When public officials evade scrutiny, the consequences don’t stay confined to council chambers or press statements. This week’s Sunday Bulletin examines what happens when accountability is deflected, transparency is denied, and taxpayers are left asking whether the rules apply equally to everyone. From unanswered questions in Delaware County to the accelerating cost of living across Pennsylvania, these stories trace the widening gap between those in power and the public they serve.
INVESTIGATIVE: Delaware County officials — including council president Richard Womack — are declining to answer basic questions about significant property tax delinquencies, even as county taxes have surged more than 50 percent in just three years. The reporting raises urgent concerns about fairness, enforcement, and whether elected leaders are being held to the same standards as ordinary homeowners.
POLITICS: Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity has formally entered the 2026 governor’s race with a sharp critique of Governor Josh Shapiro, accusing him of settling for mediocrity and putting national attention ahead of the Commonwealth. Her remarks signal the opening salvo of a high-stakes political fight over Pennsylvania’s future.
REGIONAL NEWS: From a fatal shooting in Lansdale and a stabbing aboard a SEPTA bus to questions of leadership and responsibility at the local level, this week’s regional coverage underscores how public safety, governance, and accountability intersect in communities across southeastern Pennsylvania.
FROM THE EDITORS: The collapse of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette marks more than the end of a historic newspaper. It represents a warning sign for civic life itself — and a reminder that a healthy democracy depends on robust, independent journalism willing to ask uncomfortable questions.
OPINION & ANALYSIS: Our columnists examine why Pennsylvanians are paying the highest school taxes in the state, challenge Washington’s push to expand Obamacare subsidies amid rising costs, and explore what voters actually want from leaders as economic pressure continues to mount.
