Author | Lightnews

Asha Prihar @ashaprihar.bsky.social · 17h

Obsessed with every time the Inquirer does an interactive scrolly-telly multi-modal race share.inquirer.com/QsLtPx

Escape The Linc: We raced to find the fastest way out after an Eagles game

Inquirer staffers braved the post-Eagles game crowds to test five ways — including SEPTA, a rideshare, and more — to beat the rush home from Lincoln Financial Field. Here's what won.

share.inquirer.com

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Reposted by Asha Prihar

Wyatt Massey @news4mass.bsky.social · 1d

The pending acquisition of WPSU by @whyy.org could mean some notable changes to the workforce of State College's public media outlet.

I spoke with WHYY's CEO about them for this week's Talk of the Town newsletter.

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Reposted by Asha Prihar

Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 5d

Hi all. I’m launching a newsletter with @SpotlightPA. Starting next week, you can get the latest on Pennsylvania government & state politics right to your inbox featuring the same mix of reporting and silly jokes that likely helped you find me on ye ole bird app.
www.spotlightpa.org/newsletters/...

Access Harrisburg - Insider Access to PA Politics

Get weekly scoops, expert analysis, and more from Capitol reporter Stephen Caruso. Be the first to know what’s happening in Pennsylvania state government.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Reposted by Asha Prihar

Marley Parish @marleyparish.bsky.social · 5d

Horror is as Pennsylvanian as scrapple.

From the Gothic fiction of authors like Charles Brockden Brown and Edgar Allan Poe, to the creature features of George A. Romero and mindbenders of M. Night Shyamalan, the commonwealth has long been a hub for the genre.

What do Mr. Rogers and George A. Romero have in common? The answer might shock you.

The University of Pittsburgh's new Horror Studies Center is home to a global research network dedicated to the genre, which has deep Pennsylvania ties.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Reposted by Asha Prihar

Danielle Ohl @dtohl.bsky.social · 19d

Spotlight PA is hiring! It's a union position! Come work for one of the best newsrooms in the bizzz spotlightpa.applytojob.com/apply/FIsBWv...

Newsletter Writer/Reporter (Guild Position) - Spotlight PA - Career Page

Apply to Newsletter Writer/Reporter (Guild Position) at Spotlight PA in Remote.

spotlightpa.applytojob.com

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Asha Prihar @ashaprihar.bsky.social · 12d

Pennsylvanians: Do you know what you're doing this weekend? I designed a cute little one-minute quiz to help you figure out how to take advantage of autumn in our beautiful state - www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...

Plan the perfect Pennsylvania fall weekend

Take our short quiz to help you decide how to spend your fall weekends in Pennsylvania. There are a dozen possible outcomes, sourced from our staff.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Asha Prihar @ashaprihar.bsky.social · 19d

four listens in & I’m filling out my Jack Antonoff apology form

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Asha Prihar @ashaprihar.bsky.social · 23d

Happy goose day to all who celebrate

Asha Prihar @ashaprihar.bsky.social · 26d

I was on vacation last week so didn't get a chance to share this piece when it came out, but I had a lovely time speaking to people in the Juniata River Valley about Goose Day, a quirky & unique local holiday that's celebrated every Sept. 29: www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/09...

Celebrate Goose Day, Pennsylvania’s hyper-regional holiday

For over a century, central Pennsylvanians have gathered near the start of fall to celebrate Goose Day, a quirky holiday with ties to Europe.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Asha Prihar @ashaprihar.bsky.social · 26d

I was on vacation last week so didn't get a chance to share this piece when it came out, but I had a lovely time speaking to people in the Juniata River Valley about Goose Day, a quirky & unique local holiday that's celebrated every Sept. 29: www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/09...

Celebrate Goose Day, Pennsylvania’s hyper-regional holiday

For over a century, central Pennsylvanians have gathered near the start of fall to celebrate Goose Day, a quirky holiday with ties to Europe.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Asha Prihar @ashaprihar.bsky.social · 28d

these rules are so upsetting to me

Asha Prihar @ashaprihar.bsky.social · Sep 22

I really loved the Chicago History Museum and the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati! (I've been traveling around the Midwest)

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Asha Prihar @ashaprihar.bsky.social · Sep 22

If you are a museums nerd like me and will be traveling domestically, I highly recommend getting a local museum membership that offers reciprocal admission to others. My bf & I joined one for $150 before we left for a multi-city trip and ended up going to $200+ worth of museums 💸

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Asha Prihar @ashaprihar.bsky.social · Aug 29

Leap-the-Dips, a 123-year-old coaster near Altoona, only travels at about 10mph, but a now-rare type of engineering adds extra thrills.

Fans told me it's a unique experience, but no one has been able to ride it since 2023 — and its future is unclear.

My latest: www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/08...

