The Spark

Photo by Scott LaMar/WITF   What to look for on Smart Talk Wednesday, July 25, 2018: The incessant rain that started falling last weekend is still going strong. It’s causing flooding throughout Central Pennsylvania, while closing roads and damaging homes.  The rainwater doesn’t only inconvenience drivers – it also poses a serious danger to pedestrians. A woman was swept away after falling into the Conewago … Continue reading "Rain and Finding Pennsylvania’s Solar Future"

National Geographic  photographer Joel Sartore is a man on a mission, and time is running out. Not for him, but for the subjects of his work. Sartore is the founder of the National Geographic Photo Ark, a 25-year documentary project to save species and habitat around the world by bringing attention to their plight. He hopes the photographs will … Continue reading "National Geographic Photographer and Issues facing Asian American/Pacific Islanders"

The subject of caves gained prominence in light of the Thailand cave rescue. According to cavers from Franklin and Cumberland County, Pennsylvania is home to over a thousand caves.    Caves are formed when rock is dissolved by acidic rainwater that seeps through tiny pores in the rock surface. After tens of thousands of years, a cave is formed.  Some of Pennsylvania’s largest caves extend over a mile in length and reach more … Continue reading "Caving and “Eat First, Cry Later”"

What to look for on Smart Talk Friday, July 20, 2018: Dr. Wanda Filer On Friday’s Smart Talk, guest host Dr. Wanda Filer, Strategic Health Institute, leads a discussion on Social Determinants of Health. There are many factors that can influence personal health. These factors are known as Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). Determinants can … Continue reading "Social Determinants of Health"

What to look for on Smart Talk Thursday, July 19, 2018: It never fails, the phone rings as soon as you sit down for dinner or begin a task; those intrusive and unwelcome phone solicitations. Automated phone calls, also known as robocalls, have doubled in the last year with more than four billion calls placed … Continue reading "Robocall Epidemic and Improving Customer Service"

What to look for on Smart Talk Tuesday, July 18, 2018: Medical advances in organ transplantation have progressed significantly with improvements in surgical methods and drug therapies. Yet, despite medical progress the shortage of organs remains the greatest challenge, world-wide. In Pennsylvania alone, thousands are waiting on lists for months and even years. Every 10 … Continue reading "Organ Donation"

What to look for on Smart Talk Tuesday, July 17, 2018: On Tuesday’s Smart Talk, guest host Katie Meyer kicks off the hour with a discussion of a grand jury report that’s hanging over Pennsylvania. It’s an investigation of sexual abuse of children by clergy in six of the commonwealth’s eight Catholic diocese. And it’s … Continue reading "Clergy Abuse and Harrisburg Finances; Journalists Weigh In"

On Monday’s Smart Talk guest host G. Terry Madonna welcomes a variety of guests to cover recent news and events in Pennsylvania: G. Terry Madonna Attorney General Josh Shapiro will discuss “No-Poach” agreements in fast-food franchise contracts and a new initiative to combat the opioid epidemic with help from local law enforecement.  Kevin Sunday, Director of Government … Continue reading "Attorney General Shapiro, Auditor General DePasquale, and PA Chamber"

What to look for on Smart Talk Friday, July 13, 2018: Millions of Americans are exposed to polluted air, a recent report by the Environment America Research & Policy Center found and released by the environmental group Penn Environment. Air pollution can cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems, which may lead to premature death. The report, … Continue reading "New report: PA air is polluted/Police crack down on aggressive-distracted drivers"

What to look for on Smart Talk Thursday, July 12, 2018: Last month the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that non-union government employees are not required to pay dues or fees in order to keep their jobs.  The Court said that an Illinois teacher’s First Amendment freedom of speech rights were being denied when he was … Continue reading "How will Supreme Court Janus decision impact unions?"