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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!

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Mount Gretna resident Tim Finn rides his mountain bike just about everywhere, including to and from work every day!  He's also an active member of SAMBA, the Susquehanna Area Mountain Bike Association, which has been developing mountain bike trails throughout Lebanon County............. and is a co-founder of the Lebanon Valley Mountain Bike Team.   
Hear our Newsmaker interview all about cycling and mountain biking in Lebanon County!

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Hear Visit Lebanon Valley Executive Director Jennifer Kuzo discuss the inspiration for wanting to build The World's Largest Lebanon Bologna Sandwich at the Lebanon Area Fair on Tuesday, July 25th.  How much Lebanon Bologna do you need, and just how do you bake a sandwich bun that big?  Check it out, as Jen discusses the effort with Talk of the Town Host Laura LeBeau.  

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A 2022 complaint filed by the Lebanon NAACP with the Disciplinary Board of the PA Supreme Court has brought forth a reprimand for Lebanon County D.A. Pier Hess Graf.  The civil rights organization was upset that the D.A. did not recuse her office from investigating whether Trooper Jay Splain was justified in killing Charity Thome in March of 2020.  Trooper Splain was stationed at the Jonestown Barracks, where the D.A.'s husband was also stationed.  
Despite receiving a private reprimand that did not have to be publicly disclosed, Graf disclosed it.  The Lebanon NAACP issued a statement applauding the outcome of their complaint, but asking the Disciplinary Board to release its findings without the D.A.'s "spin."   
Hear Lebanon NAACP President Tony Fields discuss the complaint with Talk of the Town Host Laura LeBeau, and why the NAACP is not completely satisfied with Graf's release.    

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Enjoy some of the moments from the thrilling Game 7 of the Calder Cup Championship June 22nd, in which the Hershey Bears beat the Coachella Valley Firebirds 3-2 in overtime at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, California.