Blog
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Legal Hotline: Sunshine Act Agenda Detail and Amendments
Q: The Sunshine Act requires agencies to provide agendas in advance of public meetings, but some local agencies are providing agendas that list generic or all-encompassing subjects that have little meaning. Can they do that? A: The Sunshine Act requires agencies to provide meeting agendas in advance of and during public meetings. This law was…
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PNA Foundation intern’s enterprise reporting featured by Bucks County Courier Times
PNA Foundation Summer Internship Program participant Ben Shapiro recently published an exclusive enterprise story for the Bucks County Courier Times examining how a recent Pennsylvania court decision could affect businesses that rely on skill games for revenue. Shapiro’s reporting explores the potential impact on gas stations, convenience stores, taverns, restaurants and social clubs across the commonwealth, highlighting…
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June 25, 2026
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Legal Hotline: RTKL Complex Data Fees Media Exemption
Q: My reporting focuses on data, and I routinely request complex data sets like GIS records from public agencies. Several agencies have given me fee estimates based on market rates, sometimes in the thousands of dollars. Isn’t there a fee exception for media requesting complex data sets under the Right to Know Law (RTKL)? Can…
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Legal Hotline: Shield Law and Confidential Sources
Q: Are there any laws that protect the identity of confidential sources, and what do these laws mean for journalists in our newsroom? A: Pennsylvania’s Shield Law offers robust protection against compelled disclosure of confidential source information, and federal law offers more limited protections based on a qualified right under the First Amendment. The Pennsylvania…
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June 11, 2026
Download the most recent PennSCAN ads below. Microsoft Word TXT File
