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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. 

With Pennsylvania one of the most critically important swing states in this year's election, Laura discusses the "Trump Effect" on politics, and how it will impact not only the Presidential election but also this year's U.S. Senate race with Muhlenberg College Political Science Professor, Dr. Christopher Borick.  

There's also a discussion with Jake Peck of Dauphin County.  He's started a charity that takes folks with disabilities on outdoor excursions.  Hear more about it, and how you can help make this charity flourish.  

In the PA-mazing segment, a discussion with Kristy Bell, Tourism Director of Jefferson County, which is home to Pennsylvania's #1 Groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, in advance of his annual weather forecast. 

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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 drug addiction with a noted expert on the subject, Dr. Deirdre Dingman, who teaches this very subject at Temple University in Philadelphia.  

Then, a much lighter subject in the PA-mazing segment, actually talking about the dark.  In particular, we head back to "God's Country," and the internationally-recognized Dark Sky Location at Cherry Springs State Park.  

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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, the importance of Agriculture in Pennsylvania.  Hear PA Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, Governor Josh Shapiro and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack discuss the importance of the work done by the Commonwealth's farmers.  Their speeches came during Public Officials Day at the 2024 Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.   

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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 prospect of the General Assembly raising the state minimum wage, as 22 other states did, effective January 1st.  Currently, the Pennsylvania minimum wage sits at the same rate as the federal government's minimum wage, $7.25/hour.  Luke Bernstein, President of the PA Chamber of Business & Industry is not a fan of another government mandate being foisted upon business owners, even though most already pay their employees far more than that.  

Also on this episode, Laura delves into Pennsylvania's statewide historic preservation plan, administered by the state's Historic Preservation Office.  These are the folks who determine whether sites across the Commonwealth are historic, and not just old.  The plan is wrapping up, after five years of study.  Find out what was discovered.  

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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 focuses on the statewide employee shortage across all job sectors with  Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry President, Luke Bernstein. While it's easy to blame the shortages on the Covid pandemic, employee numbers were already trending down before that.  A conversation about the causes and what can be done.  

Also, perhaps you've heard of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, but do you really know its core mission.  Laura discusses that with Commission Executive Director Chad Dion Lassiter, who was just recently named to City & State's 2023 Impact 75 List.  

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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 special episode, Laura speaks with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro about his first year in office.  The 50-year old is the 48th Chief Executive of Pennsylvania and has faced a myriad of challenges, right out of the gate, including a major train derailment, the murder of a State Trooper, a divided state legislature (the only one in the nation) and the literal collapse of a portion of I-95 in Philadelphia. 

How's he holding up?  And what about his name be bandied about as a possible presidential candidate?  The governor tackles those issues and more on this special Gubernatorial edition of The Commonwealth Beat with Laura LeBeau.  

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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 shines the spotlight on the Address Confidentiality Program of the Pennsylvania Office of Victim Advocate.  It's a state-funded service that gives victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and stalking an opportunity to begin their lives anew, without their abusers tracking them down.  

In the PA-mazing segment, another Pennsylvania treasure is highlighted.  It's the world-famous Wanamaker Organ, located at the Macy's department store in Center City Philadelphia.  The organ is the largest, working pipe organ in the world, with over 27,000 pipes.  There are free organ concerts Monday-Saturday year round, but at Christmas time, the organ is also part of a dazzling light show that's been entertaining shoppers since the 1950's.  

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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 speaks with Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans about the opening of Firearms Deer Hunting Season.  The PGC will be out in force, overseeing the thousands of hunters who take to Penn's Woods each season.  There's also important information about Chronic Wasting Disease, the always-fatal disease that made its way into Pennsylvania's White Tail Deer population over a decade ago.  

There also a conversation with Lt. Adam Reed of the Pennsylvania State Police, about the recent federal grants awarded to the PSP to continue the fight against heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl.  

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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 one of the most critical shortages confronting the Commonwealth:  the shortage of volunteer firefighters.  State Fire Commissioner Thomas Cook discusses the impact that this shortage is already having and what he's doing at the Office of State Fire Commissioner to beef up recruiting, statewide.  

And just in time for the holidays, the PA-mazing segment takes a look at the very large model railroad display set up each November and December at the Brandywine Art Museum in Delaware County.  For generations of Pennsylvanians, it's become a holiday tradition.    

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

On this episode, the spotlight shines on Puppy Mills in Pennsylvania.  What are they and what's being done to raise awareness to this awful industry?  Laura sits down with a leading advocate in the war against Puppy Mills and buying dogs at pet stores.  

Also on this edition, an interview with State Treasurer Stacy Garrity.  She's more than just the chief bean counter in the Commonwealth.  She's also the chief advocate of returning lost money, lost property and lost military medals to Pennsylvanians who otherwise may not know they have anything coming to them.