Blog
-
FDA tobacco ad rules update
Q: What products are covered by the FDA’s tobacco advertising rules, and do they cover e-cigarettes and vaping liquids? A: FDA regulations governing tobacco advertising cover an expanded class of products and require specific warning language and layout criteria for each. However, tobacco regulation is frequently the subject of legislation and lawsuits, thus it is…
-
RTKL and board packets
Q: On Monday, I asked a school district for copies of records that will be discussed during the regular public meeting scheduled for Friday. They told me to file a Right-to-Know request, and when I did, their response was to invoke the 30-day extension. The meeting will be long over by the time the RTKL…
-
July 2, 2026
Download the most recent PennSCAN ads below. Microsoft Word TXT File
-
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…
-
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…
-
June 25, 2026
Download the most recent PennSCAN ads below. Microsoft Word TXT File
-
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…
