https://lebtown.com/author/spotlightpa/ Lebanon County, PA news, events, and opinions. Wed, 31 Jan 2024 00:28:37 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://images.phillypublishing.com/lebtown/uploads/2019/06/cropped-Artboard-5-32x32.png https://lebtown.com/author/spotlightpa/ 32 32 https://lebtown.com/2024/01/31/gov-shapiro-is-pitching-more-funding-for-pa-s-struggling-transit-systems-will-the-state-senate-agree/ Wed, 31 Jan 2024 10:45:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=202602 Transit systems across Pennsylvania are struggling with inflation, even as ridership rebounds from the pandemic. State lawmakers are struggling to agree on funding to help.]]> https://lebtown.com/2024/01/24/proposed-update-to-state-gaming-rules-could-offer-relief-to-pa-s-fire-companies-nonprofits/ Wed, 24 Jan 2024 10:30:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=201581 Pennsylvania lawmakers have proposed letting nonprofits accept credit and debit card payments for small games of chance, which is currently illegal.]]> https://lebtown.com/2024/01/24/gov-josh-shapiros-admin-blames-human-error-for-deletion-of-pa-state-police-records/ Wed, 24 Jan 2024 10:15:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=200951 The Office of Administration under Gov. Josh Shapiro accidentally deleted thousands of records including State Police evidence logs. Some records haven’t been recovered.]]> https://lebtown.com/2024/01/24/long-sought-charter-school-changes-on-the-table-as-pa-lawmakers-plot-education-funding-overhaul/ Wed, 24 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=200952 Pennsylvania lawmakers say a court mandate to overhaul public school funding has opened avenues for compromise on charter school reform.]]> https://lebtown.com/2024/01/22/pa-s-broadband-authority-reverses-position-on-key-state-law-before-new-federal-funding-arrives/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 10:30:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=200950 The Broadband Development Authority initially said it would waive a key section of the 2004 law that restricts publicly owned broadband networks. The agency reversed course after public comments.]]> https://lebtown.com/2024/01/18/utility-shut-off-protections-in-pa-would-be-expanded-to-summer-months-under-bill/ Thu, 18 Jan 2024 10:30:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=200691 The legislature must reauthorize a law that shields people from winter utility shut-offs before the end of the year. That’s spurred a debate between consumer advocates and utilities about additional protections.]]> https://lebtown.com/2024/01/17/relief-for-abuse-survivors-other-constitutional-amendments-halted-in-pa-s-split-legislature/ Wed, 17 Jan 2024 10:45:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=200564 Deep partisan differences are keeping proposals with bipartisan support from voters, including one that would give survivors of childhood sexual abuse a chance to sue their abusers.]]> https://lebtown.com/2024/01/16/pa-county-officials-say-lawmakers-increase-to-the-911-phone-fee-isnt-enough-to-alleviate-taxpayer-burden/ Tue, 16 Jan 2024 10:45:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=200262 The increase to $1.95, which takes effect in March, helps Pennsylvania pay for 911 call center staffing and infrastructure upgrades.]]> https://lebtown.com/2024/01/12/pennsylvania-provides-state-money-for-public-defense-for-the-first-time/ Fri, 12 Jan 2024 10:45:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=200193 The state legislature approved $7.5 million for indigent defense. Until now, Pennsylvania was one of the few states to not provide state funding for public defenders.]]> https://lebtown.com/2024/01/12/new-law-aims-to-make-guardianship-a-last-resort-in-pa-but-some-experts-say-it-doesnt-go-far-enough/ Fri, 12 Jan 2024 10:30:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=200261 A new Pennsylvania law makes changes to the process of assigning guardians to people who are considered incapacitated, but some experts fear it won’t solve the issues.]]> https://lebtown.com/2024/01/09/no-budget-no-pay-bill-proposed-after-pennsylvania-lawmakers-voluntarily-withhold-salaries/ Tue, 09 Jan 2024 10:45:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=199769 A bill would make it mandatory for Pennsylvania lawmakers to forego pay during a budget impasse. At least one member says it could force votes for the wrong reason.]]> https://lebtown.com/2024/01/08/school-funding-permitting-at-top-of-pa-legislatures-2024-agenda/ Mon, 08 Jan 2024 10:45:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=199278 Looming over the legislature is a nearly year-old court ruling that declared the state’s education funding system to be unconstitutionally inequitable and ordered lawmakers to correct it.]]