The Spark

Health officials across the country are sounding the alarm over E-cigarette use, which is also known as vaping. Seventeen people across the state are believed to have “lung diseases associated with vaping,” according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Nationwide, the CDC reports six deaths and more than 450 cases of the disease. The department … Continue reading "Health officials sound the alarm over vaping"

Pennsylvania Congressional district boundaries made headlines in 2018 following a lawsuit alleging they were gerrymandered, giving Republican candidates an advantage in elections. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed and ruled the districts were so gerrymandered that they were unconstitutional. Lawmakers, with Republicans in the majority, and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf were given three weeks to submit … Continue reading "Redistricting Reform Commission releases report"

The debate over Pennsylvania school district property taxes rages on. For years, lawmakers have proposed eliminating the property tax burden, with little success. Advocates for change say the current system places an undue burden on citizens who can least afford to pay, like seniors and those living on limited income. Now, a new piece of … Continue reading "A legislative plan to eliminate property taxes"

Firefighting is expensive. There are recruiting costs, recurring training, and expensive equipment to purchase and maintain. Forecasting those costs is especially difficult because firefighters don’t only respond to fire alarms or battle blazes. Many departments also respond to calls for emergency medical services in their areas. In Pennsylvania, more than 96% of registered fire departments … Continue reading "Legislation aims to help fire companies recoup cost"

Last year, Lancaster County became one of the first counties in central Pennsylvania to limit what waste materials could be recycled to plastic bottles, metal cans, glass jars and bottles and corrugated cardboard. It came in response to China deciding to stop accepting recyclables from the U.S. creating an overabundance of recyclables in this country. … Continue reading "Are you recycling properly?"

More than 40 years ago the U.S. committed efforts to the restoration of the nation’s waters. The Clean Water Act of 1972 codified the response to decades of industrial and agricultural pollution, and placed the responsibility of action with the states. The Chesapeake Bay was identified by the EPA as being significantly polluted and states … Continue reading "Is Pennsylvania doing enough for the Chesapeake Bay cleanup?"

The presence of trees is an integral part of a community’s quality of life. Trees provide oxygen, improve air quality, stabilize the soil and support wildlife. They are so important to the health of the planet that they have been identified as a primary solution to climate change. Urban forests make up a large component … Continue reading "Urban Forests enhance quality of life"

The high cost of prescription drugs isn’t only hurting consumers, it may also be partly responsible for the demise of the independently owned pharmacy. In the last decade alone, more than 16 percent of independently owned pharmacies in the United States have shut down. The impact on rural communities is especially significant where pharmacy options … Continue reading "Are independently-owned pharmacies at risk?"

Last week, the Harrisburg School District opened the 2019-2020 school year under new state-appointed leadership. Years of reported mismanagement and poor budgeting caught up with the District and earlier this summer the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania took operational … Continue reading "Harrisburg School District starts school year under new management"

When Dr. Daniel Wubah, PhD, took the helm at Millersville University last year he did not come in with a preconceived idea about the direction he would take the Lancaster County state school.   Wubah said that instead he would start by working with the community, staff and alumni before setting goals and a vision into action.  He did, however, identify a few priorities to focus on, including reaccreditation and improving graduation and retention … Continue reading "Millersville University president discusses goals"