The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence has created a new mobile app that could aid parents in discussions with their teenage or pre-teen children about challenges they'll face as they grow up. It's called the Raising Respect App and it includes topics such as healthy relationships, sex and pregnancy, drugs and alcohol, social media and cell phones and gender and sexual orientation.

The app is designed to encourage parents to begin conversations with their children before they start dating and forming relationships outside the home and help parents navigate what can be delicate topics.

To discuss the new app and a few of the topics addressed on Wednesday's Smart Talk are Prevention Manager Kristen Herman and Prevention Specialist Nick Silveri-Hiller with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Brands like Sears, Kmart and JC Penney have been ubiquitous with America's retail landscape. That's why it becomes jarring to learn that today there are 695 Sears-owned retail locations - compared to 3,500 in 2010. J. C. Penney is scheduled to close 140 stores nationwide this summer. At its height, Radio Shack had 7,300 comapny-owned stores. Today there are less than 70. Staples, Macy's, The Bon-Ton, Payless Shoes - they've all seen store closures in Pennsylvania. These closings do not reflect the totality of the area's retail climate, however. Despite substantial competition from big-box stores such as Walmart and Target and the omnipresent Amazon juggernaut, brick-and-mortar retail does thrive in the region.

Shopping trends among millennials indicate greater a greater emphasis on convenience as well as an enhanced face-to-face sales experience forcing retailers to rely on detailed customer data collated from various social media platforms. The "shopping experience" is driving younger consumers into more of the independently owned businesses that previous generations eschewed for the ease of "one-stop-shopping."

Smart Talk will examine the state of retail in the central counties; we will look at retail real estate and development trends, the shifting purchasing habits in today's retail landscape, what stores are thriving and which stores are dying and we'll ask why some shopping malls are seeing explosive growth (Park City, King of Prussia) and why some are dead on the vine (Fairgrounds, Coventry.)

Brian Rider, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Retailer's Association will provide an overview of retail business in the region and statewide. Omni Realty Group owner Michael Kushner will contribute the analytics on mid-state retail and real estate trends and Kevin Schrieber, president of the York County Economic Alliance will talk about promoting new business start-ups and helping existing businesses to grow.

We will also speak with John Shuba, co-owner of Angry, Young and Poor; a rock and roll boutique in Lancaster that balances a brick and mortar store with a successful online presence.

The numbers are staggering -- more than five million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease. By 2050, that figure could increase to 16 million because people are living longer and getting older.

Alzheimer's disease is degenerative and incurable. According to the Alzheimer's Association, the disease causes a buildup of "plaques and tangles" within the brain, disrupting cell growth. As nerve cells are damaged and die, memory loss tends to be the first indicator of the disease, followed by difficulty communicating and responding to an environment. While most Alzheimer's patients are over the age of 65, early-onset Alzheimer's makes up 5% of the national count.

Dementia and Alzheimer's disease are at the heart of countless research studies. Though there is still a great deal of mystery surrounding these disorders, advancements are being made. According to the Alzheimer's Association 90% of the information we have about Alzheimer's has been discovered within the last 20 years. We do a lot about Alzheimer's but still there is no known cause and it can only be slowed.

Smart Talk checks in on Alzheimer's disease from time-to-time to get the latest news and if there has been progress in research or treatment. That's what we'll do on Friday's show.

Appearing on the program are neuropsychologist Dr. Paul Eslinger of the Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Penn State Hershey School of Medicine along with Clay Jacobs, Vice President of Programs and Services from the Alzheimer's Association Greater Pennsylvania Chapter.

Thursday's Smart Talk Road Trip takes the show to Pennsylvania's State Capitol. Appearing on the program are Gov. Tom Wolf, State Treasurer Joe Torsella and WITF's Capitol Bureau Chief Katie Meyer.

The state budget is among the topics we'll discuss with Gov. Wolf. The General Assembly approved a $31.7 billion spending plan last month that the governor allowed to become law. However, the revenue portion of the budget wasn't finalized so where the money comes from is still questionable. The Republican-majority Senate passed a revenue package that includes a tax on Marcellus Shale gas and borrowing. The Republican-majority State House hasn't taken up the bill yet.

