Gaps in Pa. mail voting law set up fresh disputes

Gray areas in the 2019 law that created widespread mail voting in Pennsylvania still haven't been clarified, opening the door for more legal action and public confusion after the upcoming gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races.

Stephen Caruso and Katie Meyer report that courts have ruled on some mail ballot questions already, and the Department of State has tried to clear up confusion by issuing related guidance.

But that guidance isn't legally binding and may not be followed by all counties, particularly those controlled by Republican commissioners, potentially resulting in a confusing patchwork of rules that vary statewide.

Also this week, Spotlight PA's coverage of the governor's race continues with breakdowns of where the top two candidates — Democrat Josh Shapiro and Republican Doug Mastriano — stand on key issues like energy and the environment as well as college funding and student debt.

And finally, a bill that would make it easier for chronically ill patients to get new treatments approved by insurers is being prioritized by Pennsylvania lawmakers in the final days of this legislative session.

Stephen Caruso reports changes to a topic as complicated as state insurance law, even with bipartisan backing, can get messy quickly, and similar efforts have failed to reach the finish line before.

"Patients need the ability to quickly assess their condition with their medical professionals to find the best course of action..."

—Emma Watson, chief lobbyist for the state branch of the American Cancer Society, on a chronically ill patients bill that's being lobbied for in Harrisburg

Meet Spotlight PA State College’s local accountability reporter

Hello! I’m Min Xian, a local accountability reporter for Spotlight PA’s State College regional bureau. It is a pleasure to introduce myself in this role, as I believe deeply in Spotlight PA’s mission to produce and expand investigative journalism in Pennsylvania.

Before I joined Spotlight PA, I covered state and local government, changing communities, and rural affairs in central and northern Pennsylvania for five years for WPSU, a public radio station.

One of my favorite stories to report on was how a group of residents in rural Huntingdon County formed a broadband cooperative and delivered high-speed internet to their own homes, as well as their neighbors’, when big telecom companies refused to do so. The tenacity and can-do optimism of the people I met while reporting this story were reflective of many people in rural areas.

I have also had the good fortune to work on statewide collaborative reporting projects, including an investigative series on Pennsylvania’s lack of funding for adequate public defense, and a story about a small rural Pennsylvania town’s fight to hold its police chief accountable amid national protests.

From these various reporting experiences, I learned that what I aspire to do most is tell investigative stories through rigorous scrutiny of power and a deep understanding of how our collective day-to-day realities are shaped.

Since I joined Spotlight PA’s first-ever regional bureau in July, I have reported on the changing financial and operational landscape of volunteer fire companies, highlighting an ongoing disagreement in Centre County’s Walker Township. The highly nuanced debate of how to fund fire and rescue services there proved to be relevant statewide.

Moving forward, I hope to examine how local government is working — or not — at the municipal and county level, with a focus on the north-central region of the commonwealth. I’m interested in learning how taxpayer dollars are spent and shedding light on common issues that resonate beyond any one place.

So, readers old and new, let’s be in touch! I’d love to hear about the way public and private institutions influence your life, issues that are the “talk of the town,” and things you believe deserve to be under the spotlight. A light bulb turns on in my head when people say to me, “Well, it’s more complicated than that.” Let’s get into messy conversations.

I have called State College home for nine years, and north-central Pennsylvania simply has my heart. I enjoy the four seasons, the amazing farming culture, the small-town histories, and all the thrift stores.

You can reach me at mxian@spotlightpa.org or 267-618-6677.

SUDDEN VACANCY:

» AP: Judge blocks Philly's new gun ban at rec centers, playgrounds

» NBC10: How Philly police dumped crime data at Disney World

» POST-GAZETTE: Shell plant ramps up, so does surveillance (paywall)

» PUBLICSOURCE: Most dangerous time for college students is now

» TRIBLIVE: Push to fix Pa.'s 'justice by geography' issue clears hurdle