Philly PD—and all public employees in Pa.—need transparency and accountability

• Jessica Barnett
• October 23, 2020

Philadelphia City Council recently approved an accountability measure for police union contract negotiations, prompting praise from good government officials and a lawsuit from the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5…

Media

Education

Op-Ed: Pennsylvania’s Catholic Schools Face Uncertainty in the Pandemic Era

• Colleen Hroncich
• October 22, 2020

In a shutdown-induced economic downturn, however, many can’t afford private school tuition, and the donations that kept Catholic schools afloat are dropping off. About 150 Catholic schools nationwide have closed permanently…

Commentary

Op-Ed: Schuylkill County and coal country keep Pa. politics unpredictable

• Charles F. McElwee
• October 22, 2020

Schuylkill’s “Outs” are all in for Trump in a county that has markedly declined since O’Hara’s stories. In northern Schuylkill, a conveyor over Route 54 declares in black letters: “Coal…

Commentary

And Then What? Reforms Beyond the Current Budget

• Andrew Abramczyk
• October 22, 2020

In any case, the budget will get balanced. For Pennsylvanians, the real question is: “And then what?” Pennsylvania’s budget problems preceded the virus shutdown and will continue long after it without real reform. Listed below are areas where lawmakers…

Backgrounder

Nurse Practitioners Are the Heroes Our Healthcare Needs

• Tirzah Duren
• October 16, 2020

Through HB 100, a pilot program would duplicate this year’s rule suspension within the limits of location- and population-based Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA), a federal designation of provider shortages.

Commentary

Op-Ed: Could Pennsylvania’s Democratic governor deliver Trump the election?

• Jennifer Stefano
• October 12, 2020

In September, almost 450 Pennsylvanians — accustomed to waking up to an alarm and going to work — abruptly lost their jobs at Shop-Vac, a Williamsport-based manufacturer of wet/dry vacuums.

Commentary

Education

Scholarships would help Erie students during pandemic

• October 7, 2020

It’s time to form the same public-private partnerships in education. Fortunately, an innovative proposal in Pennsylvania’s General Assembly would enable students to get the help they need.

Commentary

More from the Senate Education Committee Hearing

• Nathan Benefield
• October 6, 2020

When schools closed last spring—and with many still not fully open—parents across Pennsylvania have seen their children lose ground while having to pick up the additional costs of at-home education.

Commentary

Health Care

How to Vote in PA Q&A

• Stefanie Mason
• October 6, 2020

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. In Pennsylvania, voters are navigating how to cast their ballots during this pandemic era. …

Fact Sheet