Smart Talk
By WITF Smart Talk
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Podcast Description
Media from our Original Production radio and TV show Smart Talk. WITF-TV’s Smart Talk, a weekly (Thurs, 8:00pm) prime-time public affairs talk show on television in Central Pennsylvania. WITF's Radio Smart Talk, a daily (M-F, 9am - 10am) public affairs talk show on radio in Central Pennsylvania.
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Radio Smart Talk 05/25/2012 | The last Radio Smart Talk before the Memorial Day weekend shines a spotlight on three separate topics. Curt Ashenfelter, the Executive Director of the Keystone Trails Association and Jim Foster, the president of the Cumberland Valley Appalacian Trail Club will discuss Pennsylvania Hiking Week that runs May 26-June 3 and National Trails Day on June 2. Two mid-state communities -- Duncannon and Boiling Springs -- will be designated as Appalachian Trail Communities by the end of the week. The unofficial start of the summer season will bring out many hikers. Learn more and find a hike or trail for you at ExplorePATrails.com. In our second segment, author Judith Redline Coopey joins us to discuss her book -- Waterproof -- A Novel of the Johnstown Flood. Waterproof is witf and the MidTown Scholar Bookstore's Pick-of-the-Month for June. Waterproof is a historical novel set in the years after a dam broke and wiped out a good portion of the city of Johnstown on May 31, 1889. Ms. Coopey will be appearing at Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 North Third Street in Harrisburg, on Saturday, May 26 2-4 p.m. to read and sign copies of the book. Finally, we get the holiday weekend off to a great start with barbecue tips and ideas from Chef Donna Desfor. | 5/25/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/24/2012 | Uplifting Athletes is a non-profit organization that raises money for the research of rare diseases. It all began in 2003 when former Penn State football player Scott Shirley learned that his father was diagnosed with kidney cancer, which is considered a rare disease since fewer than 200,000 Americans are afflicted by it. At the encouragement of a teammate, Shirley and other Penn State players took a strength and conditioning competition amongst themselves to the public. "Lifting for Life" became so successful that fundraisers spread to other college football teams across the country. Scott Shirley is now the Executive Director of Uplifting Athletes and he'll be our guest on Thursday's Radio Smart Talk program. Its part of witf's Facing Cancer Together initiative. Also, the Memorial Day weekend is designated as the unofficial beginning of summer so many Pennsylvanians will be heading outdoors. That includes the thousands who will be looking to have a good time on the state's rivers and lakes in their boats. Laurel Anders, the director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's Bureau of Boating and Outreach will join us to talk boating safety and fun. | 5/24/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/23/2012 | If interest rates rise, what will typically happen to bond prices? Rise, fall, stay the same, or is there no relationship? The answer is typically bond prices will fall when interest rates rise. Less than one-third of Americans answered that question correctly in a New York Times Economix quiz testing financial literacy. As a nation, we aren't very knowledgeable about mortgages, retirement savings, credit card debt and other money matters. The same survey showed the group that fares the worst is 51-56 years old, which is a bit of a surprise since that age group has more experience with maintaining a family budget. The age group that scored the highest on the survey was 23-28 year olds. Here's another tidbit from the Times survey-- the strongest tie between someone who is financial literate is their parents' education, especially the education of their mother. On Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll look at financial literacy and what we don't know but should, as well as answer any questions you may have. | 5/23/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/22/2012 | The release of the 1940 U.S. Census on microfilm and online last month has created a stir amongst genealogists and people researching their family histories. Census data is released 72 years after all the numbers are collected. The 1940 Census is of particular interest because it was the last one before the outbreak of World War II and before America's Baby Boom after the war ended. What do you know about your family history and what would you like to find out? On Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll examine genealogy and tracing one's roots. We'll use the 1940 Census as a reference to begin our journey. Appearing on the program will be Aaron McWilliams, an archivist at the Pennsylvania State Museum and Deborah White Hershey, CEO of Generations Remembered. | 5/22/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/21/2012 | The Obama Administration last week announced the first national strategy to fight Alzheimer's Disease. The plans include a deadline of 2025 to have effective treatments for Alzheimer's in place. Currently, there is no cure for the disease. More than five million Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, which is a form of dementia that attacks the brain and impairs memory and judgment. It's estimated than some 16 million may have Alzheimer's by the year 2050, if no treatment is found. Experimental drugs are part of the strategy. A study will be conducted to track whether a drug can stop the disease in people who have a certain type of Alzheimer's in the family. Separate research will administer an insulin type medication through a nasal spray to people with early memory problems. On Monday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll focus on the new strategy and answer questions about Alzheimer's. Joining us will be Bob Marino, Co-Chair PA Public Policy Coalition and current Alzheimer's Association Delaware Valley Chapter Board Member, Dr. Danny George, Assistant Professor in the Department of Humanities at Penn State College of Medicine and Sarah Keene, Education and Outreach Coordinator, Alzheimer's Association Greater Pennsylvania Chapter | 5/21/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/18/2012 | Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion. It sounds pretty complicated and it is. Simply put it's surgery on the lower back. However, a surgical team from Central Pennsylvania's Pinnacle Health performed the operation on a Carlisle woman late last month using tools that had never been used before anywhere. In a first of its kind in the world procedure, doctors performed the back surgery using the da Vinci Surgical System. According to Pinnacle, the doctors used the robot to expose the patient's spine, safely moving her bowels and blood vessels in order to replace her diseased disk with an implant. The woman went home the next day -- 48 hours less than traditional back surgery takes. Appearing on Friday's Radio Smart Talk will be Dr. William Buetler, a neurosurgeon and Dr. Walter Peppelman, an orthopedic and spine surgeon, who performed the historic operation. Also, has two weeks of rain lessened the potential for a drought in Pennsylvania? John Balay, manager of planning and operations at the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, provides a follow-up on our April 27 program. Finally on Friday's program, Jon Walker, who blogs book reviews at www.jonosbookreviews.com will join us to describe a few of the titles he's read lately. | 5/18/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/17/2012 | A presidential campaign focusing mostly on economic issues wandered off course last week when President Barack Obama announced that he supports same-sex marriage. Immediately, his Republican opponent Mitt Romney responded that he opposed sex-same unions and reiterated his opinion that marriage is acceptable only between a man and a woman. Since the president's announcement, much of the country has been debating the pros and cons of sex-same marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships. Supporters see rights extended to Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender couples as a basic civil right. Opponents view it much differently. Many of their beliefs are based on religion that often holds homosexuality as immoral. While the nation's focal point is same-sex marriage, Thursday's Radio Smart Talk will center on LGBT rights and issues in Pennsylvania. For example, in Pennsylvania there are no state laws that prohibit discrimination based on one's sexual orientation or identity. Marriage and civil unions are not legal in Pennsylvania, although the state does not have a Constitutional ban as many other states do. LGBT people were among the groups covered under Pennsylvania's hate crime law at one time but aren't today. | 5/17/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/16/2012 | The Pennsylvania National Guard Northeast Counterdrug Training Center and the Pennsylvania Counterdrug Joint Task Force's mission is "to provide cost-effective training in law enforcement and drug-prevention. It provides all necessary facilities, instruction and support to enhance the capabilities of our law enforcement and homeland security students." Headquartered at Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County, the Training Center and Task Force provide comprehensive training and support to law enforcement, and drug demand, substance abuse, prevention, and treatment programs. However, the public probably isn't aware of all the duties being performed by NCTC and CJTF. Task Force Commander and Training Center Executive Director Lt. Col. Gilbert Durand will appear on Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk to explain the role of both organizations in the war on drugs. | 5/16/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/15/2012 | I have a friend who traveled to Bolivia a few years ago to help build a church in a rural area. My friend and his traveling companions ate a restaurant in a small town. He mentioned to the server that he is allergic to peanuts. A short time after the server assured my friend that peanuts were not part of the dish he ordered, he suffered a severe allergic reaction -- he couldn't breathe. Fortunately, there was a hospital nearby because his medication wasn't working quickly enough. It turns out the item my friend ordered off the menu was made with peanut oil. Peanuts are among the eight food items that cause 90% of food allergies. The others are milk, eggs, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish and shellfish. About 15 million people suffer from food allergies and yes the numbers are growing -- especially among children. Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk will answer your questions about food allergies. Appearing as guests on the program will be Dr. Laura Fisher who is with the Allergy and Asthma Center in Lancaster, which is affiliated with Lancaster General Health and Christin Kapp, author of Life (with a side of allergies) blog on the Central Penn Parent website. What questions do you have about food allergies? | 5/15/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/14/2012 | The National Football League came down hard on several New Orleans Saints players and coaches who admitted they offered rewards of thousands of dollars to defensive players who hurt opposing players so much that they had to be removed from games. Head coach Sean Payton and linebacker Jonathan Vilma were suspended without pay for the entire 2012 football season for their roles in so-called "Bountygate." Even though the participants knew what they were doing was wrong, they did it anyway. Why did the Saints put bounties on star opponents? They probably thought that getting a victory by any means possible justified their actions. There also was peer pressure -- no one stood up and said it was wrong. Bountygate is an example of employees facing ethical dilemmas and discarding their moral responsibilities to do what is right or in the Saints' case, to not do what was wrong, in order to reach a positive outcome. People have to make those kinds of decisions every day. Most would like to think they have the courage and character to do what is right but what if there are negative consequences if they do. Ethical dilemmas will be the topic of conversation on Monday's Radio Smart Talk. Also, we'll have an announcement about a major project coming up on witf. | 5/14/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/11/2012 | Times have changed. It used to be that salary was the major factor when a prospective employee considered his or her compensation package. Today, healthcare insurance and retirement benefits are in some cases just as important. There are numerous choices employees have when it comes to benefits too but choices can result in confusion and questions. On Friday's Radio Smart Talk, two actuaries from Conrad Siegel Actuaries | Employee Benefits and Investment Advisors will appear to answer your healthcare and retirement benefits questions. Do you understand 401(k) plans and how your investments fit into your retirement? How will the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or healthcare reform law affect you? | 5/11/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/10/2012 | Anyone born before 1970 can remember what Main Street in small towns or Market Street in cities used to look like. If you were born since then, try to picture it. The downtown streets were always busy. The sidewalks would be crowded with pedestrians throughout the daytime and into the evening. Mom and pop or family-owned businesses made up a large part of the shopping district, but so did nationally-known department stores. There were even chain supermarkets, along with the local corner stores that sold food, candy and sodas. Restaurants were often full, catering to workers on their lunch breaks or the regular customers who sat and sipped coffee and talked for long hours. If you lived outside the town or city limits, a trip "uptown" or "downtown", depending on your parochialism, was always anticipated. But then it all changed. City dwellers moved to the suburbs -- many to escape declining infrastructures, poor schools, and crime. The automobile made it all easier. The family didn't have retail businesses nearby but they could drive everywhere. The introduction of shopping malls in the suburbs was a game changer. There was no need to battle the traffic, try to find a parking spot or feed coins into the meter when dozens of stores were located under one roof, away from the elements, and there were hundreds of free parking spaces available. As this migration occurred, Main and Market Street suffered. There were a lot of boarded up and empty storefronts as businesses and jobs followed to the suburbs. It took awhile for towns and cities to recover. Some never have but in the last 20 years, downtowns have been transforming themselves. They may not be what they once were but the ones that have made themselves destinations offer a variety of amenities like restaurants, bars and taverns, entertainment, the arts, and sports venues. On Thursday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll focus on how towns and cities have transformed their Main Streets and what they did to become successful once again. What works in bringing a town back and what doesn't? Is the cost worth it? Guests include Bill Fontana, Executive Director of PA Downtown Center and Dr. Chad Kimmel, an associate professor of Sociology at Shippensburg University, who has studied and written about Main Streets. | 5/10/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/09/2012 | One of the most anticipated events after the six tumultuous months since former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky's arrest for allegedly sexually assaulting and molesting young boys was the university's Board of Trustees election. The results were finalized last week and three new board members were elected, including our guest on Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk, Anthony Lubrano. Lubrano was critical of how the Board of Trustees fired legendary Coach Joe Paterno in the fallout of the Sandusky scandal last November. College football's all-time winningest coach was terminated in a brief telephone call after the Board voted unanimously to fire Paterno last November. During his campaign, Lubrano demanded the Board of Trustees offer an apology to the Paterno family. We'll asked how he plans to proceed and what other issues he would like to see addressed at the university. Also, as part of witf's on-going Facing Cancer Together initiative, Wednesday's show will focus on the rights adoptees in Pennsylvania have to obtain information about their biological parents' medical histories. Appearing on the program will be Amanda Woolston, founder of the group Pennsylvania Adoptee Right | 5/9/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/08/2012 | The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was designed to protect citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. While the Fourth Amendment requires police to obtain a warrant before searching someone's home, it does not protect people who are arrested for any crime or violation from being strip searched if that person is taken to jail. That's the result of a 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court ruling last month. The case came from New Jersey where Albert W. Florence was arrested in 2005. Florence was riding in the passenger side of his wife's vehicle when his wife was pulled over for speeding. Police ran a check and found that Florence was wanted for not paying a fine. He was held for a week in two county jails where he was strip searched by corrections officers to make sure he didn't possess any contraband. It turns out that Florence had paid the fine and the information police got in the background check was a mistake. By that time, it didn't matter. Florence said he was humiliated by the strip searches and filed suit. The Court ruled that corrections officers must be given discretion to check for weapons and drugs. On Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk, Pennsylvania Secretary of Corrections John Wetzel and Widener School of Law Professor Michael Dimino Jr. will discuss the case. In your opinion, did the Court make the correct ruling? | 5/8/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/07/2012 | Dr. Carol Lytch became the first woman president of Lancaster Theological Seminary last month. We'll meet Dr. Lytch on Monday's Radio Smart Talk to discuss her vision and plans for the 187 year old institution, which is one of seven seminaries affiliated with the United Church of Christ nationwide. Religion is a popular topic of conversation across the country right now -- probably because the presidential candidates' religious beliefs became issues in the campaign for the White House. What role should religion play in political discussions? Also appearing on the program will be Greg Carey, a professor of the New Testament. Both Dr. Lytch and Prof. Carey can address religion's part in today's American society and in politics. | 5/7/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/04/2012 | Radio Smart Talk strives to produce programs on a wide variety of topics. The main focus each day may be issue-oriented, educational or just a good story. The producing staff has an ongoing list of potential subjects to address and adds to it constantly. However, the best suggestions for topics often come from the audience. Listeners email ideas for future programs almost everyday. Friday's Radio Smart Talk is one of the programs we produce every so often to solicit your suggestions on-the-air. Host Scott LaMar and Multimedia News Director Tim Lambert will solicit your ideas in the second half of the show. One conversation Radio Smart Talk enjoy most is history -- especially history from Pennsylvania and our region. On the first segment of Friday's program, we'll hear about the Homeland Center Personal Care and Skilled Nursing Facility in Harrisburg, which is celebrating its 145th anniversary. An anniversary event looks back at Central Pennsylvania when it was founded as "The Home for the Friendless" in 1867. Homeland CEO Barry Ramper and historic preservation consultant Dr. Walter Powell will join us. | 5/4/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/03/2012 | Spring is the favorite season of all for many of us. Its when everything seems new and bright (again). The temperatures start to warm up, birds are chirping each morning, and the days are stretching longer into the evening. Visually, what we notice is the new growth. Leaves are coming out on the trees, the grass is green, and flowers are blooming. That's Mother Nature without a human lifting a finger. OK, the flowers have to be wild or perennials. Spring is also when many of us will get our hands dirty -- digging in the soil to plant new gardens or vegetables. For those people, its a a passion. Of course, not everyone is an expert gardener. Almost everyone who has attempted to plant something in the ground has a question. Someone who is knowledgeable about planting and gardening will be on Thursday's Radio Smart Talk to answer your questions. | 5/3/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/02/2012 | Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk program is part of our "Ask a Professional" series. On Wednesday, two local attorneys will answer your legal questions. Topics in which questions are sure to come up include creating a will, estate planning, real estate transactions, divorce, child custody, and as basic as how to choose a lawyer. Do you have a legal question? Either call the program Wednesday or ask your question in the comment section below to be answered on the air Wednesday. | 5/2/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/01/2012 | Pennsylvania's Secretary of the Department of Public Welfare, Gary Alexander appears on Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk. Tuesday is also the first day that eligibility limits will go into effect on food stamp recipients tied to how much in personal assets they have. Under the new rules, those under age 60 can not have cash and a few other assets worth more than $5,500. Disabled Pennsylvanians or those over the age of 59 can not possess assets of more than $9,000. A home, a first vehicle and savings for a child's education are not counted toward assets. More than 1.8 million people participate in what is now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The new guidelines on assets is one of several welfare program changes proposed by the Corbett Administration in an effort to stretch state dollars or cut spending. Among the cost-cutting measures are proposals to eliminate cash grants to able-bodied adults, cutting 20% in funding to social service programs but allowing the counties who administer those programs the flexibility of how to spend the money, and reducing reimbursements by 4% to hospitals and nursing homes who care for the poor. Critics say the proposals would hurt the state's most vulnerable citizens while Administration officials counter that the current level of welfare spending is unsustainable. | 5/1/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/30/2012 | The National Cancer Institute estimates more than 1.6 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in 2012. The overwhelming majority of them will be treated conventionally or traditionally with surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. For many, those treatments won't stop the pain and discomfort or will have side effects that present a new set of issues. Often, they'll opt for alternative therapy or complementary medicine. The alternatives include acupuncture, massage therapy, diets, or yoga. They are not meant to replace conventional treatments but as a complement to healing. On Monday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll examine Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the treatment of cancer as part of witf's ongoing Facing Cancer Together initiative. Also, Monday is Pennsylvania Tourism Day. It's a good time to focus on a $30 billion a year industry in Pennsylvania. | 4/30/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/27/2012 | Extreme is a good word to describe the midstate's weather over the past year. Maybe the region hasn't experienced the devastating extremes of widespread tornados or droughts like some other areas of the country, but for a moderate climate like Central Pennsylvania, the past 12 months have been unusual. Last year was one the wettest on record in some Pennsylvania communities. All you have to is remember last fall's flooding after Tropical Storm Lee that resulted in millions of dollars in damage. Then came a winter that was almost snowless -- that is excerpt for a bizarre snowstorm on October 29. The winter was warmer than normal too. The dry, mild winter left the Susquehanna River at its lowest level since 1910 and 1946 -- two years that resulted in droughts. This time last week, a drought seemed to be a real possibility. Then it rained earlier this week. Is that rainfall enough to take us out of danger? We'll find out on Friday's Radio Smart Talk when we're joined by Susan Weaver, the drought coordinator with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and John Balay, the manager of planning and operation with the Susquehanna River Basin Commission. Also, WITF's Pick of the Month with the Midtown Scholar Bookstore is Silver Like Dust: One Family's Story of America's Japanese Internment. Author Kimi Cunningham Grant describes her family's fascinating history. | 4/27/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/26/2012 | Who is the typical victim of investment fraud? Is it the frail, little old lady who lives alone? You may be surprised to learn that most victims are men who are considered self-reliant, optimistic, college-educated and financially literate. How then do people like Bernie Madoff con investors out of billions of dollars? Simply put, the investor fraudster is persuasive and unfortunately, many people don't want to admit when a potential investment is too good to be true. Last year, consumers reported losing over $1.7 billion to fraud. As we prepare for a wave of baby boomers retiring, criminals are dreaming up ways to crack into 401k retirement plans. WITF devotes several programs to investment fraud Thursday, including Tricks of the Trade that will air on WITF-TV Thursday night at 8:30. Thursday's Radio Smart Talk will focus on investment fraud and as always, provide listeners with an opportunity to ask questions about how con men are trying to get at your hard earned money. Joining us on the program will be Lori Schock, the Director of the Office of Investor Education for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Douglas Shadel, the Washington State Director of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and a former fraud investigator. Anyone with questions about insurance fraud or who wants to report a possible case can call the SEC at 1-800-732-0330. | 4/26/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/25/2012 | Tuesday's Primary Election may not have excited many voters in Pennsylvania but it sets up the political contests for the fall campaigns. witf's State Capitol Bureau Chief Mary Wilson will appear on the first segment of Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk to provide an overview of the primary results. Also, the Harrisburg City School District is facing a $15.8 million budget deficit and has few revenue-generating options to close it. The district has already slashed some $23 million over the past two years, laid off more than 280 teachers, shut down buildings, and now is looking at eliminating programs like all-day kindergarten or sports. State funding has been cut and almost half the properties in the state's capital city are tax exempt government or non-profit organizations. Against that backdrop, the Harrisburg Public Schools Foundation is seeking contributions from businesses, foundations and individuals to assist in supporting the city schools. Superintendent, Dr. Sybil Knight-Burney is amongst those will join us on Wednesday's program. | 4/25/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/24/2012 | This week marks Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Awareness Week. These type diseases may not get as much attention as others, but they are the sixth-most-common form of cancer in the world. Some 50,000 cases of oral, head, and neck cancers are diagnosed each year in the U.S. These cancers are diagnosed in the head or neck region, including the nasal cavity, sinuses, lips, mouth, thyroid glands, salivary glands, throat, or larynx. On Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll learn more about about oral, head and neck cancers and hear from a woman who survived cancer in her gum. Also, does a positive attitude help to fight cancer? Many people, including lots of cancer survivors, think so. Joining us will be Dr. Dan Shapiro, a clinical psychologist and cancer survivor himself and Karolyn Kelly O'Keefe, a writer who is a uterine cancer survivor. Tuesday's program is part of witf's on-going Facing Cancer Together initiative. | 4/24/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/23/2012 | Monday's Radio Smart Talk will provide a preview of Pennsylvania's primary election scheduled for Tuesday. Pennsylvania Democrats and Republicans will nominate candidates for President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, State House of Representatives, 25 State Senate seats, and Pennsylvania Attorney General, Auditor General and Treasurer. The top of the ticket was getting most of the attention until former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum dropped his presidential bid earlier this month. Santorum's exit all but locked up the Republican nomination for former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney who has an almost insurmountable delegate lead. Not so, says former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in an interview on Monday's program. Gingrich will only go as far as calling Romney the frontrunner. We'll also hear from President Obama's campaign on Monday's program. To provide analysis on the show will be Dr. Christopher Borick, Director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion, Robert Vickers, political writer for the Patriot-News, and John Micek, state government and political reporter for the Allentown Morning Call. | 4/23/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/20/2012 | On April 15, 1912, the S.S. Titanic sank about 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland. The world's largest ship had hit an iceberg. More than 1,500 people died when the Titanic sank. Perhaps no other disaster in history has spawned more movies, documentaries, stories and books than Titanic. The 100th anniversary of the sinking has renewed interest and fascination in the the Titanic. By now, most people know the story of what happened to Titanic, but how familiar are they with the individual stories of passengers and their families or those who hailed from close to home? On Friday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll get the rare opportunity to hear from a descendent of passengers on the Titanic. Mae Thomas' mother, brother, and uncle were passengers on the ship. She'll tell her story along with Dr. William V. Lewis Jr. of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Both Dr. Lewis and Ms. Thomas will participate in a panel discussion entitled, "The Titanic and Its Pennsylvania Passengers" Sunday, April 22 at the State Museum of Pennsylvania. Also, witf's Election 2012 coverage continues as Republican U.S. Senate candidate David Christian joins us. | 4/20/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/19/2012 | During the last few years of American military involvement in Iraq, much of the attention was on training the Iraqis to provide security in what was still was a dangerous country. Rebuilding the infrastructure in Iraq was also high on the list of priorities. Both were two of the essentials to creating a society that could prosper someday. But so is education and teaching Iraqis about economics would seem to make even more sense. Last January, three Shippensburg University faculty members traveled to the University of Baghdad to help improve finance and banking education in Iraq. Dr. John Kooti, dean of the John L. Grove College of Business, Dr. Melodye Wehrung, executive director of social equity, and Dr. Sarah K. Bryant, professor of supply chain management will be guests on the Thursday's Radio Smart Talk to discuss economics in Iraq. Also, as part of witf's continuing Election 2012 coverage, John Maher, a Republican candidate for Pennsylvania Auditor General joins us. | 4/19/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/18/2012 | Politically and socially, the United States is a much different place than it was in 1970. Then, the nation was divided on many issues , but most notably the war in Vietnam. Protests and demonstrations against the war were an everyday occurrence in all corners of the country. The war's opponents not only saw it as unneeded, unjust and maybe illegal, but they also strongly opposed the military draft of young men over the age of 18. Many of anti-war activities in the early '70s weren't peaceful. When some activists saw that protests or other acts of civil disobedience weren't having an impact, they turned to other measures -- sometimes illegal or violent ones. In 1972, a group known as the Harrisburg Seven went on trial for allegedly plotting to kidnap Henry Kissinger, the man they saw as the architect of the war in the Nixon Administration. The group, led by Catholic priest Father Phillip Berrigan was also charged with conspiring to blow up underground tunnels in Washington D.C. to disrupt government operations. On Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk, Williams O'Rourke, the author of the book, The Harrisburg Seven and the New Catholic Left will join us to discuss the case. O'Rourke will also address the Harrisburg Seven Trial at the Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 North Third Street in Harrisburg, Saturday at 3 p.m. Also, the Delaware Loophole has legally been utilized by multi-state corporations to avoid paying Pennsylvania taxes for years. A number of groups and lawmakers want to put an end to that. We'll talk to one of those groups. | 4/18/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/17/2012 | The Patriot-News was awarded a Pulitzer Prize Monday for the newspaper's coverage of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse case. Last March, reporter Sara Ganim was the first to report that the former Penn State defensive coach was under investigation for allegedly having inappropriate contact with a Clinton County boy several years ago. Sandusky was arrested in November after a Grand Jury handed down dozens of charges that he had sexually molested or raped nine boys over a period of years. Ganim's stories consistently provided new information on the case, including remarks from mothers of two of the alleged victims. At age 24, Ganim is the second youngest person to win a Pulitzer, which is considered journalism's most prestigious honor. Appearing on Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk will be Patriot-News Editor David Newhouse. Also, witf's Election 2012 coverage continues as we talk with Republican Pennsylvania Auditor General Candidate Frank Pinto. Pinto faces John Maher in the Republican primary on April 24. The winner will compete against Democrat Eugene DePasquale in the November election. DePasquale is unopposed in the primary. Both Maher and DePasquale currently serve in the State House of Representatives. | 4/17/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/16/2012 | From time-to-time on Radio Smart Talk, we feature a program with a professional -- an expert in their field -- who appears on the show to answer questions from the audience. Often, these professionals work in occupations where the public can not make an inquiry without making an appointment or paying for their time. On Monday's show, Dr. Ryan Crim, who practices family medicine with Carlisle Family Care and at Carlisle Regional Medical Center, will answer your health and medical-related questions as part of a show we refer to as "Ask the Doctor." Dr. Crim can't make diagnosis on-the-air, but he can respond to general questions about illnesses or medical conditions. For example, are your allergies acting up in the mild weather? Did anyone in your family suffer through the flu this winter? What's the best way to avoid germs? Dr. Crim also works in sports medicine so questions about injuries incurred through physical activity are encouraged as well. | 4/16/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/13/2012 | April 13 Radio Smart Talk - Pennsylvania’s April 24 primary could have been a contender. It wouldn’t have matched the intensity and excitement of the 2008 matchup between Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, but all signs were pointing toward a tight contest between Republicans Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. Romney even bought nearly $3 million worth of TV advertising already. But then, suddenly, it was over. Earlier this week, Santorum held a press conference in Gettysburg to announce he was leaving the race, leaving Romney as the Republican Party’s presumptive nominee. On Friday’s Radio Smart Talk, we’ll look back at Santorum’s surprisingly successful campaign for the White House, and map out what Pennsylvania voters can expect to see and hear over the next few months. We’ll also discuss how the lack of a contested presidential contest will affect down-ballot races, like the Republican Senate primary. The show’s guests: Pennsylvania Public Radio’s Mary Wilson, NPR’s Don Gonyea, and the National Journal’s Alex Roarty. | 4/13/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/12/2012 | witf's Election 2012 coverage continues on Thursday's Radio Smart Talk that features Republican U.S. Senate candidate Sam Rohrer. The former state legislator is one of five Republicans competing to face incumbent Democrat Bob Casey Jr. this November. Also, we'll go from contemporary politics to history to learn about one of the nation's most influential congressman who hails from Pennsylvania. Thaddeus Stevens, who lived in both Lancaster and Gettysburg, was one of the nation's most powerful politicians before and after the Civil War. Stevens was the chief architect of Reconstruction of the South after the war and is considered the father of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution that was designed to ensure equal rights for all citizens. Stevens' achievements and contributions are remembered this weekend as part of his 220th birthday celebration. Ross Hetrick of the Thaddeus Stevens Society tells us why Stevens is relevant today. And finally, Brett Kelley, the Curator of the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg is about to embark on his third annual "In Their Footsteps" fundraising and education initiative. This year, Kelley will live as a Union soldier on commissary duty. Partnering with the Central PA Food Bank, Brett Kelley prepares to bake bread for the troops on Thursday's Radio Smart Talk. | 4/12/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/11/2012 | Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum ended his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination Tuesday in Gettysburg. Santorum won primaries or caucuses in 11 states, but still trailed former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney in the delegate count by a wide margin. Romney's lead is so large that it would have been very unlikely, if not impossible, for Santorum to garner enough delegate support to win the nomination. So what impact will Santorum's exit from the campaign have on the remainder of the race? It seems that Pennsylvania's April 24 primary won't mean much now, at least in the presidential campaigns. Officially, Republicans Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul are still candidates, but they are both well behind even Santorum. Franklin and Marshall College political analyst Dr. G. Terry Madonna joins us on Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk to examine the upcoming primary. Also, the Radio Smart Talk conversations with candidates running for statewide office continues Wednesday with Democratic state Attorney General candidate Patrick Murphy making an appearance. | 4/11/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/10/2012 | Research shows that 77% of all students in grades K-12 have been bullied at one time or another. Actually, the number of kids or young adults who have been or are being bullied is increasing because now bullies are using social media and the internet to intimidate, belittle and and exert their power. In many cases, cyber bullying is taking the place of physical or verbal bullying. KidsPeace, a Lehigh Valley-based organization that serves the behavioral and mental needs of children and their families, has started a new interactive website called the Anti-Bullying League. Appearing on Tuesday's program will be Julius Licata, the director of KidsPeace's TeenCentral.net and ParentCentral.net to discuss bullying and how to prevent it. Have you ever been bullied? Tell us your story. Also, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marc Scaringi joins us to discuss his candidacy and the issues as the April 24 primary in Pennsylvania approaches. | 4/10/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/09/2012 | The political candidates running statewide will join us on Radio Smart Talk over the next two weeks, leading up to Pennsylvania's April 24 primary election. First up on Monday's program is Steve Welch, one of five Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate. The winner of the primary will face incumbent Democrat, Sen. Bob Casey in November. Also, we'll take a look at Pennsylvania's controversial Voter ID law. For the first time, Pennsylvania voters will be required to produce an accepted form of identification before voting in November. Poll workers will ask for ID for the primary, but if the voter isn't able to show it, that person will still be permitted to vote. The new law's supporters say it is needed to stop voter fraud. Opponents claim the law is an attempt to suppress groups of voters who are least likely to have valid identification. Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Carol Aichele will be on the program to explain the law and what are acceptable forms of identification. Vic Walczak, the Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania will discuss efforts to challenge the law and Joseph Robinson of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Development Institute will describe his group's efforts to ensure voters obtain the ID they need to vote. | 4/9/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/06/2012 | The only sure way to reduce healthcare costs is to use the system less. So says Steve Jacob, the author of the new book Health Care in 2020: Where Uncertain Reform, Bad Habits, Too Few Doctors, and Skyrocketing Costs Are Taking Us. Jacob writes that much of the blame for the increasing costs of healthcare can be placed on American lifestyles that include smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, poor diet and binge drinking. Jacob will appear on Friday's Radio Smart Talk to discuss what impact the ''Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act'' or reform will have on healthcare, whether the law will survive and will it matter if it doesn't. Jacob says 20 cents of every dollar will be spent on healthcare over the next 10 years and unless big changes occur, there won't be enough doctors or nurses to provide care. It is not a pretty picture Jacob describes. Tune in to learn more about this thought provoking topic. | 4/6/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/05/2012 | Last year, Dr. Craig Meyers, a researcher at Penn State's Hershey Medical Center, and his team discovered that a certain virus destroyed the cancer cells it came into contact without having a negative impact on the human body. More testing is being done on the Meyers discovery, but the seed money for that finding came from the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition's Refunds for Research campaign. By checking YES on line 35 of the PA 40 income tax form, Pennsylvanians have contributed nearly $3 million for cancer research. On Thursday's Radio Smart Talk, Pat Halpin Murphy, the President and Founder of the PA Breast Cancer Coalition, joins us to update the campaign and research. Also, Susan Lacey's parents were killed in a tragic car crash in Pennsylvania more than 50 years ago. Susan grew up in California but never knew where her parents were buried. One of Susan's best friends from college now lives in Central Pennsylvania. She was able to find the graves and fill in some of the blanks for Susan. It's a story with many twists, turns and ironies and Susan Lacy and her friend Joanne Cassaro will tell it on Thursday's Radio Smart Talk. | 4/5/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/04/2012 | The kitchen is the room in many homes that is taken for granted. Up to three meals plus snacks are prepared each day in the kitchen, but often we grab the tools and ingredients we need without even thinking about it. More thought may go into preparation if something is out of place, ("where is that Hog Maw anyway?") or if a special dish that takes more time is being concocted. Have you ever drawn up an inventory of the truly essential tools and ingredients we use in our kitchens? Beyond the plates, knives and forks, what couldn't you do without? Culinary consultant and Chef Donna Desfor joins us on Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk to present her 10 Kitchen Essentials. Chef Desfor also writes about the essentials in her Wednesday Food column on witf.org. We'd like to hear from you. What are your kitchen essentials? | 4/4/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/03/2012 | Joining us on Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk will be Rear Admiral Janice Hamby, the Department of Defense Chief Information Officer and Acting Military Deputy Chief of Staff for the U.S. Navy. Admiral Hamby is in the midstate this week to meet with Governor Tom Corbett, Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson and other corporate, civic and higher education officials to discuss the Navy's role in the world today. The Navy has unique responsibilities in the war on terror, unlike what it has performed in previous engagements. A new duty the Navy has taken on (in this century) is protecting shipping lanes from modern day pirates. Just last week, the Department of Defense said the Navy has 282 ships on the seas and will shoot for 300 in the next five years. Is that enough? Admiral Hamby will address these and other issues about the Navy. She also can discuss her time on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower, the first permanent coed combat ship in the U.S. Navy. | 4/3/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/02/2012 | April is Child Abuse Awareness Month and Monday's Radio Smart Talk will focus on several aspects of abuse, including how to recognize it, mandatory reporting of suspected abuse and how to prevent it. Appearing on the program will be the Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance and Pulitzer Prize nominated author and commentator Regina Brett. There were almost 25,000 reports of child abuse in Pennsylvania in 2010. About 15% or 3,656 cases were substantiated. Two-thirds of the confirmed child abuse cases were against girls. The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 2003 defines child abuse as: Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm. Child abuse generally comes under four headings; physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse and emotional abuse. How can we keep kids safe from abuse and help them to grow up healthy and happy? One way is by calling ChildLine, a 24-hour service to report child abuse, at 800-932-0313. | 4/2/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/30/2012 | Cancer can take a tremendous physical, emotional, and mental toll on those diagnosed with the disease. But how do doctors and scientists, who are charged with treating survivors and conducting cancer research, cope with the disease? What's it like to tell a patient he or she has cancer, or to work tirelessly to come one step closer to finding a cure? As part of witf's multimedia Facing Cancer Together project, we'll talk with Dr. Anne Alaniz, a gynecologic oncologist from WellSpan Health. Besides working here in central Pennsylvania, Alaniz is also helping to build a health clinic in her home country of Malawi. We'll also hear from Brad Heidrich, a senior associate cancer scientist at Johnson & Johnson whose work has been inspired by his own cancer diagnosis. So-called "pink slime" or lean, finely textured beef has been getting a lot of attention lately. LFTB is lean meat that remains on fat trimmings removed from beef carcasses. The leftovers are heated to 100 degrees and spun to remove most of the fat. Using a mechanical process, it is then compressed and used in hamburger. LFTB does not have an appetizing appearance and that's where it gets its pink slime nickname. LFTB has been used for years but was the target of hundreds of thousands of people on social networks, who pointed out that the meat is decontaminated with ammonia gas or citric acid. As a result, a number of grocery store chains are no longer selling ground beef with LFTB and school districts are deciding whether they will continue to provide lunches with the filler. Edward Mills, an associate professor of dairy and animal science at Penn State's School of Agricultural Sciences says there's nothing wrong with pink slime except the name and that the recent controversy has been over hyped by the media. Mills will join us on Friday's Radio Smart Talk. | 3/30/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/29/2012 | The April 15 income tax deadline is fast approaching. If you are receiving a refund, you may have already filed. If not, you may have questions because, lets face it, filing taxes is not an easy task, especially when rules and laws change every year. Thursday's Radio Smart Talk will be our annual "Ask a tax question" program. Even if you've already filed, it's not too late to ask a question. Appearing on the program will be two local Certified Public Accountants. Call us at 1-800-729-7532 or ask a question in the comment area below. One of the questions asked most often this year concerns the Pennsylvania income tax. The state is looking for Pennsylvanians to pay the 6% tax on items purchased online. Tune in to find out if you're required to pay the tax. | 3/29/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/28/2012 | More than 205,000 people are employed in technology industries in Pennsylvania -- ranking seventh in the nation. They earn an average of $81,300 annually. High tech jobs such as electronic component manufacturing, software services, space and defense systems, internet and telecommunications and biotechnology are spread sporadically throughout the state but are mostly concentrated in certain areas such as southeastern Pennsylvania. Many of these companies are innovators and are constantly working to develop new products. On Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk. Kelly Lewis, the CEO of Tech Quest PA, will join us to discuss technology in Pennsylvania, including nominees for PA Tech Awards that will be handed out this weekend. Do they include new innovations? During the program, Lewis mentioned a website where tech jobs are available. See it here. Also, American history is full of stories that are told over and over and bring out the pride in many of us. What about the darker side of history though? How do we deal with the villains, criminals or episodes we're not so proud of? This conversation is prompted by a bobblehead doll of Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth that was removed from the shelves of the Museum and Visitors Center at the Gettysburg Battlefield earlier this month because it was deemed inappropriate. Dr. Gary Cross, a Distinguished Professor of Modern History at Penn State University joins us. | 3/28/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/27/2012 | A case can be made that the Susquehanna River is the lifeblood of Central Pennsylvania. Millions of people get their drinking water from the Susquehanna. The river is one of the most treasured natural resources for wildlife, habitat, and recreation as well. That's why when the national environmental group American Rivers named the Susquehanna as the nation's most endangered river last year, many people stood up and listened. American Rivers cited hydraulic fracturing used in drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale as a threat to the health of the Susquehanna. Among the environmental groups dedicated to the sustainability of the river is Stewards of the Lower Susquehanna and Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper. Guy Alsentzer and Michael Helfrich of the two groups will appear on Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk to address the river's health and threats such as fracking, wastewater, sediment and animal feeding operations. | 3/27/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/26/2012 | The shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida last month is the talk the of the nation. George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch captain, admitted killing the unarmed teenager, but says he was defending himself. Under Florida's "stand your ground" law, a person can legally use deadly force if they believe their life is in danger. The case has raised many questions. Was race a factor? Did Zimmerman become suspicious of Martin because he was black? Why didn't Zimmerman listen to an emergency dispatcher who told him not to pursue Martin? Why didn't the Sanford police department arrest Zimmerman? (See NPR's coverage here) Many Pennsylvanians may be asking how does the state's "Castle Doctrine" law compare with Florida's stand-your ground statute? We'll discuss the Trayvon Martin case on Monday's Radio Smart Talk with one of the nation's leading academics on criminal procedure -- Professor Gabriel "Jack" Chin, who teaches law at the University of California/Davis School of Law. Prof. Chin is speaking at the Widener School of Law in Harrisburg Monday at 4:30 p.m. as part of Widener's sixth-annual John L. Gedid lecture. Prof. Chin is also considered an authority on immigration law. In fact, his lecture at Widener is titled State Assistance (Interference?) in the Enforcement of Federal Immigration Law. Chin's lecture is of particular interest in Pennsylvania where the city of Hazleton in Luzerne County enacted one of the nation's first ordinances to crack down on illegal immigrants. Courts have thrown out Hazleton's law saying immigration is under federal jurisdiction. | 3/26/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/23/2012 | The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports that one out of every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. About 1,200 women are killed each year by an intimate partner. If those statistics aren't shocking enough, it is estimated that only about one-quarter of all physical assaults, one-fifth of all rapes, and one-half of all stalkings are reported to police. Whether we know it or not, we all probably are acquainted with someone who is in an abusive relationship. The news is filled with tragic stories of domestic violence. One would think we as a society would be educated about it but there are still myths and a sense by many that it happens to other people. Meanwhile, the victims of domestic violence often cling to hopes that they can change their abusive partner or that it was an isolated incident. On Thursday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll focus on domestic violence in the midstate -- the causes, what to look for, the myths, and how to get help. The phone number for the 24-hour National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-SAFE (7233). | 3/23/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/22/2012 | Being a Girl Scout was a rite of passage for millions of American women. In fact, some 59 million adult women -- almost half of the nation's adult female population -- were members of the Girl Scouts. Girl Scouts of the USA are celebrating their 100th birthday this month and have declared 2012 as the "Year of the Girl" to bring attention to the value of encouraging and supporting girls. On Thursday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll spotlight the Girl Scouts and its impact on young women. Part of the program will also be devoted to a discussion of challenges young women face today. A report released earlier this month called Girl Scouting Works: The Alumnae Impact shows women who were or are Girl Scouts display significantly more positive life outomes than those who weren't Girl Scouts. For example, the survey found 66% of former Girl Scouts, who are mothers, have been a mentor/volunteer in their child's youth organization, compared to 48% of those who weren't Girl Scouts; 77% of Girl Scout alumnae vote regularly while 63% of non-Girl Scouts vote; and Girl Scout alumnae report household incomes of $51,700 compared to $42,200 for non alumnae. What experiences in the Girl Scouts led women to those outcomes? Were you in the Girl Scouts? Describe your memories. | 3/22/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/21/2012 | In the weeks and months after a governor proposes his or her state budget, there will be individuals and groups who will criticize the governor's spending priorities. The outcry is usually louder when funding cuts are proposed. Last year, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed budget slashed funding for public education by about a billion dollars. The governor said the reduction was to offset stimulus money from the federal government that was no longer available. Public education advocates, schools, administrators and teachers made dire predictions. The final budget resulted in cuts of more than $800 million. The full impact may not have been realized yet. This year, proposed cuts in state funding to state-related and state-owned universities have gotten most of the attention. However, at the same time, advocates and parents of children with intellectual and mental disabilities are aggressively fighting the governor's proposal to reduce funding to programs they utilize by 20%, while providing one block grant to counties who would administer services. In fact, a coalition of advocates have gone as far as filing a lawsuit against the state, saying it is not meeting it's obligations. On Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll hear from several of those advocacy groups. Since litigation is pending, Pennsylvania Secretary of Public Welfare Gary Alexander has been invited to appear on a future program. | 3/21/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/20/2012 | A group of Franklin and Marshall College students helped research genes associated with inherited diseases of the nervous system in 2010 and last year. How big a deal was it? Some of the students called it, "the opportunity of a lifetime." Not only did the students conduct the research, but their work was published in the journal PLoS One earlier this year and could be used by other researchers or medical professionals working to find cures or better treatment options for the diseases in the future. The F&M students collaborated with the Lancaster County based Clinic for Special Children, a nonprofit medical and diagnostic service for children who have genetic disorders, The Broad Institute at Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Swarthmore College, the University of Wisconsin and the University of Vermont. On Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll learn about their research. Also, Saloma Miller Furlong, author of Why I Left the Amish joins us to discuss her book and life in the Amish community. | 3/20/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/19/2012 | Hope International says that when it comes to fighting poverty in poor countries overseas, charity isn't enough. Hope International is a faith-based organization that provides small loans, business training and savings services to would be entrepreneurs in 16 countries, including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Haiti. The organization's headquarters is in Lancaster. On Monday's Radio Smart Talk, Hope International president and CEO Peter Greer will discuss how they help people who don't have a whole lot help themselves economically. Also, a new report should raise some eyebrows in Pennsylvania. The state's second annual Civic Health Index found that Pennsylvanians ranked last in the nation in the frequency they discuss politics. The Index was a collaboration of the National Constitution Center, the National Conference on Citizenship, and the Center for Democratic Deliberation at Penn State University. | 3/19/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/16/2012 | People who have been diagnosed with cancer very often say it's the game changer. Cancer is the big "C" -- the most significant aspect of their lives. They start with fear, wondering whether they will live or die. If that person survives cancer, they often view life differently. Some are inspired to live each day to the fullest and experience everything they've always wanted to, while others just relish being able top spend more time with family and friends. Friday's guest on Radio Smart Talk is a cancer survivor. But cancer may have or may not have been his biggest challenge. Jay Snyder of Harrisburg was wounded in Vietnam and came under fire in combat often. He came home and recovered from his wounds and went on to be the director of the U.S. Open Tennis Championship. Today he lives in the Harrisburg area and inspires others with his story. It's another part of witf's Facing Cancer Together initiative. Also, March is National Nutrition Month and we'll discuss simple ways to change your diet and eat healthier. | 3/16/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/15/2012 | More than 80% of all business organizations in the U.S. are family-owned. Depending on how they're defined, family owned businesses employ between 27% and 62% of all U.S. workers and contribute 64% to the nation's Gross Domestic Product. Those numbers may surprise some people who picture a mom- and-pop type small business when they think of an enterprise that is family-owned. The bottom line is tens of millions of Americans are employed by or are customers of family-owned businesses. Family-owned businesses are in a good position to tell their stories about what they're observing in the economy. That's just what a few dozen Pennsylvania family-owned businesses did recently in a survey conducted for the S. Dale High Family Business Center at Elizabethtown College. The Family Business Survey found businesses are optimistic about their own prospects but nearly half are pessimistic about the U.S. economy. More than a third plan to hire more workers in the coming year. On Thursday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll zero in on family-owned business and what they can tell us about the economy. | 3/15/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/14/2012 | Two organizations who often disagree with one another politically recently opined on welfare in Pennsylvania. The conservative Commonwealth Foundation said welfare has become "a vast series of programs that fall far short of the good intentions behind them." The editorial went on to criticize welfare spending in Pennsylvania as being too costly and providing low-quality care to recipients. The liberal Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center responded that the Commonwealth Foundation was seeing a problem that doesn't exist, adding "most human services spending is not on welfare, but on health care for low-income seniors, children and people with disabilities." Both groups will appear on Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk to state their cases and discuss where welfare in Pennsylvania is heading. In his 2012-2013 state budget proposal, Gov. Tom Corbett laid out $10.53 billion in spending on welfare programs in Pennsylvania. That's nearly $30 million less than the current fiscal year. The Corbett administration is proposing the elimination of a solely-state-funded cash assistance program, affecting about 61,000 Pennsylvanians, and repackaging nearly $850 million in county grants. During his budget address, Corbett said the changes are meant to transform welfare system and "right-size" it. | 3/14/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/13/2012 | A few weeks ago, the school board in the West Shore School District dropped a plan, for now, to consolidate it's two high school sports programs -- Cedar Cliff and Red Land. The district faces a $3.7 million budget shortfall and there were estimates that the consolidation of the athletic programs and closing an elementary school could save up to $1 million. West Shore is one of several in Pennsylvania that has or still is considering consolidation of schools within the district to cut costs. Many have tight budgets and are facing shortfalls. Not that long ago, then Gov. Ed Rendell proposed an even bigger step -- consolidating or merging school districts. In fact Rendell wanted to shrink the state's 500 school districts into about 100, saying consolidation would spread the local share of public education costs across a wider population, which would reduce the pressure on property taxes. In the three years since, only two districts have merged into one. Others have said consolidation doesn't result in the savings that were expected. On Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll look at whether consolidation of schools, activities or school districts would reduce costs. We'll hear from the superintendent where that one merger occurred in Pennsylvania | 3/13/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/12/2012 | What do human trafficking, children of incarcerated parents and wrongful convictions have in common? All are topics that have been studied recently by the Joint State Government Commission. The Joint State Government Commission is a non-partisan research organization that provides information to the General Assembly. On Monday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll learn more about the Commission and what their research found on these three issues. Appearing on the program will be Executive Director David John and Research Analyst Dr. Helen Khanzhina. | 3/12/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/09/2012 | It was a controversy that dominated the headlines this week. A billboard went up at 13th and Paxton Streets in Harrisburg Wednesday that said, "Slaves obey your masters" -- a quote from Colossians 3:22 in the Bible. The quote didn't get as much attention as the image that accompanied it -- a drawing that depicted a black slave with irons around his neck. Many who saw the billboard were outraged, calling the message racist and said it was offensive, especially in an area of the city with a large African-American population. Within 24 hours, the billboard was vandalized and torn down. The Pennsylvania chapter of the group American Atheists and PA Non-Believers sponsored the billboard to protest a non-binding resolution unanimously adopted by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives designating 2012 as "The Year of the Bible." On Friday's Radio Smart Talk, Ernest Perce V, the State Director of American Atheists, will appear, as well as Rachel Jones Williams, a historian and author. Also, on a much lighter note, we'll discuss hiking and trails in Pennsylvania with Curt Ashenfelter, Executive Director of the Keystone Trails Association and Jim Foster, President of the Cumberland Valley Appalachian Trail Association. | 3/9/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/08/2012 | Thursday is World Kidney Day. It is a day designated to bring awareness of the importance of kidneys to overall health and to reduce the frequency and impact of kidney disease. The Kidney Foundation of Central Pennsylvania says the incidence of kidney failure is increasing. Right now, it is estimated there are 381,000 dialysis patients and 165,000 people with functioning kidney transplants. Another 87,000 are awaiting a kidney transplant. On Thursday's Radio Smart Talk, a kidney transplant surgeon, a woman who received a new kidney from a donor, and someone from the Kidney Foundation of Central Pennsylvania will appear. Also, Pennsylvania's text message while driving ban goes into effect Thursday. A local police officer will join us on the program to answer questions about the new law. | 3/8/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/07/2012 | Most of us have visited cemeteries to pay our respects to a loved one or a friend who has passed away. But have you ever strolled through a cemetery, looking at the tombstones and making a mental note of the age of the deceased, when they lived, how many family members are at rest nearby or if that person fought in a war? Some may find it grotesque, but others see it as remembering the dead and a history lesson too. Wednesday's guests on Radio Smart talk took it one step farther -- they co-authored a book about well-known people who are buried in Pennsylvania. In Keystone Tombstones, Joseph Farrell and Joseph Farley write biographies of dozens of people from politics, government, show business, and sports who left their mark on the world. The book also contains photographs of their graves and where the cemeteries are located. It is an unusual subject for a book but it is a fascinating read. | 3/7/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/06/2012 | How often do you visit your local library? Libraries throughout Pennsylvania are often at the center of a community and not just geographically. However, with the popularity of the internet and the ease it takes to obtain information, libraries sometimes are thought of as being "old school" and just a building that houses books. A new campaign by the Pennsylvania Library Association, called PA Forward/Pennsylvania Libraries is seeking to redefine the library and make it an educational institution that uses the latest technology to "help citizens improve their command of five types of literacy essential to greater success in all vital roles of life: as students, as parents, as employers, as consumers and as citizens." The organization defines these literacies as basic, information, civic and social, health, and financial. | 3/6/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/05/2012 | The price of gasoline has been steadily rising over the last few weeks. In fact, the average for a gallon of regular unleaded has increased by more 40 cents in the last year to about $3.78 a gallon in Pennsylvania. Why are prices heading up? Is it Iran threatening to close the Straits of Hormuz, commodity speculators on Wall Street, or the shutdown of oil refineries? Maybe the answer is all-of-the-above. Why may not matter to many motorists and their families. Their main concern is the additional burden on their budgets due to the higher fuel prices. Businesses, especially those that utilize ground transportation, have to be thinking about passing along the higher fuel costs they pay to their customers. They have to wonder is that enough to drive business away? On Monday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll focus on gas prices and ask what's causing the spike, how high prices will go and what motorists can do to conserve. AAA is offering several tips to drivers to help save fuel as gas prices increase. Have you changed your driving habits in response to the higher gas prices? In what ways? How much more are you paying for gasoline each week? | 3/5/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/02/2012 | Earlier this week, the Pentagon said the unidentified remains of passengers from United Flight 93 that crashed near Shanksville, PA on September 11, 2001 had been sent to the military mortuary at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware and eventually disposed of in a landfill. Somerset County Coroner Wallace Miller immediately denied any remains had gone to Dover and said that unidentified remains had been buried near the crash site. The Air Force backed off later in the week and agreed. Miller will explain on Friday's program. The photograph to the right is what the Flight 93 crash site looks like today. Also, Carl Kasell, the host of NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me program and a longtime NPR Morning Edition anchor will discuss his career. Kasell will join the Gettysburg College Wind Symphony on stage Friday night. Dr. Todd Baker, the author of the new book Baghdad ER 15 Minutes will also join us to talk about his time working as an emergency treatment doctor in Iraq. | 3/2/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/01/2012 | Last year, a Maryland man pleaded guilty to charges related to falsely claiming that he was an Army Green Beret who had reached the rank of colonel. Sixty-six-year-old William Hillar of Millersville was ordered to spend 21 months in prison and pay $170,000 in restitution to the law enforcement, first responders and schools who had hired him to teach counterterrorism and drug and human trafficking interdiction. Hillar was not charged under the Stolen Valor Act but many who have lied and said they had been awarded honors or medals in the military have faced charges. Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a case where a California man falsely said he was a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. The Court will decide whether that lie rises to the level of a crime or the man was within his freedom of speech rights. On Thursday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll talk about the Stolen Valor Act and what the Court will consider. We would also like to hear your opinion. Does lying about one's military record constitute a crime or is it an example of protected free speech -- even though it may be distasteful? | 3/1/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 02/29/2012 | In our society, when a law or rule has been broken, the offender is punished. Ideally, the rule or lawbreaker accepts the punishment, learns from it and uses it as motivation to never offend again. Sometimes it works, but other times it doesn't. Research over the past decade shows that 43%-66% of former prison inmates are re-arrested for breaking the law again within three years after being released from prison. Many would say those statistics alone indicate punishment alone is not the answer. On Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk we'll discuss a theory called restorative justice or on another level, restorative discipline. Restorative justice and discipline seek to repair the harm done by the offender and usually involves victims, the community (in some cases a school) and mediation. It could mean the offender taking responsibility for their actions, apologizing, or paying restitution. Is restorative justice or discipline effective? | 2/29/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 02/28/2012 | February is Black History Month. This year's theme is women. Our guest -- historian and author Rachel Jones Williams will discuss several Pennsylvania women who left a lasting imprint on the Commonwealth and its people. To name a few -- C. Delores Tucker was the first African-American woman to hold a cabinet position in Pennsylvania and also campaigned against violent and sexually graphic lyrics in hip-hop music; Julia C. Collins of Williamsport was the nation's first black woman novelist; and Marian Anderson was one of the most celebrated singers of the 20th Century. Learn more about other black women such as Sadie T.M. Alexander, the first African-American woman to receive a Ph.D.; Daisy Lampkin, a civil rights activist. Which historic figure do you admire most or find most fascinating? | 2/28/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 02/27/2012 | Tuesday night at 8, TV's longest-running and most watched history program, The American Experience will present The Amish. (Watch a trailer and learn more about The Amish) The film is described as "an intimate portrait of contemporary Amish faith and life that examines how such a closed and communal culture has thrived within one of the most open, individualistic societies on earth." Appearing on Monday's Radio Smart Talk to discuss the film and the Amish themselves will be Mark Samels, the Executive Producer of the American Experience and Dr. Donald Kraybill, the Senior Fellow at the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College who was a consultant on the film. Even though the Amish are our neighbors in Central Pennsylvania, many of us still have questions about their beliefs and lifestyles. Tune in. | 2/27/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 02/24/2012 | witf's multimedia Facing Cancer Together initiative began almost a year ago with several goals in mind. One of the most important was to educate. We've learned about the different types of cancer, what causes the disease, the treatments and how to live with cancer. However, Friday's Radio Smart Talk will be one of the best educational opportunities of all. Emmy-Award winning journalist Lori Hope will appear on the program to discuss her book, Help Me Live -- 20 Things People With Cancer Want You to Know. Hope writes that most people with cancer want to feel heard, respected, understood and valued; to laugh; to be loved and above all to love! She says the book can be that lifeline. Also, the 2012 Grand Championship of witf's Central PA Spelling Bee is scheduled for Saturday at the Public Media Center. Thirty-four 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students will compete to move on to the Scripps National Spelling Bee near Washington D.C. On Friday's Radio Smart Talk, Spelling Bee Coordinator Ruth Keim will join us to discuss the competition and lead a mini-spelling bee of witf staff members. | 2/24/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 02/23/2012 | Appearing on Thursday's Radio Smart Talk, best-selling author Amy Stewart, who has written one of the most unusual, and fascinating books you'll ever read -- Wicked Bugs: The Louse That Conquered Napoleon's Army and other Diabolical Insects. In the book, Stewart tells little known stories about slimy, creepy insects and how they interact with humans, each other and the rest of the natural world. Wicked Bugs is probably not for the squeamish but Stewart writes in such a clever, dark-humored sort of way, it makes the book hard to put down. The sub-title refers to Napoleon's 1812 defeat in Russia. His army wasn't beaten by the cold and Russians as much as it was by body lice that infested the troops' clothing and made them sick. That's one of dozens of stories about insects and how they changed history. Amy Stewart will appear at Franklin and Marshall College's North Museum February 29 and March 1. F and M is hosting the exhibit Bugs...Outside the Box between now and May 13. Also on Thursday's program, the Pennsylvania Department of Health will discuss the second annual "Quit for Love" anti-smoking campaign. Free nicotine replacement therapy kits will distributed as part of the campaign. More information about how to quit smoking can be found by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) | 2/23/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 02/22/2012 | Competent. Trustworthy. Respectful. Acts with integrity. Cooperative. These are words used to describe professionals in the workplace. For many people, being called a professional is the highest compliment one can receive -- at least when it comes to career matters. But is what was considered professionalism 25 years ago the same as it is today? The Center for Professional Excellence at York College of Pennsylvania has conducted a nationwide survey of human resource professionals and business leaders on the state of professionalism. On Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk, Jay Randall, the Center's Executive Director and David Polk of the Polk-Lepson Research Group join us to discuss their findings. For example, about half of the respondents said younger employees feel a sense of entitlement while about 27% indicated electronic devices and social media contributed to employees being less focused at work. But does that make those employees less professional? | 2/22/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 02/21/2012 | Education in Pennsylvania appears to be at a crossroads. When Gov. Tom Corbett outlined a four-pronged education reform plan last year, he said "we just can't keep doing things the same way and expect different results." It may not matter whether the education establishment is on board with major changes or not, because the Corbett Administration could be forcing public schools and colleges and universities to think differently by cutting or limiting state funding. The governor proposed a $27.1 billion state budget two weeks ago. Included in the plan were up to 30% funding reductions to state-related universities Penn State, Pitt, and Temple and 20% less to state-owned schools like Millersville and Shippensburg. This follows the current fiscal year budget that slashed funding by about 19%. The institutions warn tuitions will probably rise if Corbett's plan is approved by the legislature. At the same time, Corbett appointed a higher education advisory panel who has been given the task of finding ways to make college more affordable while being fair to taxpayers. The most controversial aspect of Gov. Corbett's first budget last year was a proposal for almost a billion dollars in state funding cuts to K-12 public education. The spending plan that adopted took the reductions to over $800 million but schools complained loudly. Corbett countered that the education budget reflected the reality of losing federal stimulus funds from Washington. The governor's current proposal would hold funding pretty much even, but again critics say it takes funding levels to about the same as 2008-2009 levels. On Tuesday's program, Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Ronald Tomalis joins us to discuss the Administration's plans for education and not just in the area of funding. | 2/21/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 02/20/2012 | The legacy of the 42nd President of the United States is not one that's easily decided. Supporters of former President Bill Clinton may point out his involvement in several key policy decisions that shaped the course of the 1990s, such as the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement and the passage of welfare reform. But critics of Clinton are eager to bring up the sex scandal that eventually led to his impeachment and tarnished his image for many Americans. But what should the man be remembered for? And what did those close to him think about his decisions, both on the political stage and in his personal life? To mark Presidents' Day, we'll talk with Michael Takiff, author of the biography, A Complicated Man: The Life of Bill Clinton as Told by Those Who Know Him. The book features interviews with several people who were familiar with the man who would become governor of Arkansas, and later, president, both before and after he was elected to public office. We'll also hear about Clinton: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, a new documentary about the former president, from its director and producer, Barak Goodman. Clinton: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE airs on witf-TV at 9pm on Monday, February 20th and at 8pm on Tuesday, February 21st. | 2/20/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 02/17/2012 | The second season of one of the most talked-about shows on television is coming to a close this Sunday. MASTERPIECE's Downton Abbey has garnered critical acclaim as well as numerous awards, including an Emmy for "outstanding miniseries or movie." The stories of the men and women who grace the Earl and Countess of Grantham's country home, Downton Abbey, have also captured millions of viewers each week. We'll talk with the show's executive producer, Rebecca Eaton, about what fans can expect to see in this weekend's season finale, as well as what they can look forward to for next season. MASTERPIECE's Downton Abbey airs Sunday evenings at 9:00pm on witf-TV. Also, in the second portion of today's program, we'll discuss sustainable agriculture and fresh foods. The state is home to nearly eight million acres of farmland, and its agribusiness rakes in more than $60 billion dollars each year. But just becasue the industry continues to contribute billions of dollars to the commonwealth, doesn't mean it's without its challenges. Debates over the safety of raw foods and the merit of buying organic products have sprung up in recent years. Many young people whose parents and grandparents have been farmers for years are deciding not to continue with the family business. And farmers are trying to ensure the practices they use today don't negatively impact their farmland for years to come. We'll hear from Hannah Smith, community outreach coordinator for the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture, and Homer Walden, owner of the Sunnyside Farm in Dover, York County, about sustainable agriculture and local foods. Below is a commercial commissioned by Chipotle to emphasize the importance of developing a sustainable food system. In it, Coldplay's classic "The Scientist" is performed by country music legend Willie Nelson. The commercial depicts the life of a farmer as he slowly turns his family farm into an industrial animal factory before seeing the errors of his ways and opting for a more sustainable future. | 2/17/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 02/16/2012 | The city of Harrisburg's financial struggles have been grabbing headlines across the country and around the world for months. Accusations of bickering, political posturing and obstructionism have whirled through the capital. The struggle to find a way to cope with the city's crushing, more than $300 million debt related to its trash incinerator have included a controversial bankruptcy filing and a state takeover. Now, the city's state-appointed financial custodian has rolled out his recovery plan. The message from the region's leaders has been the same throughout the Harrisburg financial crisis: central Pennsylvania is open for business. On Thursday's Radio SmartTalk, we'll hear about the progress the midstate's business community says it is making, and we'll talk about how business leaders are working to preserve the good reputation of the capital city and the surrounding area. Our guests are David Black, the CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC; Richard Jordan II, CEO of Smith Land & Improvement Corporation; and Thomas Brown, Jr., president of the McClure Company and Board Chair. This trio of business leaders will discuss the impact of Harrisburg's financial crisis on the greater region. | 2/16/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 02/15/2012 | Each year, more than one million Americans will have heart attacks. Many of us have heard that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, killing more than 2,000 Americans each day. But, we also know that heart disease is widely preventable by eating right and exercising regularly. And while it may be difficult to hit the gym as much as we’d like, there are still other small ways we can help reduce our risk for heart disease. As February is American Heart Month, we’ll talk with Dr. Ian Gilchrist from the Penn State Hershey Heart and Vascular Institute. Also, as part of witf's multimedia, Facing Cancer Together initiative, we’ll discuss rare cancers with Dr. Brian Pettiford of WellSpan Health and Leslie Vogel, a two-time cancer survivor who says some cancers receive more awareness than others. Entire months are dedicated to bringing awareness to certain types of cancers, but what about those cancers that don’t affect as many people? We'll welcome your questions and comments on rare cancers and heart health on Radio Smart Talk. | 2/15/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 02/14/2012 | Last night, Governor Tom Corbett signed a bill overhauling Pennsylvania’s natural gas drilling regulations into law. The legislation, which takes effect in 60 days, places an “impact fee” on every well drilling for gas in the state’s Marcellus Shale formation, and will likely generate around $200 million this fall. An impact fee or severance tax has been a major issue at the Capitol for more than three years. So now that it’s a done deal, and passed into law, what comes next? This morning, we’ll answer your questions about the new fee by talking to three people involved in different aspects of drilling. Today’s guests: -Myron Arnowitt of Clean Water Action -Mike Knapp, of drilling consulting firm Knapp Acquisitions -Doug Hill, the executive director of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania | 2/14/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 02/13/2012 | Pennsylvania is the second-oldest state in the nation, and with that distinction comes some rich history. The commonwealth was once home to a United States President, an epic Civil War battle, and several Nobel Prize winners. From military parks to historic houses, the state offers many sites that are on history buffs’ "must-see" lists. But without proper preservation, these sites may not even be around for the public to enjoy. That’s why there’s the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, which is charged with overseeing and preserving the state’s history and culture. As of late last year, the agency has a new executive director, James Vaughan. Vaughan, who previously served as vice president for Stewardship of Historic Sites for the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, DC was lured out of retirement to take the job with the PHMC. We’ll talk with Vaughan about the future of the agency, some of the state’s ongoing preservation projects, and what Governor Corbett’s proposed 2012-2013 budget could mean for the preservation of historic sites. We’ll also hear from Jan Scruggs, president and founder of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. The organization is currently looking for photos of those who served in the Vietnam War to add to the war’s memorial in Washington, DC. | 2/13/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 02/10/2012 | It's a four-letter word that can trigger happiness, stress, confusion, excitement, and a host of other things: it's love. But what makes a person fall in love with someone else? How much does physical attraction factor into love? And what happens to the brain when a person falls in love? Since Valentine's Day is just around the corner, we'll talk with Dr. Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist from Rutgers University who's studied the cheerful sides of love, such as monogamy and the chemistry of romantic love, and the more unsettling parts of love, including adultery and divorce. Dr. Fisher says there are three types of brain systems when it comes to mating, so we'll find out how to tell when it's love-- or lust. And, in the second part of today's program, we want to hear from you about how you met your spouse or significant other. Maybe it was love at first sight--or maybe it wasn't. Whether you've been together a few months or years, or you're marking a silver or gold anniversary together, we want to know how you first met your valentine or the most romantic thing you've done for each other.. | 2/10/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 02/09/2012 | We often receive suggestions from listeners for topics to feature on Radio Smart Talk. In fact, we've gone as far as devoting whole programs to solicit ideas for shows. There are several subjects that come up multiple times. One is what will we focus on Thursday -- depression. That so many people want to learn more about depression could mean that they themselves suffer from the illness or they know someone who does. Either way, those who suggest the topic almost always mention that depression is misunderstood or that too many myths surround depression. Major depression is considered a serious mental illness and can influence a person's ability to work, sleep, eat, and make decisions. The National Institute of Mental Health says researchers believe depression is caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental and psychological factors. Yet, there are some who will say the depressed person should just "snap out of it," get on with their lives or stop dwelling on negative thoughts. Many who suffer from depression may believe the same things and feel guilty that they can't overcome the symptoms. | 2/9/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 02/08/2012 | The day after Governor Tom Corbett laid out his $27.1 billion state budget plan for legislators at the Capitol is a good time to dig into the numbers deeper, explain what it all means and what's being said about the spending blueprint. On Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll do just that with three Capitol reporters who analyzed the governor's proposal and talked to many people to get their opinions on how the state would be affected. Corbett's 2012-'13 FY budget is actually $20 million less than the state's current spending plan. It doesn't call for any new taxes but it does include spending cuts in several areas. The most notable is in higher education where funding for state related universities Penn State, Temple and Pittsburgh and State System of Higher Education schools like Shippensburg and Millersville would be slashed between 20 and 30%. Public schools, that took a big cut last year, would see an increase of about $45 million but would lose $100 million in grants. The governor's proposal also would close a budget deficit expected to be near $719 million when the current fiscal year ends June 30. | 2/8/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 02/07/2012 | Last week, Steve Jacob, the author of Heathcare in 2020: Where Uncertain Reform, Bad Habits, Too Few Doctors, and Skyrocketing Costs Are Taking Us appeared on Radio Smart Talk. Jacob focused on several main issues he writes about in his book -- that healthcare costs won't come down unless people use the system less, Americans will only use the system less if they live healthier lifestyles, there will be a shortage of doctors and nurses, and the impact of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or healthcare reform. A handful of topics Jacob didn't have time to address such as pharmaceuticals, tobacco and alcohol use, chronic disease, hospitals, life expectancy, and end-of-life care. | 2/7/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 02/06/2012 | Do you know who your state representative or state senator is? Maybe or maybe not. After the U.S. Census is completed every 10 years, states must draw new Congressional and legislative boundaries to reflect population shifts, gains and losses. In Pennsylvania, the Legislative Reapportionment Commission does the work. The five-member Commission, comprised of State House and Senate leaders as well as a former Superior Court judge, released their new maps late last year. In Pennsylvania, like in several other states, the process is criticized as being too political, since the party in the majority usually sets the new boundaries to their advantage. And that criticism was heard again this time. The big difference though is the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld challenges to the reapportionment map and said it didn't follow the state's Constitution that mandates districts be compact and to not divide boroughs, cities and counties, unless as a last resort. One of the court challengers -- a Lehigh County woman -- actually drew up new maps that had fewer divisions of counties and municipalities than the Commission's did. (See Amanda Holt's map) What the court ruling has done is throw Pennsylvania's run up to the April primary into a state of uncertainty. Candidates don't know what district they're running in or even living in and voters don't know who the candidates are who could be representing them. | 2/6/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 02/03/2012 | Legendary former Penn State football Coach Joe Paterno died Sunday morning, January 22 from lung cancer. The tributes to Paterno culminated with a memorial service witnessed by 12,000 at the Bryce Jordan Center on the Penn State campus and millions more on television last Thursday. The death of college football's winningest coach and one of the university's biggest benefactors arguably received as much media coverage as the passing of a head of state would. For obvious reasons, Paterno's death overshadowed inaccurate media reports from the night before saying that Paterno had died. It all started with a Twitter report that Paterno had died from the student run organization Onward State. That story was picked up, without attribution, by CBS Sports. Other reputable news organizations then ran with it. Websites, Twitter and Facebook were dominated with news that Paterno was dead. Less than an hour after the reports began, the Paterno family released a statement denying the reports. | 2/3/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 02/02/2012 | Here's the good news -- credit balances have stopped declining and appear to be increasing slowly, banks are lending again, corporations are making profits and consumers are showing signs of gaining confidence in the economy. All this is contained in a report released two weeks ago by Pennsylvania's new Independent Fiscal Office, which concluded there is room for guarded optimism. However, the IFO's report had plenty to be concerned with too. In the short term, Pennsylvania's Corporate Net Income Tax and Personal Income Tax collections are coming in lower than anticipated. The Corbett Administration is estimating a budget shortfall of about $500 million when the fiscal year ends June 30. In addition, the state's aging population does not bode well for Personal Income Tax revenue in the future. Sales and Use Tax collections appear to be doing OK, according to the IFO. We'll meet IFO Director Matthew Knittel on Thursday's Radio Smart Talk to discuss the nation and the state's economy and what it means to state government and Pennsylvanians. | 2/1/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 02/01/2012 | The only sure way to reduce healthcare costs is to use the system less. So says Steve Jacob, the author of the new book Health Care in 2020: Where Uncertain Reform, Bad Habits, Too Few Doctors, and Skyrocketing Costs Are Taking Us. Jacob writes that much of the blame for the increasing costs of healthcare can be placed on American lifestyles that include smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, poor diet and binge drinking. Jacob will appear on Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk to discuss what impact the ''Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act'' or reform will have on healthcare, whether the law will survive and will it matter if it doesn't. Jacob says 20 cents of every dollar will be spent on healthcare over the next 10 years and unless big changes occur, there won't be enough doctors or nurses to provide care. It is not a pretty picture Jacob describes. Tune in to learn more about this thought provoking topic. | 2/1/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 01/31/2012 | From 1905 to the mid-'60s, the Pennsylvania General Assembly enacted five clean water laws and coal companies were exempted from complying with each one. During that time, runoff from mines polluted many of the state's waterways. When legislation finally did pass that required coal companies to abide by the law, an incumbent lawmaker from Northumberland County was one of only six to vote against the bill. That gave his opponent -- Franklin Kury -- an opening and Kury took advantage by making the environment one of the keystones of his successful campaign. Kury went on to serve in both the State House of Representatives and the Senate and has been described as a reformer during his time in office. Kury has written a fascinating book about his career in the legislature called Clean Politics Clean Streams: A Legislative Autobiography and Reflections. Kury will appear on Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk to discuss his time in Harrisburg. Some of the same the issues Kury dealt with in the 1960s and '70s impact the state to this day. Also, Tim Potts, founder of the new Majority Party PA discusses results of a statewide poll he wants lawmakers to not only attention to, but pledge their support to follow the will of the people. | 1/31/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 01/30/2012 | TEDxEnola is all-day education reform event scheduled for Wednesday. According to the organizers, TEDxEnola will focus on cutting edge brain research topics and strategies. They say national experts from the field will share ideas and research about the critical need for brain centered learning environments in today's schools. The event promises to show what works best for student learning and success. Two of the TEDxEnola participants will appear on Monday's Radio Smart Talk to discuss their own areas of expertise. Dr. Katharine Beals is author of "Raising a Left-Brain Child in a Right-Brain World: Strategies for Helping Bright, Quirky, Socially Awkward Children to Thrive at Home and at School" Dr. Jason Conway is a project director at Capital Area Intermediate Unit 13 and will address students' social skills. witf is a partner with TEDxEnola. | 1/30/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 01/27/2012 | Radio Smart Talk features a Facing Cancer Together discussion with Barbara Jackson, the founder of the Central Coalition United to Fight Cancer or Catalyst -- an organization that provides health education for minorities. Also, non-profit organizations are doing more with less resources and their board of directors have more responsibility. We'll talk about what that means. Joining us will be Deborah Rohrer, the Executive Director of Leadership Lancaster and Ron Kratofil, President and CEI of Goodwill Keystone Area. | 1/27/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 01/26/2012 | More than half the people surveyed in a recent poll say they're concerned about the effect the new health care law will have on the quality of care they receive. Almost one third engage in no planned exercise and 85% say waiting time at their doctor's office is important to them. These are just a few of the findings from the Pennsylvania Medical Society's fourth annual poll conducted in 2011. On Thursday's Radio Smart Talk, Dr. Marilyn J. Heine, the president of the organization that represents doctors and other healthcare providers across the state, will appear to discuss the poll's results and what it tells us about what patients want. You may be surprised at some of the results, but the poll provides a good barometer of patients' priorities. For example, how often can you get an appointment with your family doctor within a few days of when you call? Have you ever asked for a specific test or treatment that the doctor did not already suggest? What about asking for a drug you saw advertised on TV? | 1/26/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 01/25/2012 | The Chinese New Year began Monday -- the 4710th Chinese New Year. It is the year of the dragon according to the Chinese zodiac calendar. For many Americans, the Chinese New Year celebration is a mystery -- just like the entire People's Republic of China. China is ruled by it's Communist Party. However, the Chinese economy is unlike other Communist nations, especially the old Soviet Union. China can be best described as being a state-run capitalistic system that includes a market economy and private property ownership. It has worked well for the Chinese. China's economy has grown at a rate of nearly 10% for the past decade -- the most robust in the world. Manufacturing has made China the world's number one exporter. Speaking of rankings, China also has the largest military on earth. | 1/25/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 01/24/2012 | Republican U.S. Rep. Todd Platts announced last week that he is retiring after his current term. In making his announcement, Congressman Platts said he publicly advocated for six-term limits in Congress and by January of next year, that's how many Platts will have served. On Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk, Congressman Platts will discuss his decision to leave Washington and we'll also asked him to address your questions and concerns about issues facing the nation. At a time when Congressional approval ratings are at an all-time low and political partisanship seems to have gotten out of hand, we'll ask Platts if anything of substance can be accomplished this year, which is an election year. | 1/24/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 01/23/2012 | Monday's Radio Smart Talk will focus on the life and legacy of former Penn State football Coach Joe Paterno. During the special, two-hour broadcast, we'll hear from former players, friends and media members who covered the Nittany Lion program. | 1/23/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 01/20/2012 | On Friday's Radio Smart Talk, the new president of Elizabethtown College in Lancaster County, Dr. Carl J. Strikwerda, joins us to discuss his vision for the liberal arts school, the value of a college degree, the affordability of higher education, and how students are being prepared for the jobs of the future. Dr. Strikwerda took leadership at Elizabethtown in August after seven years as the Dean of Arts and Sciences at William and Mary College in Virginia, where he oversaw a great expansion. His teaching background is in modern European history and the history of globalization -- two topics that have great influence on the American economy today. | 1/20/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 01/19/2012 | The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports that one out of every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. About 1,200 women are killed each year by an intimate partner. If those statistics aren't shocking enough, it is estimated that only about one-quarter of all physical assaults, one-fifth of all rapes, and one-half of all stalkings are reported to police. Whether we know it or not, we all probably are acquainted with someone who is in an abusive relationship. The news is filled with tragic stories of domestic violence. One would think we as a society would be educated about it but there are still myths and a sense by many that it happens to other people. Meanwhile, the victims of domestic violence often cling to hopes that they can change their abusive partner or that it was an isolated incident. On Thursday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll focus on domestic violence in the midstate -- the causes, what to look for, the myths, and how to get help. The phone number for the 24-hour National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-SAFE (7233). | 1/19/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 01/18/2012 | One of the lessons learned from witf's Facing Cancer Together series over the last few months is that medical science has come a long way in how cancers are diagnosed and treated. A cancer diagnosis used to be about the same as a death sentence to many. Research and technology has helped to change that. More people who were and are diagnosed with cancer are living and being treated successfully. Meanwhile there are new treatments all the time. For example, personalized healthcare or personalized medicine relating to cancer utilize technology. Oncologists use genetic, chemical and molecular information specific to the person being treated to target therapies that will be most effective. On Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll examine high tech breakthroughs in cancer research, treatment and early detection. It truly is a whole new world. witf-TV's SmartTalk, along with Facing Cancer Together, takes a look at the hi-tech breakthroughs in cancer research, and how these advances have made treating cancer more personalized and individual. Don't miss “Making It Personal”--a special LIVE Community Forum this Thursday night at 8 on witf-TV. witf's Facing Cancer Together is supported by Lancaster General Health, Pinnacle Health and Wellspan Health. | 1/18/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 01/17/2012 | The city of Harrisburg has a history as a railroad center of national importance going back to the Civil War. In the early part of the 20th Century, there were as many as 400 trains coming in and out of Harrisburg each day. Harrisburg and the region was one of the nation's steel manufacturing centers and as Pennsylvania's capital, it always had a steady economy with low unemployment. But like many American cities, the loss of manufacturing jobs and residents moving to the suburbs led to decline. Efforts to bring Harrisburg back have resulted in some successes, but Harrisburg is best known today for its daunting financial challenges. The city has faced hurdles before as documented in the new book -- City Contented -- City Discontented: A History of Modern Harrisburg. The first book published by Harrisburg's Midtown Scholar Press, it is a compilation of columns the late Paul Beers wrote for the Patriot News and Evening News over a 25-year period. The columns that describe Harrisburg and the region's rich history were edited by Penn State Harrisburg professor and author Michael Barton, who will appear on Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk to discuss the book and Harrisburg's history. | 1/17/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 01/16/2012 | Monday is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. For many across the country, it will be day of service -- performing duties to help neighbors or those who are less fortunate or to improve the community. High school civics classes will study Dr. King's life, legacy and contributions to changing a nation. The students may write essays about what they've learned and why its relevant today. What we don't hear as often on MLK Day are the stories from the people who knew Dr. King or who were inspired by him. Part of the reason is that many of those people are getting older or are no longer around. On Monday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll be joined by local two men who met Dr. King and became civil rights leaders themselves. We'll discuss their time with Dr. King, what they've witnessed over the past 40 years, and how progress has been made and still must be made in the area of equality for everyone. Our guests will be Homer Floyd, retired executive director of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and Melvin T. Johnson, president and CEO of the M.T. Johnson Group and former Chairman of the Fair Housing Council of the Capital Region. | 1/16/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 01/13/2012 | The first Baby Boomers -- those born between 1946 and 1964 -- have started to retire. This is just the beginning. It's estimated that Pennsylvania will have close to a million more residents who are age 65 and older by the year 2030. The explosion of older people will present challenges in the areas of healthcare, long-term care, housing, and transportation. That's why a new state plan for aging, being developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, takes on a greater importance. Under state and federal law, Pennsylvania must construct a four year plan to address issues related to its older citizens. Strategic planning has already begun and during the next six months, input will be solicited from organizations and businesses in the "aging network" to develop the plan. The public will be able to comment on the proposal and then it will be sent on to Gov. Tom Corbett for his approval. On Friday's Radio Smart Talk, Pennsylvania's Secretary of Aging Brian Duke will be among the guests who will join us to explain the plan. | 1/13/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 01/12/2012 | The International Energy Agency estimates that solar power will provide almost a quarter of the world's electricity by 2050. Currently, solar accounts for 0.5% so obviously there's much to be done in the next 38 years if those projections are realized. To reach that point, it will take many ventures like the Keystone Solar Project being constructed in East Drumore Township, Lancaster County -- the largest of its kind in Pennsylvania. Once completed, Keystone will produce about 7,500 megawatts per hour of electricity each year. That's the equivalent of powering 950 homes. Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster has committed to purchasing renewable energy credits from the Keystone project -- the first time a retail customer has done so. On Thursday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll be joined by Community Energy, the developer of the Keystone Solar Project to discuss the future of solar power and other renewable energies. | 1/12/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 01/11/2012 | Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk will be broadcast live from the Pennsylvania State Farm Show. The state's Secretary of Agriculture George Greig will join us to discuss the challenges facing farmers and what consumers should know. According to the Agriculture Department, Pennsylvania has cash receipts of $5.1 billion from production agriculture, 63,000 farm families and 7.7 million acres of farmland. When other support industries are figured in, production agriculture and agribusiness contributes nearly $51 billion to the state's economy. The Farm Show is billed as the nation's largest indoor agricultural exhibition. It is the perfect location to learn more about farming. If you're visiting the Farm Show, stop by and say hello (we'll be near the Maclay Street entrance with the Cat in the Hat) or tune in to find out more about Pennsylvania's agriculture industry. | 1/11/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 01/10/2012 | Emotions run high when pets or animals are involved. That certainly was the case last week when word spread of a memo in the Harrisburg Police Department advising officers that they had three options if they came upon a stray dog -- the officer could shoot the dog if the animal was aggressive or appeared to be in poor health or differing, could adopt the dog themselves or ask someone else to take the dog in or take the dog to another location where it would be safe. The instructions came after the Humane Society of Harrisburg told the city it wouldn't take in animals found there because it was behind in its payments to the shelter. Harrisburg paid $6,000 of its 2011 debt to the Humane Society in December -- the last month of the year. The Humane Society said the city owed another $800 before services would be resumed. The out-of-state parents of a local woman who had been murdered several years ago heard about the situation and made the payment. On Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk, the Executive Director of the Humane Society, Amy Kaunas, will appear to discuss the controversy and answer questions about dog laws and how strays should be dealt with. | 1/10/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 01/09/2012 | Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum surprised many people last week by almost winning the Iowa Caucases in the first contest of the 2012 presidential election. Mitt Romney came out on top of the Republican field, but edged Santorum by just eight votes. Santorum's showing in Iowa gave his campaign a bounce, but is it enough to beat Romney in the nation's first primary Tuesday in New Hampshire? As the former governor of neighboring Massachusetts, Romney has always been the comfortable leader in polls of New Hampshire voters. Romney is confident enough in New Hampshire that he has campaigned in South Carolina since Iowa voted. Does that give Santorum an opening to make up ground and how will New Hampshire voters respond to Santorum's social conservative rhetoric and record? We'll look at the ever-changing Republican presidential race on Monday's Radio Smart Talk with Franklin and Marshall College political analyst Dr. G. Terry Madonna and get the latest from New Hampshire Public Radio. | 1/9/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 01/06/2012 | Earlier this week on Radio Smart Talk, the National Federation of Independent Business said federal regulations were hurting small businesses and in turn costing them jobs. Meanwhile, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation released details of a report that claims environmental regulations actually create jobs instead of eliminating them. The report looked at two decades of reports and finds no support for the claim businesses along the bay's tributaries, like the Susquehanna River, have been hurt by such policies. Foundation President Will Baker says anti-pollution measures, such as upgrades to sewage treatment plants and farm runoff controls, could actually save money and create jobs in the long run. The Foundation estimates more than 100,000 jobs could be created across the bay's watershed. New federally mandated pollution controls aim to curb the amount of wildlife-killing nitrogen, phosphorous and sediment that are washed downstream into the bay. But, some local governments and businesses have opposed the regulations, citing the costs. Appearing on Friday's Radio Smart Talk will be William Baker, the president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Foundation's Executive Director of Pennsylvania, Matthew Ehrhart. | 1/6/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 01/05/2012 | Are you one of the millions of people who set a New Year's resolution to lose weight this year? Less than a week into the new year - have you broken your resolution yet? Losing weight and eating healthy take more than just saying you'll watch what you eat. For most people, it takes planning your meals and snacks, not succumbing to the latest fad diet, and knowing the facts about what you're putting into your body. On Thursday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll discuss living a healthy lifestyle, with an emphasis on food, with Jacqui Zimmerman, a registered dietician at Lancaster General Health. Ms. Zimmerman teaches LGH's LEARN (lifestyle, exercise, attitude, relationships and nutrition) weight management program, so she'll have a ton of useful information on how slim down and get healthier. | 1/5/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 01/04/2012 | Jobs, jobs, jobs. Unemployment is the issue every candidate for public office touts and what most polls show is the main concern of Americans as well. What to do about a stubborn economy that features a jobless rate around 9% nationally is another story. Why haven't more jobs been created? Employers have been cautious to hire new workers in a fragile economy. The thinking is they want to see a more robust recovery before investing in new employees or expanding. Others say that's not it at all and point to government regulations on businesses, especially small businesses, as the culprit. A recent report from the U.S. Small Business Administration says it cost businesses with under 20 employees $10,585 to comply with regulations while companies that employ 20-499 pay about $7,454 per worker. Are regulations too burdensome for small business? | 1/4/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 01/03/2012 | The Mayo Clinic defines a concussion as "a traumatic brain injury that alters the way your brain functions. Effects are usually temporary, but can include problems with headache, concentration, memory, judgment, balance and coordination. Although concussions usually are caused by a blow to the head, they can also occur when the head and upper body are violently shaken. These injuries can cause a loss of consciousness, but most concussions do not. Because of this, some people have concussions and don't realize it." Researchers are learning more about concussions all the time -- especially the long-term effects of those who have suffered multiple concussions. The number and severity of concussions, and probably lawsuits filed by former players have focused most of the attention on concussions in the National Football League. But there have been many reports recently that describe the impact on young athletes -- even in sports like soccer that were considered safe. | 1/3/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 12/22/2011 | Are you and your family all ready for Christmas this weekend? Is the tree decorated with sparkling ornaments and lights? Are the stockings hung by the fireplace -- that is if you have one? Are the youngest members of the family looking forward to Santa Claus' visit? So many traditions and customs go along with the celebration of Christmas. But do really know where they came from? For example, who was the first to put an evergreen tree in the house and decorate it? On Thursday's Radio Smart Talk, Jim Morrison, the Historian and Chief Curator at the National Christmas Center and Museum in Paradise, Lancaster County, will join us to answer your Christmas questions. | 12/22/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 12/21/2011 | Throughout Pennsylvania's history, the state's lieutenant governors have had varying degrees of responsibilities and power. Largely left to the discretion of the governor, the office of lieutenant governor would sometimes be a ceremonial position representing the administration at funerals or other public events. However, a few Pennsylvania lieutenant governors were given duties that had an impact on the people of the Commonwealth and were considered key members of the governor's team. Pennsylvania's current Lieutenant Governor Jim Cawley appears to be in the latter category and an important part of the Corbett Administration. Lieutenant Governor Cawley will appear on Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk to discuss the administration's first 11 months in office. Among the issues on the program agenda will be Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling, transportation funding, education reform, including school vouchers, and privatization of the state's liquor stores. | 12/21/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 12/20/2011 | At a time when the audiences of most traditional medias have gotten smaller, the number of people listening to NPR affiliated radio stations grew throughout the last decade. More than 20 million, including tens of thousands of witf listeners, tune in to hear the latest national and international news on NPR each week. Listeners say they like NPR because news is put into context analyzed and not just given the headline treatment. NPR also has 19 foreign news bureaus while other networks are cutting back on their international coverage. Gary Knell, the new president of NPR will discuss his vision for the network's future on Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk. Also, as part of witf's on going Facing Cancer initiative, we'll point out little known facts about cancer. | 12/20/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 12/19/2011 | Statewide public opinion polls conducted this year show usually about 65-70% of Pennsylvanians support a tax or impact fee on Marcellus Shale natural gas drillers. About two-thirds of the state's residents consistently favor selling the state-run liquor stores and 72% want a tax on smokeless tobacco like every other state has. However, corresponding legislation that would satisfy the majority of those polled has failed to be enacted. With that in mind, political activist Tim Potts formed The Majority Party PA political action committee. Potts will take the results of polls that meet certain criteria and ask lawmakers to sign a pledge to support what a clear-cut majority favor in those polls. Potts says that way, governing will be driven by the will of the people rather than the ideology of elected officials and the political parties they are affiliated with. Tim Potts will appear on Monday's Radio Smart Talk and explain the program's unique role in the formation of The Majority Party PA. | 12/19/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 12/16/2011 | PBS' Antiques Roadshow describes itself as "part adventure, part history lesson, and part treasure hunt." It is the most-watched TV program on PBS with about 10 million viewers for each episode. Antiques Roadshow has also spawned a number of similar programs -- although none seem to be quite as compelling as the original. On Friday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll be joined by Marsha Bemko, the Executive Producer of Antiques Roadshow, who will tell a few behind-the-scenes stories from the show and provide some tips on what may be the most valuable items in your home. Among the questions we'll ask Marsha Bemko are: Where are today's bargains? What's the hottest antiques category right now? How can you avoid buying a fake? How should you go about selling old silverware or gold and silver jewelry? | 12/16/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 12/15/2011 | With just over two weeks to go before the end of the year, there still are steps you can take to soften the blow of your 2011 federal income taxes. Maybe that means making some energy saving home improvements, pre-paying college tuitions or contributing more to charity, but there are moves you can make to limit your tax bill. On Thursday's Radio Smart Talk, two certified public accountants will join us to answer your questions and offer end-of-year tax tips. With all the excitement surrounding the holidays and considering how busy it is this time of year, this is a program that may be helpful when looking ahead. | 12/15/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 12/14/2011 | The temperatures have dipped in the last week and cold weather will be with us for the next four months. As pet owners, how does the cold affect our animals? Do those sweaters for dogs or cats help to keep them warm? Puppies or kittens may be on many young children's wish list this holiday season. Is it a good idea to make a pet a gift? Do the kids know the responsibilities that come with caring for a pet? These are just a few of the questions we'll pose to Dr. Ben Zimmerman, a veterinarian at Companion Animal Hospital in Elizabethtown on Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk. Discussion of pet care and health is always one of the most popular programs we have so be sure to call or email early for Wednesday's show. What questions do you have for Dr. Zimmerman? Ask them in the comments section below. | 12/14/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 12/13/2011 | There seem to be two camps when the subject is air transportation -- those who love to fly and see it as convenient, safe, and even a time to get more work done. And there are those fliers who are of the opinion that flying is a total hassle, from start-to-finish, and uncomfortable as well. It doesn't seem to matter what side you come down on, air travel is a part of every day life in the U.S. and is a trusted barometer of the nation's economy. Harrisburg International Airport typically has more than 600,000 passengers either coming or going each year. For 2012, the authority that operates the airport is projecting 1% fewer passengers in 2012. Does that mean the region's economy is going backwards or are there other factors in play like what the airlines are doing or the price of fares? Air travel has changed significantly over the past 10 years -- especially in the area of security, since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Those security measures are cited as what makes flying annoying. On Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk, HIA's Executive Director Tim Edwards will join us to discuss local air transportation and air travel overall. | 12/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 12/12/2011 | American troops will be leaving Iraq in less than two weeks. Whether you believe the war was justified or not, tens of thousands of service men and women performed their duties including personnel from the Pennsylvania National Guard. Looking back, many of those who served have stories to tell. On Monday's Radio Smart Talk, Sgt. Neil Gussman of 28th Aviation Brigade that will discuss his experiences and those of his fellow citizen soldiers in Iraq. Also, you know it's a new year when The World Almanac is out. We'll talk to Sarah Janssen, the Almanac's editor about what was unique about 2011. | 12/12/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 12/9/2011 | The iPad is the number one requested gift from kids this holiday season. That's according to the Neilsen Marketing Research. Do you know what you're buying? Of course, there are many electronic and digital gadgets on wish lists this year, including digital cameras, video recorders, BluRay disc players, video game players and Kindles or other e-readers. On Friday's Radio Smart Talk, witf's audio specialist Joe Ulrich will appear to discuss the latest techno gadgets. What do they cost? What can they do? How does the technology work? Important questions to be answered this holiday season. | 12/12/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 12/8/2011 | As the end of the year approaches, a proposal to sell Pennsylvania's liquor stores appears to be stalled in the General Assembly. Even though poll after poll shows Pennsylvanians supporting privatization of Wine and Spirit Shoppes, questions remain about how much money the state would receive for the sale of licenses and how revenue currently generated by the establishments can be made up. Last week, Pennsylvania's Democratic Auditor General Jack Wagner came out in opposition to privatizing the liquor stores -- saying his analysis shows it would lead to higher prices on many popular wine and spirits and would fall short of collecting the $470 million the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board transfers to the state's General Fund every year. The Auditor General also is calling for a new formula to determine how much funding the state's charter and cyber charter schools should be receiving. Wagner indicates that currently, it's unknown how much money it actually cost to educate a student at a charter or cyber charter school. | 12/8/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 12/7/2011 | The holiday season is usually a happy time. The hustle and bustle bring excitement to adults as well as children. But not everyone is joyous. In fact, for those who have lost a loved one since the last holiday or just recently, the holiday season can a period of profound sadness. Many people who are grieving also feel pressure to get into the spirit of the season. Seeing the many smiling faces often leaves the grief stricken feeling even worse because they're in no state-of-mind to celebrate. On Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll be joined by Leslie Delp, a bereavement specialist and founder of Olivia's House, a grief and loss center for children in York. As part of witf's Facing Cancer Together initiative, we'll discuss dealing with grief at the holidays. Also, Wednesday is the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Betty Ann Weber was six-years-old and lived with her family in Hawaii when the bombing occurred. She has vivid memories seven decades later and will tell us about them. | 12/7/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 12/6/2011 | You've gotten a new job and will be attending your first office holiday party -- how do you dress? Should you drink alcohol at the party? And another thing -- do you send a greeting card to the new boss or will that put pressure on the boss to send one to you? People probably socialize and interact more during the holiday season than at any other time of year. Which means a few special etiquette questions may arise. On Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk, Sheryl Trower, the president and founder of the Etiquette School of Central Pennsylvania will join us to answer your questions about the do's and don't's of the holiday season. | 12/6/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 12/5/2011 | Most of us will probably never see the inside of a courtroom. In fact, the closest we come to the witness stand or jury box is on TV or in a movie. Consequently, that's where many have gotten their educations in the legal system. A real legal proceeding is much different. For one, it's almost never as dramatic. Secondly, much of language one would find in the small print of their credit card statements or mortgages is used when attorneys and judges are in court. Monday's Radio Smart Talk has a working title of Law 101. There are certain legal terms that are used more often than others, but do we know what they really mean? Joining us will be two law school professors who will define several legal terms and provide examples. | 12/5/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 12/2/2011 | Wilson College in Chambersburg was one of the first institutions of higher learning for women in the nation. Today, Wilson has both women and men students -- although women still make up 85% of the classes. On Friday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll meet the new president at Wilson, Dr. Barbara Mistick. Among the topics to be addressed will be Wilson College's role in the Franklin County community, how to attract more students to Wilson, Wilson's academic strengths, how students are able to afford a college education since the economic downturn has hit families hard, and Dr. Mistick's vision for Wilson's future. | 12/2/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 12/1/2011 | December 1st is World AIDS Day. It is a time to raise awareness to what is described as a global epidemic, to support the millions that are living with HIV/AIDS and remember the millions more who have died. On Thursday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll get an update on the HIV/AIDS trends in the midstate and hear about a new law that will result in more Pennsylvanians getting tested for the virus. Since the HIV virus was first detected in June 1981, some 60 million people have contracted the HIV virus. About 33 million are still living with it and 25 million have died. In the U.S. 1.1 million are living with HIV/AIDS and 600 thousand have perished. Most of the new cases result from men having sex with men, but heterosexuals and intravenous drug users are still becoming at a high rate as well. Will more testing result in less risky behaviors and then fewer HIV/AIDS cases? | 12/1/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 11/30/2011 | If you go to witf's Facing Cancer Together web page, you'll see the words, "Connecting Stories, Connecting Lives" right after the title. What we've learned since the initiative began last Spring is those diagnosed with cancer battle through their treatments and the changes in their lives with support from family, friends and the doctors and nurses who treat them. Making connections is a large part of that support. Every cancer survivor we've met talks about the people they've gotten to know who helped them or inspired them to survive and beat the disease or to get back to a normal way of life. Often, a survivor's experience motivated them to help others being treated for cancer. On Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll meet two women who did just that -- they survived cancer and now they are there for others. | 11/30/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 11/29/2011 | President Woodrow Wilson had what appears to have been a severe learning disability and couldn't read until he became an adult. ;However, Wilson went to become a teacher and the president of Princeton University. Abraham Lincoln's first and last public speeches centered on education. His final speech advocated for free public education for all students -- whether they were white or black. Lincoln's assassin John Wilkes Booth heard about Lincoln's speech and killed the president four days later. First Lady Lady Bird Johnson would have been Valedictorian of her high school class, but sabotaged her own grades because she was afraid to speak at her graduation. Mrs. Johnson became the pioneer of the Head Start program for pre-school children. Those are a few of the stories taken from the new book, From Classroom to the White House: Presidents and First Ladies as Students and Teachers. The book's author, Dr. James Longo, will join us on Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk to describe the role of education in the lives of those who have occupied the White House. | 11/29/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 11/28/2011 | Pennsylvania state lawmakers return to the capitol in Harrisburg next week with several key bills pending. Before they do, we'll preview the issues legislators will be dealing with in the end-of-year session on Monday's Radio Smart Talk. Joining us to provide some insight into the legislative session will be John Micek, who reports on state government for the Allentown Morning Call and witf''s Capitol Bureau Chief, Mary Wilson. Lawmakers will get 3% salary hikes soon. It's an automatic pay increase tied to the cost-of-living. The minimum salary will be more than $82,000 for rank-and-file House and Senate members. -- a 74% increase from 16 years ago. There are a number of legislators who aren't accepting the raise or are donating them to charities. Some are calling for a repeal of the law that provides for the automatic increases, considering state revenue collections are running below estimates after several years of extremely tight budgets. Other issues we'll discuss include whether a fee on natural gas drillers will be approved and if the General Assembly will vote to sell liquor stores. | 11/28/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 11/23/2011 | For thousands of Pennsylvanians, there is no bigger issue in the state than the number of deer roaming Penns Woods. For non-hunters or those who live outside areas where deer hunting is king, that may be hard to believe. The former head of the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Deer Management Section once said that the deer population affected every man, woman, and child in the state. That came at a time only a few years ago when the large deer herd was destroying forests, exacting large amounts of damage farmers' crops and resulting in some 40,000 vehicle-deer collisions a year. A decade and many angry complaints later, there are some hunters who claim their favorite pastime has been stolen away from them -- that the Game Commission's science has killed off too many deer. They often cite numbers that show the number of hunting licenses sold is in decline and say part of the reason is hunters are frustrated and have given up. Much of their evidence is anecdotal -- they don't see near as many deer in the woods as they used to. The Game Commission says that true but that the deer population is more in line with what the habitat can sustain. | 11/23/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 11/22/2011 | Almost everyone listening to Radio Smart Talk drives a vehicle or at least did at one time. It's one of a handful of activities that we all have experienced. Because we spend so much time behind the wheel of a car or truck, we witness many scenarios on the roadways. Some may force us to ask ourselves, "Is it legal for the driver of that two-toned sedan to pass me on the right side?" Or, "There are two yield signs on this ramp, who has the right-of-way?" Tuesday's program is an opportunity for motorists to ask questions about what's right or wrong on the highways or at least what's lawful and what isn't. Our guests are Sgt. Anthony Manetta and Trooper Michele Davis of the Pennsylvania State Police. There are more travelers on the road during the five days around Thanksgiving so this is a good time to bone up on your Pennsylvania driving laws. Producing this program during Thanksgiving week has become a bit of a tradition itself and it is a popular show | 11/22/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 11/21/2011 | Five-time Emmy Award-winning journalist Martin Fletcher will join us on Monday's Radio Smart Talk to discuss his new book, The List. Fletcher borrows from his family's past to tell the story of a Jewish couple struggling in post-war London. The List paints a vivid picture of the hurdles Jews faced in Europe in finding jobs and housing and even having enough to eat. Perhaps, the most painful challenge was locating relatives who may have survived the Holocaust or determining what happened to those who didn't. Fletcher is currently a Special Correspondent for NBC News after having served as NBC News Bureau Chief for years in Tel Aviv. His previous books include Breaking News and Walking Israel. He lives in Israel and New York. | 11/21/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 11/18/2011 | Thanksgiving dinner is so traditional in some families that nothing changes -- same menu, served at the same time with the same family members sitting in the chairs they've sat in for 20 years. Then there are those who seek out new elements to the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Usually, that translates into new holiday recipes or possibly desserts. On Friday's Radio Smart Talk, Chef Donna Marie Desfor joins us to share a few of her holiday ideas and recipes. Thanksgiving and the holidays are great times to tell stories about your family's traditions and memories. We want to hear yours as well. Call 1-800-729-7532 to share your Thanksgiving traditions, stories or recipes. Also, author Florence Ditlow will be with us to discuss her first novel called The Bakery Girls. It's the story of three sisters working in a Harrisburg bakery in the 1930s. Ms. Ditlow paints a picture of a very different time and place that you'll find fascinating. | 11/18/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 11/17/2011 | Pennsylvania has some 51,000 state prison inmates. -- about three thousand more than the number of beds available. Prison overcrowding has gotten to the point where many are calling for alternative sentences for non-violent offenders. Those convicted of drug-possession offenses and driving-under-the influence charges are most often mentioned as candidates for sentences other than incarceration. Even though Pennsylvania judges must consider sentencing guidelines, they do have flexibility when handing down a sentence. Judges also have other factors to consider when sentencing - aggravating and mitigating circumstances, the seriousness of a crime and criminal history. On Thursday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll discuss Pennsylvania's sentencing guidelines with Dauphin County Common Pleas Court Judge Jeannine Turgeon. What questions do you have about sentencing of criminals? | 11/17/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 11/16/2011 | A diagnosis of cancer brings with it a whole array of fears, anxieties, and worries. Most have to do with health and treatment, but eventually the financial impact a cancer diagnosis has on the person being treated, his or her family or caregiver rises to the top of the list of concerns. Treating cancer can take the patient away from their jobs and disrupt regular income for long periods of time, not everyone has disability insurance and insurances often don't always pay for all treatments. Some patients make decisions based on their finances that could jeopardize their health. On Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll discuss the financial impact of cancer and assistance that is available. Also, Thursday is Children's Grief Awareness Day -- a day when attention is focused on the pain of children who have lost loved ones. Two guests from an organization that helps support grieving kids will join us as well. | 11/16/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 11/15/2011 | Two months ago, Pulitzer prize winning author Thomas Hylton appeared on Radio Smart Talk to discuss smart growth. It was a popular program that resulted in dozens of phone calls, emails and comments -- so many in fact that we didn't get to respond to most of them. At the time, we promised to bring Mr. Hylton back on the program to discuss his vision of "smart growth" and that's what he'll do on Tuesday's show. Hylton believes walkable communities with homes on smaller lots with many trees that are located near stores and schools is the key to sustainable growth. Several listeners agreed but others expressed a different point-of-view and called Hylton's ideas unrealistic. We'll ask the question again -- what is the key to sustainable growth in our communities? | 11/15/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 11/14/2011 | "Say a little prayer for the kids." Those were the words of former Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno Wednesday night as he walked back into his State College home after being informed that the school's Board of Trustees had dismissed him. Paterno was referring to the young victims of sexual assault allegedly committed by former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. A Grand Jury presentment listed eight young boys as victims. Much of the attention of the so-called Penn State Scandal has focused on the adults involved in the case directly or indirectly. Many are asking, "What about the kids?" On Monday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll talk to three child abuse service providers about sexual assaults against children, how to keep kids safe from predators, what to look for and how to get help. Contact information to report sexual abuse or you have been the victim of sexual abuse: Hero Project: 1-877-874-HERO (4376) www.heroproject.org YWCA of Greater Harrisburg: 1-800-654-1211 www.ywcahbg.org PA Coalition Against Rape: 1-888-772-PCAR (7227) www.pcar.prg ChildLine: 1-800-932-0313 Stop It Now! www.stopitnow.org Guests: Cathleen Palm, executive director of Protect Our Children Committee. Tina L. Nixon, Chief Executive Officer, YWCA of Greater Harrisburg Kristen Houser, Vice President of Communications and Development for the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape | 11/14/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 11/11/2011 | The United States Congress appears to be deeply divided along partisan lines. There seems to be news every day of Republicans and Democrats in Washington who can't agree on the major issues before them. Sometimes, it looks like nothing of any substance get done because of the political gridlock. But is that reality? How does the Congress work today? What are their priorities? Radio Smart Talk's guest on Friday can provide some insight. Andrea Seabrook is NPR's Congressional Correspondent and has been covering Capitol Hill since 2003. | 11/11/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 11/10/2011 | The Penn State University Board of Trustees voted unanimously to dismiss head football coach Joe Paterno and university president Graham Spanier Wednesday night -- a week after revelations in a Grand Jury presentment that neither man contacted police after hearing the story of a witness who allegedly saw former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky sexually assaulting a ten-year-old boy. Neither Paterno or Spanier have been charged with a crime. Paterno reported the incident to his superior. On Thursday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll provide the latest on this ever-changing story. It may be hard for some to believe that there are Americans who go to bed hungry