> https://lebtown.com/2024/01/05/pa-medical-marijuana-cards-and-anxiety-what-the-research-says/ Fri, 05 Jan 2024 10:45:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=199180 Anxiety disorders are the leading reason doctors approve patients for a medical marijuana card in Pennsylvania, even though the evidence that cannabis or its compounds are an effective treatment for them is limited and mixed.]]> https://lebtown.com/2024/01/02/why-the-pennsylvania-legislature-is-off-to-a-slow-start-in-2024/ Tue, 02 Jan 2024 10:40:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=198599 The legislature will be temporarily unable to grapple with major issues such as a far-reaching court ruling on how the state funds public education or its outdated Election Code.]]> https://lebtown.com/2024/01/02/pennsylvania-legislators-approve-study-to-improve-911-response-to-mental-health-crises/ Tue, 02 Jan 2024 10:30:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=198517 The study will look for ways for emergency dispatchers to send crisis responders through the 911 system in response to mental health emergencies.]]> https://lebtown.com/2024/01/02/inside-the-pa-court-case-pitting-a-genealogist-against-ancestry-com/ Tue, 02 Jan 2024 10:15:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=198509 Pennsylvania hired genealogy company Ancestry.com to digitize a sweeping list of historical documents. Now the company claims it owns those digital copies.]]> https://lebtown.com/2024/01/02/pa-lawmakers-base-salary-now-tops-106k-after-automatic-pay-raise/ Tue, 02 Jan 2024 10:15:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=198513 What you need to know about Pennsylvania lawmakers’ salaries, the history of the increase, and why changes are unlikely.]]> https://lebtown.com/2023/12/23/despite-ethics-concerns-shapiro-will-keep-accepting-tickets-from-a-group-that-gets-state-money/ Sat, 23 Dec 2023 13:17:42 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=198393 Gov. Josh Shapiro’s gift ban says he can’t take tickets from groups with “financial relations with the Commonwealth.” Team Pennsylvania was awarded $1.8 million in state contracts this year.]]> https://lebtown.com/2023/12/21/spotlight-pa-news-lab-at-penn-state-launch-community-based-program-to-keep-tabs-on-local-elected-leaders/ Thu, 21 Dec 2023 10:45:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=198244 The program, Centre Documents, trains and pays local residents and students to attend and document government meetings in six townships across Centre County.]]> https://lebtown.com/2023/12/20/administrative-election-errors-rise-as-pa-counties-struggle-to-keep-voting-officials/ Wed, 20 Dec 2023 10:45:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=198176 Election experts, as well as the Department of State, agree the increase is linked to turnover and loss of experience at local voting offices.]]> https://lebtown.com/2023/12/19/a-long-budget-impasse-and-partisan-standoffs-dominated-the-pa-legislature-in-2023/ Tue, 19 Dec 2023 10:45:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=198046 Members of the divided Pa. legislature acknowledge that they had a slow start and deep divisions remain. But after finishing the budget and passing bipartisan bills, they predict a smoother 2024.]]> https://lebtown.com/2023/12/18/shapiro-administration-cancels-10-7-million-contract-for-pa-voter-roll-system-upgrade/ Mon, 18 Dec 2023 10:45:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=197731 The Pa. Department of State has canceled its contract with KNOWiNK for an upgrade to the state voter roll management system. The change will not impact the 2024 election.]]> https://lebtown.com/2023/12/15/a-mix-of-reform-minded-and-tough-on-crime-justice-bills-are-now-law-in-pa/ Fri, 15 Dec 2023 16:36:59 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=197620 Pa. Gov. Shapiro has signed a sweeping mix of criminal justice bills, which include probation changes and a measure cracking down on Philly transit crimes.]]> https://lebtown.com/2023/12/14/pennsylvanias-budget-impasse-ends-as-legislature-agrees-to-boost-child-care-tax-credit-fund-public-defense/ Thu, 14 Dec 2023 19:02:35 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=197521 The Pennsylvania legislature resolves budget impasse, funding several new programs and excluding others, marking the end of months-long negotiations between the Democratic-controlled state House and Republican-controlled state Senate.]]> https://lebtown.com/2023/12/14/pa-introduces-new-rules-for-hunters-to-limit-the-spread-of-zombie-deer-disease/ Thu, 14 Dec 2023 10:45:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=197372 Pennsylvania has seen an increase in chronic wasting disease since 2012. While the state has implemented tracking and mitigation efforts, testing is still optional for hunters.]]> https://lebtown.com/2023/12/13/governor-josh-shapiros-tumultuous-first-year-a-look-at-the-highs-and-lows/ Wed, 13 Dec 2023 10:45:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=197182 The Democrat, who is believed to have higher political aspirations, struggled at times to advance priorities through Harrisburg’s ideologically divided legislature.]]