Katie Meyer

1 month ago | spotlightpa.org | Elizabeth Estrada |Katie Meyer

HARRISBURG — Whether you cast your ballot in person or by mail on May 20, you want to make sure your vote counts. The best way to do that is to know your rights. Here are key state and federal protections for Pennsylvania voters—covering everything from prior criminal convictions, to getting a provisional ballot, to dealing with disruptions at a polling place.

1 month ago | spotlightpa.org | Stephen Caruso |Katie Meyer

HARRISBURG — Top Pennsylvania politicians accepted roughly $119,000 in gifts and hospitality from groups seeking to influence government last year, including several pricey trips to Israel and Taiwan. State law places no limits on what lobbyists and other interested parties can give to commonwealth employees or holders of public office.

2 months ago | spotlightpa.org | Katie Meyer

HARRISBURG — On May 20, Democrats and Republicans will choose their parties’ candidates for a vacancy on Commonwealth Court and on Superior Court. The winners will compete in the November general election. Pennsylvania’s two intermediate appellate courts have the power to affirm or reverse decisions made in lower courts. Their rulings can be appealed to the state Supreme Court, Pennsylvania’s court of last resort. Each court serves a distinct role within the commonwealth’s legal system.

2 months ago | spotlightpa.org | Katie Meyer

HARRISBURG — A surprise Democratic win in a Pennsylvania Senate district that heavily voted for President Donald Trump bodes well for the party at large as the 2026 midterms approach. But politicians, operatives, and analysts warned that the special election result in a corner of Lancaster County may not be repeated during a higher-turnout contest — and that Democrats’ struggles with less engaged voters remain a real problem for the party.

Mar 25, 2025 | alleghenyfront.org | Kate Huangpu |Katie Meyer

by Kate Huangpu and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA The Allegheny Front partners with Spotlight PA, a collaborative, reader-funded newsroom producing accountability journalism for all of Pennsylvania. Sign up for Spotlight’s free newsletters. As Pennsylvania celebrates plugging 300 abandoned oil and gas wells since 2023, ongoing lawsuits against the Trump administration over hundreds of millions of federal dollars are creating uncertainty for those doing the work on the ground.