every night. But that's the reality. Since the bottom fell out of the economy in 2008 and unemployment increased, there are even more people who don't have enough to eat. The state Department of Agriculture estimates that one in 10 Pennsylvanians don't know where their next meal is coming from. Pennsylvania has reported a 44% increase in the need for food assistance since 2008, with more than 1.36 million residents now eligible for the State Food Purchase Program. More than 2 million residents do not have the money to buy enough food for themselves or their families. On Thursday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll look at hunger in Central Pennsylvania and what we all can do to help. | 11/10/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 11/09/2011 | Monday, November 14 is World Diabetes Day. It is a time to raise awareness of a disease that affects some 23 million people nationwide. Diet is a significant factor in the onset of diabetes. Too many Americans eat unhealthy foods and make matters worse by not exercising. It's one of the reasons the country has an obesity epidemic. Meanwhile, almost 12 million Americans are living with some form of cancer and it's expected another 1.5 million will be diagnosed this year. There are certain healthy foods that help fight cancer. It just so happens that many of these foods fit into a healthy lifestyle period. On Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll discuss diet, nutrition and obesity and how they relate to cancer and diabetes. | 11/9/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 11/08/2011 | Last week, political analysts Dr. Terry Madonna and Dr. Michael Young co-authored a column on why Herman Cain had surged to the top of the polls in the Republican presidential field. As always, Madonna and Young provided thoughtful analysis of how a political unknown just a few weeks ago had become the leading contender for the nomination. That was before Cain was accused of sexually harassing several women during his time at the National Restaurant Association. So the question for Madonna and Young on today's Radio Smart Talk is whether Cain is still a viable candidate. A year before voters go to the polls to decide between President Obama and the Republican nominee, how does the race shape up? | 11/8/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 11/07/2011 | Today, Happy Valley finds itself in the middle of a shocking scandal that's made nationwide news. By now, most of us have heard about the alarming allegations of former assistant Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky sexually abusing eight young men over a span of fifteen years. While Sandusky was arraigned this weekend in Centre County, Penn State's athletic director Tim Curley and Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Gary Schultz are expected to turn themselves in to Harrisburg Magisterial District Judge Marsha Stewart later today. Both have been charged with perjury and failure to report the alleged child abuse. Curley has requested administrative leave to handle his defense, while Schultz will head back into retirement. On Monday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll discuss the fallout of the scandal, and what it could mean for the university moving forward. How will head football coach Joe Paterno and university president Graham Spanier be affected? And what exactly is the law when it comes to reporting child abuse? We'll hear from two reporters who've been closely following the case: witf's multimedia news director Tim Lambert and Patriot News journalist Sara Ganim. Also, we'll talk to Jennifer Storm, executive director of the Victim/Witness Assistance Program in Harrisburg. | 11/7/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 11/04/2011 | Friday's Radio Smart Talk could be right out of a Hollywood script. Come to think of it may. Large ferocious animals roaming amongst the people -- it has all the trappings of a TV show or movie. But it's real and it's here in the midstate. Maybe not large beasts looking for humans but certainly animals that can be dangerous. We're talking about black bears and the region is seeing them in places where they don't normally go. Last month, a Perry County couple suffered serious wounds when a bear attacked them inside their home. Apparently, the bear followed a dog into their house. In the last two weeks, five bears have been captured after venturing too close to people. A Wildlife Conservation Officer with the Pennsylvania Game Commission joins us to discuss bears and other outdoor issues as the height of the hunting season approaches. Also, Todd Klick, a former Mt. Gretna and Mt. Zion resident who writes scripts and produces in Hollywood will discuss his new book about screenwriting. | 11/4/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 11/03/2011 | Based on observations, many have concluded that the Tea Party movement and Occupy Wall Street have very little in common. The Tea Party is seen as a no tax, small government conservative movement while the Occupy protestors appear to angry about more liberal causes like corporation earnings and the disparity between the richest Americans the other 99%. There is some truth to those depictions. However, neither group can be painted with such a broad brush. For example, at an Occupy demonstration, there are many signs protesting government bailouts of big business. Sounds like a complaint you would hear from a Tea Party follower, doesn't it? That's just one example of a commonality. On Thursday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll feature representatives of both movements to compare how they're alike, and of course, how they differ. Overall, what do they want? | 11/3/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 11/02/2011 | Years ago, the corner pharmacy was part of small town America. It was a gathering place for those looking for a milkshake at the soda fountain. It was also the unquestioned place for families to obtain their prescription medications. Times have changed. The neighborhood or independent pharmacy competes with the large chain drug stores that sell almost everything 5 and 10 stores used to have available. There are consumers who purchase their medications through the mail. Independent pharmacies are still important community members -- it's just that there is more competition. On Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk, two independent pharmacists will join us to discuss their roles in the community and focus on a proposal that could impact their prescription drug business. | 11/2/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 11/01/2011 | Daniel Porterfield, PhD, was inaugurated as Franklin and Marshall College's 15th president in late September. On Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll get an opportunity to meet Dr. Porterfield to discuss his vision for one of Pennsylvania's most respected institutions of higher learning. Dr. Porterfield comes to F and M as the school has assumed a role as one of Lancaster's leaders in economic development. Porterfield also arrives as some have questioned whether a traditional liberal arts education is relevant in today's world. He has definite opinions on that topic. Although he's the president of the college, Dr. Portfield still still teaches classes at F and M. | 11/1/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 10/31/2011 | Do you believe in ghosts? If you do, have you ever had an experienced where you felt in touch with a dead person? Polls conducted of Americans over the last half decade are all over the place. The results show that anywhere from 18% to 50% of Americans believe in ghosts and about one-in-five say they've been in the presence of a spirit. Monday is Halloween and to mark the occasion, Radio Smart Talk will focus on the supernatural. Joining us will be author, historian, and paranormal investigator Mark Nesbitt, who also runs Ghosts of Gettysburg tours, and Brad Christman of witf's Radio Pennsylvania Network, who has audio of what may or may not be ghosts of long-departed Civil war soldiers. We'd like to hear your ghost stories. Do you believe in ghosts and have you ever seen or been in the presence of a ghost? | 10/31/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 10/28/2011 | Dr. Jennifer Kegel is a radiologist at Lancaster General Health and she has a unique perspective on breast cancer. That's because Dr. Kegel is a breast cancer survivor herself and she says it changed how she communicates with patients who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. As part of witf's multimedia, interactive initiative Facing Cancer Together, Dr. Kegel will tell her story on Friday's Radio Smart Talk and why she calls her diagnosis "a gift." There are diseases and medical conditions that don’t get as much attention. One is Sickle Cell Anemia. Joining us is Joseph Robinson, the Executive Director of the South Central Pennsylvania Sickle Cell Anemia Council. Also, home and business owners who suffered losses in last month's floods only a few weeks left to seek assistance from the federal government. Cynthia Cowell of the U.S. Small Business Administration wil join us to answer any questions about flood relief. There are four ways to register with FEMA: -Call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) -Register online at www.disasterassistance.gov -Register using a tablet or smartphone by visiting m.fema.gov -If you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362 | 10/28/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 10/27/2011 | Depending on the outlook, the city of Harrisburg is either at its lowest point ever financially or the city is finally about to travel the road to recovery -- even if a definitive plan is not in place. After years of trying to figure out a way to pay a $310 million debt on the city's trash-burning incinerator, it appears decisions will be made soon that will at least take Harrisburg out of the crisis mode. Against that backdrop, Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson will appear on Thursday's Radio Smart Talk to discuss the city's financial situation and its dwindling options for recovery. Under legislation signed into law by Gov. Tom Corbett last week, city council has one last chance to approve Mayor Thompson's plan, which closely resembles the state's Act 47 blueprint for distressed cities, or face the prospect of a state-appointed receiver running the city's finances. City council has filed for bankruptcy -- something that is prohibited by the law signed by Corbett, but a bankruptcy judge may have a say in that matter. What are your thoughts on the city's finances? | 10/27/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 10/26/2011 | Earlier this month, Gov.Tom Corbett outlined his Marcellus Shale natural gas plan that included an impact fee on drillers, new regulations and tougher penalties for violators. The governor's proposal was based on recommendations made by the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission that he appointed. As often happens when Marcellus Shale is the issue, there were those critical of Corbett's plan and especially the Commission, saying it included too many representatives from the natural gas industry and not enough to look out for the environment. This week another group - the Citizens Marcellus Shale Commission released their own recommendations that includes an extraction tax on drillers as well as giving local governments the ability to assess property taxes on the value of oil and gas reserves. The Citizens group's proposals focus more on environmental issues than fiscal ones. Two members of the Citizens Marcellus Shale Commission will appear on Wednesday's radio Smart Talk to discuss their plan and where they think Gov. Corbett's proposal needs to be improved. | 10/26/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 10/25/2011 | Last March, Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, P.J. Crowley resigned after telling an audience that the Pentagon's handling of the Army private accused of leaking sensitive information to WikiLeaks was "ridiculous and counterproductive and stupid." Crowley's remarks came just a few months after WikiLeaks had released some 250,000 confidential U.S. State Department cables. It was latest in a series of bombshell disclosures from WikiLeaks with military and government secret documents that have embarrassed officials and resulted in U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder investigating espionage charges against Wikileaks. Crowley is now the Omar Bradley Chair in Strategic Leadership at the U.S. Army War College, Dickinson College, and Penn State Law School -- all in Carlisle. He will speak Tuesday at Lewis Katz Hall at the Penn State Law School (6 p.m.) on "Wikileaks: One Year Later." Crowley will also be on Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk to discuss Wikileaks and national security. | 10/26/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 10/24/2011 | Grades are still coming in on the education reform package proposed by Gov. Tom Corbett earlier this month. The plan would make tuition vouchers available to low income students who attend the worst performing schools in order to move to another public or private school, implement tougher evaluations of teachers, and includes charter school reform and more business-funded scholarships. Last week on Radio Smart Talk, we heard the Administration spell out the proposal. On Monday's program, we'll hear from two organizations whose members will be directly impacted by any changes. From what we've heard so far, the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and the Pennsylvania State Education Association are not entirely on board with the plan. We'll hear what they like and don't like on Monday's show. | 10/24/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 10/21/2011 | What drives a man to get as close to a tornado as he can without being swept away? Is it science or just the rush of adrenaline. Maybe it's both. That's a question we'll ask Reed Timmer, star of the Discovery Channel's Stormchasers TV show on Radio Smart Talk. Timmer is a meteorologist who leads three teams of scientists close to and into tornadoes to capture video footage and measurements. Timmer will be speaking at Penn State Harrisburg's Capitol Union Building Saturday at 8 p.m. Also, the death of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi could mean an end to the hostilities in that country. We'll discuss what's next for Libya. | 10/21/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 10/20/2011 | The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare demonstrated outside the district offices in Chambersburg and Hollidaysburg of Republican Congressman Bill Shuster earlier this week. It was part of the group's HANDS OFF - NO CUTS campaign to keep Congress from cutting the two programs as part of any budget or budget deficit plans. We'll talk with the organization's president and CEO Max Richtman on Thursday's Radio Smart Talk. Also joining us with be Lancaster County native Katie Hayek, who has a starring role in The Might Macs (see a trailer) -- a film about the first women's basketball college national champions from Immaculata College, that opens at theatres across the country this weekend. Miss Hayek was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma, a form of cancer, when filming began, but acted in the movie through her treatments. As part of witf's Facing Cancer Together initiative, we'll hear Katie's inspirational story. | 10/20/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 10/19/2011 | When Radio Smart Talk began in 2008, the idea was to engage the audience – to produce a program that was designed to bring context to important issues that impact our listeners' lives and to present it in a civil, conversational way. Since the show began, the audience has always been ready to join in the discussion with a thoughtful question or comment. Listeners have also been quick to offer suggestions for topics or guests for future shows. We often have a programs during fundraising drives devoted to soliciting your ideas and that's the plan for Wednesday's show. | 10/20/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 10/18/2011 | Last month, hundreds of protesters took to the streets of New York to demonstrate against corporate greed and a host of other issues -- a movement that became known as Occupy Wall Street. Since then the movement has grown and last Saturday, rallies were staged around the world, including Occupy events in Harrisburg, Lancaster and Lewisburg. What are they angry about? Occupy Wall Street's website says, "Occupy Wall Street is a leaderless resistance movement with people of many colors, genders and political persuasions. The one thing we all have in common is that We Are The 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%. We are using the revolutionary Arab Spring tactic to achieve our ends and encourage the use of nonviolence to maximize the safety of all participants." Because the Occupy protests aren't restricted to one or even a handful of grievances, observers have sometimes questioned the goals of the participants and whether their tactics can affect change. On Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll explore the Occupy Wall Street movement with two Occupy Harrisburg participants and a longtime Central PA activist. Also, NPR Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep has written his first book -- Instant City: Life and Death in Karachi. In the book, Inskeep writes that for the first time in history, more people live in cities than in rural areas and several cities has seen tremendous population increases over the last 30 years. Inskeep focuses on Karachi, Pakistan as one "instant city" and "how this one city illuminates the perils and possibilities of rapidly growing megacities all around the world." | 10/18/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 10/17/2011 | A new poll conducted by Mercyhurst College in Erie finds the majority of Pennsylvanians believe the nation's economy si poor and more than one in five says they are falling behind. A separate poll indicates Pennsylvania residents favor hydraulic fracking to remove natural gas from the state's Marcellus Shale, but most don't support drilling in state forests and even more oppose fracking in state parks. The Mercyhurst Poll was conducted by the Mercyhurst Center for Applied Politics. Dr. Joseph Morris, the poll's director will join us on Monday's Radio Smart Talk. During the program, we'd like to hear your answers to several of the poll questions. Thinking about job opportunities where you live, would you say there are plenty of jobs available in your community, jobs are somewhat difficult to find in your community, or that jobs are very difficult to find in your community? Which best describes your family's financial situation? Do you feel as if you are getting ahead financially, have just enough money to maintain your standard of living, or are you falling behind financially? Do you favor or oppose extracting natural gas through fracking in Pennsylvania's Marcellus shale region? Do you think Pennsylvania should or should not tax gas extracted from the Marcellus Shale? | 10/17/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 10/14/2011 | Saturday was Pennsylvania Wine Day. It's a day designated to bring attention to Pennsylvania's growing wine industry. The state is home to more than 140 wineries and may possibly produce more kinds of wine than any other region in the country. Wine tasting tours have become popular tourist attractions or hobby for many Pennsylvanians and visitors. On Friday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll focus on the Pennsylvania wine industry -- why its booming, what wine aficionados can find, and offer a few tips so you can enjoy Pennsylvania wines even more. Joining us are Jennifer Eckinger, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Winery Association and Sam Landis, owner of Vynecrest Vineyards & Winery, located in the Lehigh Valley. | 10/14/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 10/13/2011 | On Tuesday, Governor Tom Corbett outlined what he called his agenda for education reform. There are four main components to the governor's plan: Tuition vouchers for poor students who attend the state's worst-performing schools, tougher evaluations for teachers, charter school reform and more business paid scholarships. As is the case with most major policy plans, response to the proposal has been mixed and not necessarily along party or traditional ally lines. On Thursday's Radio Smart Talk, Tim Eller, the press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Education will appear to answer questions about the governor's proposal. Read witf Capitol Reporter Mary Wilson's accounts of Gov. Corbett's education agenda and reaction to it. What questions do you have about the Corbett proposal? What do you like or dislike? | 10/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 10/12/2011 | There will be two segments on Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk. First, we'll learn about the services performed by Contact Helpline -- a 40-year-old organization that bills itself as the Gateway to Human Services in south central Pennsylvania. Whether its listening to a caller is lonely or a person who is need of a human service, Contact Helpline is there to provide assistance. Meanwhile advocates say more help could be provided to those in need if Pennsylvania had a 2-1-1 service. Also, as part of witf's interactive, on-going initiative Facing Cancer Together and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we'll focus on what could be a revolutionary new discovery at Penn State's Hershey Medical Center. researchers have found a virus that appears to eat breast cancer cells. Dr. Craig Meyers, one of the researchers, will join us. | 10/12/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 10/11/2011 | More than 90% of the clothing and shoes Americans wear each day or are stored in their closets are made outside the U.S. American clothing manufacturers realized decades ago that their products could be produced much cheaper by overseas workers. American consumers generally don't seem to mind because they enjoy the lower prices they pay at the national chain stores. Our guest on Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk is author, journalist and host of NPR's Latitudes program, Rachel Louise Snyder. Snyder authored the 2007 book, "Fugitive Denim: A Moving Story of People and Pants in the Borderless World of Global Trade" about the production of clothing. Snyder will be speaking Wednesday, October 12 at 7 p.m. at York College of Pennsylvania's Evelyn and Earle Wolf Hall on "The Post-Sweatshop World: Ethical Dilemmas and Emerging Issues in the Global Marketplace." She'll address labor issues and environmental impacts of textile manufacturing in her speech. | 10/11/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 10/10/2011 | Last week, Gov. Tom Corbett outlined details of his Marcellus Shale natural gas policy. The plan includes an impact fee on drillers, new regulations and penalties for violators. The highlight of the plan is the impact fee. Under the governor's proposal, counties where wells are located, can impose an impact fee of up to $40,000 on each well in the first year, declining to a maximum of $10,000 in the tenth year. The fee is estimated to collect $120 million in the first year and $195 million by the sixth year. Three-quarters of the money raised would go to counties and local communities for road and bridge repairs, social services, affordable housing projects, emergency response and public water projects. Scott Detrow, witf's StateImpact Pennsylvania reporter, who covers energy and environmental issues, will join us on Monday's program to discuss the governor's plan. What do you think about Gov. Corbett's Marcellus Shale proposal? | 10/10/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 10/07/2011 | The Great Recession officially ended two years ago. However, in many ways, an economic recovery has sputtered and now the Great Recession could morph into a double-dip recession. In most economic recoveries, jobs would have begun to return by now. Instead, the nation's unemployment rate hovers over 9% and has shown no real sign of improvement. The nation is cautious at this point. Consumers aren't spending because they're afraid of losing their jobs, they are saving more, not using credit as often, and the value of their homes can't be used to borrow against as much as just a few short years ago. In a consumer-driven economy, cautious spending translates into little demand for goods and services and as a result, employers aren't hiring. President Obama outlined his American Jobs Act last month designed to create jobs and get the economy moving in the right direction. It includes tax cuts for businesses and individuals, investment in infrastructure to get construction workers back on the job, hiring teachers, modernizing schools and community colleges, and reforming unemployment compensation insurance. The $447 billion package would be paid for by additional budget deficit reductions. On Friday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll focus on the president's jobs plan and whether it will get America back to work. | 10/7/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 10/06/2011 | Two timely topics on Radio Smart Talk Thursday -- breast cancer and the city of Harrisburg's financial problems. As part of witf's Facing Cancer Together initiative and to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Pat Halpin-Murphy, the president and founder of the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition will join us. Ms. Halpin-Murphy has more than just the numbers, although the figures are significant: over 12,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in Pennsylvania and more than 2,000 die from the disease. Medical science has made great strides in detecting and treating breast cancer but what is left to be done? The group will hold its annual conference Tuesday, October 11th in Harrisburg to discuss these topics. Also, Rep. Glen Grell (R-Cumberland) appears on the program to address what's commonly referred to as the "state takeover" of the city of Harrisburg's finances. When, Harrisburg City Council rejected the Act 47 state plan for financially distressed cities last month, legislation began to move that would implement state supervision of the capital city's finances. We'll get the latest. | 10/6/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 10/05/2011 | October 2-8 is designated as Mental Illness Awareness Week. This year's theme is "changing attitudes, changing lives." The goal for the week is to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. Professionals say about one in four adults will experience a mental health issue this year and one out of every 17 Americans live with a serious mental illness. As prevalent as mental illness may be, there are still people who view or treat those suffering from a mental ill harshly, don't understand or have little compassion. | 10/5/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 10/04/2011 | State Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) set the political world on its ear when he proposed changing how Pennsylvania awards its electoral votes in presidential elections. Currently, the candidate who receives the most popular votes in Pennsylvania gets credit for all 20 of the state's electoral votes. Sen. Pileggi's plan would award the electoral votes based on the winner in each of the state's Congressional Districts. Critics from both parties say the change would weaken Pennsylvania's position as a swing state and have other effects as well. Pileggi counters his proposal would actually make individual votes more impactful and reflect the diversity of the state's voters and regions. The Senate State Government Committee holds a hearing on the Pileggi proposal Tuesday morning. Two well-know former office holders are in town to bring attention to another proposal to change how electoral votes are awarded. Former Republican U.S. Senator, presidential candidate and actor Fred Thompson and former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar are part of the campaign -- National Popular Vote Compact --which goes into effect when the Electoral College votes of the participating states totals 270, the number required for a simple majority of the Electoral College. The Compact calls for the Electoral College votes of participating states to be awarded to the national popular vote winner of the Presidential Election in 2016. | 10/4/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 10/03/2011 | The National Wildlife Federation bills itself as largest private, nonprofit conservation education and advocacy organization in the country, with over four million members and supporters. NWF says it strives to remain "A national network of like-minded state and territorial groups, seeking balanced, common-sense solutions to environmental problems that work for wildlife and people. The organization is one of the nation's oldest conservancy groups dating back to the 1930s. Today, NWF is involved and has a stake in many environmental issues, including global warming, preserving wildlife and habitat, and getting Americans outdoors. On Monday's Radio Smart Talk, Larry Schweiger, NWF's president and CEO, will appear to discuss Pennsylvania and the nation's most important environmental issues. | 10/3/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 09/30/2011 | The U.S. Postal Service lost $8.5 billion last year. The Postal Service's financial situation is so grim that significant changes are being considered, including the layoff of postal workers, closing post offices around the country and eliminating delivery of mail on Saturdays. There's no doubt the internet, email, text messaging and other social medias have become the communication tools of choice for the masses. It has been years since some people have written a letter or even paid a bill through the mail. It's a much different world than just 15 years ago and the Postal Service is feeling the effects. On Friday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll focus on the Postal Service's financial challenges and if it can be saved. Also, former Penn State football player Adam Taliaferro, who was paralyzed in a 2000 game but recovered against steep odds, will join us to tell his inspiring story. Taliaferro will be speaking at Pullo Center on the campus of Penn State York on Wednesday, October 12 at 7 p.m. witf's Tim Lambert will serve as moderator. | 9/30/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 09/29/2011 | The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating beverages in the United States. From 1920 to 1933, it was known as the Prohibition era. Pulitzer Prize finalist and author Daniel Okrent described that period maybe better than anyone in his 2010 bestseller, "Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition." Okrent's book was the basis for the latest Ken Burns' film, "Prohibition" that will air on WITF-TV and PBS beginning Sunday night. As Okrent details in Last Call, prohibition was more than just a ban on alcohol. It couldn't have happened without the women's sufferage movement or the great political strength of "dry" politicians. After decades of campaigning for prohibition, Americans found many, many ways to quench their thirst for alcohol and enterprising suppliers did their best to make sure they didn't go thirsty. The era gave rise to the income tax, racism, a backlash against immigrants and of course bootlegging. | 9/29/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 09/28/2011 | The Interstate 81 Corridor. It looks much different than when construction began on the highway 50 years ago. Then, the major north-south highway in the south central part of the region was U.S. Route 11 that ran through boroughs like Chambersburg and Carlisle, but then branched off along the Susquehanna River. I-81 was built on farm land and even today traverses mostly rural areas. It's one reason many truckers drive I-81 rather than I-95 that goes through major metropolitan areas on the east coast. Even though most of the I-81 corridor may still be rural today, it looks much different. That's because housing developments, shopping centers and warehouses have sprung up along the interstate. Traffic, especially heavy truck traffic, is a constant. At some places on I-81 every third vehicle is a truck. On Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll focus on the I-81 Corridor -- it's past and especially it's future. Our guests will be Dr. Paul Marr, a professor of geography and earth science at Shippensburg University and Kirk Stoner, the Planning Director in Cumberland County. Marr and Stoner will speak on transportation corridors and their impact on land use Thursday night at Shippensburg University's Memorial Auditorium as part of the South Mountain Speakers Series. | 9/28/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 09/27/2011 | For many students at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, the world they knew came to an end last Wednesday (OK, maybe an exaggeration but it was big). That's when the school shut down all social media such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and Linkedin. The "Back In Blackout" exercise is an experiment according to a news release from the university, "The intent of this consciousness-raising exercise is to inspire thinking about how, when and where the University community uses social media as well as awareness about uses and/or abuses of social media." On Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll discuss Back in Blackout and what school faculty, administrators and students hope to find. Also, Facebook users were surprised last week when they clicked on the social media site only to find the latest changes to the site and many weren't happy. We'll also focus on those changes and why Facebook seems to be constantly updating its look and settings. | 9/27/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 09/26/2011 | Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know program comes to the Forum in Harrisburg Saturday morning at 10:30 for a nationwide broadcast. It's a unique opportunity for Central Pennsylvanians to see and hear the witty, longtime host of one of the most popular programs on public radio. Feldman joins us on Radio Smart Talk Monday morning at 9 and no doubt will have a few surprises. Tickets are on sale now by calling (717) 214-ARTS (2787) and through this link. This performance is expected to be sold out, so the public is advised to obtain tickets before the show date. Because the performance is broadcast live, everyone should be seated by 10:30am, in anticipation of the 11am start time. Also, a sputtering economy has led to more Americans living in poverty, according to a report released earlier this month. The statistics are out now for Pennsylvania and they too indicate that there's been an increase in the number of Pennsylvanians living below the poverty level, which is defined as an income of over $22,000 for a family of four. Monday's program will feature Stephen Herzenberg of the Keystone Research Center to discuss the figures and why there are more poverty stricken people in Pennsylvania. | 9/26/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 09/23/2011 | The Dow Jones took an almost 400 point dive on Thursday. The Jeckyll and Hyde stock market has to have investors worried. Do they still have confidence in the stock market or are investors looking for safer places to put their money? That's one of the questions we'll pose to Gil Smart, an associate editor and columnist for the Lancaster Sunday News and Dr. Matthew Woessner, an associate professor of political science and public policy at Penn State Harrisburg. Both bring a thoughtful, but divergent viewpoint to our semi-regular roundtable discussion of the issues facing the nation and Pennsylvania. We'd like to hear from you as well. What are your thoughts on the U.S. House shooting down a spending bill that would have provided disaster relief to flood and hurricane ravaged areas of the country? What does leadership mean to you and who are the nation's true leaders today? Should there be a tax on Marcellus Shale natural gas drillers in Pennsylvania? | 9/23/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 09/22/2011 | State Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) touched off a political firestorm in Pennsylvania and across the country when he proposed changing the way the state awards its electoral votes in presidential elections. Currently, the presidential candidate who wins Pennsylvania's popular vote is rewarded with all 20 of the state's electoral votes. Under Pileggi's proposal, the electoral votes would go to the winner of the popular vote in each of Pennsylvania's 18 Congressional districts. Pileggi says the switch would more accurately reflect the wishes of voters. Critics counter Pennsylvania