Lisa Scheid
@lisafscheid.bsky.social
Spotlight PA Berks Bureau managing editor. Former LNP|LancasterOnline biz trends reporter. ❤️ good tacos, my kids & husband, pugs. Will still take factory tours.
Reposted by Lisa Scheid
Gov. Josh Shapiro attended two football games this weekend -- Pitt on Saturday, the Eagles on Sunday. The former was paid for by funds managed by Team PA, a spokesperson said. The latter was paid for by his political campaign. He showed up on TV for both:
November 18, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Gov. Josh Shapiro attended two football games this weekend -- Pitt on Saturday, the Eagles on Sunday. The former was paid for by funds managed by Team PA, a spokesperson said. The latter was paid for by his political campaign. He showed up on TV for both:
Reposted by Lisa Scheid
Axalta, DuPont’s auto paint spin-off, agrees to AkzoNobel buy-out, will keep Philly HQ open $AKZA $AXTA my story www.inquirer.com/business/axa...
Philly-based DuPont spin-off hopes to boost sagging sales by merging with global paint giant
Both companies have plants in the Philadelphia area, among other locations worldwide.
www.inquirer.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Axalta, DuPont’s auto paint spin-off, agrees to AkzoNobel buy-out, will keep Philly HQ open $AKZA $AXTA my story www.inquirer.com/business/axa...
Re-upping this waiver story from the Reading Eagle. At the time, at least one supervisor raised concerns about shortening the approval process.
Pennsylvania has poured millions into this factory www.readingeagle.com/2022/06/29/e...
Exeter Township baby formula manufacturer gets waiver for addition
ByHeart says the waiver is needed due to time constraints.
www.readingeagle.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Re-upping this waiver story from the Reading Eagle. At the time, at least one supervisor raised concerns about shortening the approval process.
FDA found found harmful bacteria in 2022, Stopped production in 2023, awarded $5 million as recently as Nov. 2024, press conferences here since production stopped.
Formula company linked to botulism outbreak stopped Pa. production in 2023
The FDA says it found mold and thousands of dead bugs at a ByHeart plant in Berks County.
www.spotlightpa.org
November 18, 2025 at 12:42 PM
FDA found found harmful bacteria in 2022, Stopped production in 2023, awarded $5 million as recently as Nov. 2024, press conferences here since production stopped.
reposting gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/h...
Infant Formula Company Tied to Botulism Outbreak Had Known Problems
www.nytimes.com
November 16, 2025 at 2:11 PM
reposting gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/h...
ByHeart now recalling all products and beings sued: www.usatoday.com/story/news/h...
ByHeart sued over recalled formula by parents of infants sickened with botulism
Two families have filed lawsuits against ByHeart Inc. after their infants contracted botulism from allegedly consuming the company's formula.
www.usatoday.com
November 16, 2025 at 2:08 PM
ByHeart now recalling all products and beings sued: www.usatoday.com/story/news/h...
ByHeart confirmed to me the recalled batches did not come from Reading facility (Exeter Township). Did say not where
🧵There is an outbreak of infant botulism linked to ByHeart Inc Whole Nutrition Formula resulting in 15 cases across 12 states
🍼Do not use recalled infant formula
🧼Clean any exposed items/surfaces
🏥Seek immediate medical care if your infant consumed ByHeart and is sick
www.cdc.gov/botulism/out...
🍼Do not use recalled infant formula
🧼Clean any exposed items/surfaces
🏥Seek immediate medical care if your infant consumed ByHeart and is sick
www.cdc.gov/botulism/out...
Infant Botulism Outbreak Linked to Infant Formula, November 2025
Details on an outbreak of infant botulism linked to infant formula, November 2025.
www.cdc.gov
November 12, 2025 at 1:24 AM
ByHeart confirmed to me the recalled batches did not come from Reading facility (Exeter Township). Did say not where
Re-upping my lament for the former EDC Lancaster consumer sentiment poll. It was one of a handful of local measures in the country.
While I was at The Post, a group of us (hi @crampell.bsky.social!) made a tool that used third party grocery price data to track food inflation. It’s up, except for the eggs.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/int...
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/int...
November 12, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Re-upping my lament for the former EDC Lancaster consumer sentiment poll. It was one of a handful of local measures in the country.
