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Marley Parish

@marleyparish.bsky.social
439 followers 56 following 118 posts

I write about Pennsylvania's rural communities for Spotlight PA.

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Reposted by Marley Parish
Jaxon White @jaxonwhite.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Pennsylvania's WIC director resigned last week, saying in a letter that she faced inconsistent treatment and troubling comments “regarding my identity as a Black woman.” www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/09...
spotlightpa.org
PA WIC program director resigns, alleging workplace ‘barriers
PA WIC Director Sally Zubairu-Cofield said in a letter that she faced inconsistent treatment and troubling comments “regarding my identity as a Black woman.”
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Jaxon White @jaxonwhite.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Passed by Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R., Westmoreland) in the Capitol, and asked if she’d want to comment on any skill games action. “Nooooo,” she said, walking away with a laugh.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Mobile home owners say they’re trapped as lot rents rise. This bill would provide relief.
spotlightpa.org
PA bill would limit mobile home fee increases
Lawmakers aim to protect mobile home residents from steep fee increases. Community owners say it caps revenue without cutting operating costs.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
In mailed letters, the privately owned company asked customers whether they would be interested in forming a cooperative to take over the system rather than transferring it to Pennsylvania American Water.
spotlightpa.org
Rock Spring pitches co-op instead of PA American sale
In a letter sent to customers in rural Centre County, Rock Spring asked about interest in forming a cooperative to manage water service.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Guthrie is expanding its volunteer program to help patients who may need to meet the new 80-hour monthly community engagement requirement.
spotlightpa.org
How Guthrie plans to help PA Medicaid patients
The health system is expanding its volunteer program to keep patients insured when the Trump administration’s stricter Medicaid rules go into effect.
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Reposted by Marley Parish
Asha Prihar @ashaprihar.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Regional identity runs deep in PA. In this piece, I dive into why that is, and why people get so passionate about the way we talk about where in the state we're from. www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/08...
spotlightpa.org
Why Pennsylvanians care so dang much about regional names, borders
Regional identities shape how Pennsylvanians relate to each other, what they call areas of the state, and where they decide to put down roots.
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Asha Prihar @ashaprihar.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
I've spent the past month or so chatting with Pennsylvanians about how they refer to their part of the state, and what makes their areas unique — but actually defining the regions we've been discussing isn't always a clear-cut task. Help us find consensus: www.spotlightpa.org/news/2026/08...
spotlightpa.org
Which of these maps best represents Pa.’s many and oft-disputed regions?
As part of a series on Pennsylvania regions, their names, their identities, and whether it all matters, Spotlight PA needs your input. Take our survey.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
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.
spotlightpa.org
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.
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Reposted by Marley Parish
Jaxon White @jaxonwhite.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
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...
spotlightpa.org
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.
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Jaxon White @jaxonwhite.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
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...
spotlightpa.org
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.
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Reposted by Marley Parish
Jaxon White @jaxonwhite.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
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...
spotlightpa.org
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.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Pennsylvania American and Rock Spring have three months to negotiate an asset purchase agreement.
spotlightpa.org
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.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
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.
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Reposted by Marley Parish
Lisa Scheid @lisafscheid.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Asbestos. This was not in the press release. No one was saying what triggered this move. Hanna found out: Asbestos.
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Jaxon White @jaxonwhite.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
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...
spotlightpa.org
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.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
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.
spotlightpa.org
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.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 26/02/2026
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.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Officials at the State College Borough Water Authority were disappointed but not surprised by the recommendation.
spotlightpa.org
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.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
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.
spotlightpa.org
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.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
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!
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
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.
spotlightpa.org
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.
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Reposted by Marley Parish
Asha Prihar @ashaprihar.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
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...
spotlightpa.org
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.
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Reposted by Marley Parish
Spotlight PA @spotlightpa.org · 02/02/2026
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/i…
spotlightpa.org
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.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
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.
spotlightpa.org
Meet the ‘Shop Ladies of Brookville’
They left big cities for rural Pennsylvania and have formed a network of support in downtown Brookville.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
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.
spotlightpa.org
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.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
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.
spotlightpa.org
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.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
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.
