The Spark

What to look for on Smart Talk Wednesday, March 6, 2019: Americans enjoy outdoor recreation. Pennsylvania, in particular, is a natural playground to “pursue your happiness.” Activities like biking, hiking, skiing are unlimited. The federal government established the Land and Water Conservation Fund 50 years ago to preserve and protect recreational opportunities. That fund created … Continue reading "Recreation gets funding commitment and carbon credits for woodlands?"

What to look for on Smart Talk Wednesday, March 6, 2019: The number of police officers across the country is shrinking. There are more than 20,000 fewer cops on the streets today than there were in 2013. According to recent findings from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, “the U.S. population has risen from 267 million … Continue reading "Why are there fewer police officers in the U.S.?"

What to look for on Smart Talk, Tuesday, March 5, 2019: Industrial hemp is creating quite a buzz in Pennsylvania and around the country. Touted as America’s “next big cash crop,’ the 2018 Farm Bill fully legalizes the cultivation of hemp–and farmers are taking notice. Industrial hemp has a long history in the U.S. … Continue reading "Industrial Hemp is creating a buzz in PA"

What to look for on Smart Talk, Monday, March 4, 2019: The number of suicides reported in Pennsylvania county jails is troubling. In the last four years, there were 81 reported suicides in the county jail system. That number accounts for individuals who died by suicide, however, the number attempted is much higher, but may … Continue reading "County prison suicides and Human Service’s top budget issues"

What to look for on Smart Talk, Friday, March 1, 2019: The Three Mile Island accident occurred on March 28, 1979. It was and still is the nation’s worst commercial nuclear accident. TMI also was one of the most historic events in Central Pennsylvania — one that everyone living in the region at the time … Continue reading "Three Mile Island 40th anniversary — what’s ahead?"

What to look for on Smart Talk Thursday, February 28, 2019: Hearings are underway in a federal case over whether Pennsylvania’s prison system is violating inmates’ First Amendment Rights. The Department of Corrections and their handling of legal mail is at the center of the legal action. Also, the Pennsylvania legislature is well into the … Continue reading "Jail-mail trial and Venezuela on the brink"

iStock photo What to look for on Smart Talk Wednesday, February 27, 2019: There are nearly 90,000 associations registered with the IRS in the United States. They may all have different missions, but most struggle with similar challenges; recruiting and retaining members. Is it more important to recruit or retain? And what will happen if … Continue reading "The “trouble” with associations and the LatinX study"

What to look for on Smart Talk Tuesday, February 26, 2019: The nation has enjoyed a robust economy for the last few years. Business confidence rose in tandem, and activity on the nation’s highways has increased. The only problem, there aren’t enough truck drivers to meet the increased demand. A critical shortage that continues to … Continue reading "Critical truck driver shortage/ ACLU calls state death penalty unconstitutional"

Spellers participate in the written portion of the 2019 WITF Central PA Spelling Bee on Jan. 26, 2019. (Joshua Brandt for WITF) What to look for on Smart Talk Friday, February 22, 2019: There’s a saying, “if you want something done right, do it yourself.” That’s just what a statewide civic group proposed when they … Continue reading "Local’s among winners in redistricting map project and can you pass the spelling bee challenge?"

What to look for on Smart Talk Thursday, February 21, 2019: The modern era of vaccines began in the late 1790’s with the development of the smallpox inoculation. This and other vaccinations are credited with eradicating some diseases world-wide and saving millions of lives. Vaccinations are given to build up a person’s natural defense by … Continue reading "Vaccinations and the measles resurgence"