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Brett Sholtis

Brett Sholtis was a health reporter for WITF/Transforming Health until early 2023. Sholtis is the 2021-2022 Reveal Benjamin von Sternenfels Rosenthal Grantee for Mental Health Investigative Journalism with the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism. His award-winning work on problem areas in mental health policy and policing helped to get a woman moved from a county jail to a psychiatric facility. Sholtis is a University of Pittsburgh graduate and a Pennsylvania Army National Guard Kosovo campaign veteran.
Email: brett_sholtis@witf.org
Twitter: @BrettSholtis

Latest by Brett Sholtis

Detailed view on the newly instaled system to filter out PFAS Forever Chemicals at Well #2 of the Horsham Water and Sewer Authority facility in Horsham, Pa., on August 22, 2019.
July 16, 2021 | 8:45 AM

PFAS report identifies hundreds of Pa. manufacturing sites

The so-called ‘forever chemicals’ are linked to a range of health problems.

By Brett Sholtis
Ilyse Kazar stands along the Susquehanna river in Harrisburg next to a stormwater outflow while anglers fish nearby. Kazar, of Harrisburg, is one of the volunteers who collected water samples as part of the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper's annual water monitoring.
August 17, 2020 | 7:20 PM

Sampling confirms Harrisburg’s sewage overflow is polluting the Susquehanna River with E. coli

A related report finds Pennsylvania has ‘gone backwards’ in its effort to curb river pollution
By Brett Sholtis
Sherry Vargson, who leased the mineral rights under a portion of her farm to the gas company Chesapeake Energy, illustrates her assertion that methane has leached into her well water by lighting the water on fire as it pours from her kitchen sink in Granville Summit. Scientists want more access to baseline or "pre-drill" water tests results from private wells to understand issues like methane migration.
June 30, 2020 | 5:15 AM

Department of Health says it is looking into fracking public health risks following grand jury report

The grand jury criticized the department’s response, saying it was “unable to meet the challenge” of understanding how fracking could affect people.

By Brett Sholtis
Jessica Cutaiar never liked the taste of the well water at her Sellersville home. Now she knows it is contaminated with PFAS, a chemical used in fire retardant foam.
December 9, 2019 | 5:00 AM

A third of Pa. drinking water samples contained toxic chemicals. The state says there’s ‘no widespread contamination’

Amid federal inaction, there's no consensus on how much of the PFAS class of chemicals is too much.
By Brett Sholtis
Three Mile Island nuclear power plant, which closed Sept. 20, 2019.
September 20, 2019 | 12:34 PM

As Three Mile Island stops producing electricity, one community braces for change

By Brett Sholtis
In this file photo, people at a community meeting in Abington, Pa. on April 15, 2019 got an update of where the state will test drinking water for levels of the toxic family of chemicals known as PFAS.
September 9, 2019 | 4:49 AM

Fort Indiantown Gap added to list of PFAS contamination sites

By Brett Sholtis
A man water-skis behind a boat on the Susquehanna River, as seen from City Island. In the foreground is the Pride of the Susquehanna boat. The state Capitol is visible across the river.
August 22, 2019 | 4:00 AM

Environmental group finds dangerous E. coli levels in Susquehanna River

Environmental Integrity Project is calling on the state to help fix Harrisburg’s sewer and stormwater system. The water authority is considering adding a stormwater impact fee to city residents and property owners to help pay for upgrades.

By Brett Sholtis
Chris Achenbach-Kimmel stands for a portrait at Elizabethtown College where she works.
March 15, 2019 | 5:00 AM

Thyroid cancer study re-ignites debate over Three Mile Island accident’s health effects

The 2017 Penn State College of Medicine study found a certain type of thyroid cancer to be common to those who were near the nuclear plant during the accident.

By Brett Sholtis
August 24, 2017 | 10:22 AM

More than 200 TMI, Peach Bottom nuclear workers laid off, for now at least

By Brett Sholtis