Reposted by Lisa Scheid
“In Texas, CDC funds to stem a measles outbreak weren’t available until after the crisis had subsided and two children had died. A project to protect Alabamans from raw sewage and hookworm was abandoned…Time-dependent surveys on HIV and maternal mortality were halted…”
Wielding Obscure Budget Tools, Trump’s ‘Reaper’ Vought Sows Turmoil in Public Health - KFF Health News
Through shrouded bureaucratic maneuvers, White House budget director Russell Vought and DOGE have quietly upended outbreak response, HIV treatment, and dementia care in communities across America.
kffhealthnews.org
November 12, 2025 at 1:13 AM
“In Texas, CDC funds to stem a measles outbreak weren’t available until after the crisis had subsided and two children had died. A project to protect Alabamans from raw sewage and hookworm was abandoned…Time-dependent surveys on HIV and maternal mortality were halted…”
Here’s what economic development looks like in Berks
How a low baseline could boost Reading’s CRIZ returns later
Reading’s revitalization district returns $3.55M in applicable tax revenue. The city's fund may take years to ramp up, but the long‑term plan is underway.
www.spotlightpa.org
November 3, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Here’s what economic development looks like in Berks
Reposted by Lisa Scheid
TOMORROW Saturday! We will have Jennifer Ott visiting us and sharing her YA book of viking adventures and a talking skull. Please stop by and say hello!
#fireflybookstore #keepinitkutztown #lehighvalley #indiebookstore #berkscounty #booksigning #meettheauthor #authorevent
#fireflybookstore #keepinitkutztown #lehighvalley #indiebookstore #berkscounty #booksigning #meettheauthor #authorevent
November 1, 2025 at 12:39 AM
TOMORROW Saturday! We will have Jennifer Ott visiting us and sharing her YA book of viking adventures and a talking skull. Please stop by and say hello!
#fireflybookstore #keepinitkutztown #lehighvalley #indiebookstore #berkscounty #booksigning #meettheauthor #authorevent
#fireflybookstore #keepinitkutztown #lehighvalley #indiebookstore #berkscounty #booksigning #meettheauthor #authorevent
Reposted by Lisa Scheid
President Donald Trump wants farmers to go out and buy bigger tractors, but farm machinery producers might have to wait a little longer for a turnaround in sales.
Trump Tells Farmers to Buy Tractors, But There’s No Rush Yet
President Donald Trump wants farmers to go out and buy bigger tractors after the US reached a long-awaited trade deal with China to restart soybean exports. But farm machinery producers might have to wait a little longer for a turnaround in sales.
bloom.bg
October 31, 2025 at 11:00 PM
President Donald Trump wants farmers to go out and buy bigger tractors, but farm machinery producers might have to wait a little longer for a turnaround in sales.
Reposted by Lisa Scheid
The latest on budget talks: These are the first in-person, five party conversations since June 30, a source told @spotlightpa.org They were convened by Shapiro. What's on the table, what progress has been made, or timelines for completion are unclear.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
Is the PA budget impasse inching toward an end?
PA Gov. Josh Shapiro and the leaders from all four legislative caucuses met in person this week at the state Capitol.
www.spotlightpa.org
October 31, 2025 at 6:40 PM
The latest on budget talks: These are the first in-person, five party conversations since June 30, a source told @spotlightpa.org They were convened by Shapiro. What's on the table, what progress has been made, or timelines for completion are unclear.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
Reposted by Lisa Scheid
Remember the voter registration issues in three Pennsylvania counties right before the 2024 election? @votebeat.org reports that the issue was third party canvassers who, following pay incentives, submitted incomplete and inaccurate forms.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
Charges in PA highlight problems with voter registration drives
Election officials in PA say third-party voter registration drives can result in canvassers submitting incomplete or invalid registrations.
www.spotlightpa.org
October 31, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Remember the voter registration issues in three Pennsylvania counties right before the 2024 election? @votebeat.org reports that the issue was third party canvassers who, following pay incentives, submitted incomplete and inaccurate forms.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
Reposted by Lisa Scheid
"If we had a contingency fund."
You mean like this contingency fund the Trump Administration just deleted off their website? The one they are legally required to use to keep SNAP funded?
www.notus.org/trump-white-...
You mean like this contingency fund the Trump Administration just deleted off their website? The one they are legally required to use to keep SNAP funded?
www.notus.org/trump-white-...
October 30, 2025 at 4:44 PM
"If we had a contingency fund."
You mean like this contingency fund the Trump Administration just deleted off their website? The one they are legally required to use to keep SNAP funded?
www.notus.org/trump-white-...
You mean like this contingency fund the Trump Administration just deleted off their website? The one they are legally required to use to keep SNAP funded?
www.notus.org/trump-white-...
Reposted by Lisa Scheid
Update: As of ~2 p.m., there is now $2.8 million in reported independent expenditures on the Supreme Court retention elections. That's $1.2 million more since we first published. Much of it is digital ads from pro-retention groups.
