The Spark

WITF-FM radio went on-the-air for the first time April 1, 1971. Fifty years ago, the station was a companion to WITF-TV Channel 33, that had been broadcasting since 1964. At the time, WITF-FM’s mission was stated as, “to provide an alternative FM radio service, broadcasting the best in music, drama, public affairs, information and light … Continue reading "Smart Talk: Celebrating 50 years of WITF radio"

Two mass shootings and the momentum behind the new Biden administration are reviving the debate on gun control in the United States. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro wasted no time jumping into the issue by announcing an agreement reached with one of the state’s largest gun show promoters to halt the sale of ‘ghost gun’ … Continue reading "Smart Talk: Pa Attorney General targets illegal guns and who can get them"

The Wolf administration recently announced a commitment to solar energy by agreeing to buy power from seven new solar projects in the state. This purchase agreement amounts to about half of the state government’s electricity and fulfills part of the Governor’s 2019 executive order on climate change. Patrick McDonnell is the Secretary Pennsylvania Department of … Continue reading "Smart Talk: Solar power initiatives highlight industry growth"

Some of the most significant and historic changes in America came as the result of protests, demonstrations and voices raised by young people under the age of 18. For example, fifteen-year-old Barbara Johns, who in 1953 organized a school strike protesting the poor conditions of her all-Black high school, paved the way for Brown v. … Continue reading "The legacy of kid activists – From family trees to crime solving"

The Coronavirus outbreak has changed the way Americans work. Before the pandemic, about 20 percent of Pew Research respondents say they worked from home. A year into the pandemic and now a whopping 71 percent are teleworking. Love it or hate it, most people consider themselves fortunate to be able to do their jobs from … Continue reading "Smart Talk: How people really feel about telework"

Not every call to police is a law enforcement emergency. Some calls for help are from members of the community needing a different kind of aid, sometimes involving situations that law enforcement are not trained to provide. Every day, police officers find themselves responding to a wide variety of situations — from domestic disputes to … Continue reading "Smart Talk: Social workers hired to bridge gap for Lancaster police"

It has been over a year since the COVID-19 pandemic began in the U.S. Since that day at the end of February 2020, nearly 30 million people have tested positive for the virus with more half a million dying from the disease. In Pennsylvania, close to one million have tested positive and nearly 24 thousand … Continue reading "Smart Talk: COVID questions answered — what is new in the pandemic"

Rick Steves is a popular public television host and best-selling guidebook author. As the founder and owner of Rick Steves’ Europe, his travel business brings more than 30,000 people to Europe annually. Over the past year, intercontinental travel has ground to a halt but that hasn’t stopped Steves from making plans for future trips. In … Continue reading "Smart Talk: A conversation with global traveler and PBS host Rick Steves"

In a normal year, the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra brings thousands of visitors to concerts, boosting hospitality businesses and adding to the cultural appeal of the region. But this isn’t a normal year but the HSO has found a way to deliver world-class music to their audiences through technology. While many orchestras are shut down completely, … Continue reading "Smart Talk: Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra celebrates milestone event"

The boundaries between U.S. states don’t change, but voting district boundaries within each state do and are redrawn every 10 years to coincide with the U.S. Census count. The expectation is that districts within the state must have populations that are roughly equal to one another. The potential is that when districts are redrawn, gerrymandering … Continue reading "Smart Talk: Redistricting reform takes on greater importance during Census year"