The Spark

What to look for on Smart Talk Thursday, December 6, 2018: It’s wasn’t long ago that if the word gerrymander was used in public, eyes would quickly glaze over. It just wasn’t a topic that generated a lot of passion. That is not the case today – gerrymandering or a majority party drawing legislative boundaries … Continue reading "Drawing new Pennsylvania maps / end-of-year tax tips"

What to look for on Smart Talk Wednesday, December 5, 2018: More than 26 million Americans suffer from asthma. About 1.7 million seek treatment for asthma at hospital emergency rooms each year. It disproportionately affects poor people. Asthma is a condition in which airways narrow, swell and produce extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult … Continue reading "Human contact improves asthma?/Rep. Bryan Cutler prepares for House leadership role"

What to look for on Smart Talk Thursday, November 29, 2018: Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale is taking aim at gun safety and has made a dozen recommendations that he thinks will reduce crimes committed with firearms and suicides. In 2016 more than 1,500 Pennsylvanians were killed by guns. DePasquale says over the last decade, … Continue reading "Auditor General aims to reduce gun deaths/Sunday hunting in PA?"

What to look for on Smart Talk Monday, December 3, 2018: A Smart Talk holiday tradition is back! One of our favorite shows of the year — the annual books-as-gifts guide. Everyone enjoys a well-thought gift, especially when it is a good book. Whether it is fiction, a novel, non-fiction, poetry, a how-to book, or … Continue reading "2018 books-as-gifts guide"

Today’s broadcast is recorded from a previous Smart Talk program The newspaper industry has undergone a transformation over the last 10 to 15 years. With the advancement of the internet, newspapers jumped on board to develop a web presence offering ready access to their customers. While print customers paid for subscription services, the web version … Continue reading "The newspaper industry’s changing landscape"

Mel Chin, Cross for the Unforgiven: 10th Anniversary Multiple, 2012, AK-47 assault rifles (cut and welded). What to look for on Smart Talk Thursday, November 29, 2018: Guns in America are ubiquitous. They are part of our national identity; the right to own a gun upheld by our very Constitution. Guns are a source of … Continue reading "Gun culture in America and ‘Well-Behaved Taverns Seldom Make History’"

What to look for on Smart Talk Wednesday, November 28, 2018: Led by the Philadelphia-based Clean Air Council, a group of 61 petitioners is calling on state regulators to establish a cap-and-trade program in Pennsylvania to reduce carbon emissions that contributes to climate change. The Constitutional Amendment that says Pennsylvanians have a right to clean … Continue reading "Cap and Trade in PA? / Pennlive nursing home investigative series"

What to look for on Smart Talk Tuesday, November 27, 2018: Walk into a Pennsylvania public school classroom and you’ll probably see a woman teaching the class. In fact, 73% of teachers in Pennsylvania schools are female. However, the number of women teachers hasn’t translated into females becoming principals or school superintendents. Only 28% of … Continue reading "More PA school superintendents are men but women earn more money/Providing musical instruments to kids"

What to look for on Smart Talk Monday, November 26, 2018: World AIDS Day takes place on the first day of December each year, and this year the recognition falls on Saturday. World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with … Continue reading "World AIDS Day / World is Classroom author"

What to look for on Smart Talk Wednesday, November 21, 2018: Are you traveling by car this Thanksgiving weekend? AAA says more than 54 million Americans have travel plans and about 48 million of them will drive to their destinations. That means there will be a lot of vehicles on the road. More than a … Continue reading "What to know about PA driving laws"