This PA roller coaster built in 1902 still charms riders

Leap-the-Dips in Blair County is one of a kind, say fans of the 123-year-old wooden ride. But the attraction is grounded and a return date is unclear.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Reposted by Asha Prihar

Danielle Ohl @dtohl.bsky.social · Aug 29

Big news from me: The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General is currently locked out of many crucial systems after being hit by a ransomware attack earlier this month.

Will provide updates as I have them.

Ransomware attack on PA attorney general leads to case delays

The attack temporarily took out the department’s website and email and locked staff out of court files.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Asha Prihar @ashaprihar.bsky.social · Aug 25

After having such a lovely time bookshop-hopping at Philly's annual bookstore crawl on Saturday, it was such a delight to read this WVIA story about downtown Scranton's three indie bookstores & how they encourage visitors to do their own little informal crawls 💖 www.wvia.org/2025-08-25/b...

Bookstore boom: new Scranton indie booksellers find support, not competition

Over the past year, three independent bookstores have opened in downtown Scranton, each hoping to fill the same void in the city. But instead of competition, the owners say they've found support among...

www.wvia.org

Reposted by Asha Prihar

Peter Hall @petehallpa.bsky.social · Aug 18

penncapital-star.com/economy/sept...

SEPTA funding crisis could affect central Pennsylvania's Amtrak service, congressman warns • Pennsylvania Capital-Star

The public transit crisis “puts tens of millions of dollars in serious jeopardy for the operation of Amtrak in our regions,” Boyle said.

penncapital-star.com

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Asha Prihar @ashaprihar.bsky.social · Aug 18

If you'd like a fun read on this cloudy morning, check out my interview with Michele Bannon, the mayor of Carbondale, PA.

We talked about her city's hidden gems, her decades-long government career, and Carbondale's claim to fame: an (alleged) UFO sighting.

www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/08...

Meet a PA mayor who embraces UFOs and small town quirkiness

Carbondale Mayor Michele Bannon says her hometown is full of kind, generous people with “coal miner mentalities,” and praises its love of UFOs.

www.spotlightpa.org

Reposted by Asha Prihar

Danielle Ohl @dtohl.bsky.social · Jul 28

Two years ago, after publishing a story on competency assessments trapping people in jail, I got a call from Sue.

She told me about her yearslong struggle to get her son mental health care, and how none of it mattered.

In the end, all of those attempts failed to find stability for her son Robert.

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Asha Prihar @ashaprihar.bsky.social · Jul 25

I didn't talk to people from all of them (that would've been too many to fit into one story), but I really enjoyed getting to learn about the wide variety of different types & sizes of rail history sites that exist in PA, many of which rely on volunteers who just really love trains & local history.

Asha Prihar @ashaprihar.bsky.social · Jul 25

Pennsylvania's train history is extensive and rich, and I learned over the course of working on this story that there are many, many museums/heritage railroads across the state that try to preserve it and share stories about how railroads shaped PA. Like, a lot.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/07...

Volunteers, museums help preserve PA’s railroad history

Trains played a huge role in Pennsylvania’s development, and local museums and volunteer groups statewide help to preserve that history.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Asha Prihar @ashaprihar.bsky.social · Jul 25

I can’t get on board with social platforms overusing AI for many reasons, & a minor one among them is that when I search “which bagel is your girlfriend” it’s APPARENTLY not smart enough to conjure up the “which bagel is your girlfriend” post that I literally JUST saw but lost when I refreshed

Asha Prihar @ashaprihar.bsky.social · Jul 25

if I am watching a dessert recipe video on Instagram and I see any sign of protein powder, that’s my sign to stop watching

Reposted by Asha Prihar

Asha Prihar @ashaprihar.bsky.social · Jul 16

Pennsylvanians: Do you know someone who deserves recognition for doing good in their PA community?

Nominate them to be featured in our monthly PA Local Heroes series! You can submit their name & a few lines about them here: forms.gle/9WBuEgLrTkxS...

Examples of some previous profiles in thread 🧵

PA Local Heroes nomination form

Know a person in your community who deserves some praise? Let us help. Spotlight PA is spotlighting one community do-gooder each month with a feature, sponsored by Ballard Spahr, in our PA Local newsl...

forms.gle

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Asha Prihar @ashaprihar.bsky.social · Jul 17

i always appreciate a dubai chocolate roundup because i'm allergic and it helps me know which bakeries to avoid (at least until the craze is over). 10/10 service journalism

Asha Prihar @ashaprihar.bsky.social · Jul 16

... and more! (You can find more of them here: www.spotlightpa.org/topics/pa-lo...) Once again, we'd love your thoughts on who we should feature in future editions: forms.gle/9WBuEgLrTkxS...

PA Local Heroes nomination form

Know a person in your community who deserves some praise? Let us help. Spotlight PA is spotlighting one community do-gooder each month with a feature, sponsored by Ballard Spahr, in our PA Local newsl...

forms.gle