Folo PA

Skill games have become ubiquitous across Pennsylvania during the past decade or so.They look like slot machines. You might’ve seen them in bars, gas stations, corner stores and private organizations like fire halls and American Legion posts. There were an estimated 70,000 of them in play, at last count, across the commonwealth. And now, they’re illegal. That’s because lawmakers couldn’t reach a deal to regulate them before Oct. 13, the deadline set by the state Supreme Court. In the same ruling, the justices found skill games are subject to the Gaming Act and the Crimes Code – so, anyone operating them has to be licensed by the state Gaming Control Board.Peter Hall first wrote about the issue for the Pennsylvania Capital-Star in 2022. On this episode, he unpacks all of it alongside Sean Hamill, an investigative reporter who’s also covered this topic extensively for Pittsburgh-based nonprofit NewsWorks Lab. Special thanks to States Newsroom National Editor Sara Baranowski for her work on this episode. Folo PA features Pennsylvania-focused audio journalism that emphasizes context, accountability and community impact. The podcast is hosted and produced by the Capital-Star's Audio Reporter Emily Previti, with editing by Editor-in-Chief Tim Lambert. Episodes feature the work of Tim, Emily and the rest of the team as well as media partners throughout the commonwealth. Listeners also can expect content from States Newsroom's Stories from the States podcast and sister outlets across the country.Our theme music is Dusk by Mr Smith, courtesy of the Free Music Archive licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License. Learn more at penncapital-star.com. You can subscribe to our newsletter, The Morning Guide, there – and support our work. 

Every week, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star recaps our top stories with Natalie Bencivenga's The Week in Focus. It’s a way to get caught up on some news you might’ve missed in just a few minutes as you head into your weekend.Folo PA features Pennsylvania-focused audio journalism that emphasizes context, accountability and community impact. The podcast is hosted and produced by the Capital-Star's Audio Reporter Emily Previti, with editing by Editor-in-Chief Tim Lambert. Episodes feature the work of Tim, Emily and the rest of the team as well as media partners throughout the commonwealth. Listeners also can expect content from States Newsroom's Stories from the States podcast and sister outlets across the countryOur theme music is Americana by Mr Smith, courtesy of the Free Music Archive licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License.  Learn more at penncapital-star.com. You can subscribe to our newsletter, The Morning Guide, there – and support our work. 

Republican Congressman Dan Meuser is running for a fifth term in Pennsylvania’s deep red ninth district – and he’s been heavily favored to win.But his Democratic challenger Rachel Wallace out-fundraised him last quarter and reported more than twice as much cash on hand in the latest campaign finance filings.  Emily Previti covered their only debate. Their contentious engagement covered foreign policy, immigration, healthcare and more.Folo PA features Pennsylvania-focused audio journalism that emphasizes context, accountability and community impact. The podcast is hosted and produced by the Capital-Star's Audio Reporter Emily Previti, with editing by Editor-in-Chief Tim Lambert. Episodes feature the work of Tim, Emily and the rest of the team as well as media partners throughout the commonwealth. Listeners also can expect content from States Newsroom's Stories from the States podcast and sister outlets across the country.Our theme music is Dusk by Mr Smith, courtesy of the Free Music Archive licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License. Learn more at penncapital-star.com. You can subscribe to our newsletter, The Morning Guide, there – and support our work. 

Healthcare costs and access are at the forefront of voters’ minds ahead of the midterm elections in November – and a group of providers says they could be part of the solution. Unlike most states, Pennsylvania requires nurse practitioners to have a written collaborative agreement with a licensed physician in order to practice. Advocates have been working to change that for years, with little to show for it. So, now, they’re trying something new. Whitney Downard did a story about an organization’s survey of legislative candidates. As midterm campaigning peaks, the Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners Political Action Committee asked directly whether they’re in favor of granting NP’s full practice authority. Folo PA features Pennsylvania-focused audio journalism that emphasizes context, accountability and community impact. The podcast is hosted and produced by the Capital-Star's Audio Reporter Emily Previti, with editing by Editor-in-Chief Tim Lambert. Episodes feature the work of Tim, Emily and the rest of the team as well as media partners throughout the commonwealth. Listeners also can expect content from States Newsroom's Stories from the States podcast and sister outlets across the country.Our theme music is Dusk by Mr Smith, courtesy of the Free Music Archive licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License. Learn more at penncapital-star.com. You can subscribe to our newsletter, The Morning Guide, there – and support our work. 

Every week, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star recaps our top stories with Natalie Bencivenga's The Week in Focus. It’s a way to get caught up on some news you might’ve missed in just a few minutes as you head into your weekend.Folo PA features Pennsylvania-focused audio journalism that emphasizes context, accountability and community impact. The podcast is hosted and produced by the Capital-Star's Audio Reporter Emily Previti, with editing by Editor-in-Chief Tim Lambert. Episodes feature the work of Tim, Emily and the rest of the team as well as media partners throughout the commonwealth. Listeners also can expect content from States Newsroom's Stories from the States podcast and sister outlets across the countryOur theme music is Americana by Mr Smith, courtesy of the Free Music Archive licensed under an Attribution 4.0 International License.  Learn more at penncapital-star.com. You can subscribe to our newsletter, The Morning Guide, there – and support our work.