Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is a free service for seniors and other eligible taxpayers, where volunteers from various fields help individuals with the preparation of state and federal income tax forms. We spoke with Heidi Newhaus, Volunteer Center Director for the United Way of the Capitol Region about the “Money in Your Pocket” initiative.

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Larry Richardson, President and CEO of YMCA of the Roses, has announced that he will be retiring after more than 30 years at the organization. He played a major role in transforming the organization and strengthening the Y’s impact on housing insecurity and homelessness in York and Lancaster. 

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Staffing cuts at Raystown Lake in Huntingdon County will have an effect on visitors for the upcoming summer season. Matt Price, Executive Director of the Huntingdon County Visitor’s Bureau joined the spark to share the impacts.

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In a time of increasing political and social division, the new documentary Louder Than Guns seeks to do something many have struggled to accomplish—foster meaningful conversations about gun violence across all aisles of the political and social divide. Directed by filmmaker Doug Pray and journalist David Greene, the film was inspired by a song of the same name, written by Ketch Secor, the frontman of Old Crow Medicine Show, in the wake of the Covenant School mass shooting in Nashville.

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Pretty soon in Lancaster County, British actor and playwright Michael Mears will showcase his latest play, The Mistake, on April 15-16. The play arrives during the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

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LifeSmarts at Cumberland Valley High School includes students from ninth through twelfth grade, with approximately 150 students participating in the initial qualifying rounds each year. The top performers advance to further training, preparing for state and national competitions. Their training includes monthly quizzes, team practices, and specialized study in key subject areas.

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In a recent episode of The Spark, host Asia Tabb sat down with Carrie King, Katie Brilhart, and Becky Ludwit from the PA Partnerships for Children (PPC) to discuss their advocacy efforts for better education, healthcare, child welfare, and policies that support children and families in Pennsylvania.

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On this week's edition of The Spark Weekly:

Brett Sholtis of LNP/Lancaster Online will discuss his reporting on the rise and fall of the Paramount ATM Network

Carter Walker of VoteBeat, reporting on the number of poll workers for upcoming elections in PA

Also, on the program:

In a time of increasing polarization, religious leaders and scholars are coming together to address one of the most pressing and complex issues in modern faith: Christian nationalism. This movement, which intertwines national identity with religious belief, has sparked deep conversations about the role of faith in public life and the risks of conflating Christianity with political power.

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In Lancaster, Pennsylvania, there’s a place for video game lovers, collectors, and pop culture lovers. Just Press Play, owned by Zac Geig, is more than just a video game store—it’s a tribute to decades of gaming history and a testament to the power of nostalgia.

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Our Journalist Roundtable conversation included LancasterOnline/LNP’s Brett Sholtis and Votebeat Pa’s Cater Walker. Sholtis broke down his reporting on the Lancaster-based Paramount ATM Network – a company that once thrived, only to collapse in a web of legal and financial troubles. Walker uncovered an urgent issue – poll worker shortages in Pennsylvania.

Listen to the podcast to hear the full conversation.

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