spotlightpa.org
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.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
Attorneys for those involved in the case met during a recess to discuss a possible deal, but no new progress was reported.
spotlightpa.org
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...
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
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:
spotlightpa.org
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.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
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:
spotlightpa.org
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.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
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.
spotlightpa.org
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.
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Reposted by Marley Parish
centredaily.com @centredaily.com · 12/10/2025
The finance and investment committee last month unanimously voted against moving forward with a proposal for WHYY to acquire WPSU..
bit.ly
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..
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Reposted by Marley Parish
Jessica McAllister @jessicamcallister.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
“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.
centredaily.com
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.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
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.
spotlightpa.org
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.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
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.
centredaily.com
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.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
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.
spotlightpa.org
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.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Happy Goose Day! 🪿
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Reposted by Marley Parish
Asha Prihar @ashaprihar.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
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...
spotlightpa.org
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.
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Kate Huangpu @katehuangpu.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
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...
spotlightpa.org
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.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
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.
spotlightpa.org
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.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 13/09/2025
“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."
centredaily.com
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.
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Reposted by Marley Parish
Jessica McAllister @jessicamcallister.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
Horrible, upsetting news that’s a huge blow to our community and central PA media landscape.
centredaily.com
Penn State to close WPSU after board committee votes against ownership transfer
“We know this is a deeply disappointing outcome and we are grateful to the dedicated WPSU employees whose work has enriched our lives and made our community stronger,” David Kleppinger, chair of the b...
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
Ferguson Township has asked that the judge overseeing the regulatory process schedule a public input hearing to let residents speak on the possible forced sale of Rock Spring Water Company. The proposed date is 6 p.m. on Sept. 30 at the township building and online. www.puc.pa.gov/pcdocs/18938...
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
The attack, first reported by the office on Aug. 11 as a “cyber incident,” has impaired many functions of the agency, as some staff and prosecutors remain unable to access archived emails, files, and internal systems crucial to pursuing cases on behalf of the commonwealth.
spotlightpa.org
Ransomware attack on PA attorney general leads to case delays
The attack temporarily took out the department’s website and email and locked staff out of court files.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
Unless Rock Spring voluntarily agrees to sell to State College Borough Water Authority, the state's seldom-used regulatory process to force an acquisition will likely end with another investor-owned utility acquiring the long-troubled system.
spotlightpa.org
A troubled water company refuses to sell to a willing municipal authority, and there’s little the state can do
The Public Utility Commission is moving toward forcing Rock Spring to sell, but says it can’t order a transfer to State College.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
As state utility regulators resume efforts to force the sale of Rock Spring Water Company, a municipal-run authority remains determined to buy it. The Public Utility Commission, however, says it can’t order a sale to State College Borough Water Authority because it falls outside the agency's reach.
spotlightpa.org
A troubled water company refuses to sell to a willing municipal authority, and there’s little the state can do
The Public Utility Commission is moving toward forcing Rock Spring to sell, but says it can’t order a transfer to State College.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 21/08/2025
When landslides and sinkholes damage Pennsylvania houses, homeowners often have limited options to cover repairs and can end up stuck paying a mortgage on an unlivable property. Now, state House lawmakers want a government-run insurance program to help fill this gap.
spotlightpa.org
New bill aims to insure PA homes from sinkhole, landslide damage
Options for landslide and sinkhole insurance are limited. A new proposal would create a state-run program for Pennsylvania homeowners.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 20/08/2025
With Pennsylvania's budget more than seven weeks late, foster care agencies, libraries, and many other state-funded services are making hard financial decisions.
spotlightpa.org
PA budget impasse threatens library, school, foster care services
The budget is more than seven weeks late and there’s no sign of a deal in Harrisburg. That’s starting to mean cuts for funding recipients.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
Local governments are wary of a bill that seeks to end a tax levied by some municipalities on campground visits, saying it will strip them of a potential revenue source. The proposal would update state law to clarify that campgrounds aren’t places of amusement and shouldn’t be taxed as such.
spotlightpa.org
Tax relief possible for some PA campgrounds
A bill that passed the PA House unanimously would remove campground amusement taxes, helping small businesses at the expense of local government revenue.
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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 04/08/2025
Through a first-of-its-kind analysis, Spotlight PA has identified a portion of those donors, which include influential lobbying firms, unions, and corporations with interests before the commonwealth’s government.
spotlightpa.org
We finally know who paid for Josh Shapiro’s inauguration celebrations (kinda)
Spotlight PA traces unions, lobbyists, and corporations behind 15% of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s $4M inauguration, but most donors remain undisclosed.
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