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In advance of the November 7th election, WLBR's Laura LeBeau, host of "Talk of the Town," conducted a one-on-one interview with Democrat Lebanon County Commission candidate Michael Schroeder, as he seeks election to one of the 3 seats up for election this year. 

Schroeder is a retired professor of history and has an extensive record of community service with several organizations, including the Lebanon County NAACP, Friends of Old Annville, Quittapahilla Watershed Association and several others. 

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In advance of the November 7th election, WLBR's Laura LeBeau, host of "Talk of the Town," conducted a one-on-one interview with Republican Lebanon County Commissioner Mike Kuhn, as he seeks election to a 4 year term.   

Kuhn was appointed by Lebanon County's President Judge John Tylwalk in early 2022 to fill the remainder of the unexpired term of Bill Ames, who died in December, 2021 from Covid-19.  

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

On this episode, Laura discusses issues related to farming, farmland preservation, food banks and food insecurity in the Keystone State with the Secretary of the PA Department of Agriculture, Russell Redding.  

Then, we focus in on the issue of Open Primaries in Pennsylvania.  Currently, the Commonwealth  is one of only seven states in the nation that still has closed primary elections, meaning only registered Democrat or Republican voters can participate.  For years, groups like Ballot PA have been working to change that, and make Pennsylvania an open primary state.  We speak with David Thornburgh, who heads Ballot PA for the latest news on this front.  

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

On this week's Show, Laura delves into the world of school transportation.  You've no doubt seen school buses rolling down the roads in your community, transporting children of all ages to and from school or school-related activities.  But how much do you really know about school transportation companies, or the people who drive those school buses.  In the wake of a statewide school bus driver shortage, the Executive Director of the PA School Bus Association, Gerry Wosewick discusses these issues.  

Then, in an extended P-Amazing segment, you'll head to the Philadelphia Zoo,   It's the nation's oldest, and over the years has been home to quite a cast of iconic, and historic animals.   

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

On this week's Show, Laura discusses recruitment efforts with Trooper Lt. Adam Reed, Director of Communications for the Pennsylvania State Police.  There's been a major new change to the recruitment process for PSP Cadets and it's already making a huge difference.  

There's also a discussion about the Northern Snakehead.  It's a fish - a very hungry fish that has no business swimming in Pennsylvania waters.  But it is, and that's a problem!  Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission Executive Director Tim Schaeffer explains why, and what's being done to stop it.

In the P-Amazing segment, Laura takes listeners to "God's Country - Potter County, Pennsylvania, home to the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania.  

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

On this week's Show, Laura takes on the topic of domestic violence in Pennsylvania, as October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  She's joined by Kristen Herman, Director of Prevention Services with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the nation's oldest statewide domestic violence coalition in the nation.  Last year, 122 people in Pennsylvania died as a result of some form of domestic violence. 

Then, a conversation about Pennsylvania's great boating and fishing resources, overseen by the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission.  Tim Schaeffer is the Executive Director of the state-related agency that derives its funding from user fees and taxes collected on such items as fishing poles, lures, and bait, and items associated with all forms of boating.  

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

On this week's Show, Laura is joined by J.R. Waltemeyer, Director of the Address Confidentiality, which is operated out of Pennsylvania's Office of Victim Advocate.  Its mission is to represent, protect and advance the individual and collective rights and interests of crime victims.  One of the ways it achieves its mission is by providing the Address Confidentiality Program, a service that shields the addresses of crime victims who've been abused, stalked or human trafficked, so their abusers can't find them. 

Also, in an extended "PA-mazing" segment,  you'll find out a whole bunch of cool facts about the Susquehanna River, which is considered in the top 5 oldest rivers in the world!   

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

On this week's Show, Laura is joined by members of the Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy, located at Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County, PA.  This is a new educational opportunity for PA students ages 14-18 who are having problems in school, are in peril of failing, or have already dropped out and wish to return to school to complete their education.  The KSCA is operated in conjunction with the National Guard, but is not a reform school.  All students attend on a voluntary basis and there is no requirement to join the military after the program.   

There's also a conversation with Congressman Glenn "G.T." Thompson (R-PA15), the Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.  Thompson is the lead negotiator of the 2023 U.S. Farm Bill, a $8.6B piece of legislation with implications for all Pennsylvanians and all Americans.  

In the P-Amazing segment, a conversation about Mini-Thon, the fundraising and dance event that takes place at secondary schools across Pennsylvania each year to benefit the Four Diamonds Fund, which raises money to fund pediatric cancer research, treatment and family care at the Penn State Childrens Hospital in Hershey.  

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

On this week's Show, Laura is joined by PA Treasurer Stacy Garrity, discussing her efforts to return unclaimed funds, property, and military medals and other decorations to Pennsylvanians or their family members.  There's also a conversation with Andrew  Szalay, President & CEO of Lancaster Lebanon Habitat for Humanity, about the need for affordable housing in Pennsylvania and their efforts to create more homeowners across the Commonwealth. 

Finally, in our "PA-mazing" segment, Candace Smith of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire discusses their 43 year history, and why so many folks from across the country are enthralled by all it has to offer.  

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WLBR’s Wellness Wednesdays is highlighting the growing and extremely popular sport of Pickleball!  Compared to other racquet sports, pickleball is a low impact activity that boosts cardiovascular endurance and lowers both cholesterol and blood pressure. 
Talk of the Town's Laura LeBeau spoke with Ann Gruber, Lebanon County's #1 proponent of Pickleball.  
With so many parks adding pickleball courts to their facilities, you may want to take a listen and give it a try!