What to look for on Smart Talk Thursday, March 1, 2018: More than 78 hundred guns were stolen in a record-setting 577 burglaries at the nation’s gun stores last year.  Burglaries at gun shops have increased 70% since 2013 according to the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. There have been a rash … Continue reading "ATF on gun shop burglaries; Wilt’s 100 points; Garden show"

What to look for on Smart Talk Wednesday, February 28, 2018: The debate over arming teachers has increased in intensity in the wake of the February 14th Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting that took the lives of 17 students and teachers. President Trump stated that arming teachers would be a big deterrent to future … Continue reading "PA educators come together on school safety"

What to look for on Smart Talk Tuesday, February 27, 2017: In a matter of a just a few weeks, the lawsuit filed by the Pennsylvania League of Women Voters charging that the state’s Congressional districts were gerrymandered by Republicans has turned into an all-out political showdown that involves the legislature, the governor, state and … Continue reading "Should PA judges be appointed?"

What to look for on SmartTalk Monday, February 26, 2018: High school students across the country have been demanding stricter laws on guns after the shooting at a school in Parkland, Florida left 17 dead on February 14. Since the attack, students across southern Flordia, Washington D.C. and other areas throughout the country have begun … Continue reading "Student Strikes Powerful in Gun Debate/Author Vegas Tenold"

What to look for on Smart Talk Friday, February 23, 2018: According to NPR’s reporting, the number of threats of violence against schools across the country has increased since last week’s school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Educators School Safety Network says it recorded about 50 threats a day on average since the shooting at Marjory … Continue reading "PA schools being threatened/Spelling Bee"

2018 Congressional Map approved by PA Supreme Court What to look for on Smart Talk Thursday, February 22, 2018: Republican legislative leaders have requested a stay from the U.S. Supreme Court, saying the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overstepped its authority when it adopted its own map for the state’s Congressional district boundaries earlier this week. … Continue reading "GOP challenge to the Congressional Map"

What to look for on Smart Talk Wednesday, February 21, 2018: When the history of public broadcasting is written, one of the icons will be Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood — the children’s TV show that premiered on February 19, 1968 — 50 years ago this week. Wednesday’s Smart Talk is a special one … Continue reading "Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood marks 50 years"

What to look for on Smart Talk Monday, February 19, 2018: More than 100 people have died from the flu this season in Pennsylvania and it’s considered the worst flu season in 10 years.  One-hundred-years-ago, the 1918 flu pandemic killed 50 to 100 million people or about three to five percent of the world’s population.  … Continue reading "1918 flu pandemic/Most successful presidents?"

What to look for on Smart Talk Friday, February 16, 2018: The sad reality is there is a mass shooting in this country every few months.  The latest occurred Wednesday at a high school in South Florida where 17 people were killed and just as many wounded.  The 19-year-old, who is accused of the shooting, … Continue reading "Better protection against a shooter?/Atrial fibrillation"

What to look for on Smart Talk Thursday, February 15, 2018: When President Trump was campaigning for office, one of his promises was to upgrade and modernize the nation’s infrastructure.  The word “crumbling” would usually precede infrastructure. It was an issue that in a country often divided along party and political lines, there was agreement … Continue reading "PA’s infrastructure needs — does Trump plan help?"