Nearly a million hunting licenses were issued in the state last year - that's one for every thirteen Pennsylvania residents. The Pennsylvania Game Commission approved updates to state hunting regulations on Tuesday. These changes include some fee increases, increased number of permits and expansions of bow hunting. However, the big issue was whether semi-automatic rifles could used for hunting. Smart Talk discusses these changes and take your questions for Travis Lau, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Also, the Pennsylvania State Geography Bee, sponsored by National Geographic, will be held this afternoon at the State Museum in Harrisburg. Geography is a subject that doesn't get near as much attention as say math, reading and writing in schools.

A recent study found that half of social studies teachers spend less than 10 percent of their time in the classroom on geography. Smart Talk will discuss the importance of geography education with Kristin Byers, Program Manager for the Pennsylvania Alliance for Geography Education and coordinator of the Pennsylvania Geography Bee.

The legalization of marijuana - both medicinally and recreationally - is becoming normalized around the country. Pennsylvania is beginning a medical marijuana program and the state's Auditor General Eugene DePasquale recently advocated for the tax revenue that could be derrived from legal, recreational marijuana in the state.

One of the unintended consequences of these legalization programs is that it puts many drivers on the road who could be under the influence of marijuana and this has the attention of transportation safety advocates. When this is coupled with the use of perscription pain killers and other medications with side effects, this is a major concern for public safety.

On Thursday, March 30th, AAA Mid-Atlantic will host the first Pennsylvania Drugged Driving Summit in Harrisburg. Joining Smart Talk to discuss the impact of drug use and driving will be Ted Leonard, Executive Director of Pennsylvania AAA and Stephan Erni, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania DUI Association.

Also, Elizazbeth Wein's 2013 novel Rose Under Fire tells the story of a female pilot captured by Nazis and sent to Ravensbruck women's concentration camp and the bond established by the prisoners as they fought to survive. Wein will be the guest lecturer at Congeregation Beth Israel on Tuesday, April 4th in Lebanon.

Homeowners often don't think about how much their properties are worth until it comes time to sell or their homes have been reassessed for tax purposes.

Lancaster County property owners have been thinking about it for the last few weeks though after receiving preliminary reassessment figures on the value of their properties.

Many found their property values increased since the last reassessment and are concerned their tax bills will rise as well.

Reassessments always generate a lot of questions.

We'll try to answer those questions on Monday's Smart Talk.

Appearing on the program are Republican State Senator John Eichelberger of Blair County, Phil Klotz, Executive Director and Danette Magee, Research Associate for the Local Government Commission and Deborah Crawford, Assessors' Association of Pennsylvania.

This week is Sunshine Week - a national recognition of the need to maintain transparency in government and the acknowledgement of the importance of a free and independent press.

The PA Freedom of Information Coalition has been committed to protecting press freedoms and eliminating government secrecy since 2005. "The whole purpose of the FOIC is to be a resource for the regular guy or gal looking for information about their government" FOIC president Donald Gillibrand told the PennLive editorial board earlier this week. "Now, more than ever, focusing on transparency is important."

Smart Talk will speak with Gillibrand about the need for government transparency and the value of a free press.

Also, Smart Talk discusses the roots of rock and roll with Penn State Behrend history professor Richard Aquila. He looks at the symbiotic relationship between early rock music and the cultural landscape in post-war America in his new book, Let's Rock!: How 1950s America Created Elvis and the Rock and Roll Craze.

If there is one constant today in healthcare it is that change is occuring all the time. The repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare is one of the most significant issues being debated in Washington today. No matter what happens, that could mean big change for healthcare and health insurance.

Meanwhile, one of Central Pennsylvania's largest providers -- Pinnacle Health -- is in the news this week for a couple moves that could alter the region's and maybe even the state's healthcare landscape.

Pinnacle announced it is purchasing Carlisle Regional Medical Center, Heart of Lancaster Regional Medical Center, Lancaster Regional Medical Center and Memorial Hospital of York. The deal must be approved by regulators.

Pinnacle also has signed a letter of intent to work towards an affiliation with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center or UPMC.

WITF's Transforming Health reporter Ben Allen appears on Thursday's Smart Talk to explain what it all means.

Disclaimer: Smart Talk is supported in part by Pinnacle Health.

The NCAA men's basketball tournament begins Thursday and women's tourney is set to start Friday. Three teams from two area universities will be competing in the "Big Dance." Bucknell University's men's and women's squads take to the court this weekend.

The Bison's men play highly-ranked West Virginia Thursday afternoon in Buffalo, New York while the women will try to topple powerhouse Maryland Friday.

Bucknell's Associate Athletic Director for Communications John Terry joins us on Smart Talk to discuss March Madness -- Bison style.

Also, Mt. St. Mary's University, which is located just 10 miles south of Gettysburg in Emmittsburg, Maryland, may have the toughest challenge of all. The 16th seeded Mountaineers play defending men's national champion Villanova in Buffalo.

The Mount's radio play-by-play announcer Adam Pohl gives us the inside scoop.

Obviously, Villanova also has a large rooting interest in Pennsylvania.

The Trump administration has vowed to make massive cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency; part of those cuts include a 93% reduction in funding for the EPA's Chesapeake Bay cleanup project, the Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint. The $73 million program will see its budget reduced to $5 million.

