Government galas, fair shares, under contract, home danger, map deadline, early exit, and Peach Bowl Panthers. It's Monday, thanks for checking in.
A message from our sponsor...
Spend the days leading up to Christmas at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh during Season’s Greetings Saturdays and Holiday Brunch in the Garden. Spend your evenings between Christmas and New Year’s Eve at Holidays in the Garden Presented by Hefren-Tillotson. Feel the magic of the season come alive with winter-themed story times kids will love, meet and greets with beautiful birds, and take-home crafts. Get your holiday shopping done in a curated gift shop! Book tickets now.
We're more than halfway to meeting our historic challenge of raising $70,000 by the end of the year in support of vital investigative journalism for Pennsylvania. If we can do it,we'll unlock $70,000 in matching gifts.
Don't miss this chance to support Spotlight PA's vital investigative journalism and have your contribution DOUBLED. The future of Spotlight PA depends on your support, and we can't afford to lose this critical journalism.
» MORE WIDESPREAD: Updated data show the coronavirus was more common in Pennsylvania long-term care employees than previously believed and more deadly for residents, the Courier Times reports.
» LAWFUL VS. AWFUL: Join us Thursday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. EST via Zoom for a free panel discussion on why killings by police often are ruled justified and who oversees the process. Register for the event here and submit your questions to events@spotlightpa.org.
📷 POST IT
Water birds stick together at the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania. Thanks for sharing, Nora O.! Send us your gems, use the hashtag #PAGems on Instagram, or tag us @spotlightpennsylvania.
DAILY RUNDOWN
HOSPITAL BILL: As rural hospitals struggled to stay afloat during the pandemic, Pennsylvania-based health care giant UPMC claimed nearly a quarter of the federal money meant to sustain them — all while seeing surging profits itself, the Post-Gazette reports.
DEAL DELVE: Republicans pushing a contested and, critics say, unnecessary review of Pennsylvania's 2020 election have released a redacted copy of their quarter-million-dollar contract with the rookie vendor leading the charge. Capital-Star breaks it down.
PROBATION PERIOD: A judge handed down a stern rebuke but no jail time to a Philadelphia-area nursing home manager whose negligence was linked to three deaths in 2017, LNP reports. Chaim Steg was given probation and is still part-owner of nursing homes statewide.
MR. MAYOR: The sky appeared to be the limit after Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney's effortless reelection in 2019. Then the pandemic hit. Now, a former staffer is examining what the prolonged public health emergency might mean for "what's left of his legacy," via Philadelphia Magazine.
STRIKE STOP: Food giant Kellogg's has reached a tentative deal with striking workers, including hundreds in Lancaster County, per WGAL. A majority of union employees will need to back the deal to make it official. Voting was set to take place Sunday with a final tally expected on Tuesday.
BOWL BOUND: The University of Pittsburgh Panthers football team is Peach Bowl bound after Saturday's win over Wake Forest, per TribLIVE. The Panthers will face Michigan State on Dec. 30 in Atlanta.
Unscramble and send your answer to scrambler@spotlightpa.org. We'll shout out winners here, and one each week will get some Spotlight PA swag.
C I A R S E T I C N I
Friday's answer: Crepuscular
Congrats to our weekly winner: Susan F.
Congrats to our daily winners: Edward M., Neal W., Don H., Bonnie R., Bill C., Alan V., Susan N., Heidi B., Dianne K., Eddy Z., George S., David I., Irene R., Cris F., James B., Craig E., Bill S., Susan D., Vicki U., and Beth T.
We believe everyone in Pennsylvania should have access to this kind of unique, in-depth, and essential public-service journalism regardless of what they can afford. That’s why we don’t have a paywall on our site, charge a subscription fee, or clutter our articles with ads that have nothing to do with our state.
Instead, we use the honor system.
We are doubling down on the idea that if we ask our readers to contribute what you think we’re worth, we can build a sustainable business model for independent news. If you value the unique journalism Spotlight PA provides, pay it forward and make a contribution now. All gifts will be DOUBLED.
Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and WITF Public Media.