would lose it's clout nationally in presidential races. Many agree the Electoral College is not the best way to elect presidents but aren't convinced the district approach is the way to fix it. What do you think? We'll have analysis on Thursday's Radio Smart Talk with Dr. G. Terry Madonna, Professor of Public Affairs at Franklin and Marshall College and Dr. Michael Young, former professor of Politics and Public Affairs at Penn State University and managing Partner of Michael Young Strategic Research | 9/22/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 09/21/2011 | When the 18th Amendment that prohibited the manufacture, transport ion, or sale of alcohol in the U.S. was repealed in 1933, Pennsylvania Governor Gifford Pinchot helped to develop a structure for selling liquor and wine that he said would be, "inconvenient and expensive as possible." Gov. Pinchot supported the continuation of prohibition and as a result came up with a system that kept the state firmly in control of retail sales of alcohol in Pennsylvania. Three former Pennsylvania governors have proposed privatizing the sale of liquor and wine, but were unsuccessful because their proposals were opposed by unions representing liquor store workers, conservative lawmakers, groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving that believed a change could result in more drinking and more drinking-related highway crashes, and religious organizations. Consequently, Pennsylvania is one a few states that maintains complete control of the purchase of liquor and wine for retail sale at state-owned stores. Last year, the sale of liquor and wine brought in more than $83 million in profit to the state. However, Pennsylvania, like almost every other state in the country, faces a daunting fiscal challenge. Gov. Tom Corbett said there just isn't enough money in the state budget to pay for everything the state has done in the past. As a result, Corbett cut billions from the state's 2011-2012 fiscal year budget. A proposal to sell off the state's more than 600 Wine and Spirit Shoppes to realize a financial windfall is being taken seriously -- maybe for the first time ever. On Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll hear two different points of view on liquor privatization from Joe Conti, CEO of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and Matthew Brouillette, president and CEO of the Libertarian Commonwealth Foundation. | 9/21/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 09/20/2011 | "The measure of a civilization is how it treats its weakest or most vulnerable members." That quote or some variation of it have been attributed to or used by many people. If accepted as a true statement, our civilization didn't always measure up because until just over 40 years ago, people with physical or mental disabilities were often viewed and treated as the same or not as well as the family pet. A person with a disability was often sent to an institution where they were housed with dozens or even hundreds of other people in one room or even caged. Most of the time, the disabled got no treatment and had no hope of ever leaving the institution. Fortunately, there were some witnessed the plight of the disabled , knew it was wrong and had the power to do something about it. In Pennsylvania, a coalition of organizations formed under the Keystone Human Services banner to provide support to children, young people, adults and families in the areas of intellectual disabilities (mental retardation), autism, mental health, early intervention and children and family services. On Tuesday's program, we'll learn about the support services provided to the millions of vulnerable people in this country. | 9/20/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 09/19/2011 | A recent poll conducted for the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and the Associated Press indicates those surveyed overwhelmingly oppose the federal government having the power to require all Americans to buy health insurance. The poll conducted nationwide last month found 82% of Americans oppose what is one of the most significant aspects of the healthcare law passed two years ago. The poll also found that faith in Congress has reached a new low with 57% saying they have little or no confidence in Washington lawmakers. David Eisner, the president and CEO of the National Constitution Center will join us on Monday's Radio Smart Talk to discuss results of the poll that included questions on gay marriage, the U.S. Constitution, the media, and other American institutions. Also as part of witf's on-going, multimedia Facing Cancer Together initiative, we'll focus on how music therapy and yoga are used to treat cancer patients. | 9/19/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 09/16/2011 | A Commonwealth Court ruling earlier this year has created somewhat of a barrier for Pennsylvanians to obtain records and information under the state's right-to-know law. The Court cited the legislation that was enacted in 2008 when it ruled that citizens who appeal an agency's denial of a records request must answer every specific reason the government gives in the denial. Consequently, individuals may be put at a disadvantage when trying to respond, especially if the denial is complicated technically or legally. The ruling has had an impact on an open records law that for the past three years was considered one of the best in the country. The right-to-know law puts the burden on government to prove records aren't open to the public as opposed to the state's old law that forced citizens or media to show why public documents should be made available. Appearing on Friday's Radio Smart Talk to discuss the law and transperancy in government are Terry Mutchler, the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records and Craig Staudenmaier, an attorney who has argued right-to-know cases for media and general counsel for the Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition. | 9/16/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 09/15/2011 | There are certain areas of the midstate that have exploded in growth over the past 20 years. Early on, suburbs grew with housing developments and shopping centers almost unchecked. Later on, many communities realized planning for the future was warranted and took "smart growth" seriously. Thomas Hylton, our guest on Thursday's Radio Smart Talk, has been a internationally recognized advocate of smart growth for decades. In fact, Hylton won a Pulitzer Prize in 1990 for columns he wrote for the Pottstown Mercury on farmland preservation. Hylton believes walkable communities with homes on smaller lots with many trees that are located near stores and schools is the key to sustainable growth. | 9/15/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 09/14/2011 | A week after the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee caused millions of dollars in flood damage, thousands of Pennsylvanians are still cleaning up or making repairs to their homes. Some lost almost everything to the flood waters, but many homes suffered damage to the main living quarters in their homes their basements or lost belongings. One doesn't have to look far to see damaged carpets and furniture waiting to be collected or a neighbor wearing rubber boots, dragging more out of the house. There are cases throughout the state where the repair job is just too big or maybe the homeowner just doesn't know where to start. On Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll hear from a restoration contractor about what can be done to clean up or fix up after the floods. Also, as part of witf's ongoing Facing Cancer Together initiative, we'll discuss a new cancer awareness campaign called Cans4cures. | 9/14/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 09/13/2011 | Gov. Tom Corbett signed a 27.15 billion dollar state budget into law last June. Hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars go out or come in to the Commonwealth everyday. With such large amounts of taxpayer money at stake, it's easy to see why the responsibilities of the state's fiscal watchdog -- the Auditor General -- are so critical. Against the backdrop of a billion dollars in budget cuts approved by the governor and that Pennsylvania's and nation's economies have been sputtering along for almost three years now, ensuring that every dollar is spent properly and wisely also becomes much more important. Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk will feature Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner discussing findings in several recent audits and his recommendations. | 9/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 09/12/2011 | Have you ever been the victim of a cyber criminal or miscreant (how often do you get to use that word?) -- someone who has attempted to steal your personal information or just cause mischief on your social network accounts? Computers, iPads, cell phones -- the more devices we use in our lives unfortunately makes us more vulnerable -- unless protective steps are taken. For example, changing one's password is a simple barrier to warding off cyber intruders, but it's one not enough of us decide to practice. On Monday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll follow up on a program produced last month on cyber security. Time ran out on the show before we could answer all your questions so that's what we intend to do. | 9/12/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 09/09/2011 | A special Radio Smart Talk Friday with comprehensive and valuable information on the flooding throughout the region. Tune into get the latest information on road closures and evacuations. | 9/9/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 09/08/2011 | The midstate has been pounded by rain this week that has led to flooding throughout the region. In some areas the floodwaters have reached historic depths and may not have crested. Thursday's Radio Smart Talk will feature in comprehensive coverage of the flooding and what to expect over the next few days. Also, as witf's That Day in September week continues, we'll talk to a local man who joined the military specifically in response to the 9/11 attacks and to a 12 year old who inspired an interfaith musical concert Sunday in Harrisburg. | 9/8/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 09/07/2011 | That Day in September Radio Smart Talk programs continue with two segments Wednesday. Gordon Felt is the president of Families of Flight 93. His oldest brother, Edward was one of the 40 passengers and crew members who lost their lives when the aircraft crashed in a field near Shanksville in Somerset County on the morning of September 11, 2001. The passengers on Flight 93 are also credited with the striking the first blow in the war on terror when they fought back against the hijackers and kept them from flying into their intended target in Washington D.C. Felt will reflect on the past 10 years and especially the efforts to create a permanent memorial to the Flight 93 passengers and crew. the first phase of what will be a national park will be dedicated this weekend. Also, Major Molly Shotzberger is a counselor with the Salvation Army, who worked at ground zero in New York immediately after September 11. Major Shotzberger lives in Lebanon County. | 9/7/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 09/06/2011 | That Day in September is witf's multimedia approach to the programs and storytelling that will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Throughout the week, witf 89.5 news, Radio Smart Talk and Smart Talk-TV will look back at that infamous day when the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon outside Washington D.C. were targeted by hijacked commercial aircraft, and when United Airlines Flight 93 was commandeered by hijackers but crashed into a western Pennsylvania field after the passengers on board fought back against the hijackers. You also will hear the stories of reflection in the 10 years since 9/11. On Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk, witf Multimedia News Director Tim Lambert joins us to preview the programming for the week ahead. Tim brings a unique perspective to the conversation -- his family owned a portion of the land where Flight 93 crashed. Tim has worked closely with the families of Flight 93 and the National Park Service that is completing the first phase of a permanent memorial on the land he donated. Also with us will be Mal Fuller, who was the head air traffic controller at Pittsburgh International Airport on September 11 -- ten years ago. Finally, Skip Becker, the Founder of the Hershey Community Theatre, discusses "The Guys," a play produced by the theatre at the Hershey Volunteer Fire Department this week that pays tribute to the firefighters who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks. | 9/7/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 09/05/2011 | Osama bin Laden was the world's most wanted man when he was hunted down and killed by U.S. Navy Seals last May in Pakistan. After the death of the mastermind of the 9/11 terrorists attacks, most media reports quoted Americans calling bin Laden a 'madman, a criminal and a murderer." Not all those descriptions were accurate, according to Michael Scheuer, the chief of the CIA's first bin Laden unit. Scheuer says bin Laden had great leadership ability, was a strategic genius and possessed considerable rhetorical skills. Scheuer writes in his biography of bin Laden released earlier this year that bin Laden didn't believe he was committing a criminal act with the terrorist attacks but instead was waging war on the West. Michael Scheuer joins us on Monday's Radio Smart Talk to discuss what turned Osama bin Laden from a Saudi dissident to the most notorious killer in the world. Monday's program is the first of five commemorating the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. | 9/5/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 09/02/2011 | It's Friday and chances are the that if you work in an office setting, it's Casual Friday or Dress Down Friday. Fridays designated as days when employees may dress more casually and not break a company's dress code is a practice that has been around for most of the past 20 years. Originally designed as a morale booster, some employers now allow their workers to dress casually all the time. But what is business casual? To some that may mean a pair of khaki pants and a dress shirt while to others its jeans and a t-shirt. Google "has business casual dress gone too far?" and you can find dozens of articles and hundreds of professional business people complaining that the answer is yes. On Friday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll discuss the current view of whats appropriate clothing in the workplace with two human resources professionals. Do you think casual dress has gone too far, should we even more casual or is it just right for the most part? Weigh in. Also, after a Radio Smart Talk program last month on photography, we asked listeners to post their favorite photographs on our website. We received more than 70 magnificent pictures. On Friday's show, we'll talk to one audience member who submitted a photograph of himself on Mt. Kilimanjaro. You can also view a gallery of the photos on our Facebook page. | 9/2/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 09/01/2011 | Since witf's Facing Cancer Together initiative began last spring, we've heard many stories about how much a diagnosis of cancer transforms lives. There obviously are physical, mental and emotional changes, but a study out this summer points to another aspect of life that seperates cancer survivors from those who have never had cancer -- jobs. Penn State University researchers found that cancer survivors are less likely to be employed and work fewer hours, even years after their diagnosis. We'll ask two of the researchers why on Thursday's Radio Smart Talk. Also, the latest Franklin and Marshall College statewide poll is out today and it shows that Pennsylvanians don't think President Obama should be re-elected, but the majority of those polled also would vote for the president over any of the current Republicans candidates. The poll also indicates Pennsylvanians support a tax on natural drillers by a two-to-one margin. We'll talk to F and M pollster Berwood Yost about the results. | 9/1/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 08/31/2011 | Leaders must make difficult decisions. It's just part of being a strong leader. A person who waffles or can't make a decision, especially in tough times, will not garner the confidence of those he or she is supposed to be leading. American presidents are forced to decide on thorny issues every single day. Some decisions are more challenging than others. Often, lives or a segment of the population's well being can be at stake or the economy can be impacted depending on a decision a president makes. Ranking the 10 toughest presidential decisions is a challenge in itself, but that's what Wednesday's guest on Radio Smart Talk has done. Mark Kehres is the Public Programs Trainer at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. He'll list his top 10 toughest presidential decisions and we hope the audience will weigh in with suggestions of their own. | 8/31/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 08/30/2011 | The U.S. Department of Justice announced last week that it would investigate allegations that the News Corporation hacked into the cell phones of some of the people killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks (read more from npr) Hackers released personal information on San Francisco's Bay Area Rapid Transit police officers and customers as a way of protesting BART's decision to cut passengers' cell phone and data services earlier this month. Large companies' websites are often invaded or corrupted by hackers. Technology is everywhere around us. For the most part it has made life easier and opened many, many doors that have a positive impact on our lives. But there are those who use technology for criminal or malicious reasons. What can we do to protect our personal computers or iPhones, especially when governments, defense contractors and the largest, richest companies in the world can't? On Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll discuss cyber crime and protection with Chuck Davis, a security manager at IBM Global and a faculty member at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology and Michael Wright, a systems engineer at IBM. What questions do you have about computer or other data security? Also, comedian Paula Poundstone , a regular panelist on npr's "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" program (airs Saturdays at 11 a.m. on witf 89.5) will join us. Ms. Poundstone will appear at the Ephrata Main Theatre on Friday, September 9. | 8/30/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 08/29/2011 | A recent report from the American Heart Association shows that approximately every 25 seconds, an American will experience a heart attack. Every minute, someone will die of one. Fifty percent of men and 64 percent of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no symptoms of the disease. The American Medical Association suggests unblocking a heart attack within 90 minutes of its occurrence to ensure survival and minimize permanent damage. On Monday's Radio Smart Talk, PinnacleHealth cardiologists will join us to talk about heart attack prevention and the latest treatments for cardiovascular diseases. | 8/29/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 08/26/2011 | The debate over drilling in the Marcellus Shale region of the state is garnering increasing attention both locally and internationally. The U.S. Geological Survey has recently released a report stating the amount of natural gas that can be recovered from the area measures 84 trillion cubic feet. But this figure is a sharp decrease from the 400 trillion cubic feet a U.S. Energy Information Administration report identified last month. On Friday's Radio Smart Talk, former state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources secretary John Quigley and StateImpact Pennsylvania reporters Scott Detrow and Susan Phillips join us to discuss the disparity as well as the latest news out of the Marcellus Shale region. StateImpact is a collaborative project between witf, WHYY in Philadelphia, and NPR. In Pennsylvania, the StateImpact focus is on energy. | 8/26/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 08/25/2011 | Last week, about 150 international students working at a plant serving The Hershey Company walked out because they were unhappy with working conditions. The young adults, who were participating in a cultural exchange program, have said they had hoped to see more of the United States, but their heavy workload at the facility operated by Exel Incorporated prevented them from doing so. After the students staged a protest in downtown Hershey, the company offered them one week of paid vacation. The students are currently considering the deal. This incident begs some larger questions: How well are employees treated in the United States? Are any groups of workers more likely to be mistreated than others? How important are unions in protecting workers' rights? On Thursday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll discuss labor relations with Frank Snyder, Secretary-Treasurer of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, and Dr. Paul Clark, head of the Department of Labor Studies and Employment Relations at Penn State University. | 8/25/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 08/24/2011 | Harrisburg's financial troubles have been widely reported for years. But eight months ago, with the city in at least $310 million dollars in debt due to its trash incinerator, the state Department of Community and Economic Development secretary entered Harrisburg into the state's Act 47 program for financially-distressed municipalities. Since City Council has rejected the Act 47 plan drawn up by state-appointed financial advisers, Mayor Linda Thompson is charged with creating her own proposal. Thompson has said a majority of her plan adheres to the original, but she also proposes a commuter tax as a way to help the city make money. City Council is expected to vote on Thompson's plan next month. | 8/24/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 08/23/2011 | A little more than four months ago, witf launched its multimedia, interactive Facing Cancer Together initiative with partners Lancaster General Health, PinnacleHealth, and WellSpan Health. Since then, several cancer patients have posted blog entries about their treatment and how they're handling the diagnosis, while many have created patches for the project's Digital Quilt, which can still be updated to provide messages of hope and support for patients and their families. Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk will take a look at where Facing Cancer Together now stands. We'll hear from some of the cancer patients and family members who have been a part of the project. We'll also take questions and suggestions about new topics that can be covered when dealing with cancer and its effects on a person's emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. We'll talk with Facing Cancer Together producer Patty Gelenberg and interactive producer Katie Carpenter on Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk. | 8/23/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 08/22/2011 | The political landscape leading up to next year's presidential election is starting to become more clear. A number of Republicans vying for their party's candidacy are garnering more attention, including Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachman, who recently won the Iowa Straw Poll, and Texas Governor Rick Perry, who announced his candidacy a little more than a week ago. But how much will the field change before next November? Will former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who's been considered the Republican frontrunner, be able to hold onto his popularity among voters? What will the Republican party have to do to take control of the White House from President Obama, who's seeking reelection? | 8/22/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 08/19/2011 | Almost 700 mosquitoes have tested positive in Pennsylvania this year for the West Nile virus and although the virus has not been detected in any humans yet, health and environmental officials are concerned. West Nile can be fatal if a person is bitten by an infected mosquito. Appearing on Friday's Radio Smart Talk will be Dr. Stephen Ostroff, acting Physician General and Director of the Bureau of Epidemiology, Pennsylvania Department of Health and Matt Helwig, a West Nile virus specialist with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Also,not a week goes by that we don't hear a story about a food or drink that either can contribute to cancer or maybe prevent it. It can get confusing for those who want to eat healthy. We'll get the facts on the program Friday from Janelle Glick, a wellness dietitian at Lancaster General Health. | 8/19/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 08/18/2011 | After years of anxiety, predictions of skyrocketing prices and fear of the unknown, Pennsylvanians have faced down and apparently conquered the removal of caps from electric rates. When caps expired for most of the state over the past two years, full-fledged competition began between dozens of electric suppliers. Pennsylvania electric consumers were able to choose which company they felt fit their needs or where they could get the best price. Most consumers didn't leave the utility supplying their power before the rate caps were removed -- but they still have a choice. One of the people intimately involved in the transition to competition after rates were no longer limited was Pennsylvania Consumer Advocate Sonny Popowsky, who will be our guest on Thursday's Radio Smart Talk. The Consumer Advocate represents the interest of consumers with actions related to utilities in Pennsylvania. Electric choice was the most visible issue over the last few years but there are others as well. The office can be reached at 1-800-684-6560 or consumer@paoca.org. | 8/18/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 08/17/2011 | Suicide is the third leading cause of death of people aged 15-24. Some have called that figure an "epidemic." Whether it is or isn't, too many young people feel unhappy and hopeless enough that they choose to end their lives. What's painful and frustrating for the surviving parents, relatives or friends is that there were almost always warning signs. Many of the people around the person who chose to end their lives either didn't recognize the signals or didn't take them seriously. On Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll focus on teen suicide, the warning signs, how to prevent it, and the treatment of the illnesses or conditions that can lead to suicide. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 | 8/17/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 08/16/2011 | It seems so easy on TV. Crime scene investigators examine the body of a murder victim, comb the scene thoroughly and invariably take a small piece of thread or a stain back to the lab for study. Within 60 minutes, the fingerprints or DNA evidence identifies the killer. Some of the most popular shows on television are crime dramas like CSI, Criminal Minds, and Bones. They often portray forensic science as one big high tech laboratory with all the latest equipment that can nail any and all criminal defendants. Reality is much different. Fingerprints or DNA often isn't found at real crime scenes. Test results can take weeks to come back rather than 10 minutes. But the TV shows make forensic science exciting and more students have entered the field since the CSIs programs began attracting large audiences. Prosecutors have also complained about a CSI Effect on juries, saying jurors often expect lots of scientific evidence at trial because that's what they see on TV. The thinking goes that jurors are less likely to convict a defendant if they don't see the kind of forensic evidence they would on a TV show. On Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll discuss real forensic science and what a crime scene investigator does with Dauphin County Coroner Graham Hetrick and Dr. Robert Furey, professor of integrative sciences at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. | 8/16/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 08/15/2011 | Why We Hate the Oil Companies is not the kind of book title one would expect to be written by the former president of one of the world's largest oil companies. But John Hofmeister doesn't say the kind of things one would expect of the former president of Shell Oil Company. Hofmeister not only authored Why We Hate the Oil Companies: Straight Talk from an Energy Insider last year, but he also left Shell to found Citizens for Affordable Energy, which advocates for nonpartisan, affordable energy solutions. For example, Hofmeister says politicans in Washington are the least equipped people to make energy policy because they are constantly looking toward the next election. Hofmeister says political time is a two year cycle while energy companies have to be thinking ten to twenty and maybe even fifty years down the road. He also is critical of the energy companies for not being transparent and providing straight talk about energy challenges to the public. Hofmeister claims the U.S. will go through an "energy abyss" by the year 2020 unless everyone comes together for a pragmatic solution to the nation's and the world's energy issues. Hofmeister says global warming is not the problem but that unless the world makes an effort to clean up gaseous waste, human health will suffer before the seas have a chance to rise. Hofmeister will speak in the midstate later this fall and has agreed to join us on Radio Smart Talk to discuss his group's pragmatic solutions to the nation's energy challenges. | 8/15/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 08/12/2011 | This Radio Smart Talk focuses on Pennsylvania's environment. In the first segment, we'll hear from Ralph Goodno, the president and CEO of the Lancaster County Conservancy' on their mission to "save and steward the ecosystems and landscapes upon which we depend for food, clean water and air, economic and public health and the restoration of soul and spirit". We'll find out how they achieve those lofty goals. Also, StateImpact Pennsylvania reporter Scott Detrow compares the state's hydrofracking chemical disclosure rules stack up to other states. | 8/12/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 08/11/2011 | It's been almost 50 years since the U.S. Surgeon General determined that cigarette smoking is a major health risk. Still, about 20% of Americans smoke. Many smokers have tried to quit because they know their health may suffer, but have found it difficult since smoking and nicotine are so addictive. According to the American Cancer Institute, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United State and between 80 and 90% of lung cancers deaths are due to smoking. Smoking contributes other forms of cancers as well such as throat, mouth, stomach, kidney and bladder cancers. PinnacleHealth's Pulmonary Nodule Clinic, which helps diagnose masses on the lung, can be reached at 1-855-855-LUNG (or 1-855-855-5864) or (717) 231-8399. The phone number for its Lung Cancer Screening hotline, which will begin taking calls Monday, August 15th, is 1-800-654-0924. As part of witf's Facing Cancer Together multimedia, interactive initiative, Thursday's Radio Smart Talk will focus one segment of the program on smoking and cancer. The second part of the show features Dennis Downey, a Millersville University history professor who has co-authored the book, Coatesville and the Lynching of Zachariah Walker -- Death in a Pennsylvania Steel Town. Saturday, August 13 marks the 100th anniversary of the last lynching in a northern state. It's a tragic but historically significant story that led to anti-lynching laws throughout the country. | 8/11/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 08/10/2011 | One of the biggest steps we took in our lives (and especially in our parents' lives) is when we started kindergarten. For many of us, the first day of kindergarten was the first time we ventured into the world of formal education. It wasn't all play time either -- we learned the basics of reading, writing, arithmetic, and social studies. Kindergarten was the first time most of us were around so many other kids so we developed socialization skills as well. Recent studies have shown just how important kindergarten is in the educational process. Children making the transition from stay-at-home or pre-school to kindergarten face all kinds of unknowns and fears. That's why Saturday, August 13 is a big day for witf and children in the region about to start kindergarten. witf will be holding its very first Ready Set Go...kindergarten event at the Public Media Center from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The event is designed to help get five and six-year-olds ready for the first day of kindergarten later this month. Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk will feature a discussion of the importance of kindergarten and early childhood learning and provide some tips for getting the kids ready to succeed in school. | 8/10/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 08/09/2011 | One of most significant technological changes the world has seen over the past decade is in photography. The popularity of digital cameras has given even the most amateur photographers the ability to take beautiful pictures. However, many of us still just point and shoot without knowing what we're doing or understanding all the features our digital cameras have available. On Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll present kind of a Photography 101 session with Roger Baumgarten of Roger That Photography. Roger will answer your questions about composing better photographs that you and your family can enjoy for years to come. | 8/9/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 08/08/2011 | Fact: Pollinators (bees and other insects and animals) promote the survival of 75% of the world's flowering plants and are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat. That's an incredible statistic and it's an important one as well, because as the urbanized or even suburbanized world spreads and changes around us, pollinators are in danger. That's why gardeners are being encouraged to grow pollinator friendly gardens -- patches of plants and flowers that attract the essential insects and animals. What are pollinator friendly gardens? What species are pollinators? How do we maintain our food supplies if the pollinators are in danger. Joining us on Monday's program will be Connie Schmotzer, an Extension Educator of Consumer Horticulture with the Penn State Cooperative Extension Service and Hilari Hinnant, whose garden was the first in Lancaster County to be certified as pollinator friendly. | 8/8/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 08/05/2011 | As part of witf's Facing Cancer Together project, Radio Smart Talk examines skin cancer with Dr. Teri McGillis of the Dermasurgery Center in Lancaster. In our second segment, we'll talk to filmmaker Tim Gray of the WWII Foundation about his efforts to erect an monument in France to Major Dick Winters, who died last January. Winters, who was born in Lancaster County and lived in Hershey, commanded Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division in World War II. His story was made famous by the book and HBO film Band of Brothers. | 8/5/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 08/04/2011 | "Another Washington-inflicted wound on America." That's the way president Obama described Congress not acting on a short-term funding bill that has created a partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration and disrupted hundreds of airport construction projects across the nation. While most of the country and the media has been focused on the debt ceiling debate, Congress failed to finalize funding for the FAA, which resulted in the furlough of four thousand FAA employees, thousands of construction workers idled or laid off and the government losing $200 million a week in airline tax revenue that hasn't been re-authorized to be collected. Republicans in the House inserted language in a short-term funding bill that cut funding to a small number of rural airports. Democrats in the Senate objected saying what Republicans were really trying to do was roll back new rules that would make it easier for airline workers to unionize. Now both the House and Senate have adjourned until September leaving the FAA without funding until at least then. On Thursday's program, we'll talk to Kate Hanni, head of Flyers Rights.org, which calls itself the largest non-profit consumers organization representing airline passengers in the country. We'll also address other air travel-related issues like waiting times on tarmacs, lost baggage, and security scans. | 8/4/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 08/03/2011 | How much did you pay to fill up your car's gas tank this morning? How long did you wait in traffic on your way to work? The price of fuel and heavy traffic are just two reasons many are deciding to leave the car at home and join a carpool, vanpool or ride mass transit to work. Even though there are advantages to commuters finding alternatives, most Americans, continue to drive their personal automobiles in order to get to work. Featured on Wednesday's program will be Brandy Heilman, Executive Director of Commuter Services of Pennsylvania, an organization devoted to helping commuters find better ways to work, instead of driving alone. Do you drive to work alone? Why or why not? Would you carpool, vanpool or ride mass transit if it was available? Let us know. | 8/3/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 08/02/2011 | The debate over raising the nation's debt ceiling may finally be over (or maybe not), but in many Americans' minds, it could be the worst example of political partisanship in an era known for it's lack of compromise between the two major parties. Congress has never fared well in public polls. Polls in the last few weeks have shown the public's confidence in their elected representatives in Washington at an all-time low. Everyone seems to want to blame someone for the standoff. The biggest criticism was that Congress and the White House played politics with an eye toward re-elections next year while the nation's credit rating and it's economy teetered on the brink of a disaster. Will voters take it out on their elected officials next year? Were the players actually aware of how angry their constituents were? Who wins politically in this deal? Joining us will be Dr. Michael Federici, Professor of the Department of Political Science at Mercyhurst College in Erie and part of the new Mercyhurst Center for Applied Politics. | 8/2/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 08/01/2011 | The Pennsylvania Game Commission is charged with "managing wildlife and its habitat for current and future generations." A few weeks ago, Radio Smart Talk focused on a proposal to allow hunting on Sundays. That program generated a lot of interest from hunters and non-hunters alike. At a meeting last month, the Game Commission approved a resolution in support of legislation to allow hunting on Sundays. On Monday's program, we'll follow up on the Sunday hunting discussion and address several other topics related to wildlife and the outdoors in Pennsylvania, including leasing of State Game Lands for natural gas drilling, the Commission's on-going deer management program, and the shrinking number of young people who are hunting. PA Game Commission press secretary Jerry Feaser will be our guest. What questions do you have about wildlife and the outdoors in Pennsylvania? | 8/1/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 07/29/2011 | The next date on the calendar circled in red by the city of Harrisburg is Tuesday, August 2. That's the deadline for Mayor Linda Thompson to submit an alternative to the state-sponsored Act 47 fiscal recovery plan that city council rejected last week. Act 47 allows municipalities in financial distress to straighten out their budgets without declaring bankruptcy by restructuring debts, renegotiating employee contracts, and imposing new taxes. The Act 47 report recommended the city sell city-owned assets and the city's trash-burning incinerator that carries a $310 million debt. It didn't include provisions that would allow the city to impose a commuter tax on those who work in Harrisburg. The council members who voted against the plan support a commuter tax. Legislation pending on the state level would not permit the city to file for Chapter 9 bankruptcy if the Act 47 plan is rejected. Harrisburg's financial situation is dire -- the city can not afford the multi-million dollar debt on the incinerator or to pay off a structural deficit in it's budget. Joining us for this Radio Smart Talk will be Neil Grover, the founder of Debt Watch Harrisburg and a former member of the Harrisburg Authority. | 7/29/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 07/28/2011 | The peace and tranquility of Norway was shattered last week when a 32-year-old man allegedly detonated a bomb in the government district of the nation's capital of Oslo, killing eight people, and then shot and killed another 68 at an island camp. Anders Behring Breivik has admitted to the attacks. Prosecutors have called him a right-wing nationalist who was moved to violence by Norway's acceptance of multiculturalism and the immigration of Muslims into Norway. Joining us on this episode of Radio Smart Talk is Jeffrey Podoshen, an Associate Professor of Business, Organizations and Society at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, who has studied right-wing terrorism in Norway. Also, United Health Group, one of the nation's largest insurers, released details of a study Wednesday on healthcare in rural America. Simon Stevens, the company's Executive Vice President, talks to us about the healthcare challenges facing residents of rural areas of the country. | 7/28/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 07/27/2011 | For weeks the debate has raged in Washington about increasing the nation's debt ceiling. The drop dead date is August 2 -- next Tuesday. If there is no agreement between Republicans and Democrats in Congress and the White House, the U.S. could default on its $14,000,000,000,000 in debts. President Obama told a nationwide audience Monday night that the debate between the parties had become a three-ring circus. Polls up until this point have shown most Americans have not been paying much attention. That's even though every American could be impacted with higher interest rates and prices or delayed Social Security checks if the U.S. defaults. There's no doubt the two parties have used the debt ceiling debate to score political points. Republicans have insisted on big spending cuts, saying the federal government is spending too much, if they are to support raising the ceiling. Democrats have signaled they're willing to go along with spending reductions but also believe there is a need for increased taxes in some areas -- something Republicans refuse to consider. What does it all means to you? On Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk, Scott Ehrig, Vice President and Regional Portfolio Manager M&T Investment Group - Private Client Services, joins us to explain. What questions do you have about the debt ceiling? Are you concerned about your own finances, investments or retirement plans if there is no agreement before August 2? | 7/27/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 07/26/2011 | It rained throughout the midstate Monday. Some areas maybe got a little too much rainfall in too short a period of time and that resulted in flash-flooding, but the rain finally provided relief from the week-long heat wave. Temperatures in the 90s throughout the week and and a few days that approached 100 degrees left us all parched, looking for a cold drink and trying to find a way to stay cool. Is the heatwave over? Will this week's weather be more bearable? The calendar says late July so we know that it will be hot but was last week's weather an extreme -- even for this time of year? And what is a dew point anyway? CBS21 Chief Meteorologist Tom Russell appears in this Radio Smart Talk episode to answer your weather questions. | 7/26/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 07/25/2011 | One of the most frustrating aspects of the nation's economic recovery from the Great Recession is that unemployment continues to be a big problem. The nation's unemployment rate was 9.2% in June. Pennsylvania's jobless number was at 7.6%, which was up from 7.4% in May. Two factors come into play in Pennsylvania -- the service sector lost jobs with the largest declines coming in education and health services. The other was the number of people working or looking for work decreased by 17,000. In this episode, we'll examine why jobs have been so slow to return and find out what industries are hiring. | 7/25/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 07/22/2011 | Ten years ago today the nation was at peace. The big news story of the day was what happened to Congressional intern Chandra Levy and whether her boss -- Congressman Gary Condit -- was involved in her disappearance. That summer was labeled as the "Summer of the Shark" because there had been several shark attacks in Florida. All that changed a little more than a month later on September 11th, 2001 when terrorists using hijacked airplanes, attacked New York, the Pentagon, and crashed another plane in Western Pennsylvania. Not long afterwards, President George W. Bush ordered military action against Afghanistan, where the al Quada terrorists responsible for the attacks, had trained and were based. Almost immediately, the Bush Administration suspected Iraqi president Saddam Hussein had a role in the attacks and began looking at invading Iraq. Ten years later and and the U.S. is still at war in Afghanistan. Combat operations have drawn down in Iraq but not before more than 4,400 service men and women lost their lives. Listen to historian Terry H. Anderson, whose new book, Bush's Wars, provides the most overarching information to date on the last 10 years of America at war. | 7/22/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 07/21/2011 | The future of healthcare is one of the biggest concerns of Americans today. Healthcare costs have been rising for years, millions don't have health insurance and there's still confusion over a new healthcare overhaul law that is being implemented over the next few years. On the other hand, hospitals are often among the most reliable contributors to their communities -- anchor institutions that give back -- and healthcare is one of the few areas of the economy where there are jobs. One of Central Pennsylvania's leading non-profit citizens is Pinnacle Health. Pinnacle Health operates three hospitals with a total of about 600 beds. Pinnacle Health also has a new President and CEO. He is Michael Young, who is no stranger to the mid-state, having served as CEO at Lancaster General Health up until seven years ago. In this program, we discuss Young's vision for healthcare in the region. | 7/21/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 07/20/2011 | With all the issues related to healthcare in America -- costs, insurance, infections -- here's one you probably didn't know. The American Hospital Association says that almost every hospital is experiencing a shortage of drugs used to treat their patients. The AHA says 99.5% of the 820 community hospitals they surveyed reported a shortage of at least one drug in the past six months. Drugs used to treat cancer patients were especially in demand. The AHA research showed 66% of hospitals reported a shortage of cancer drugs. As part of witf's on-going interactive, multimedia initiative Facing Cancer Together, Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk will examine drug shortages with Carrie O'Donnell a Pharmacist and Jill Rebuck, the Director of Clinical Pharmacy practice at Lancaster General Health. Also, temperatures will continue to soar into the 90s until later in the week. Heat-related illnesses and exhaustion are all too common when there are several days of oppressive hot weather. We'll get some heat wave safety tips from the Pennsylvania Department of Health. | 7/20/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 07/19/2011 | No, it's not a TV show but it is a contest. Democratic State Senator Anthony Williams of Philadelphia is running a contest through his website. The object is for regular, everyday Pennsylvanians to suggest their ideas for a law. Sen. Williams has agreed to sponsor the winning legislation in the state senate. In fact, the contest winner may get an opportunity to testify for their proposal in a senate hearing. On Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk, Sen. Williams joins us to discuss the contest. More importantly, we want you and other listeners to call in or email us with your ideas for new laws and we'll make sure they're entered into the contest (if you wish). | 7/19/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 07/18/2011 | Gov. Tom Corbett’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission approved its final report late last week and has sent their recommendations onto the governor. Details will be released publicly this week, but we know that the commission advised Corbett to support an impact fee on natural gas drillers to help local governments offset costs associated with the large influx of industry workers and equipment. In a bit of a surprise, the Commission also recommended the impact fee would pay to restore public land damaged by gas drilling. Another unexpected recommendation was to support the practice of pooling – allowing drillers to go after gas underneath land not leased to a drilling company. Corbett has said previously that he opposes pooling. On Monday’s Radio Smart Talk, StateImpact Pennsylvania reporter Scott Detrow joins us to discuss the Advisory Commission’s recommendations. StateImpact is collaborative project between witf, WHYY in Philadelphia and NPR. In Pennsylvania, the StateImpact focus is on energy | 7/18/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 07/15/2011 | Since being established in 1964, Harrisburg Area Community College has been one of this region's most active and community-involved institutions. There are more than 23 thousand students enrolled in classes on five different campuses known today as HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College. Community colleges themselves have undergone a transformation over the past decade. The nation's last two presidents -- George W. Bush and Barack Obama -- have lauded community colleges as gateways to higher education and ground zero for workers seeking job training or re-training. On Friday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll meet Dr. John J. Sygielski, the new president of HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College to get his views on his HACC's role in the region, higher education, particularly community colleges, and the economy. | 7/15/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 07/14/2011 | When a cancer patient or survivor looks at themselves in the mirror, they sometimes don't see the same person. Even if their body hasn't been temporarily or permanently changed, many people with cancer look at themselves and feel their bodies let them down. Cancer patients who lost their hair during chemotherapy, had a limb amputated, or gained or lost weight often feel like the world is looking at them and are self-conscious. Body image is another one of the lasting effects of cancer. The experts say its entirely normal for someone with cancer to become anxious about how they look or their body functions. That's why a diagnosis of cancer is such an all encompassing event. The cancer itself has to be treated physically. Emotionally, the fear and how a patient feels takes a toll. But then the realization that everyone a patient comes into contact with can see scars or the effects of the disease or treatment can be devastating. As part of witf's on-going, interactive initiative Facing Cancer Together, Thursday's Radio Smart talk will focus on body image with three survivors' whose bodies were changed by cancer. Hear their stories. | 7/14/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 07/13/2011 | Pennsylvania's charter schools performed better than public schools in some areas but not as well in others. Those mixed results from Stanford University's Center for Research on Education Outcomes were a bit of a surprise for some who expected the state's 135 charter schools and 12 cyber charter schools would fare better than their public school counterparts. The thinking was that charter schools could specialize on the basics of reading and math while public schools had other issues they had to deal with. According to the Stanford study, 30% of charter schools fared better than public schools in reading while 25% of charters outperformed public schools in math. Cyber charter school students, who take classes at home via the internet, performed significantly worse than public school students. Who pays the cost of educating a student at a public charter school has also been an issue. When a student leaves a local district and enrolls at a charter school, the money follows the student as the local district pays. A proposal has been made that would have make funding of charter schools a state responsibility. | 7/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 07/12/2011 | Pennsylvania has about 925,000 licensed hunters. Those numbers are down in the last 20 years as fewer young people have decided to follow in the footsteps of their parents or grandparents and take to the woods and fields of Pennsylvania. One could point to changes in society and say that's why hunting isn't as popular as it once was. What used to be farmland or woodland are now housing developments and young people have many more entertainment options today. Not only is hunting a tradition in Pennsylvania, but it also is the main method of controlling the state's wildlife populations -- especially the deer herd, which wander through many of those same housing developments. The Pennsylvania Game Commission relies on the sale of hunting licenses as its only source of revenue for maintaining state lands and other expenses. Fewer hunters translates into less dollars to pay for the Game Commission's responsibilties. State Rep. John Evans of Erie County believes he has a solution -- allowing hunting on Sundays in Pennsylvania. Evans has proposed legislation to eliminate the ban on Sunday hunting. Two weeks ago, the Game Commission passed a resolution in support of lifting the Sunday ban. Proponents cite a 2005 study that said Sunday hunting would bring about $629 million into the state's economy and create more than 5,000 new jobs. Those who oppose Sunday hunting doubt the report's figures and say farmers need one day a week when they don't have to worry about hunters on their land and hikers and other outdoors enthusiasts are concerned Sunday hunting would limit their activities. | 7/12/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 07/11/2011 | There may be no more important issue facing Pennsylvania than natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale formation. Natural gas is in demand because it is cleaner and cheaper than oil and coal and doesn't have to be imported from nations that may not be friendly to the U.S. We've heard often that there is potential for thousands of jobs to created from drilling But what we also have heard from many people around the state is the process of extracting the gas from the ground -- called hydrofracking -- could cause great damage to the environment, especially water. At a time when there is so much interest in Marcellus Shale, WITF has teamed up with NPR to provide in-depth reporting on energy issues in Pennsylvania, with an emphasis on gas drilling. The collaboration is known as StateImpact PA. We'll learn more about this ambitious project on Monday's Radio Smart Talk. | 7/11/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 07/08/2011 | Should marijuana be decriminalized (or legalized if you wish) to provide pain relief or soften the symptoms of certain illnesses or medical conditions? Fourteen states across the country are allowing cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS and other patients to smoke marijuana to treat their diseases. Legislation is pending in Pennsylvania that would do just that. There is research from reputable organizations to show that marijuana is useful in treating several conditions and making them more bearable for the patients. Opponents say medical marijuana bills are nothing more than step one toward full legalization of marijuana and those opponents see pot as a gateway to other drugs and unhealthy to begin with. Do the bills (one each in the House and Senate) stand a chance of passage? What do you think? Should mariijuana be legalized for medicinal purposes? Friday's Radio Smart Talk will feature Chris Goldstein of Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana and of Philly NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) and Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed. | 7/8/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 07/07/2011 | A diagnosis of cancer can be devastating to the patient who has been disgnosed and the patient's family and friends. Even though medical science has made great strides toward treating cancers and many more people are surviving, a person who has just learned they have cancer often imagines themselves in the worst case scenario. However there are occasions that produce even stronger anxiety. When a child has been diagnosed with a cancer, the emotional toll, the fear, and yes the sympathy rises to another level. According to the National Cancer Institute, some 10,000 childhood cancers are diagnosed in this country each year. Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among children infancy through age 15. The good news is that mortality rates have declined by more than 50% (again, according to NCI). As part of witf's multimedia, interactive Facing Cancer Together initiative, Radio Smart Talk will examine pediatric cancers on Thursday's program with Dr. Mary Lynn Fecile, a pediatric hemotologist/oncologist at Penn State's Hershey Medical Center. What questions do you have for Dr. Fecile about pediatric cancers? | 7/7/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 07/06/2011 | One of my favorite vacation spots is Ocean City, New Jersey. I love the clean beach and family-friendly atmosphere. However, there are only a few routes into Ocean City. One of the main approaches is through Somers Point -- just across a bay from Ocean City. What lurks in Somers Point is something that stresses me every time I drive there -- a traffic circle, as they're often called in New Jersey, or roundabouts as they're known elsewhere. (although construction is underway that could alter the roundabout). My adult children still like to tease me about the time a few years ago when I drove three complete times around the Somers Point roundabout trying to navigate traffic to make a turn. "It was busy that day" is my only comeback. When I heard that roundabouts were being built in the middle of Linglestown in Dauphin County and on Forge Road near Palmyra in Lebanon County, I uttered a few chosen words to myself. These are roads I travel fairly often. Would I have to find other routes to avoid the embarrassment of not being a confident roundabout driver? When I first heard about the Linglestown roundabout, I thought there have to be other people like me. I think I'm a good driver. I haven't had a speeding ticket in 20 years and I've never been involved in an accident (other than some guy running into the rear of my car on a highway more than 30 years ago). I thought the puzzle of the roundabout would be a good and useful topic on Radio Smart Talk. Then last week, the Patriot-News reported the same story (and did a wonderful job I might add). The Patriot's story included tips for which I am eternally grateful. On Wednesday's program, we'll look at how to drive roundabouts because apparently we'll be seeing many more of them as the experts have concluded they're safer than regular intersections. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Press Secretary Dennis Buterbaugh will appear on Radio Smart Talk to walk us (or drive us) through roundabouts. Buterbaugh will answer other transportation-related questions on funding, bridges, and highway construction. By the way, that roundabout in Somers Point is tougher to navigate than Linglestown's. I can only guess what I would do in London where the roundabouts look as controlled as moths flying around a bright light. | 7/6/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 07/05/2011 | Osama bin Laden was the world's most wanted man when he was hunted down and killed by U.S. Navy Seals two months ago in Pakistan. After the death of the mastermind of the 9/11 terrorists attacks, most media reports quoted Americans calling bin Laden a 'madman, a criminal and a murderer." Not all those descriptions were accurate, according to Michael Scheuer, the chief of the CIA's first bin Laden unit. Scheuer says bin Laden had great leadership ability, was a strategic genius and possessed considerable rhetorical skills. Scheuer writes in his recently released biography of bin Laden that bin Laden didn't believe he was committing a criminal act with the terrorist attacks but instead was waging war on the West. Michael Scheuer joins us on Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk to discuss what turned Osama bin Laden from a Saudi dissident to the most notorious killer in the world. | 7/5/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 07/04/2011 | On this date in 1863, General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia was retreating south after being defeated at the Battle of Gettysburg the three previous days. It was part of Lee's plan to invade the North and maybe bring an end to the war. Instead, the loss of the battle was the first step toward the Union's ultimate victory. The history is noteworthy for both of today's Radio Smart Talk guests. John Seitter is the project manager of Pennsylvania Civil War 150 -- the state's four year commemoration of the war. Brett Kelley is the curator of the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg and just completed a two-week walk from Fredericksburg, Virginia to Harrisburg -- following the path taken by Confederate General Richard Ewell in the Gettysburg Campaign. | 7/4/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 07/01/2011 | Radio Smart Talk kicks off your holiday weekend with a special appearance by Chef Donna Marie Desfor who has great ideas to make your picnic or other summertime meals tasty and fun. The traditional hot dog or hamburger will satisfy many of us but we always are looking for a way to make the celebration just a little bit unique and Chef Desfor will have suggestions. Tune in! | 7/1/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 06/30/2011 | It's what every cancer researcher dreams of – the "cure" – a vaccine that reduces or even eliminates cancerous tumors. No such vaccine exists, of course, and as we've explored previously in our Facing Cancer Together conversations, there's no perfect formula to treat any form of cancer. Each form and each patient is treated (and responds to that treatment) differently. And yet we're always excited when a step forward is taken in cancer research that suggests some future "cure" could be out there. Such is the case with a new study published in the journal Nature Medicine, which describes efforts to develop a vaccine to treat some forms of cancer. Scientists from the United States and Great Britain report, in early tests of mice with prostate cancer, an experimental vaccine was able to shrink tumors. The vaccine in question was developed through a technique that uses DNA taken from organs in which tumors can form, which in turn jump-starts the body's immune response to create the vaccine. Research is at a very early stage – even if repeated trials yield similar results, it will be years before a vaccine could be tested in human beings. Still, it's exciting. We'll learn the latest in this effort to develop techniques that use our own immune system to treat cancer. Also with the Fourth of July weekend approaching, we'll look at Pennsylvania fireworks laws and safety. | 6/30/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 06/29/2011 | By the time Radio Smart Talk comes on the air Wednesday morning, we may have a better idea of what Pennsylvania's 2011-2012 fiscal year budget will look like. For now, we know that lawmakers have been working on a $27.15 billion spending plan that doesn't include any new taxes. One of the big questions though will be whether an impact fee on natural gas drillers will be approved by the legislature at the same time a budget is enacted. Gov. Tom Corbett says he'll veto an impact fee because he wants to hear the recommendations of his Marcellus Shale Advisory Committee in a few weeks first. Proposed impact fees would help offset expenses incurred by communities near where gas is being drilled. John Micek, the Capitol reporter for the Allentown Morning Call, will appear on the program and can provide information on whether Gov. Corbett's proposed cuts in K-12 education and higher education survived and how a $500 million budget surplus will be spent, if at all. | 6/29/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 06/28/2011 | We tend to think about human trafficking as a problem that occurs in some far-off, third world nation, halfway around the globe. But there are cases right here in Central PA. Recently, Melissa Plotkin, chairwoman of the York County Human Trafficking Task Force, told the York Dispatch about a case in which two Vietnamese women were brought to the U.S. and forced to work at two York-area nail salons. And according to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, anywhere from 100 thousand to 300 thousand children, right here in the United States, are enslaved in sex trafficking every year, many of them under the age of 14. Are those numbers really accurate? How do we know? And more importantly, how can we seek to stop it? We'll talk with Cumberland County District Attorney Dave Freed and Krista Hoffman, a criminal justice training specialist with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape. | 6/28/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 06/27/2011 | Presidential candidates in the new media age face unprecedented scrutiny, as the public seeks to learn more about a given candidate's background, opinions, experience, knowledge and character. Along the way, opponents seek to diminish the candidate's positive attributes, while highlighting the negatives. Meanwhile, the candidate seeks to gloss over any faults, and brag about any accomplishments. Pundits amplify those extreme views, and then comedians make fun of them, reinforcing them further. The result? Our presidential candidates become caricatures – extreme representations of what may actually be true. But – and here's a loaded question – so what? Does it matter when Sarah Palin gets her facts wrong, or that Bill Clinton lied about having an affair? Are scandals, eccentricities, and mistakes like these really the grounds on which we decide who should be President? We'll explore just what does matter, and what should matter, during presidential election campaigns with political scientists Dr. Terry Madonna and Dr. Mike Young. | 6/27/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 06/24/2011 | According to Pennsylvania's Secretary of Aging, reports of elder abuse continue to rise in the Commonwealth – the Department of Aging determined 3,900 people, out of 15 thousand reported and investigated, were in need of protective services. What can we do to limit elder abuse in Pennsylvania? And if only about a quarter of the reports of abuse to the Department of Aging are found to warrant the state stepping in, it begs a question: are too many "non-incidents" of abuse reported, making it that much more difficult for the state to intercede, due to the sheer volume of complaints? We'll discuss elder abuse in the Commonwealth with Denise Getgen, Chief, Consumer Protection Division, Pennsylvania Department of Aging and Natalie Novotny-Goles, Special Projects Coordinator, Victims’ ServicesProgram, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency | 6/24/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 06/23/2011 | When we talk about food-borne illnesses and food safety, we tend to think about restaurants, convenience stores, concession stands, and other places where we pay for prepared food. But a recent rise in infections from salmonella has prompted health officials to turn their focus to the last line of defense – the home kitchen. On Thursday's show, we'll learn about those efforts and revisit food safety – from how food is inspected, by whom, and what happens when food is found to be contaminated...to what you can do to ensure the food you eat is properly produced, handled, and prepared. We'll talk with Dr. Andre Weltman, Public Health Physician from the Pennsylvania Department of Health...and Dr. Lydia Johnson, Director of Food Safety and Laboratory Services at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. | 6/23/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 06/22/2011 | During any medical procedure, you can come in contact with countless doctors and nurses, from general practitioners to surgeons to specialists and beyond. When dealing with particularly challenging medical issues, like a cancer diagnosis and treatment, it can be hard to keep track of who and what is going on around you. That's where a nurse navigator can provide help – a nurse navigator is a specialty trained registered nurse who can serve as a patient advocate, coordinate the patient's care, and educate the patient and her family. As part of witf's Facing Cancer Together, our interactive multi-media effort to connect the stories and lives of people touched by cancer, we'll learn more about the role a nurse navigator plays when we talk with Sue Bowman from Wellspan Health. | 6/22/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 06/21/2011 | It's inevitable – you're discussing politics with a friend, and you're shocked – SHOCKED – to learn she disagrees with you on something so obvious, so clear, you can hardly stand it! And you think to yourself, 'well, she's just misinformed. If she only knew the facts, she'd feel differently.' Not so, according to researchers at the University of Michigan, who in a series of studies in 2005 and 2006 found misinformed, politically partisan citizens, when corrected, rarely changed their minds. In fact, clear and unimpeachable evidence only served to make them dig in their heels and hold even more strongly to their beliefs! Comedian Stephen Colbert defined this phenomenon as "truthiness" – a willingness to believe something that "feels true" even when it's clear it isn't. We'll learn more when we talk with Dr. Brendan Nyhan, the outgoing Robert Wood Johnson Scholar in Health Policy Research at the University of Michigan (this summer, he heads to Dartmouth College to teach Government). | 6/21/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 06/20/2011 | When unemployment rates are high, finding the right job can be a challenge. Competition is high, and the future can feel uncertain. Imagine how much more challenging it would be to search for a job while also living with a disability. You may feel your given impairment may limit your options – or, worse yet, that it may cause potential employers to be unwilling to hire you, even if you're qualified, and can do the job. We'll learn about the employment challenges facing the disabled in the current job market, as we talk with Dennis Steiner, President and CEO of the Susquehanna Association for the Blind and Vision Impaired, and Tony Soto, a legally blind worker in SABVI's industrial division. | 6/20/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 06/17/2011 | A bit of Hollywood on Friday's Radio Smart Talk. Actor William Sanderson joins us to discuss his career, co-stars, and show business. During his 35 year career, Sanderson has appeared in 43 films, 40 TV series or shows, and 13 theatre productions in New York and Los Angeles. Sanderson has several classic roles to his credit, including backwoodsman Larry on the TV sitcom Newhart, the toymaker in Bladerunner -- one of the all-time great science fiction films -- and as E.B. Farnum on the HBO western Deadwood. Sanderson also stars in another HBO series True Blood as Sherriff Bud Dearborne and Bar Karma -- the first online network TV series. Sanderson and his wife Sharon split their time between homes near Harrisburg and Burbank, California. | 6/20/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 06/16/2011 | This week is designated as "Men's Health Week." As part of witf's Facing Cancer Together interactive multimedia project, we'll focus on cancers that primarily target men. Lung cancer kills more men than any other type of cancer. The Centers for Disease Control says nine out of 10 lung cancers are caused by smoking. However, skin cancer is the most common cancer suffered by men. The cancer that probably gets the most attention from men is prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the second most cause of cancer deaths. On Thursday's program, we'll address men's cancers with Dr. Samuel Kerr, Hematology/Oncology Medical Specialists with Lancaster General Health and Leonard Washington, a prostate cancer survivor. | 