are people out here really asking AI to summarize text messages???
Marley Parish
@marleyparish.bsky.social
I write about Pennsylvania's rural communities for Spotlight PA.
The bill would boost the budgets of rural communities that host tax-exempt property, such as state forests and parks, and that have few other options for raising money to fund services. However, the source of the money could leave the bill open to legal challenges on constitutional grounds.
PA bill would give local governments a cut of state land revenue
The legislation would especially benefit rural Pennsylvania, which often has more state-owned land and fewer residents.
spotlightpa.org
Family planning and health organizations that serve tens of thousands of people across Pennsylvania could see federal funding delayed or denied by a new Trump administration policy, a new lawsuit alleges. www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/06...
PA family planning group sues over Trump Title X policy change
The Trump admin has added an ‘alignment review’ for Title X grants, which help low-income and uninsured patients access family planning.
spotlightpa.org
Following Spotlight PA's story today, GOP nominee Stacy Garrity is calling for seven public debates with incumbent Gov. Josh Shapiro before the general election. www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/06...
Shapiro and Garrity open to a 2026 PA governor debate
Experts say political debates are getting rarer, but this year both PA candidates for governor say they’re open to it.
spotlightpa.org
Chatbots on 5 websites claimed to be licensed to practice medicine in the commonwealth when prompted by Spotlight PA — the same kind of output that led the Shapiro administration to file a lawsuit last month. www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/06...
AI chatbots still pose as doctors amid PA crackdown
Five role-playing bots claimed to be doctors, then provided fake Pennsylvania medical license numbers when prompted.
spotlightpa.org
Pennsylvania American and Rock Spring have three months to negotiate an asset purchase agreement.
Regulators back PA American purchase of Rock Spring Water
Rock Spring and Pennsylvania American have three months to reach a deal ending a yearslong battle over service failures in Centre County.
spotlightpa.org
Marley Parish@marleyparish.bsky.social · 2mo agoTwo years after a @spotlightpa.org investigation found that customers served by Rock Spring were failed by the private utility, state regulators, and elected officials, Pennsylvania's Public Utility Commission unanimously voted to force the water company to sell to Pennsylvania American.
Two years after a @spotlightpa.org investigation found that customers served by Rock Spring were failed by the private utility, state regulators, and elected officials, Pennsylvania's Public Utility Commission unanimously voted to force the water company to sell to Pennsylvania American.
Asbestos. This was not in the press release. No one was saying what triggered this move. Hanna found out: Asbestos.
Spotlight PA@spotlightpa.org · 3mo agoBerks County officials weigh postponing courthouse upgrades and buying the 600 Penn St. building, a move that could affect Reading's CRIZ funding. https://www.spotlightpa.org/berks/2026/05/berks-courthouse-local-government/
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...
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.
spotlightpa.org
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.
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.
spotlightpa.org
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.
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.
spotlightpa.org
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.
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.
spotlightpa.org
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!
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.
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.
spotlightpa.org
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...
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.
spotlightpa.org
NEW: ICE buys $87M warehouse in Berks County as it plots expansion of immigration detention centers across the U.S. https://www.spotlightpa.org/berks/2026/02/ice-warehouse-berks-county-purchase-federal-government/
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.
spotlightpa.org
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.
Meet the ‘Shop Ladies of Brookville’
They left big cities for rural Pennsylvania and have formed a network of support in downtown Brookville.
spotlightpa.org
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.
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.
spotlightpa.org
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.
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.
spotlightpa.org
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 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.
spotlightpa.org
Attorneys for those involved in the case met during a recess to discuss a possible deal, but no new progress was reported.
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...
spotlightpa.org
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 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.
spotlightpa.org
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:
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.
spotlightpa.org
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.
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.
spotlightpa.org
The finance and investment committee last month unanimously voted against moving forward with a proposal for WHYY to acquire WPSU..
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..
bit.ly
“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.
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.
centredaily.com
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.
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.
spotlightpa.org
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.
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.
centredaily.com
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.
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.
spotlightpa.org