Despite weeks of ads on Pennsylvania's Supreme Court retention elections, public reports are missing some big political spenders. The culprit? The state's loophole ridden system for reporting independent political spending.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
Why PA Supreme Court retention race spending is hard to track
Blame it on a mix of lagging reporting, weakly enforced rules, and a campaign finance system that requires little transparency.
www.spotlightpa.org
October 30, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Update: As of ~2 p.m., there is now $2.8 million in reported independent expenditures on the Supreme Court retention elections. That's $1.2 million more since we first published. Much of it is digital ads from pro-retention groups.
Reposted by Lisa Scheid
Learn your rights as a Pennsylvania voter ahead of the Nov. 4 election, including ID rules, provisional ballots, and assistance options.
https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10/pennsylvania-municipal-election-day-2025-voter-rights-elections/
https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10/pennsylvania-municipal-election-day-2025-voter-rights-elections/
October 30, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Learn your rights as a Pennsylvania voter ahead of the Nov. 4 election, including ID rules, provisional ballots, and assistance options.
https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10/pennsylvania-municipal-election-day-2025-voter-rights-elections/
https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10/pennsylvania-municipal-election-day-2025-voter-rights-elections/
Reposted by Lisa Scheid
Berks County revised its translated website after Spotlight PA found it had dates and voting information from the 2024 general election. Here’s what else the county is doing to serve Spanish speaking voters.
https://www.spotlightpa.org/berks/2025/10/berks-county-spanish-election-materials-elections/
https://www.spotlightpa.org/berks/2025/10/berks-county-spanish-election-materials-elections/
Outdated election info found on Berks County’s Spanish-language site
A PA county where more than 60,000 people speak Spanish at home failed to update the translated version of its official election website until contacted.
www.spotlightpa.org
October 30, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Berks County revised its translated website after Spotlight PA found it had dates and voting information from the 2024 general election. Here’s what else the county is doing to serve Spanish speaking voters.
https://www.spotlightpa.org/berks/2025/10/berks-county-spanish-election-materials-elections/
https://www.spotlightpa.org/berks/2025/10/berks-county-spanish-election-materials-elections/
Reposted by Lisa Scheid
Popular Pa. haunted attraction allowed man convicted of exposing himself to children to volunteer alongside minors
https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10/field-of-screams-volunteer-past-conviction-indecent-exposure-corruption-minors-public-safety/
https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10/field-of-screams-volunteer-past-conviction-indecent-exposure-corruption-minors-public-safety/
October 30, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Popular Pa. haunted attraction allowed man convicted of exposing himself to children to volunteer alongside minors
https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10/field-of-screams-volunteer-past-conviction-indecent-exposure-corruption-minors-public-safety/
https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10/field-of-screams-volunteer-past-conviction-indecent-exposure-corruption-minors-public-safety/
Reposted by Lisa Scheid
Pennsylvania's budget is 120 days late, and schools across the commonwealth are starting to feel the pain. In response, they are cutting programs and taking on debt -- and payments on the latter will likely mean cuts in the future.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
PA schools take on debt, cut programs amid budget impasse
Districts in poorer areas are the hardest hit by Pennsylvania’s budget impasse, as they tend to rely more heavily on the state for funding.
www.spotlightpa.org
October 28, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Pennsylvania's budget is 120 days late, and schools across the commonwealth are starting to feel the pain. In response, they are cutting programs and taking on debt -- and payments on the latter will likely mean cuts in the future.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...
Talk about SNAP reminds me of this remarkable food access study that showed 1) hungry people ARE working 2) your local food pantry is not as accessible as you may think — for many reasons 3) many hungry people don’t even get SNAP www.centralpafoodbank.org/wp-content/u...
www.centralpafoodbank.org
October 27, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Talk about SNAP reminds me of this remarkable food access study that showed 1) hungry people ARE working 2) your local food pantry is not as accessible as you may think — for many reasons 3) many hungry people don’t even get SNAP www.centralpafoodbank.org/wp-content/u...
Folks, it’s RACP time. Weigh in while you can but the gov has final say. Here’s the projects in Berks (note ByHeart is going for $15M on top of the $18M it already got) www.spotlightpa.org/berks/2025/1...
School expansions among Berks County projects seeking state grants
18 are seeking more than $92 million in state redevelopment grants, including developments in Exeter, Spring, and South Heidelberg Townships.
www.spotlightpa.org
October 25, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Folks, it’s RACP time. Weigh in while you can but the gov has final say. Here’s the projects in Berks (note ByHeart is going for $15M on top of the $18M it already got) www.spotlightpa.org/berks/2025/1...