The Spark

What to look for on Smart Talk, Tuesday, July 3, 2019: The Supreme Court concluded its latest term last week, releasing decisions on controversial issues including the census and gerrymandering. In total, the Court heard arguments in 69 cases this term that broached subjects from religious symbols on public property and federal power on Native … Continue reading "The Supreme Court and Summer of Space"

One in three privately-insured Pennsylvanians have received a surprise medical bill, an unexpected bill from a healthcare provider to a patient for treatment that an insurance company will not cover. Sometimes, these bills come when a patient inadvertently receives care from an out-of-network provider, while, in other cases, bills may come from “middle men” or … Continue reading "Surprise medical bills and tracking sharks"

If you or someone you know is in need of help or someone to talk to, please contact the National Suicide Prevention hotline at 800-273-8255 (TTY at 800-799-4889) or visit www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org. What to look for on Smart Talk, Monday, July 1, 2019: When a person dies by suicide their family and friends are left wondering … Continue reading "Fighting to save lives from suicide"

What to look for on Smart Talk, Friday, June 28, 2019: Eating disorders are recognized as the most fatal mental illnesses. Someone dies as the result of an eating disorder about once an hour, according to the Eating Disorders Coalition. Eating disorders affect Pennsylvanians from all backgrounds. Genetics, environmental factors and personality traits can create … Continue reading "Understanding the threat of eating disorders"

This image released by the U.S. Department of Defense on Monday, June 17, 2019, and taken from a U.S. Navy helicopter, shows what the Navy says are members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy removing an unexploded limpet mine from the M/T Kokuka Courageous. (U.S. Department of Defense via AP) What to look for … Continue reading "United States strategy in Iran and the Middle East / Philadelphia refinery fire"

What to look for on Smart Talk, Wednesday, June 26, 2019: Record rainfall over the past year has put some Pennsylvania farmers behind schedule. Pennsylvania saw 21 days of rain in May 2019, tying the state record for most rainy days in a month. This continues a pattern of above-average rainfall across the region that … Continue reading "Farmers see impact of record rain and TEDxYouth@Lancaster"

What to look for on Smart Talk, Tuesday, June 25, 2019: Attending college is a big commitment. A commitment of time, resources, and juggling personal obligations, like work and family. For many people, the obstacles to a higher education may seem insurmountable. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services is promoting a program aimed at helping … Continue reading "Helping students remain in Community College and refugee resettlement numbers dip"

A 1913 Women’s Suffrage March in Washington, D.C. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Information Agency/Public Domain) What to look for on Smart Talk, Monday, June 24, 2019: On June 24, 1919, Pennsylvania became the seventh state to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guaranteed women the right to vote. The constitutional amendment came … Continue reading "100th anniversary of women’s suffrage and the road ahead for women in politics"

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf speaks during a news conference at the John H. Taggart School library, Thursday, March 21, 2019, in Philadelphia. Wolf discussed his infrastructure package, Restore Pennsylvania, to help remediate contaminants from Pennsylvania schools. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) What to look for on Smart Talk, Friday, June 21, 2019: Governor Tom Wolf proposed a … Continue reading "Governor Tom Wolf and Restore PA / understanding migraine"

In this March 27, 2015 file photo, Pennsylvania State Police block the road to an apartment complex where Charles Cottle barricaded himself, in Hempfield, Pa. The latest effort by Gov. Tom Wolf to impose a fee on municipalities that use state police troopers, instead of a local police force, is getting the same pushback as … Continue reading "Who pays for state police coverage / Innovation U"