Min Xian of Spotlight PA State College
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Pa. Voters Play Little Role in Choosing Who Fills Vacant Municipal Offices
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When a seat on a municipal governing board is vacant in Pennsylvania, the public has little to no say in who fills it — a situation that’s played out at least 28 times from 2020 to 2022 in Centre County.
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How Local Government Works: A Key Factor in Determining Property Taxes Varies Wildly Across Pennsylvania
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How much 1 mil in taxes brings a municipality differs widely all over the state. That has serious implications for municipalities’ budgets.
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Big Bonuses, Vast Powers and Corruption Charges: 5 Takeaways from an Investigation into DuBois’ Herm Suplizio
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A Spotlight PA investigation delved into how suspended DuBois City Manager Herm Suplizio ended up at the center of one of the most sweeping political corruption cases in recent years in Pennsylvania.
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Feds Take Over Corruption Case Against Embattled Pa. City Manager
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Herm Suplizio, the suspended city manager of DuBois, has been charged by federal authorities with conspiracy and federal program fraud following a slew of state charges.
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The Inside Story of How One Man Remade a Small Pa. City While Allegedly Ripping Off His Neighbors
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In Herm Suplizio’s quest to make DuBois, Pa., a destination, state prosecutors allege that he lined his own pockets with hundreds of thousands of public and nonprofit dollars.
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New Bills Would Let Pennsylvania Local Governments Hire Firms as Managers
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Advocates say allowing Pennsylvania municipalities to outsource management could improve public services while saving taxpayers money.
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5 Takeaways from Spotlight PA’s Event on Holding Local Pennsylvania Officials Accountable
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Local government officials, whether elected or appointed, shape residents’ lives in a range of ways. Here’s how to become involved in your municipality and what to do when problems arise.
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How Local Government Works: How Does Municipal Planning Work in Your Community?
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The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code lays out how land use decisions in local governments are made.
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Rocky Governance Persists in Tiny Pa. Borough That Hired Tamir Rice’s Killer
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A year after Tioga hired the police officer who killed Tamir Rice, borough officials who promised changes struggle with persisting issues.
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A Pa. Town Seeks to Pause Consolidation with Its Scandal Ridden Neighbor City
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In a rare move, Sandy Township argues that Herm Suplizio’s alleged theft of public funds in DuBois and the city’s lack of oversight justify a delay of consolidation proceedings.