Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 2d

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.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 6d

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.

www.centredaily.com

Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 9d

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.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 10d

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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 10d

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

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.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 10d

Happy Goose Day! 🪿

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Reposted by Marley Parish

Asha Prihar @ashaprihar.bsky.social · 13d

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...

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.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Reposted by Marley Parish

Kate Huangpu @katehuangpu.bsky.social · 20d

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...

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.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 22d

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.

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.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 26d

“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."

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.

www.centredaily.com

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Reposted by Marley Parish

Jessica McAllister @jessicamcallister.bsky.social · 28d

Horrible, upsetting news that’s a huge blow to our community and central PA media landscape.

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...

www.centredaily.com

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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · Sep 5

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...

Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · Aug 29

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.

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.

www.spotlightpa.org

Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · Aug 29

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.

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.

www.spotlightpa.org

Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · Aug 29

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.

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.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · Aug 28

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.

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.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · Aug 21

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.

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.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · Aug 20

With Pennsylvania's budget more than seven weeks late, foster care agencies, libraries, and many other state-funded services are making hard financial decisions.

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.

www.spotlightpa.org

Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · Aug 19

🎉🎉🎉

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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · Aug 11

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.

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.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · Aug 4

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.

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.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · Jul 31

A Pennsylvania legislator thinks he’s found a compromise that will work for both rural communities and hunters who want more flexibility.

Monday open to deer season would return to parts of Pa. under bill

A Pennsylvania lawmaker has proposed restoring the traditional Monday start date in northern counties, while keeping a Saturday opener in the south.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · Jul 24

The problem, pharmacists and their advocates say, boils down to how much pharmacies are paid for their work and the medications they provide.

Rite Aid closures add to the strain as Pennsylvania loses hundreds of pharmacies

Pharmacies across Pennsylvania are closing as pharmacists say insurance reimbursements fail to cover costs. They say a new law isn't enough to reverse the trend.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · Jul 18

After years of debate, Pennsylvania’s near-total ban on Sunday hunting is off the books thanks to a bipartisan push, an unlikely political advocate, and a key policy shift from the state’s farm lobby.

How unlikely advocates helped end Pa. hunting ban

With bipartisan backing and Farm Bureau support, PA repeals its Sunday hunting ban. The Game Commission will set new season dates.

www.spotlightpa.org

Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · Jul 16

The vagueness surrounding the restoration efforts raises questions about who is underwriting at least some of the work on the home where Shapiro and his family live when in Harrisburg, whether those parties have interests in state government, and whether they are trying to influence state policy.

Who’s paying for the PA governor’s mansion arson repairs?

Team PA is handling donations for the residence restoration, but no names have been released. The Shapiro admin also hasn't released repair or security estimates.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · Jul 11

In rural Pennsylvania — where hospitals operate on thin margins and Medicaid helps keep the lights on — critics warn the federal cuts and new requirements will burden states with paperwork, make it harder for patients to access care, and push health facilities to their breaking point.

Medicaid cuts in Trump’s bill will ‘devastate’ care in rural PA, critics say

State officials estimate 310,000 Pennsylvanians will lose Medicaid coverage and anticipate strain at health facilities caused by federal budget cuts.

www.spotlightpa.org

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