Now: News Director at WITF. Previously: Deputy Managing Editor of News for Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Senior Content Editor at The Morning Call. Ithaca College grad. Scranton native. Bookworm. Yankees fan. Mom.https://bsky.app/profile/jpalochko.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/jpalochko.bsky.social/post/3mg3kekvfzc2qYearslong email exchanges between Jeffrey Epstein and a former Carnegie Mellon University administrator illustrates the way academics used Epstein’s money and connections as a means to advance their own career goals. https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2026/03/01/carnegie-mellon-roger-schank-epstein-emails/stories/20260226011802 Mar 2026 15:17 +0000at://did:plc:3s3fmdvmgl6fc36gzcoua4vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mg3kekvfzc2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/jpalochko.bsky.social/post/3mddhdd6ykk2dThe Post-Gazette sent Right-To-Know requests to Allegheny County school districts to examine how much is being spent to upkeep closed schools. This is what @megantomasic.bsky.social found. https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2026/01/25/pittsburgh-wilkinsburg-vacant-school-buildings-cost/stories/20260121009626 Jan 2026 14:28 +0000at://did:plc:3s3fmdvmgl6fc36gzcoua4vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mddhdd6ykk2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/jpalochko.bsky.social/post/3mcqilxqjc22qAcross multiple interviews with @samjanesch.bsky.social of @post-gazette.com in Washington and Pennsylvania in recent weeks, U.S. Sen. McCormick outlined the approach he’s taken in his first year as Pa’s newest senator. https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2026/01/18/dave-mccormick-pennsylvania/stories/20260115010519 Jan 2026 01:30 +0000at://did:plc:3s3fmdvmgl6fc36gzcoua4vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcqilxqjc22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/jpalochko.bsky.social/post/3mchvceb7i22lA Pittsburgh skate park has grown in popularity but has drawn pushback over noise and legal status https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2026/01/15/pittsburgh-oakland-diy-illegal-skatepark/stories/20260113007515 Jan 2026 15:24 +0000at://did:plc:3s3fmdvmgl6fc36gzcoua4vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mchvceb7i22lhttps://bsky.app/profile/jpalochko.bsky.social/post/3m6iwwr4qos23After two years of discussion and intense community pushback, the Pittsburgh Public school board voted against a school closure plan that would have shuttered nine schools. Story via @megantomasic.bsky.social https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2025/11/25/pittsburgh-closures-school-district-vote/stories/20251125007926 Nov 2025 03:45 +0000at://did:plc:3s3fmdvmgl6fc36gzcoua4vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6iwwr4qos23https://bsky.app/profile/jpalochko.bsky.social/post/3m5flsslnds26In John Fetterman’s memoir, he writes at length about his years-long feud with Gov. Josh Shapiro, a fellow Democrat with whom he is not on speaking terms. https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2025/11/11/fetterman-shapiro-memoir/stories/20251111008912 Nov 2025 02:23 +0000at://did:plc:3s3fmdvmgl6fc36gzcoua4vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5flsslnds26https://bsky.app/profile/jpalochko.bsky.social/post/3m52bz2iews26Pa. school districts that have banned cellphones are reporting fewer fights and better student focus. Story via @megantomasic.bsky.social https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2025/11/07/pittsburgh-schools-cellphone-ban/stories/20251105006907 Nov 2025 14:28 +0000at://did:plc:3s3fmdvmgl6fc36gzcoua4vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3m52bz2iews26https://bsky.app/profile/jpalochko.bsky.social/post/3m4xqtogafk2yTurnout in Pittsburgh jumped by more than a third compared to the 2021 Pittsburgh mayoral race. Here’s an early look at voter turnout on Tuesday. https://www.post-gazette.com/news/election-2025/2025/11/05/voter-turnout-democrats-pittsburgh-pennsylvania/stories/20251105008806 Nov 2025 14:15 +0000at://did:plc:3s3fmdvmgl6fc36gzcoua4vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3m4xqtogafk2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/jpalochko.bsky.social/post/3lw2dafsy2c2bPennsylvania rural schools are struggling. Here’s how some are surviving, via @megantomasic.bsky.social https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2025/08/10/pennsylvania-rural-schools-consolidation-sharing-services/stories/20250807006710 Aug 2025 12:53 +0000at://did:plc:3s3fmdvmgl6fc36gzcoua4vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3lw2dafsy2c2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/jpalochko.bsky.social/post/3lmcyirz7fs2mTwo