The program is a joint state/federal project that has seen a successful restoration of the Chesapeake watershed; water pollution is down, the Bay's aquatic "dead-zone" has shrunk and this has resulted in an improvement in local economies and job creation.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has been working since 1967 to preserve the natural habitats within the watershed, CBF President William Baker and Pennsylvania Chapter Executive Director Harry Campbell join us on Smart Talk to discuss the impact these cuts may have on conservation efforts in the Chesapeake region and what the future for the area could look like without environmental protections.

Also, advancements in warfare often include advancements in medicine - both on and off the battlefield. ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff explores the evolution of medical care and technology for soldiers serving on the frontline, and those who require care after returning home.

Military Medicine: Beyond the Battlefield will air Thursday, March 16th at 7:15pm at the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center. The PBS documentary shares the stories of active duty soldiers, combat veterans, families and doctors to explore the relationship between warfare and healthcare.

Dr. Rory Cooper, Director of the Human Engineering Research Laboratories at the University of Pittsburgh and a participant in the documentary will join Smart Talk to discuss some of the advancements in military medicine to emerge from the recent wars and the need to provide care for veterans after they return home.

Tuesday's Smart Talk provides the latest information on today's snowstorm.

It could end up being one of the largest winter storms during the month of March the region and Pennsylvania have ever seen. As of 8:30 this morning, several areas have already gotten 14 inches of snow. Some places could get up to 20 inches of snow. Actually, there's been sleet throughout the region which can keep snow totals down.

This is not a normal day. Almost everything is closed including schools and government operations. There are few vehicles on the road but some that are have had problems.

On today's program, we'll talk with Eric Horst with the meteorology department at Millersville University, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, Penndot in the Central Pennsylvania region, and the Pennsylvania State Police.

By the way, the record snowfall for March measured at Harrisburg International Airport is more than 20 inches on this date in 1993.

The U.S. House of Representatives has unveiled a healthcare plan to replace the Affordable Care Act. Republican lawmakers committed to 'repeal and replacement' of the ACA or Obamacare. The new program is drawing criticism from both sides of the aisle.

Republican Congressman Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania's 15th District (Lehigh, parts of Berks, Dauphin, Lebanon and Northampton Counties) has also been critical of the ACA, but voted against dismantling it back in January. In speaking with The Morning Call, he said "Before I load a gun, I like to know where it's pointed. I'm not yet clear on that point."

Representative Dent appears on Monday's Smart Talk to discuss the efforts to replace the ACA and talk about issues including the government's travel ban and immigration policy.

Listeners are welcome to call Smart Talk at 800-729-7532 or email us at '[email protected]' to ask questions of Rep. Dent.

Also, Landowners opposed to the Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline have been meeting in a barn and camping on private property in the proposed pathway; Conestoga Township is trying to displace the protestors citing zoning violations in the use of the barn. StateImpact Pennsylvania reporter Marie Cusick discusses the protest encampment in Lancaster County and other developments in the pipeline project.

Many Americans have questions about the policies of regional and municipal police departments following high profile cases involving deadly force in recent years. Names like Eric Gardner, Philandro Castile and Oscar Grant have become ubiquitous with perceptions of heavy-handed law enforcement, the legitimacy of 'use-of-force' and the integrity of officers and their agencies.

Dr. Jennifer Gibbs, a Penn State Harrisburg researcher and assistant professor of criminal justice, collated data from phone surveys to determine that citizens view police integrity in terms of morality, as opposed to adherence to the word of law. In addition, 88% of respondents expressed that they "would feel safer if a police officer was wearing a video camera."

"The primary implication of these findings is that police and academicians alike should take heed of the public voice" says Gibbs; communication between law enforcement agencies and the public are key.

Dr. Gibbs joins us on Friday's Smart Talk to discuss the findings and how the research could be useful in helping bridge the divide between law enforcement and the citizenry.

Also, the recent discovery of seven Earth-seized planets orbiting the ultra-cool dwarf star, TRAPPIST-1, has scientist speculating about the possibility of habitable planets just 40 light years away. Astronomer Dr. Paul Robertson, a Sagan Fellow at the Center for Penn State's Exoplanets and Habitable Worlds joins Smart Talk to discuss the discovery, the possibility of life existing on those planets and why 40 light years isn't exactly around the corner for humans.

A 'sanctuary city' is one that welcomes refugees and undocumented immigrants without fear of prosecution or deportation by its municipal agencies. It is an unofficial title, usually designated by executive officials in city government. Both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia have declared themselves 'sanctuary cities.'

Some cities, like Lancaster, haven't officially announced their 'sanctuary city' status, though they make it clear that there would be no collusion between local law enforcement and the federal government in deporting undocumented residents and welcoming refugees.

Last month, the Pennsylvania State Senate approved a bill that would withhold state funds from 'sanctuary cities' that do not share information on undocumented residents with federal authorities. The vote passed the senate 37-12, with every Republican senator and three Democratic senators supporting the bill. The bill would result in a loss of up to $1.3 billion for municipalities seeing as harboring the undocumented.

Supporters of the bill argue they are simply enforcing the rule of law. Opponents regard it as a knee-jerk reaction to addressing "our broken national immigration system."

Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray will join WITF's Smart Talk in studio to discuss the policies he has enacted in his city and how this bill may impact its economy. State Senator Richard Alloway (R-33rd) will also discuss his support for the bill and how he would like to see municipalities interact with the federal government in enforcing immigration law.