Year-End Journalism Highlights from Pennsylvania
As 2025 concludes, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star reflects on notable reporting that illuminates how governmental actions directly impact citizens' lives.
Healthcare Premium Crisis
One story focuses on Jaime and Carrie Wright from McKeesport, who depend on premium tax credits to manage Jaime's cancer treatment expenses. Their situation will worsen next year when their health insurance costs surge by 265%, following Congress's failure to renew Affordable Care Act tax credits that reduce premiums through Pennie, the state exchange.
This decision by Washington lawmakers will disrupt the finances of approximately 500,000 Pennsylvanians who rely on Pennie for affordable coverage, demonstrating how high-level policy choices create real-world struggles.
Congressional health insurance tug-o-war puts Pennsylvanians in a lurch
Wrongful Conviction Compensation Challenges
Another article examines Pennsylvania's ongoing effort to establish compensation for individuals wrongfully imprisoned. While many states provide monetary redress for lost years, Pennsylvania lacks such a system. A current legislative proposal includes a requirement for proof of actual innocence, rather than just overturned convictions based on reasonable doubt, potentially excluding many exonerees from relief.
This coverage underscores the need for lawmakers to develop a more accessible solution for those seeking justice after wrongful incarceration.
Pennsylvania’s wrongful conviction bill could leave many behind
School District Funding Insights
A third report reveals how the William Penn School District in Delaware County secured an additional $5 million in the state budget through direct advocacy by school board members. This district, represented by Democratic House Speaker Joanna McClinton, faced financial strain from a five-month budget impasse and a $9.2 million bookkeeping error that threatened staff cuts.
As the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging Pennsylvania's school funding system, William Penn's experience highlights how underfunded districts continue to fight for financial stability even after legal victories.
State budget sent $5 million to a struggling school district represented by the Pa. House speaker
Historical Tribute to Pennsylvania Soldiers
A two-part story from June commemorates Pennsylvania soldiers' role in liberating Gathemo, France, during the Battle of Normandy. Published alongside a monument unveiling, it details efforts to honor nine men from the 28th Infantry Division who died there, connecting their stories with relatives and the town's enduring gratitude.
"The men and women of Gathemo have never forgotten the men who wore the red keystone patch – dubbed the 'bloody bucket' by the Germans – on their shoulders," the report notes, celebrating a lasting transatlantic bond.
81 years later, a small Normandy town remembers the sacrifices of Pa.’s 28th Division
