Valley Processing Center, the largest immigration detention facility in the Northeast.

Wrongfully convicted Subu Vedam taken into ICE custody after release from prison He is detained in the Moshannon Valley Processing Center near Philipsburg, but many questions remain.

A State College man who spent more than four decades in prison for a murder conviction that has since been overturned was taken into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody Friday just as he stood on the doorstep of freedom.

Public hearings set as regulators consider Rock Spring Water sale After years of unreliable service, Rock Spring Water customers can speak up on Sept. 30 ahead of a possible forced sale of the company.

Before Pennsylvania regulators decide the fate of the long-troubled Rock Spring Water Company in rural Centre County, the community has a chance to weigh in.

Ferguson Township will host public input hearings at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. today at its municipal building and online.

Celebrate Goose Day, Pennsylvania’s hyper-regional holiday For over a century, central Pennsylvanians have gathered near the start of fall to celebrate Goose Day, a quirky holiday with ties to Europe.

According to the legend, eating goose meat on Sept. 29 brings prosperity and financial security for the following year.

Happy Goose Day! 🪿

Celebrate Goose Day, Pennsylvania’s hyper-regional holiday For over a century, central Pennsylvanians have gathered near the start of fall to celebrate Goose Day, a quirky holiday with ties to Europe.

I was on vacation last week so didn't get a chance to share this piece when it came out, but I had a lovely time speaking to people in the Juniata River Valley about Goose Day, a quirky & unique local holiday that's celebrated every Sept. 29: www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/09...

Without state aid, small PA transit systems face service cuts With recurring state funding off the table, transit systems outside Philly and Pittsburgh are preparing for service cuts, fare hikes, and hiring freezes.

new from me: how other transit agencies are adapting now that funding won't be included in this year's budget: pausing plans to expand, cutting services, and raising fares

www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/09...

Public hearings set as regulators consider Rock Spring Water sale After years of unreliable service, Rock Spring Water customers can speak up on Sept. 30 ahead of a possible forced sale of the company.

Ferguson Township will host two public input hearings at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Sept. 30.

The township doesn’t oversee Rock Spring Water Company but is involved in the state’s regulatory effort to find a permanent fix for the struggling system, which serves about 1,000 of the township’s residents.

Supporters hold out hope after Penn State’s ‘short-sighted’ decision to close WPSU Penn State said the “most promising option” to save the station was rejected by a committee on the university’s board of trustees.

“Here’s the problem: If you knew how WPSU came to be, it took years and years to create the station it has become. If it goes away, it’s not coming back. So I think it’s absolutely critical that every effort be made to ensure its continuation — even if its continuation is in some reduced form."