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Pa. court tells governor’s office to reveal more details about why it hired private law firms

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Pa. court tells governor’s office to reveal more details about why it hired private law firms


The case has a long and complicated history.

Spotlight PA and LNP first submitted a request for legal records in January 2022, when Wolf was governor. The request was filed with the Office of General Counsel, which often handles legal matters specific to the governor’s office and state agencies. The news organizations asked for invoices and other financial documents for spending on outside law firms from 2019 through 2021.

In response, the general counsel’s office provided copies of 45 invoices submitted by six outside firms that totaled $367,538.

But in every invoice, officials redacted the subject line, making it impossible to understand why they were spending taxpayer money. They also blacked out portions of the invoices describing the work conducted by the private lawyers.

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In hiding those critical details, the general counsel’s office argued the information was exempt from disclosure due to, among other things, attorney-client privilege. During oral argument before Commonwealth Court last September, the office also asserted that two of the legal invoices sought by the news organizations included details that would “reveal the institution, progress, or result of investigations.”

One of its lawyers also suggested the two invoices were “protected by an order of the court,” according to the ruling, and urged Commonwealth Court to review them privately.

Leadbetter said the court had done so, and concluded the redacted information did not meet the threshold of revealing the progress or result of an investigation. She also noted that there was no evidence of a court order prohibiting its release.

The senior judge also revealed details about the subject lines in the two invoices. One law firm represented witnesses in two separate grand jury investigations — one run by the state, the other by the U.S. Attorney’s office in Pennsylvania’s Middle District — as well as an investigation by the State Ethics Commission.

The ruling does not provide any further detail.

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Leadbetter directed that those subject lines be unredacted. She also directed the Office of Open Records, which had previously sided with the Office of General Counsel in the case, to review in private all remaining subject lines that the administration redacted to determine whether those too have to be disclosed.

Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds the powerful to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania.



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Pennsylvania

Fire crews try moving burning barge to shallow water in Delaware Bay

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Fire crews try moving burning barge to shallow water in Delaware Bay


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Delaware, Pennsylvania, and federal agencies have been responding to a barge fire in the Delaware Bay. 

The barge, which is carrying salvage metal, is being moved to shallow water so it can be secured, allowing on-scene responders to extinguish the fire and complete salvage operations, according to a March 10 statement from the Delaware Emergency Management Agency.

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No injuries have been reported as of 1:15 p.m.

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is on scene to perform air monitoring, the statement said.

Responding agencies include the Wilmington Fire Department, Good Will, Leipsic Volunteer, Bowers and South Bowers fire companies. Also there are Delaware State Police, DNREC, New Castle County Office of Emergency Management, Kent County Department of Public Safety, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay.

The Philadelphia Fire Department was enroute.

This is a developing story. Check back with delawareonline.com for more information.

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Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.



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Shapiro wants to incentivize data centers to be better neighbors. Will that work?

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Shapiro wants to incentivize data centers to be better neighbors. Will that work?






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Pennsylvania High School Girls Basketball 2026 Playoff Brackets, Schedule (PIAA) – March 10, 2026

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Pennsylvania High School Girls Basketball 2026 Playoff Brackets, Schedule (PIAA) – March 10, 2026


The 2026 Pennsylvania high school girls basketball state playoffs begin on Tuesday, March 10, with second-round games for all divisions.

High School On SI has brackets for every division in the PIAA high school girls basketball playoffs. The state championships begin on March 19th.

Pennsylvania High School Girls Basketball 2026 Playoff Brackets, Schedule (PIAA) – March 10-11, 2026

CLASS 1A BRACKET (select to view bracket)

Second Round

New Covenant Christian vs. Delaware County Christian – 03/11

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Philadelphia Montgomery Christian Academy vs. Benton – 03/11

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Our Lady of Lourdes Regional vs. Motivation – 03/11

Linville Hill vs. Southern Fulton – 03/11

Williamsburg vs. Elk County Catholic – 03/11

Farrell vs. Bishop Carroll – 03/11

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Clarion-Limestone vs. Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy – 03/11

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Bishop Guilfoyle vs. Aquinas Academy – 03/11


CLASS 2A BRACKET (select to view bracket)

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Second Round

Shalom Christian Academy vs. Southern Columbia Area – 03/10

Faith Christian vs. Mountain View – 03/10

Wyoming Seminary College Prep vs. Marian Catholic – 03/10

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York Catholic vs. Berlin Brothersvalley – 03/10

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Neshannock vs. Penns Manor – 03/10

Kennedy Catholic vs. Keystone – 03/10

Bishop McCort vs. Chartiers-Houston – 03/10

Winchester Thurston vs. Wilmington Area – 03/10

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CLASS 3A BRACKET (select to view bracket)

Second Round

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Imhotep Charter vs. Holy Redeemer – 03/10

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Pequea Valley vs. Schuylkill Haven – 03/10

Hughesville vs. Notre Dame-Green Pond – 03/10

Dunmore vs. Executive Education Academy – 03/10

Trinity vs. Troy – 03/10

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Northwestern vs. Greensburg Central Catholic – 03/10

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Shady Side Academy vs. Beaver Falls – 03/10

Central Cambria vs. Karns City – 03/10

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CLASS 4A BRACKET (select to view bracket)

Second Round

Susquehanna Township vs. Universal Audenried Charter School – 03/11

Scranton Prep vs. Allentown Central Catholic – 03/11

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Central Columbia vs. Villa Joseph Marie – 03/11

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Valley View vs. Neumann-Goretti – 03/11

Delone Catholic vs. Penn Cambria – 03/11

Slippery Rock vs. Oakland Catholic – 03/11

Belle Vernon vs. Blackhawk – 03/11

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North Catholic vs. Harbor Creek – 03/11


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CLASS 5A BRACKET (select to view bracket)

Second Round

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Lampeter-Strasburg vs. Mt. St. Joseph Academy – 03/11

Marple Newtown vs. Crestwood – 03/11

Bethlehem Catholic vs. Villa Maria Academy – 03/11

North Pocono vs. Archbishop Wood – 03/11

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York Suburban vs. TBD – 03/11

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Peters Township vs. Manheim Central – 03/11

South Fayette vs. Penn-Trafford – 03/11

Baldwin vs. Indiana – 03/11


CLASS 6A BRACKET (select to view bracket)

Second Round

Upper Dublin vs. Perkiomen Valley – 03/10

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Hazleton vs. Parkland – 03/10

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Easton vs. Red Lion – 03/10

Downingtown West vs. Archbishop Carroll – 03/10

Wilson vs. Cardinal O’Hara – 03/10

Pennsbury vs. Altoona – 03/10

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Dallastown vs. Emmaus – 03/10

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Canon-McMillan vs. Taylor Allderdice – 03/10


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