Western Pa. school districts are considering sharing a superintendent as they face declining enrollments and budgetary constraints. Story from @megantomasic.bsky.social https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2025/04/07/superintendent-beaver-new-brighton-rochester-school-district/stories/20250407017708 Apr 2025 17:23 +0000at://did:plc:3s3fmdvmgl6fc36gzcoua4vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmcyirz7fs2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/jpalochko.bsky.social/post/3lkvfhovwck2xFantastic reporting from @megantomasic.bsky.social: With 14 schools on the chopping block and 12 slated for other uses, Pittsburgh students are facing major changes https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/pittsburgh-public-schools-changes/21 Mar 2025 14:13 +0000at://did:plc:3s3fmdvmgl6fc36gzcoua4vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkvfhovwck2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/jpalochko.bsky.social/post/3lkvextzdpk2xControl of Pa. House up for grabs on Tuesday as Mon Valley voters pick a lawmaker. The special election will likely break the 101-101 tie between Democrats and Republicans that exists in the chamber. https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2025/03/21/pennsylvania-legislature-house-election/stories/20250319006121 Mar 2025 14:04 +0000at://did:plc:3s3fmdvmgl6fc36gzcoua4vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkvextzdpk2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/jpalochko.bsky.social/post/3ljbetpwrts2bVance attacked last year's Pennsylvania visit by Zelenskyy in contentious White House meeting https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2025/02/28/trump-ukraine-vance-zelensky-russia-white-house/stories/20250228009128 Feb 2025 21:43 +0000at://did:plc:3s3fmdvmgl6fc36gzcoua4vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljbetpwrts2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/jpalochko.bsky.social/post/3limn64irwc2gMore school districts are opting for virtual days instead of snow days, but are students actually logging on for classes? @megantomasic.bsky.social filed Right to Know requests to find out https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2025/02/20/pittsburgh-snow-days-school-virtual-learning-absent-attendance/stories/20250219006320 Feb 2025 15:46 +0000at://did:plc:3s3fmdvmgl6fc36gzcoua4vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3limn64irwc2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/jpalochko.bsky.social/post/3lhzljlzcic22Sen. Dave McCormick told @benkail.bsky.social the release of Marc Fogel from Russia was a bipartisan push https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2025/02/12/dave-mccormick-marc-fogel-pennsylvania-russia-donald-trump/stories/20250212013013 Feb 2025 01:56 +0000at://did:plc:3s3fmdvmgl6fc36gzcoua4vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhzljlzcic22https://bsky.app/profile/jpalochko.bsky.social/post/3lh4utyfuu22cMeet the 17-year-old fighting to keep books from being removed in her high school https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2025/02/01/pine-richland-book-policy-1/stories/20250131006701 Feb 2025 15:56 +0000at://did:plc:3s3fmdvmgl6fc36gzcoua4vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3lh4utyfuu22chttps://bsky.app/profile/jpalochko.bsky.social/post/3lgo27qpt222gPennsylvania Republicans are planning a “unified and strategic” approach to unseating Gov. Josh Shapiro in 2026. https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2025/01/26/josh-shapiro-pennsylvania-governor-race-2026-republican-meuser-garrity/stories/20250115004726 Jan 2025 18:22 +0000at://did:plc:3s3fmdvmgl6fc36gzcoua4vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgo27qpt222ghttps://bsky.app/profile/jpalochko.bsky.social/post/3lg6mglbjwc2rTrump’s Day 1 plans poised to impact Pennsylvania on energy and immigration. Story from @benkail.bsky.social https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2025/01/19/donald-trump-inauguration-immigration-energy/stories/20250117007320 Jan 2025 15:05 +0000at://did:plc:3s3fmdvmgl6fc36gzcoua4vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3lg6mglbjwc2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/jpalochko.bsky.social/post/3lcyscjyir22tLuigi Mangione, the man facing charges in the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, will remain in a state prison in Pennsylvania for at least 30 days. Great reporting and photos from our reporters and photographer in Altoona. https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2024/12/10/altoona-luigi-mangione-ceo-killing/stories/20241210004111 Dec 2024 03:19 +0000at://did:plc:3s3fmdvmgl6fc36gzcoua4vm/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcyscjyir22t