The Spark

Many employers require a four-year college degree for perspective employees.

But just as many don’t. However, those employers do seek workers who have the skills and training needed to perform the jobs they have available. That shortage of skilled w...

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Pennsylvanians support keeping abortion legal under any circumstances(31%) or under certain circumstances(54%) overwhelmingly compared to those who think abortion should be illegal in all circumstances(14%). Those are the findings of the May, 2022 Franklin and Marshall College Poll. However, those were the only three choices on the abortion issue in the poll that doesn't differentiate which circumstances. Abortion is getting more attention this week after the leak of a draft opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court that strikes down the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision that legalized abortion.

The F&M Poll also found that most Pennsylvania registered voters who were surveyed were dissatisfied (52%-43%) with the rules and procedures that guide the way elections are conducted in the state. Most who favor changes support voters being required to present identification before voting and in-person or absentee voting only and no mail in ballots.

This is the last Franklin and Marshall College Poll before the May 17 Primary election.

At this point, less than two weeks before the primary, the poll shows John Fetterman leading Connor Lamb 53%-14% in the Democratic U.S. Senate race and Mehmet Oz ahead of David McCormick 18% to 16% with Kathy Barnette climbing to 12% on the Republican side. Doug Mastriano has an eight point lead over William McSwain in the Republican contest for governor. The winner will face Democrat Josh Shapiro in the general election.

Thursday's Smart Talkhas analysis of the poll and more results with Berwood A. Yost, Director, Floyd Institute for Public Policy, Center for Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall College.

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Legislation was introduced last week in the Pennsylvania General Assembly to create a statewide rape kit tracking system. What impact would it have on sexual assault investigations and survivors?

For years, Pennsylvania had a backlog of rape kits that went untested. As a result, hundreds of cases went unsolved. Not only did survivors not get justice but rapists could rape again.

Progress has been made in testing the backlog of rape kits, but proponents say more needs to be done to keep survivors informed.

Only 25 out of every thousand rapists end up in prison. Thirty states and Washington D.C. have rape kit tracking systems.

Wednesday's Smart Talk focuses what a rape kit tracking system would do. Joining us on the program are the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape's Medical Advocacy Coordinator, Barbara Sheaffer and Public Policy and Legislative Affairs Director, Donna Greco.

 

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The Arts are back.

After two years of the COVID-19 pandemic -- live productions are once again headlining at theaters, musical performances and concerts are drawing big audiences and visual arts and exhibits are on display at museums and public places like before the pandemic.

The Arts are not only for enjoyment, education and culture, but are an economic driver as well. The Arts contribute $27.1 billion to Pennsylvania's economy. During the pandemic, more than 16,000 people employed in the Arts lost their jobs and the state lost $4.4 in economic activity.

On the bright side, artists and performers say the pandemic may have produced even more creativity during their time at home or at least not being able to work publicly.

Tuesday's Smart Talkexplores the state of the Arts in Central Pennsylvania from the Fulton Theatre in Lancaster.

Appearing on the program are Nicole Hackman, Director of Advancement and Government Relations at the Fulton Theatre, Guy McIntosh, Executive Director of the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, Kelley Gibson, President of the Cultural Alliance of York County and artist and educator Ophelia Chambliss.

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The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education has frozen tuition at state-owned universities for the fourth straight year. Gov. Tom Wolf's budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins July 1 calls for a 15% increase in funding to $550 million, an additional $200 million for student financial aid, and $75 million in funds to continue the merging of six universities into two.

Even with those increases, Pennsylvania ranks in the nation's bottom five for state support for public universities.

At the same time, labor shortages became widespread during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PASSHE Chancellor Dan Greenstein says one of the ways to fill positions is for more low and middle students to attend college and that takes money.

Greenstein appears on Monday's Smart Talk to discuss funding.

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Lancaster County author Carolyn Kleinman has written a unique novel related to the Holocaust. In Love, Faith, and the Dented Bullet, Kleinman writes about a Holocaust survivor who forms a bond with a Lancaster County Mennonite girl.

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Linda Schwab was six-years-old when Nazis came to her village in Poland, forcing her and her family to flee. Eventually, Linda and her family lived in a cold, lice-infested cave for 18 months with little to eat to survive. Linda did live to describe her experiences and moved to Harrisburg and married.

Linda Schwab tells a story like you’ve never heard on Thursday’s Smart Talk.

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