The Spark

Saturday marks the 20th anniversary of the September 11th, 2001, terrorist attacks. As part of WITF’s special 9/11 — 20 years later special programming, Smart Talk begins the week with a visit and broadcast from the Flight 93 National Memorial in western Pennsylvania. Appearing on the program: Stephen Clark, Superintendent of the National Parks of … Continue reading "Smart Talk Road trip: Flight 93 National Memorial"

Spending time in the outdoors can be both relaxing and rejuvenating at the same time. Nature has a way of reminding us that our own problems and challenges are small in comparison to the wonders of the natural world. Hiking is a great way to enjoy outdoor areas, but women in particular, may not feel … Continue reading "Hiking alone safely is both enjoyable, and safe, with a little planning"

Healthcare delivery options have changed a lot this past year — drive through COVID testing, mass vaccination centers and the growth of telehealth are now common. Many providers and insurers are offering remote appointments for routine medical care. This innovative healthcare option is a game-changer for many in that they open up access to a … Continue reading "Healthcare Trends move into the digital space"

The U.S. government has not confirmed the exact number of Afghan refugees evacuated from the country in waning days of the military presence in Afghanistan. Estimates put the number of people evacuated over eighty thousand. U.S. military flights from Kabul carried U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, Afghan Special Immigrant Visa applicants and other vulnerable Afghans, … Continue reading "Community organizations preparing for refugees in central Pa."

For many years, criminologists Jillian Peterson, Ph.D., and James Densley, Ph.D., have studied mass shootings and the people who carry them out. One of the most jarring points made in their new book THE VIOLENCE PROJECT: How to Stop a Mass Shooting Epidemic is that most of those who commit mass shootings aren’t monsters, but … Continue reading "Is it possible to stop a mass shooting epidemic?"

Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI) is an important hiring framework for managers and business owners as they develop their workforce and workplace culture. The concept of DEI is not new, but it has taken on an urgency for organizations looking to reflect the image and values of the customers they serve. The concept of DEI goes … Continue reading "Improving diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace are top priorities for managers"

> President Biden remained committed to withdrawing all US forces from Afghanistan by August 31, a date agreed upon between both the US and the Taliban. With the deadline now past and all US forces out of country, many questions remain unanswered, including what went wrong with the drawdown and how could it have been … Continue reading "The end of US presence in Afghanistan met with mixed reactions"

Pennsylvania is a state rich in natural beauty and resources, including nearly 300,000 acres of state parks. Along with the state forest system, they are considered one of the largest tracts of public lands in the eastern United States. There is state park within 25 miles of nearly every Pennsylvanian, and these areas saw a … Continue reading "DCNR launches park access and management plan laying out course for next 25 years"

Most Pennsylvania students now are back in school. This is a milestone, as it is the first fully in-person school year since 2019. The planning for this year has played out in the news media and in school board meetings across the state. Student and teacher safety is a high priority, as COVID-19 case numbers … Continue reading "Pennsylvania students begin first fully in-person school year since 2019"

The most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report paints a frightening picture of the earth’s future unless action is taken immediately. The cause of climate change points directly at human activity, primarily the use of fossil fuels, and the report states that only “strong and sustained” reductions in emissions can slow down the … Continue reading "Landmark report points directly to fossil fuels as the cause of extreme weather changes"