May 15, 2020Samantha Melamed / Philadelphia InquirerWith thousands of Pa. prisoners in near-solitary confinement, how long can coronavirus lockdown last?by Matt McKinney of Spotlight PAAdvocates have widely praised the department’s efforts, but are concerned about potential harms to inmate mental health.
May 14, 2020Commonwealth Media ServicesWolf warns requests for business waivers could reveal proprietary details as GOP presses court caseby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PAAlso Thursday, the administration released a list of businesses denied exemptions from the coronavirus shutdown.
May 13, 2020KENT M. WILHELM / For Spotlight PAPa. counties abandon plans to buck Wolf, as GOP lawmakers continue pushing doomed reopening billsby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAThe GOP-controlled state Senate approved a bill that would give counties the power to opt out of Gov. Tom Wolf’s business closure and stay-at-home orders.
May 13, 2020HEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia InquirerPa. officials revoked business waivers the night before publishing list of recipientsby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PAThe Department of Community and Economic Development, which oversees the process, said it was part of ongoing “quality control.”
May 12, 2020JESSICA GRIFFIN / Philadelphia InquirerIn major reversal, Wolf administration says Pa. will begin widespread testing of nursing home residents, employeesby Rebecca Moss of Spotlight PAIn recent weeks, the state's top health official said this type of widespread testing was unrealistic, both because of a lack of supplies and the inaccuracy of tests.
May 11, 2020TYGER WILLIAMS / Philadelphia InquirerPa. GOP takes Gov. Tom Wolf to court as it seeks records on controversial business waiver processby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAThe Wolf administration rejected the request on Friday, though it did for the first time release a list of more than 5,000 businesses that were granted waivers.
May 11, 2020Commonwealth Media ServicesGov. Tom Wolf denounces Pa. counties reopening without his approval as ‘cowardly,’ ‘selfish’by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAThe Democratic governor said counties that do so are risking federal stimulus dollars for coronavirus response.
May 10, 2020Courtesy Dr. Faoud IshmaelWorkers in Pennsylvania with preexisting health conditions fear a call to return to workby Brett Sholtis of WITFThey are particularly at risk of serious complications or death if they get the coronavirus, but if they refuse to work, they could lose their job and unemployment.
May 9, 2020DAVID MAIALETTI / Philadelphia InquirerSome Pa. counties push to exclude nursing home cases from reopening formula, but experts caution against itby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAReopening too soon could exacerbate the already devastating death toll in long-term care facilities, they say.
May 9, 2020JESSICA GRIFFIN / Philadelphia InquirerPa. had early plan to protect nursing homes from the coronavirus, but never fully implemented itby Aneri Pattani of Spotlight PA and Rebecca Moss of Spotlight PASimilar measures to those envisioned were later put in place, but only after widespread outbreaks were already underway.
May 8, 2020Commonwealth Media ServicesGov. Tom Wolf rejects GOP subpoena for business waiver records, but releases some information onlineby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAThe information, published late Friday, only identified which businesses received waivers, falling well short of what the legislature had requested.
May 8, 2020Andrew Rush / Pittsburgh Post-GazettePa. officials will allow Pittsburgh region to relax coronavirus-related restrictionsby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAGov. Tom Wolf announced that Allegheny, Armstrong, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Fulton, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland Counties can begin reopening on May 15.
May 8, 2020Commonwealth Media ServicesWolf faces 4 p.m. deadline to comply with subpoena for business waiver records. Here are his options.by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAThe governor has at least two choices, experts say: turn over the information or invoke executive privilege, potentially setting off a court fight.
May 7, 2020DAVID MAIALETTI / Philadelphia InquirerPa. extends eviction, foreclosure protections through July 10by Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAThe state Supreme Court previously placed a moratorium on such proceedings until May 11, as officials shuttered much of Pennsylvania’s economy to prevent the coronavirus from overwhelming hospitals.
May 6, 2020Commonwealth Media Services‘I’m trying to be transparent,’ Wolf says as his administration rejects bill to restart public records lawby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAThe governor championed government transparency during his campaigns, but now that commitment is being tested.
May 6, 2020TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerWolf says Pa. employees should refuse to go to work if they don’t feel safe, but some fear putting job at riskby Wallace McKelvey of PennLive | The Patriot-NewsThe governor says the state cannot widely enforce its worker safety order.
May 5, 2020DAVID MAIALETTI / Philadelphia InquirerTop Pa. health official says state won’t supply masks, other protective equipment to hospitals that resume elective surgeriesby Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAInstead, the state is focusing on providing personal protective equipment to nursing homes, which have been hard hit by the pandemic.
May 5, 2020TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerWhy some small businesses didn’t stand a chance at getting relief from Pa.’s $61 million loan programby Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PAThe assistance didn’t prioritize businesses in the hardest hit parts of the state and relied on a patchwork of local economic development organizations.
May 5, 2020TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerWarehouse workers say their safety concerns are being ignored. Here’s their cautionary tale for reopening.by Wallace McKelvey of PennLive | The Patriot-NewsThe state in mid-April ordered all essential employers to provide protections, but some workers say they’ve seen little change.
May 2, 2020ELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Philadelphia InquirerPa.’s death toll for Philadelphia lags behind city’s count, part of state’s ongoing struggle to compile timely databy Sara Simon of Spotlight PAState officials have blamed software upgrades gone wrong, troublesome algorithms, and a wonky web of disjointed technologies.
May 1, 2020MICHAEL BRYANT / Philadelphia InquirerPa. sets modest goal to conduct 8,500 coronavirus tests per day, far less than what some experts say is neededby Daniel Simmons-Ritchie of Spotlight PAA Harvard estimate says the state should test about 19,000 Pennsylvanians per day — or more than twice the rate of the Wolf administration’s plan.
May 1, 2020ROBERT FRANK / For the InquirerHow Pa. plans to keep track of the coronavirus after reopening to prevent another outbreakby Aneri Pattani of Spotlight PAHealth officials said they will rely on a combination of partnerships with local hospital systems, voluntary tracking technology, and federal funding to hire additional staff.
May 1, 2020HEATHER KHALIFA / Philadelphia InquirerRed, yellow, green: What to expect in each of Pa.’s tiers for reopeningby Spotlight PA StaffOfficials have announced that limited outdoor dining will be allowed in the more restrictive “yellow” phase starting June 5.
May 1, 2020Commonwealth Media ServicesPa. will ease coronavirus restrictions in 24 northwest, north-central counties as reopening process beginsby Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PA and Cynthia Fernandez of Spotlight PAGov. Tom Wolf on Friday announced that these counties can enter the “yellow” phase and start a limited reopening on May 8.
May 1, 2020TYGER WILLIAMS / Philadelphia InquirerPa. tax revenues plummet $2.2 billion as top state official warns reopening won’t end economic painby Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PADramatic budget cuts or tax increases might be needed if Congress does not send additional, unrestricted aid to states.
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