Gabby Pogel
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Legal Hotline: Sunshine Act Committees
Q: A borough facing budget shortfalls created a committee to offer advice and investigate potential funding streams. Our reporter asked when the first committee meeting will take place, but the borough council president said that committee meetings will not be public because a quorum of borough council is not involved and no votes are taken.…
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Philadelphia Gay News hosts the 2025 Stonewall Awards
The Philadelphia Gay News hosted the 2025 Stonewall Awards on Sunday, June 1, at the Arts Ballroom in Center City Philadelphia. The awards recognize the achievements of people and organizations who’ve made a profound impact on the lives of the LGBTQIA+ community in Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley. The event was emceed by WPVI Channel…
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Legal Hotline: Wiretap Act Recording Interviews
Q: We encourage our reporters to record interviews for accuracy, with interviews typically recorded over the phone or internet, and sometimes in person. Are there any legal issues associated with recording interviews? A: Yes. Pennsylvania is a two-party consent state, and reporters must get permission to record interviews in order to comply with the state…
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The Circus Comes Home
Jimmy Bashline’s hand-carved circus finds new life at the Butler Eagle Step into the Butler Eagle office and you’ll find more than just bustling newsrooms and the scent of fresh ink. A miniature big top steals the spotlight. Horses rear, a parade of elephants marches, and circus wagons roll, all hand-carved by a man whose…
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Legal Hotline: Public Access to Search and Arrest Warrants
Q: Which rules govern public access to arrest and search warrants and their supporting documentation, like complaints and affidavits of probable cause? A: Public access to arrest and search warrants is governed by the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, which must be applied consistently with the constitutional and common law presumption of access that attaches…
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Legal Hotline: Law Enforcement Audio Video
Q: Are police dash and body camera videos public records under the Right-to-Know Law? A: No, these records are not subject to public access under the RTKL. Act 22 of 2017 removed law enforcement audio and video recordings from the RTKL and instituted a parallel, more restrictive access framework that has resulted in significant barriers…
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Tips from the Second PNA Foundation Journalism Training Program
The second session of PNA Foundation’s Journalism Training Program covered topics related to the writing process. Speaking on the subject were PennLive/The Patriot-News Managing Producer and Enterprise Editor Amy Worden, Associated Press reporter Mark Scolforo and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Assistant Managing Editor Mike Wereschagin. Here are writing tips shared during the session: Training on the writing…
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High School sports media days get athletes and fans ready for the season
The York Daily Record and the Evening Sun in Hanover bring high school athletes together for a fun day of interviews, photo-ops and games in preparation of a new sports season. As a new sports season approaches, excitement builds to a fever pitch, a rush of adrenaline in its own right. No matter what happened…
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Legal Hotline: PNA Election Access Guide
PNA Election Guide: Access to Polling Places, Vote Computation, and Records Q: With the primary quickly approaching, what should our reporters know about access to polling places, voter information and election records? A: Election practices vary by county, but all counties must adhere to Title 25 of the Pennsylvania Statutes, the Pennsylvania Election Code, which…