Treasurer Joe Torsella has warned that the state needs a final budget soon or the state may not be able to pay its bills.

If you have a question for Gov. Wolf or Treasurer Torsella, use the comments section below.

Among the other topics to be addressed are climate change policies and healthcare.

Katie Meyer provides insight into several issues that are not related to the budget.

The most contentious issue in America today may be abortion and it's been that way for much of the past four decades. One of the newest tactics used by elected officials opposed to abortion is to cut off federal and state funding from Planned Parenthood -- a reproductive health organization that provides abortions along with other services for women.

A lot of information is circulated about Planned Parenthood, whether on websites or picket signs, so discerning actual statistics about the organization can sometimes be a challenge. The services provided by Planned Parenthood include sexually transmitted disease screenings, cancer screenings, birth control, pregnancy tests, prenatal services and abortion. According to Planned Parenthood, 3% of their services are for abortions, while 42% accounts for STD testing, screening and treatment.

A 1976 law bans federal funding from being used to pay for elective abortions. Government money comes in the form of Medicaid for low-income clients. Planned Parenthood maintains the organization complies with the law but opponents say blanket Medicaid payments do contribute to paying for abortions.

Wednesday's Smart Talk examines efforts to defund Planned Parenthood. Our guests are Diane Gramley, President of the American Family Association of Pennsylvania and Sari Stevens, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates.

Earlier this week, the White House panel examining the nation's opioid epidemic asked President Trump to declare a national public health emergency to combat the ongoing crisis. Normally, public health emergencies are reserved for natural disasters but that's how bad the opioid crisis has gotten.

WITF's Transforming Health reporter Ben Allen has closely covered this issue the last few years and joins us to provide updates on several fronts.

Monday morning, President Donald Trump tweeted that the White House was not in chaos. This comes less than two weeks after his Chief-of-Staff and Press Secretary resigned and just a few hours before Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci was fired or resigned -- 10 days after taking the job.

The first six months of the Trump Administration is unlike anything any living American has seen. At least every week, and sometimes every day, there seems to be a new controversy. While the president claims to have done more than any other president, except Franklin Roosevelt, during his first months on the job, there isn't a single major legislative victory and Trump's popularity in the polls is lower than any modern president six months into an administration.

Can new Chief-of-Staff John Kelly -- a retired General in the Marines -- bring more discipline to the White House and put it on a better track to pursue the president's policies?

Franklin and Marshall College political analyst and pollster Dr. G. Terry Madonna appears on Tuesday's Smart Talk to discuss the Trump White House and Pennsylvania's budget that hasn't gotten final approval yet.

Also, many thought touring the city of Lancaster in a tuk tuk was a neat idea. But the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission couldn't get onboard with the three-wheeled motorized vehicle because of safety concerns.

Tuk Tuk Lancaster co-owner Timm Wenger is on Tuesday's Smart Talk to make his case for hauling passengers around the city.

Earlier this month, Lancaster emergency medical services responded to 65 drug overdoses during a three-day period. None of the overdoses were fatal, most occurred in Lancaster city. Officials blamed it on a bad batch of synthetic marijuana.

Synthetic cannabis, or "spice," uses chemicals to artificially mimic the composition of real marijuana but manufacturers typically use dangerous cleaners and consumer products found at stores. Nobody really knows how batches are made and users don't know what they're ingesting.

Spice can is often sold in retail stores, usually under the counter. It's cheap, easy to find and frequently marketed to youths. Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman said in a statement, "While we are in the midst of a still-escalating opioid abuse epidemic, we must not forget the many other poisons being dealt and used in our communities."

On the Monday edition of Smart Talk, we'll discuss the dangers of synthetic marijuana and methods used to catch manufacturers and distributors. DA Stedman will join Special Agent Patrick Trainor of the DEA's Philadelphia Field Division to talk about synthetic marijuana in the region.

Also, the Cold War ended 26 years ago and the threat of nuclear annihilation at the hands of the Soviet Empire faded away. In 2017, the world is confronting a very different type of nuclear power in North Korea. As tensions mount on the Korean Peninsula, people are once again confronting an antagonistic nuclear threat.

