The Spark

What to look for on Smart Talk Tuesday, May 1, 2018: Pennsylvania’s primary election is scheduled for May 15.  A mid-term election is important because voters are deciding on candidates for the U.S House of Representatives and in Pennsylvania — a U.S. Senate seat.  Pennsylvanians are also voting for governor as well as state house … Continue reading "Congressional candidates John Joyce and George Halcovage"

What to look for on Smart Talk Monday April 30, 2018: Pennsylvania’s primary election is scheduled for May 15.  A mid-term election is important because voters are deciding on candidates for the U.S House of Representatives and in Pennsylvania — a U.S. Senate seat.  Pennsylvanians are also voting for governor as well as state house … Continue reading "Congressional candidate Marc Friedenberg/Media"

What to look for on Smart Talk Friday, April 27, 2018: Smart Talk is questioning the candidates in contested races before the May 15 primary election.  That includes those running for governor of Pennsylvania, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.  There are about 30 of those candidates in the WITF listening area.  … Continue reading "Laura Ellsworth, Republican running for governor/Stephen Bloom, Congressional candidate"

What to look for on Smart Talk Thursday, April 26, 2018: Pennsylvania’s primary election is scheduled for May 15.  A mid-term election is important because voters are deciding on candidates for the U.S House of Representatives and in Pennsylvania — a U.S. Senate seat.  Pennsylvanians are also voting for governor as well as state house … Continue reading "Democratic Congressional candidates Judy Herschel and Laura Quick"

What to look for on Smart Talk Wednesday, April 25, 2018: More than 42,000 people died of opioid overdoses in 2016 — the last year statistics are available.  That’s five times more than in 1999, according to the Centers for Disease Control.  The opioid crisis or epidemic was fueled by prescribed painkillers that often led … Continue reading "Dreamland author details how opioid crisis grew/10th District candidate Alan Howe"

What to look for on Smart Talk Tuesday, April 24, 2018: With the exception of Harrisburg, Lancaster, York, Reading and Lebanon, South Central Pennsylvania is mostly rural.  In most of the region, one is more likely to see farmland and woods than a building over four stories tall.  That’s why many are astonished to learn … Continue reading "Central PA has some of worst air pollution in U.S./9th Congressional District candidate Gary Wegman"

What to look for on Smart Talk Monday, April 23, 2018: On May 15, Pennsylvania voters will go to the polls to vote in the state’s primary election. When they do, voters will expect reliable and accurate voting systems. County officials say that is what voters will find on election day as officials continue working … Continue reading "9th Congressional District candidate\Voting Equipment Directive"

When Philadelphia wanted to combat obesity and reduce its impact on health care early last year, it turned to a controversial measure: the soda tax. Since then, the 1.5 cent-per-ounce tax has inspired equally passionate support and opposition. Detractors of additional food, beverage and container taxes say they result in job loss, harm communities and … Continue reading "Philly soda tax / Capitol roundup"

What to look for on Smart Talk Thursday, April 19, 2018: As a bill that would shrink the size of Pennsylvania’s legislature makes its way through the General Assembly, there are those who say the number of lawmakers should actually be increased.  Growing the nation’s largest full-time legislature is not something that has been proposed … Continue reading "Increasing size of PA legislature?/PA businesses optimistic"

What to look for on Smart Talk Wednesday, April 18, 2018: More than a third of Americans are considered obese, which can lead to heart disease, stroke, type two diabetes and some forms of cancer. Diet and exercise are key components of a healthy lifestyle. Nutrition experts say to prevent disease we should focus on … Continue reading "Eating and exercising to be healthy/Congressional candidate Eric Ding"