The “fall surge” of Covid-19 cases created more deaths in nursing homes across the nation. But data reviewed by Broad + Liberty shows the fatality rate in Pennsylvania for the second surge was nearly two times the national average.
By Todd Shepherd
Democratic strategist linked to early push on controversial election grants
The first direct link in Pennsylvania between grants from the Chicago-based Center for Tech and Civic Life for the 2020 election and a source with an open partisan affiliation with Democrats.
Philadelphia School District does not track failing students
Despite asserting that they do track information regarding students failing classes, the district refused to provide relevant information on the grounds that the documents don’t exist.
By Todd Shepherd
‘Blue’ Southeast PA counties had head start on election grants
Despite discussing private election grants with Delaware, Montgomery, and Chester counties in August, the Pa. DOH did not make other counties aware of the grants until September, 2020.
By Todd Shepherd
Delco Council pays 41% over advertised price for new office space
The County, which flipped to Democratic control in 2019, defended its decision to pay approximately $250,000 more taxpayer dollars in rent than the advertised price for office space that will house the county’s new health department.
By Todd Shepherd
Wolf administration hiding information on how it distributed PPE during pandemic
The Pennsylvania DOH is using the decades-old Disease Control and Prevention Law (DCPL) to shield information on how it purchased and distributed PPE. Transparency advocates argue that the department’s broad use of the DCPL is leaving citizens suspicious.
By Todd Shepherd
Boyle brothers’ shared political money spills into courtroom fight
A lawsuit by Northeastern Philadelphia State Sen. John Sabatina against Rep. Kevin Boyle has become focused on peculiar financial dealings between Kevin Boyle and his brother Brendan Boyle. Brendan has been transferring campaign money to Kevin’s campaign accounts for years.
By Todd Shepherd
Exclusive: Campaign by former St. Joe’s students to get professor fired for allegedly racist tweets fails
An assistant professor at St. Joe’s was thrown into a free speech controversy when a few former students petitioned to get him fired over some of his tweets. While the university has ended his suspension, the professor is worried about his career as universities harbor increasing fear of their own students.
By Todd Shepherd
Southeast counties will explore improving campaign finance transparency
After asking each of the collar counties about their campaign finance transparency policies, Bucks, Delaware and Chester Counties have told Broad + Liberty that they are open to making their filings publicly accessible. Montgomery County already has an online database.
By Todd Shepherd
‘Keeping Kids in School’ PAC celebrates strong showing in PA primaries, looks ahead to general election
Eighty-six of the PAC’s 91 endorsed school board candidates are moving on to the November general election. Now, Clarice Schillinger, who started the PAC just months ago at her kitchen table, is looking to take on an entrenched establishment as the urgency caused by the pandemic looks to be waning.
By Todd Shepherd