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The Commonwealth Beat with Laura LeBeau is a statewide Public Affairs program airing on all Seven Mountains Media Pennsylvania radio stations. 

On this episode, Laura brings another of the Democratic State Attorney General candidates forward to discuss his qualifications and stances on many of the issues confronting that office.  Bucks County attorney Joe Khan has an interesting back story that includes inspiration from a man who would go on to the U.S. Presidency.   Khan is one of five Democrats seeking the party nomination for the general election this fall. 

Also on this episode, a conversation with Pennsylvania's senior U.S. Senator Bob Casey.  While he is seeking a fourth term in the Senate and has no challenger in the Democratic primary, he's already in general election mode, gearing up for a strong challenge from his Trump-endorsed opponent, Dave McCormick. 

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The Commonwealth Beat with Laura LeBeau is a statewide Public Affairs program airing on all Seven Mountains Media Pennsylvania radio stations. 

On this episode, Laura continues her series of interviews with the candidates running for PA Attorney General in the April 23rd Primary Election, with PA GOP-endorsed candidate Dave Sunday.  He is the sitting District Attorney for York County and wants to take his focus on safe communities from one south-central Pennsylvania county to the entire Commonwealth.  He outlines other priorities, as well, during this interview.  

Also in this episode, the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania has been doing its advocacy work, safeguarding elections for all citizens, for over 100 years.  However, like many community-based groups, the League has seen a drop-off in participation.  Dr.  Amy Widestrom, Executive Director of the League since January, discusses how the organization still plays a vital and prominent role for voters.   

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The Commonwealth Beat with Laura LeBeau is a statewide Public Affairs program airing on all Seven Mountains Media Pennsylvania radio stations. 

On this episode, Laura brings Part 2 of her interview with Dr. Kent Vrana, Chairman of the Department of Pharmacology and Director of the Medical Marijuana Research Group at the Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey.  As one of the foremost researchers of cannabis in Pennsylvania, Dr. Vrana shared his concerns about possible legalization of adult-use marijuana in Part 1, and how specific breeding of the plant has caused THC levels to rise to extreme levels .  In Part 2, we'll hear his concerns over a manmade derivative from cannabis, Delta 8 THC.  Because of a loophole in the US Farm Bill, it's being sold as a natural product, but it isn't and there's virtually no oversight to what could be a very dangerous substance. 

As the April 23rd Primary Election draws near, the Commonwealth Beat spotlight shines on another candidate running for his party's nomination in the PA Attorney General's race......... Republican Craig Williams.  He is not the GOP-endorsed candidate in the two-person race, but he maintains he's got the best chance of winning in November.  Hear his perspective on a variety of issues related to the office.   

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The Commonwealth Beat with Laura LeBeau is a statewide Public Affairs program airing on all Seven Mountains Media Pennsylvania radio stations. 

On this episode, Laura begins the first of the two-part interview with Dr. Kent Vrana, Chairman of the Department of Pharmacology and Director of the Medical Marijuana Research Group at the Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey.  He understands marijuana at the molecular level, and has great concerns about the THC levels that currently exist in medical marijuana, and would likely increase, once recreational marijuana is legalized.  He also discusses the side effects of high levels of THC, and the possible physical health and mental health consequences of long-term marijuana consumption.  

in the PA-mazing segment, we'll head off to Pymatuning State Park in Crawford County, in the northwestern part of the Commonwealth.  Come April 8th, it's going to be a beehive of activity, as the nation lapses into darkness during the total solar eclipse that will be taking place.  We'll hear from the park manager, who's planning a number of eclipse-related activities.  

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The Commonwealth Beat with Laura LeBeau is a statewide Public Affairs program airing on all Seven Mountains Media Pennsylvania radio stations. 

On this episode, Laura interviews PA Attorney General candidate Eugene DePasquale, one of five democrats seeking the party nomination in the April 23rd Primary election. 
DePasquale shares his thoughts on the issues of the day, including the war on drugs, the need for drug treatment for those who are arrested and have drug addictions, his belief on abortion rights, and many more topics.  He also shares his personal story, which includes a father who served time in prison, and a brother who suffered from muscular dystrophy.  

Also, in our PA-mazing segment, we hear about what's on tap this year at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire and Mount Hope Estate and Winery, in Manheim, Lancaster County.  

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The Commonwealth Beat with Laura LeBeau is a statewide Public Affairs program airing on all Seven Mountains Media Pennsylvania radio stations. 

On this episode, Laura discusses the issue of Pennsylvania's declining rural population with Dr. Kyle Kopko, Executive Director of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.  Why is it taking place, and what can state lawmakers do to try and stem the tide?  Dr. Kopko discusses some of the findings from the latest population survey conducted, as well as testimony from a recently conducted public hearing. 

In the PA-mazing segment, with Spring on the horizon, it's time to start planning some getaways in the Commonwealth.  The spotlight shines on Falling Water, the Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece that sits in a remote section of Fayette County.  The onetime summer home of a Pittsburgh department store magnate has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  

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The Commonwealth Beat with Laura LeBeau is a statewide Public Affairs program airing on all Seven Mountains Media Pennsylvania radio stations. 

Did you know there are people in the Commonwealth who take it upon themselves to be "Riverkeepers," stewards of the waterways, often volunteering huge amounts of time to making sure PA's waterways remain clean, free of trash and plentiful with aquatic life.  Laura discusses the role of a Riverkeeper with John Zaktansky, who is the Riverkeeper for the middle branch of the mighty Susquehanna River.

In the PA-mazing segment,  find out about the Kinzua Bridge Skywalk in  McKean County.  It has a fascinating history! 

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The Commonwealth Beat with Laura LeBeau is a statewide Public Affairs program airing on all Seven Mountains Media Pennsylvania radio stations. 

In this "Best Of" episode, Laura discusses with PA State Fire Commissioner Thomas  Cook  the very urgent need for Pennsylvania's volunteer fire companies to replenish their ranks and attract younger men and women to become firefighters in their communities.  

In the PA-mazing segment, we take a trip to America's first zoo, The Philadelphia Zoo!

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The Commonwealth Beat with Laura LeBeau is a statewide Public Affairs program airing on all Seven Mountains Media Pennsylvania radio stations. 

In this episode, Laura discusses another successful wave of applicants to the Pennsylvania State Police with Lt. Adam Reed.  This new interest in becoming a State Trooper comes in the wake of  Gov. Josh Shapiro's decision to drop the 60 college credits requirement that had been in place until last year.   Also, Lt. Reed discusses the public comment period the PSP is in, for re-accreditation with CALEA, a law enforcement accreditation service.  

In the PA-mazing segment, a discussion about the Brandywine Museum of Art, and its collection of works by famed American artists, Andrew Wyeth and his equally famous father, illustrator N.C. Wyeth.  The Brandywine is a must-stop for Wyeth fans and those who study American art.   

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The Commonwealth Beat with Laura LeBeau is a statewide Public Affairs program airing on all Seven Mountains Media Pennsylvania radio stations. 

A new report out this week details some very disturbing findings regarding students of color at the Commonwealth's public universities.  They're facing racial harassment, racial stereotypes and all out racism on their campuses, making them feel unwelcome at school.  The report was compiled by PA Senator Art Haywood and PA Human Relations Commission Executive Director Chad Dion Lassiter, who talks about what it all means.  

In the PA-mazing segment, it's off to Pottsville, Schuylkill County, to hear all about America's oldest brewery, D. G. Yuengling & Sons.  Debbie Yuengling, part of the 6th generation of that family discusses her the company and its legacy, some 195 years after the founding of the brewery.