> https://lebtown.com/2023/12/11/demand-for-pennsylvanias-new-whole-home-repairs-program-has-been-overwhelming-but-more-funding-is-on-hold/ Mon, 11 Dec 2023 10:45:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=196923 The Whole-Home Repairs Program is a victim of its own success. Additional funding is held up by the state’s budget impasse.]]> https://lebtown.com/2023/12/08/pennsylvania-lawmakers-to-tackle-budget-deadlock-amid-looming-legislative-break/ Fri, 08 Dec 2023 10:45:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=196785 Pa. lawmakers have a lot of work left before a state budget is finalized. They have only a week until construction closes the state House for the winter.]]> https://lebtown.com/2023/12/05/new-pa-house-rules-sought-to-strengthen-bipartisanship-insiders-say-it-didnt-work/ Tue, 05 Dec 2023 10:45:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=196346 The state House is now passing more bills from the minority party. But insiders say the bipartisan productivity is because of a slim partisan divide, not because of new chamber rules.]]> https://lebtown.com/2023/12/04/one-year-in-this-is-where-josh-shapiro-stands-on-key-promises/ Mon, 04 Dec 2023 10:45:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=196350 Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro has gotten a slow start on key goals like a minimum wage increase and corporate tax cuts. The GOP-controlled state Senate has been his biggest roadblock.]]> https://lebtown.com/2023/12/01/court-ruling-on-undated-ballots-brings-confusion-as-pa-counties-certify-november-election-results/ Fri, 01 Dec 2023 10:45:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=196318 A federal judge has ruled that Pennsylvania counties should accept undated and misdated mail ballots, but some consider the decision “prospective.”]]> https://lebtown.com/2023/11/30/pa-legislature-paid-280k-to-settle-harassment-other-claims-while-requiring-secrecy-in-many-cases/ Thu, 30 Nov 2023 10:45:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=196112 Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office has come under fire for similarly agreeing to settle a claim of sexual harassment with a nondisclosure agreement.]]> https://lebtown.com/2023/11/28/how-the-ongoing-pa-budget-impasse-is-hurting-community-colleges-libraries/ Tue, 28 Nov 2023 10:45:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=195957 Pennsylvania lawmakers have struggled to finish the code bills that direct some state spending. Amid this budget impasse, key nonprofits are missing funding.]]> https://lebtown.com/2023/11/24/how-spotlight-pas-nonpartisan-journalism-cuts-through-the-noise-and-gets-results/ Fri, 24 Nov 2023 10:55:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=195268 No matter the issue or political party, Spotlight PA’s relentless reporting demands the truth and drives real change. But we can’t do it without your support.]]> https://lebtown.com/2023/11/22/pa-counties-must-accept-undated-incorrectly-dated-mail-ballots-federal-court-rules/ Wed, 22 Nov 2023 10:45:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=195599 The ruling found the date a voter writes on a return envelope to be “immaterial” to a ballot’s eligibility. It has the potential to prevent the disenfranchisement of thousands of voters next year.]]> https://lebtown.com/2023/11/13/as-partisan-tensions-thaw-in-harrisburg-pa-lawmakers-eye-unfunded-housing-school-priorities/ Mon, 13 Nov 2023 10:45:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=194584 Pennsylvania lawmakers are signaling a willingness to move legislation after a year that's seen a prolonged dispute over spending and few bills cross the finish line.]]> https://lebtown.com/2023/11/13/pa-leads-the-nation-for-lyme-disease-cases-development-in-forests-boosts-the-risk/ Mon, 13 Nov 2023 10:30:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=194585 Pennsylvania leads the nation in Lyme disease cases, and the continued development of forested areas increases people’s risk of being bitten by the species of tick that transmits the illness.]]> https://lebtown.com/2023/11/09/pa-superior-court-election-results-democrats-jill-beck-and-timika-lane-win-open-seats/ Fri, 10 Nov 2023 00:57:34 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=194454 Democrats Beck and Lane have won 10-year terms on the Superior Court, one of Pennsylvania’s appellate benches.]]> https://lebtown.com/2023/11/08/pa-supreme-court-election-results-democrat-daniel-mccaffery-beats-republican-carolyn-carluccio/ Wed, 08 Nov 2023 09:15:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=194193 McCaffery, a Superior Court judge, has won a 10-year term on the state Supreme Court, one of Pennsylvania’s appellate benches.]]> https://lebtown.com/2023/11/08/pa-commonwealth-court-election-results-democrat-matt-wolf-beats-republican-megan-martin/ Wed, 08 Nov 2023 09:00:00 +0000 https://lebtown.com/?p=194191 Wolf, a Philadelphia municipal judge, has won a 10-year term on Commonwealth Court, one of Pennsylvania’s appellate benches.]]>