Min Xian of Spotlight PA State College
Local Accountability ReporterCentral and northern Pennsylvania is home to vast natural beauty, historic towns with changing economies, and a diverse mix of social-political values. Xian reports on how local governments are run and how public dollars are spent, with a focus on how public and private forces shape ordinary life in this region.
Before joining Spotlight PA, Xian covered local government and rural issues for the region’s NPR affiliate, WPSU. Originally from southern China, she has called State College home since 2013.
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A recent decision by the Pa. Commonwealth Court established a new three-factor test to judge when social posts on public officials' personal accounts are public records. -
A 266% funding increase for Pennsylvania’s Municipal Assistance Program could help local governments spend tax dollars more efficiently while providing public services collectively. -
After DuBois City Manager Herm Suplizio’s arrest for alleged theft of over $600,000 in public funds, Sandy Township officials question how the two municipalities’ consolidation can go forward. -
Lawmakers are holding hearings to dig into the budget ahead of the June 30 deadline. For the fourth year in a row, judicial officials won't be required to appear. -
Authorities say Herm Suplizio, the politically connected manager of DuBois, stole more than $600,000 from public accounts. He now faces sweeping corruption charges. -
Accessing government information is fundamental to keeping elected officials’ actions transparent. Here are four basics of citizens’ rights to open records. -
Spotlight PA hosted a discussion on Jan. 26 about the challenges of Pennsylvania’s fragmented system of local governments — including lack of critical oversight and limited resources. -
The decision further undermines the effectiveness of a program once lauded as a national model and championed by Gov. Josh Shapiro when he was attorney general. -
A behind-the-scenes look at how our investigative reporter spent five months getting the real story of how Tioga nearly collapsed after hiring Timothy Loehmann. -
After Tioga, PA hired Timothy Loehmann, long-simmering personal grudges and infighting exploded and brought local government to a halt.
