More than two months past Pennsylvania’s budget deadline, school districts across the state are grappling with uncertainty, borrowing costs, and the possibility of program cuts as they wait for billions in state funding.

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Education in Ancient Rome was far from the structured classrooms we think of today. Historian Chrissy Senecal joined The Spark to explain how the system evolved over centuries—and how issues of class, gender, and respect for teachers shaped who actually got to learn.

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Coming up on this week's edition of The Spark Weekly.

The Braver Angels National organization launched a two-year initiative around the topic of immigration - The Citizens Commission on Immigration. The goal is to demonstrate to our US Congress that Americans with differing views can find common ground.  The initiative was launched after our 2024 convention and the result of a vote by a balanced red-blue group of about 750 delegates.  It will culminate with a "Report to the Nation."  The process is similar to the previous two-year initiative on Trustworthy Elections. 

Also on the program...

The idea of a “traditional” college student — 18 to 24 years old, living on campus, and attending classes full-time — may no longer match reality. 

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WITF Democracy Reporter Jordan Wilkie discussed his report on Pennsylvania activist Heather Honey, who is moving from leading election conspiracy groups to a top elections policy role at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Elections experts have raised concerns that Honey’s appointment could undermine federal election support and public confidence. “The appointment of Heather Honey is just confirmation that DHS has gone from being one of the most credible supporters of American election integrity to potentially a purveyor of disinformation,” said David Becker, head of the Center for Election Innovation & Research.

Next, WITF Capitol Reporter Jaxon White weighed in on Pennsylvania’s upcoming Supreme Court retention elections. Three Democratic justices—Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht—face voters this November. Supporters, including legal expert Shanin Specter, argue the justices rule impartially and deserve to keep their seats, while Republican groups are campaigning against them citing key decisions on abortion, mail-in voting, and redistricting.

Finally, PennLive reporters Jenna Wise and Jonathan Bergmueller discussed a Labor Day weekend incident at Harrisburg’s Kipona festival, where a car ran into a crowd, injuring three people, including a 6-year-old child.

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Immigration has long been one of the most divisive issues in American politics. Now, Braver Angels, a national nonprofit dedicated to reducing political polarization, is taking on the challenge with its new two-year initiative: the Citizens Commission on Immigration.

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Stuart Malina is entering his 26th season as music director of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra (HSO), a milestone he admits still surprises him.

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At Zoetropolis Cinema Stillhouse in downtown Lancaster, community members gather once a month to watch films, sip cocktails, and dive into deep conversations. The series, Philosophy | Drinks | Film—known as PDF—is curated by Dennis M. Weiss, who started the program in 2019.

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When we think of the American Revolution, names like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin often come to mind. But one of its most influential figures came from halfway across the world — a Polish-born engineer and soldier named Thaddeus Kosciuszko.

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The idea of a “traditional” college student — 18 to 24 years old, living on campus, and attending classes full-time — may no longer match reality. That’s what Alvernia University Provost Leamor Kahanov, Ph.D., explained in a recent conversation on The Spark.

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Washington Crossing Historic Park, located along the Delaware River, stands as a pivotal site in American history. It was here that George Washington famously crossed the Delaware on Christmas night in 1776, a daring maneuver that helped turn the tide of the Revolutionary War.

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