Smart Talk discusses renewed feelings of nuclear anxiety and how those fears have contributed to culture from the dawn of the nuclear age to present day with Dan Zak, a feature writer with The Washington Post and author of Almighty, an "examination of America's love-hate relationship with nuclear weapons."

Credit card skimmers are devices that are illegally attached to card readers on gas pumps, ATMs and at retail outlets that read and record a user's card data. That information is used to commit fraud by duplicating the card information. Often the data is bundled and sold repeatedly on the "dark web" of the internet and passed around the world.

These skimmers are virtually undetectable to the eye; they are custom built to blend into the hardware they attach to. The technology allows crooks to record or transmit the data without the cardholder knowing they have been breached.

These devices have become a growing concern for law enforcement; in recent months skimmers have been found on ATMs and gas pumps in virtually every county in south central Pennsylvania and all over the state.

Last month, two devices were found inside the pumps of a Harrisburg gas station; police are circulating a photo of the man they suspect of placing the device.

On the Thursday edition of Smart Talk, WGAL's Consumer Investigator Brian Roche examines this high-tech theft with Newberry Township Police Detective Steven Lutz who, earlier this year, broke up a criminal enterprise using skimming devices in York County. Christine Cronkright of the PA Bankers Association will discuss ways consumers can protect themselves from such devices and Pennsylvania State Representative Kristin Phillips-Hill will talk about legislation designed to confront identity theft via card skimmers.

Also, the internet is rife with fraud - and one scam in particular is locking up computers and costing consumers money. We'll discuss the dangers on the internet with Professor Andrew J. Hacker, the Cybersecurity Expert In Residence at Harrisburg University.

Credit card skimmers are devices that are illegally attached to card readers on gas pumps, ATMs and at retail outlets that read and record a user's card data. That information is used to commit fraud by duplicating the card information. Often the data is bundled and sold repeatedly on the "dark web" of the internet and passed around the world.

These skimmers are virtually undetectable to the eye; they are custom built to blend into the hardware they attach to. The technology allows crooks to record or transmit the data without the cardholder knowing they have been breached.

These devices have become a growing concern for law enforcement; in recent months skimmers have been found on ATMs and gas pumps in virtually every county in south central Pennsylvania and all over the state.

Last month, two devices were found inside the pumps of a Harrisburg gas station; police are circulating a photo of the man they suspect of placing the device.

On the Thursday edition of Smart Talk, WGAL's Consumer Investigator Brian Roche examines this high-tech theft with Newberry Township Police Detective Steven Lutz who, earlier this year, broke up a criminal enterprise using skimming devices in York County. Christine Cronkright of the PA Bankers Association will discuss ways consumers can protect themselves from such devices and Pennsylvania State Representative Kristin Phillips-Hill will talk about legislation designed to confront identity theft via card skimmers.

Also, the internet is rife with fraud - and one scam in particular is locking up computers and costing consumers money. We'll discuss the dangers on the internet with Professor Andrew J. Hacker, the Cybersecurity Expert In Residence at Harrisburg University.

Governor Tom Wolf signed off on Pennsylvania's medical cannabis program in April of last year. Medicinal marijuana can now be prescribed for a number of ailments including cancer, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and PTSD. The marijuana will be dispensed in the form of pills, liquids or oils; smokable cannabis is not part of the plan.

Last month, the Pennsylvania Department of Health issued permits to growers and dispensaries, moving the process forward. There are still many legal obstacles and many investors in the industry that did not see their ventures receive permitting. Distribution in PA is scheduled for January of 2018, but there are many uncertainties, including the response by Jeff Session's Department of Justice to state legalization.

Smart Talk looks at the state of medical cannabis in Pennsylvania; where we are in the process, how the legal questions should and will be answered and how finance will be managed. We will be joined by Heather Stauffer, the LNP staff reporter covering medicinal marijuana in the region. Judi Cassel of Cannabis Law PA will parse out the legalese of the industry. John Pohlhaus is the CEO of Franklin Labs, a marijuana cultivator and distributor and he will talk about navigating a company through the morass of local, state and federal codes and Patrick Nightingale, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Medical Cannabis Society will discuss counseling doctors, patients and dispensaries on the commerce and consumption of therapeutic marijuana.

Franklin and Marshall College professor of political science G. Terry Madonna sits in for a vacationing Scott LaMar.