6/20/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 06/15/2011 | Pennsylvania's Secretary of Corrections John Wetzel has been quoted as saying the state is spending too much money on prisons. Specifically, Wetzel says Pennsylvania shouldn't be building new prisons. He also believes the best way to save money on corrections is by keeping former inmates from returning to prison and he has ideas on how to do that. Hear Pennsylvania Secretary of Corrections John Wetzel's views on incarceration and what the state can do to save money while keeping the public safe on Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk. | 6/15/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 06/14/2011 | Today's Radio Smart Talk program dealt with two major issues -- whether Marcellus Shale natural gas should be taxed and the new Act 47 report that makes recommendations on how the City of Harrisburg can become financially solvent. The latest Quinniapiac University poll found that Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly (69%-24%) support a new tax on Marcellus Shale natural gas extraction. The results are consistent with other polls that indicate the state's residents favor a tax on the gas. Gov. Tom Corbett vowed during his campaign for governor last year, and has maintained, that he will not approve any new taxes -- although Corbett has said he would consider an impact fee that would be directed to local governments for infrastructure improvements and other areas that are affected by drilling. The Act 47 Recovery Plan for the City of Harrisburg has recommended the city sell assets like parking garages, sell the debt-ridden trash burning incinerator, increase property taxes by 0.8 mills, lay off some city workers, get Dauphin County to contribute $2 million in gaming funds to the city each year, and pursue payments from non-profit property owners in lieu of taxes. | 6/14/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 06/13/2011 | On this date in 1863, General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia was in Winchester, Virginia on their way to Pennsylvania. It was part of Lee's plan to invade the North and possibly provide momentum to northerners who wanted peace with the South. Today, Lee's stop in Winchester and his army's movements north are known as "The Gettysburg Campaign." The history is noteworthy for both of today's Radio Smart Talk guests. John Seitter is the project manager of Pennsylvania Civil War 150 -- the state's four year commemoration of the war. Brett Kelley is the curator of the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg and just completed a two-week walk from Fredericksburg, Virginia to Harrisburg -- following the path taken by Confederate General Richard Ewell in the Gettysburg Campaign. | 6/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 06/10/2011 | You can blame Emily Post. In 1922, Ms. Post wrote the best-selling book Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics, and at Home. The book offered tips on how to conduct oneself in nearly every public or private setting, from proper letter writing etiquette, to behavior at a wedding, to how best to plan and execute a party. She wrote that "manner is personality – the outward manifestation of one's innate character and attitude toward life." While she was hardly the first writer to tackle societal expectations for normal behavior, Emily Post set the standard for etiquette in the 20th century. Today, our expectations regarding manners have, well, loosened. Children once told to be seen but not heard at the dinner table are now encouraged to speak up – that is, if they can manage to put down their cell phones and make eye contact with the rest of the family. Etiquette in business has changed dramatically – dress codes, meetings, interviews – Emily Post wouldn't recognize them today. Even when it comes to something as simple as opening a door, what society expects of us has changed. Some worry we've lost all sense of polish, sophistication, class, and respect. That we've become too rude, too self-involved to consider our own conduct. That's where the Etiquette School of Central Pennsylvania steps in. The school teaches business etiquette, dining, social and personal grooming skills to children, teens, young adults, families, and even seasoned professionals. | 6/10/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 06/09/2011 | Pennsylvania has one of the largest fulltime state legislatures in the country. There are 203 house members and 50 state senators. Not surprisingly, it also is one of the most expensive to operate. Right now, there are at least four proposals that would reduce the size of the General Assembly. The latest and most sweeping bill was introduced by Democratic Senator Judy Schwank of Berks County, who happens to be the most junior member of the senate. Sen. Schwank's proposal would lop 83 seats from the House and another 10 from the Senate. Polls have shown widespread support for shrinking the size of the legislature but lawmakers would have to agree it themselves. Critics say that will never happen and have called for a constitutional convention where citizens could have a say in the size of the legislature. Thursday's program will feature Tim Potts of Democracy Rising PA and Barry Kauffman of Common Cause PA. | 6/9/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 06/08/2011 | The state of California is facing a budget deficit of over $25 billion. Lawmakers there have been trying in vain to find new revenue sources. Against that backdrop, the House of Representatives approved a bill last week to tax on-line purchases made by Californians. Pennsylvania may not have a budget deficit that large but a similar proposal has been duiscussed here. By law, if a Pennsylvanian makes a purchase from an out-of-state retailer, they are required to claim it and pay the 6% sales tax (higher in Philadelphia and Allegheny County). However, if the consumer doesn't admit to the sales tax and most don't, there really is no way to enforce the obligation to pay the tax. Retail businesses located in Pennsylvania say that's unfair and it gives big retailers like Amazon.com a price advantage. Those out of state retailers say it would be impossible to collect and remit sales taxes to all the taxing jurisdictions across the country. We'll discuss a possible e-commerce tax on Wednesday's program. Also, as part of witf's Facing Cancer Together initiative, we'll look at whether cell phone usage can cause cancer. A World Health Organization report released last week said it could but it doesn't seem to have stopped many people from using their phones. | 6/8/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 06/07/2011 | I look forward to sitting on my home's deck or patio on warm, summer evenings. There are very few things more relaxing than the fresh air, a gentle breeze, and the quiet surroundings. Maybe I'll hear the chirping of a cricket now and then. As mid-June approaches, the subtle, sudden flash of light from fireflies or lightning bugs, as I called them growing up, just confirm that Central PA will be having it's most enjoyable weather of the year. What an idyllic scene! But then it starts. My wife is usually the first to start scratching an ankle or arm. She finally exclaims, "I'm getting bitten!!" As if on cue, I notice little black gnats swirling around. We reach for the citronella candles or patio torches. They help but finally, my wife will say, "I'm going in" very disgustedly. More than once recently, I've followed her indoors soon afterwards only to find a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug crawling on a window screen. Where are these critters coming from? I know from my research that Stink Bugs were first found in Allentown in 1998. Who was the guy who brought the Stink Bug to Pennsylvania? He or she has changed the course of many Pennsylvanians' lives. On a serious note, farmers find the Stink Bug to be no laughing matter. The bottom line is as the weather heats up, we will be battling all kinds of insects from house flies to fleas on our pets to mosquitoes. | 6/7/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 06/06/2011 | Pennsylvania has more residents over the age of 65 than all but two states in the country so any legislation or proposal at the State Capitol that affects older Pennsylvanians will get a lot of attention and when the nation's largest advocacy group for seniors descends on Harrisburg, lawmakers usually will listen. That's the scenario tomorrow when AARP Pennsylvania will rally and lobby at the Capitol for two bills that would provide assistance to at-home adult caregivers. | 6/6/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 06/03/2011 | As the weather heats up and many people will be working in their yards, going on vacations to the beaches or engaging in all kinds of outdoor activities, protecting themselves from the sun should be a priority. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the country with more than two million non-melanoma skin cancers diagnosed each year. As part of witf's Facing Cancer Together project, Radio Smart Talk examines skin cancer with Dr. Teri McGillis of the Dermasurgery Center in Lancaster. In our second segment, we'll talk to filmmaker Tim Gray of the WWII Foundation about his efforts to erect an monument in France to Major Dick Winters, who died last January. Winters, who was born in Lancaster County and lived in Hershey, commanded Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division in World War II. His story was made famous by the book and HBO film Band of Brothers. | 6/3/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 06/02/2011 | The news in the housing industry hasn't been good recently. Just this week a new report indicates housing prices fell to their lowest level since 2002. Homeowners, who for years, saw their houses as the safest investment they could make aren't so sure anymore. New home construction was down 11% in April The number of people renting has jumped by 700,000 a year since 2006. Analysts are blaming a glut of foreclosures on the market, job insecurity for many would-be-buyers, and credit that is tighter since the Great Recession began two-and-a-half years ago. On Thursday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll focus on all these factors related to the housing market and asked when will it turn around. | 6/2/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 06/01/2011 | Pennsylvania faces a four billion dollar budget deficit. Gov. Tom Corbett has proposed a one billion dollar cut in funding to the state's public schools. For years, school boards have said one of the driving forces behind spending on the local level is that they are mandated to pay for many programs by the state. Now with the budget numbers part of every conversation at the state capitol, there is a move to eliminate some of the mandates on local school districts. The thinking is that removing the mandates will result in cost savings and maybe even reduce the need for tax increases on the local level. On today's Radio Smart Talk, we'll feature a conversation with Tom Gentzel, executive director of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and Matthew Brouillette, the president and CEO of the conservative think tank, Commonwealth Foundation. These two groups don't agree on several issues related to education but they do believe there are too many mandates. | 6/1/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/31/2011 | Pennsylvania faces a four billion dollar budget deficit. Gov. Tom Corbett has proposed a one billion dollar cut in funding to the state's public schools. For years, school boards have said one of the driving forces behind spending on the local level is that they are mandated to pay for many programs by the state. Now with the budget numbers part of every conversation at the state capitol, there is a move to eliminate some of the mandates on local school districts. The thinking is that removing the mandates will result in cost savings and maybe even reduce the need for tax increases on the local level. On today's Radio Smart Talk, we'll feature a conversation with Tom Gentzel, executive director of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and Matthew Brouillette, the president and CEO of the conservative think tank, Commonwealth Foundation. These two groups don't agree on several issues related to education but they do believe there are too many mandates. | 5/31/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/27/2011 | witf wrapped up Green Action Day with a special live broadcast from the Green Center of Central PA in midtown Harrisburg Thursday evening, but it wasn't an ordinary program. For the entire hour, a violent thunderstorm raged outside with two inches of rain pelting the windows, 50 mile-per-hour winds blowing branches down the street outside, a door being held from flying off it's hinges by one of witf's engineers, and a burst of hale that sounded like machine gun fire. It had to be one of the most unique live broadcast in witf's almost 50 year history. door being held from flying off it's hinges by one of witf's engineersThe storm didn't detract from the content of the show -- a focus on green technology curriculums and generally education efforts toward living greener. The panelists -- Doug Neidich of GreenWorks Development; Ron Young, interim president at HACC -- Central PA's Community College; Dan Wagner, Director of Manufacturing and Green Technologies at HACC; and Dr. Rick Ciocci, an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Penn State/Harrisburg didn't miss a beat as they provided compelling information while the chaos swirled around them. Listen to the program below. witf's Green Action Day is a multimedia effort, in partnership with PPL Electric Utilities, designed to encourage audiences to take action and live green. Join us throughout the day as witf provides practical everyday tips on radio, tv and the web to help you save energy, reduce your carbon footprint and support sustainability. Discover ways to save money plus have a positive impact on the environment. Together we can make a difference | 5/27/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/26/2011 | It's Green Action Day at witf -- a multimedia effort, in partnership with PPL Electric Utilities, designed to encourage audiences to take action and live green. Join us throughout the day as witf provides practical everyday tips on radio, tv and the web to help you save energy, reduce your carbon footprint and support sustainability. Discover ways to save money plus have a positive impact on the environment. Together we can make a difference. This morning's program features "green tips." Tune in to hear ways to live greener and maybe offer a few of your town. | 5/26/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/25/2011 | Good grief, allergies are wreaking havoc these days. Whether it's cat dander you didn't know was in the apartment, or shellfish you didn't know you ate, or simply pollen in grass and weeds leading hay fever, we welcome your questions about allergies. | 5/25/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/24/2011 | We'll explore the state of the state's economy on Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk. Pennsylvania Treasurer James McCord will join us to take your questions about state investments, pensions for public employees, and other economic issues. We'll also discuss how the Commonwealth's annual appropriations to Pennsylvania schools have compared over the last five years. Then, we'll talk with Kathy Allen, a licensed social worker with the York Cancer Center, about talking to kids about cancer, as part of Facing Cancer Together, witf's interactive multi-media effort to connect the stories and lives of people touched by cancer. | 5/25/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/23/2011 | Natural gas drilling beneath the Marcellus Shale affects the land under which the drilling and extraction takes place, but also the community that surrounds it. While much has been stated about the potential economic benefits of a company moving into town to drill for natural gas, according to local and county governments, gas drilling creates higher costs in infrastructure, law enforcement and environmental protection. Gas companies cite efforts to work with local governments to mitigate such costs, but some would still like to see funds developed and designated for local communities to address this impact. We'll explore the local impact of natural gas extraction beneath the Marcellus Shale as part of our continuing Real Life | Real Issues series for May. | 5/23/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/20/2011 | As part of witf's Facing Cancer Together, our interactive multi-media effort to connect the stories and lives of people touched by cancer, we're going to discuss steps you may take to ensure your wishes are followed during cancer treatment - and in the case of a terminal diagnosis - after you pass on. On Friday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll talk with attorney Jan L. Brown, who specializes in elder law, and Dr. Joan Harrold, from Hospice of Lancaster County, about some of the steps you may wish to take to prepare yourself and loved ones for the circumstances you all may face in light of a cancer diagnosis. | 5/20/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/19/2011 | Recent natural disasters, from floods to tornadoes, don't just threaten human beings – animals suffer too. It's one of many concerns raised by the Humane Society of the United States. We'll explore this, and a number of other issues related to the treatment of animals, with Amy Kaunas, Executive Director of the Humane Society of the Harrisburg Area...and Sarah Speed, Pennsylvania State Director of the Humane Society of the United States, on Thursday's Radio Smart Talk. We'll welcome your questions and comments about topics ranging from fur to lab testing to animal cruelty to animal rescue and wildlife management. | 5/19/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/18/2011 | Most states across the country have lotteries, but Pennsylvania's lottery is unique. It is the only one in the nation where all the proceeds go to pay for programs that benefit older Pennsylvanians. For example, the PACE and PACENET drug prescription assistance program, rent and property tax rebates, and free rides on public transportation are all funded by proceeds from the lottery. Since the first tickets were sold in 1972, the PA Lottery has contributed more than $20.6 billion to programs for the elderly. In fiscal year 2009/2010, about $3.06 billion in lottery tickets were sold. On Wednesday's show, we'll talk about the lottery games and where those proceeds are used for. | 5/18/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/17/2011 | Lancaster County native Brad Rutter recently competed on the game show Jeopardy with another contestant and an IBM computer. Rutter, who is one of Jeopardy's all-time champions, donated half of his winnings from the show -- $100,000 -- to the Lancaster County Community Foundation. The Community Foundation is a philanthropic organization that pools charitable donations and makes grants, depending on community needs. Philanthropy is defined as altruistic concern for human welfare and advancement, usually manifested by donations of money, property, or work to needy persons or community institutions. With national, state, and local governments trying to find ways to close budget deficits, philanthropy could take on an even bigger role. What is that role? | 5/17/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/16/2011 | Researchers from Duke University released results of a study last week that found higher than normal amounts of methane gas in water wells located near Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling sites in northeastern Pennsylvania and southern New York. The gas industry refuted the study saying that it only surveyed 86 sites that weren't at random. The Duke study did not find fluids or chemicals used in the hydraulic fracking process that releases natural gas in well water. It's just the latest salvo in the ever-growing controversy over what impact drilling has on the environment and specifically water supplies. Monday's Radio Smart Talk will feature Dr. David Yoxtheimer, a hydrogeologist/extension associate with The Pennsylvania State University's Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research. Also, The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is recommending some 50 changes to Pennsylvania's Oil and Gas Act to strengthen state law regulating gas drilling. We'll hear from that group as well. | 5/16/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/13/2011 | How many hours do you sleep each night? Do you feel refreshed when you get up in the morning? Do you snore, wake up often in the middle of the night, have or have trouble falling asleep? Many of us take sleep for granted. However, research has shown not getting enough sleep, or at least restful sleep, can contribute to a number of conditions that are considered unhealthy. Millions don't get get a good night's sleep due to a sleeping disorder like Sleep Apnea, Narcolepsy or Restless Leg Syndrome. On Friday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll focus on sleep and sleep disorders with Dr. George Robinson, Medical Director of York Hospital's Sleep Center. | 5/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/12/2011 | About one in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer by the time they reach 80 years of age. With the exception of skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in American women. If breast cancer is detected in its earliest stages, 98% of patients will survive at least five years. However, there have been recommendations and reports in the media during the past two years that have led to confusion over when to get screened for breast cancer. As part of witf's multimedia Facing Cancer Together initative, Thursday's Radio Smart Talk will look at breast cancer with our guests: Pat Halpin-Murphy, a breast cancer survivor and founder of the Pennsylvania Breast cancer Coalition and Dr. Thomas Bauer, a surgical oncologist with WellSpan Health. | 5/12/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/11/2011 | The issues surrounding Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling could have more impact on Pennsylvania's future than any other before the public and decision-makers today. The state's economy, environment, and infrastructure all could be altered forever. It is that significant. There seem to be new revelations about Marcellus Shale in the media everyday, but what do those who don't live where wells are being drilled and gas extracted really know about the process and it's repercussions. On Wednesday's program, we'll get the observations of David Thompson of the Williamsport Sun Gazette , who has reported on Marcellus Shale for the past four years. What questions do you have? | 5/11/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/10/2011 | Since Colonial Times, Pennsylvania's vast natural resources helped to build a nation. Whether it be iron ore that made cannons in the Revolution or steel that went into the construction of railroads as we moved westward, timber that made the state the country's number one lumber producer in the early 1900s or the mining of anthracite and bituminous coal for heating homes or providing electricity, Pennsylvania's natural resources were an essential ingredient to the nation's growth. How those natural resources were harvested is not always a positive story though. Many times what was left behind were depleted landscapes and polluted streams and rivers. Often, it took decades to recover. Today, as drillers use hydraulic fracturing of shale rock beneath the Marcellus formation to find natural gas in Pennsylvania, many are pointing out the lessons learned in the past as they caution against damage to the environment. | 5/10/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/09/2011 | From time to time, we like to offer you an opportunity to speak with some of our leaders, both elected and appointed. On Monday, we'll afford you just such a chance, as we welcome Barry Schoch, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Any and all questions related to transportation in the Commonwealth will be welcomed.. | 5/9/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/06/2011 | They were major and critical events in the Civil Rights movement – the Freedom Rides. In 1961, as federal judges ruled segregated mass transit unconstitutional, a group of volunteers traveled by bus from Washington D.C. to southern states, in defiance of Jim Crow laws. Author Ray Arsenault takes us on their journey in his book Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice. An abridged edition of the book is now available in paperback, as a companion to an upcoming American Experience film on the Freedom Riders, which you can see on witf-tv Monday, May 16th at 9pm. On Friday's Radio Smart Talk, I'll welcome your questions for Ray Arsenault about the Freedom Riders, and their role leading the way in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s.. | 5/6/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/05/2011 | As part of WITF's Real Life | Real Issues project for May, Thursday's show will afford you an opportunity to ask anything at all about natural gas extraction underneath the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania. From the science to the industry, from environmental to economic impacts, the hour is yours. We'll have two guests with us: David Yoxtheimer is a hydrogeologist and extension associate with Penn State's Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research. He has expertise in water supply development, geophysical surveying, environmental permitting, natural gas geology, and integrated water resource management. We'll also be joined by Matt Pitzarella, Director of Public Affairs for Range Resources, one of the largest natural gas drillers in the state. As part of witf's Real Life | Real Issues project this month, this is the first of several programs that will explore the different aspects of Marcellus Shale gas extraction.. | 5/6/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/04/2011 | On social media, in the blogosphere, in the media, and maybe even at your own dinner table, there's a lot of hand wringing today over how we should have reacted to the news that the most wanted man in the world, Osama bin Laden, was dead. What's not in question is how many Americans did react: crowds gathered outside the White House, and at Ground Zero in New York, to cheer the news from President Obama that "justice [had] been done." Baseball fans chanted "USA! USA!" at the Phillies game. While some comments on social media were thoughtful and reflective, many were glib (I read numerous variations on "Ding dong, the witch is dead.") Then, the morning after, the debate began: Should we cheer? Is it morally justified to celebrate the murder of someone so undeniably evil? Are we sinking to his level? And are we being honest with ourselves about how we feel? Are our attitudes different publicly than they are privately? You may find those questions easy to answer. Others may not. We'll explore the moral implications of the reaction to bin Laden's death on Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk, when we talk with criminal defense attorney Scott Foulkrod, who teaches philosophy among other courses at Harrisburg University. Also, as part of witf's Facing Cancer Together, our interactive multi-media effort to connect the stories and lives of people touched by cancer, we'll discuss cancer prevention with Susan George, Director of Cancer Prevention and Control for the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and hematologist/oncologist Dr. Roy Williams. | 5/4/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/03/2011 | Traumatic events can affect the way we think. We develop patterns of responses to severe stress, and as a result, we can experience fear or pain in situations where, prior to the trauma, we wouldn't. This is an especially challenging scenario for a child who experiences some type of trauma, which might have lifelong effects, and even alter brain development. We'll discuss the potential effects – and ways to address – childhood trauma, and other kids' mental health issues, on Tuesday (which is also National Children's Mental Health | 5/4/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 05/02/2011 | Nine years and eight months after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, we learned the stunning news late Sunday night: Osama bin Laden has been killed. As President Obama prepared to address the nation, making the official announcement, an impromptu crowd gathered outside the White House gates and sang the national anthem. Fans at the Philadelphia Phillies game chanted "U.S.A! U.S.A!" And similar reactions, actual and virtual (via social media), sprang up elsewhere across the country, and around the globe. President Obama began his address by remarking on the tragic loss America felt on September 11th, 2001, of "nearly three thousand citizens taken from us, leaving a gaping hole in our hearts." He then noted that al Qaeda, led by Osama bin laden had declared "open war" on the United States. "The American people did not choose this fight - it came to our shores," the President said. "After nearly ten years of service, struggle, and sacrifice, we know the costs of war...yet as a country we will never tolerate our security being threatened." The President said of bin Laden's demise: "Justice has been done." What does this news mean for all of us? For the future of U.S. foreign policy? For troops overseas in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere? For that matter, what future threats might we face, whether from al Qaeda or other terrorist groups, now that bin Laden is dead? We'll discuss the impact of Sunday night's announcement, and seek out your reactions. Please post your comments below. | 5/2/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/29/2011 | Yom HaShoah is an annual Jewish holiday recognizing the atrocities that occurred during the Holocaust. Six million Jews perished at the hands of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. The Holocaust – and the world's reaction to it - has had a profound and lasting impact, for decades, on the course of human events. On Friday's Radio Smart Talk, we'll examine the Holocaust from the point of view of American Jewry, from what was known about the Holocaust here in the States as it was occurring, to its impact on America's Jewish population in the decades since, to Zionism and the establishment of Israel – and that establishment's impact on U.S. foreign policy today. | 4/29/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/28/2011 | We all want to prevent child abuse, but how do we go about doing it? What can or should we do the next time we see a parent mistreating a child in the grocery store, or when we suspect, but can't substantiate, some form of abuse? We'll learn more about efforts to prevent child abuse in the Commonwealth and across the nation from Cathleen Palm, Executive Director of the Protect Our Children Committee, Dr. Maria McColgan, Medical Director, Child Protection Program at St. Christopher's Children's Hospital in Philadelphia and Beth Bitler, Program Director of the Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance. | 4/28/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/27/2011 | "HeLa" cells are among the most important tools in modern medical science – bought and sold by the billions, they come from the most widely used cell line in laboratories worldwide, derived from cervical cancer cells. But not many people know about the person the cells first came from. Her name was Henrietta Lacks, and while she died of cancer back in 1951, her legacy lives on through this line, developed without her consent. As part of witf's Facing Cancer Together, our interactive multi-media effort to connect the stories and lives of people touched by cancer, we'll learn more about Ms. Lacks, and the ethical and medical mysteries raised by the use of her cells in medical research, as we talk with Rebecca Skloot, author of the best-selling book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Also, before many of us ever heard the term – early childhood education – there was the iconic children's TV show Sesame Street on public TV. We'll talk about Sesame Street's history and its future with the president and CEO of Sesame Workshop on Wednesday's Radio Smart Talk. | 4/27/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/26/2011 | On Tuesday's show, we'll discuss the national debt, and why we can't seem to overcome the political hurdles necessary to address it in a meaningful way. Most debate over debt reduction in Washington seems perpetually fixated on a small percentage of the federal budget, and disregards the overwhelming majority of expenses tied to national defense, social security, and Medicare. How will we ever really address our nation's debt if we seem unable to have a real conversation about what contributes most to it? | 4/26/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/25/2011 | A new report from Widener Law School's Environmental Law Center offers a blueprint, of sorts, for the future of recycling efforts in Pennsylvania. The "Next Generation Recycling and Waste Reduction" report comes from the center's director, Professor John Dernbach, and his students. It calls Pennsylvania's current recycling program "rudderless and drifting" but offers recommendations to expand the practice in an effort to create jobs and spur the Commonwealth's economy. We'll talk with Professor Dernbach, and attorney Elizabeth Marx, one of his former students, on Monday's Radio Smart Talk. | 4/25/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/22/2011 | Writer and commentator David Sedaris is well-known to public radio fans for his essays and short stories featured on This American Life and a number of NPR programs. He's written several collections of essays and short stories, including Barrel Fever, Naked, Holidays on Ice, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Demin, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, and his latest collection of stories, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk. His humor is often autobiographical and self-deprecating. It's always honest, typically sweet, and occasionally subversive. We'll talk with Sedaris about the craft of storytelling, and about his latest book. | 4/22/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/21/2011 | With another Earth Day upon us, we'll explore some of the factors that impact our climate, and discuss what can be done to address climate change in America and around the world. We'll also examine how population growth in some areas may be contributing to environmental challenges. | 4/21/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/20/2011 | There are many myths surrounding cancer. For example: One cancer is just like another. Not true. In fact, “cancer” is a term we use to describe a variety of diseases. There are more than 900 different “cancers.” As part of witf's Facing Cancer Together multimedia project, Radio Smart Talk focuses on the myths surrounding cancer. We'll be joined by Dr. Ronald Hempling, Director of Oncology Services for Wellspan. Call in 800-729-7532 beginning at 9AM or place a comment below right now. Visit witf's Facing Cancer Together page:http://facingcancertogether.witf.org/ | 4/20/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/19/2011 | Now in its 10th year, the war in Afghanistan is one of America's longest conflicts. Officials have said among the most important components of an eventual U.S. exit are ensuring security for the Afghan people, and keeping the Taliban and al Qaida out of the country. Once American military forces do leave, security will be left up to Afghan police and military. Americans have been training the Afghans for years, but has that training been successful? We'll talk to Colonel Scot Arey, Chief of Staff for the Deputy Commander for Regional Support, National Training Mission in Afghanistan. | 4/19/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/18/2011 | In many divorces, when children are involved, one spouse provides financial assistance or child support to the other. The arrangement can be contentious – in fact, other than custody itself, child support may be the most potentially rancorous issue. We’ll learn more about the laws governing child support on Monday's Radio Smart Talk. Dauphin County Common Pleas Court Judge Jeannine Turgeon will take your questions. | 4/18/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/15/2011 | The weather has been strange this week, but amid bouts of overcast skies and rain, the sun has occasionally been shining, the temperatures have, by and large, risen – and this may be the weekend...to garden! Whether you're planning to grow some vegetables, plant some flowers to beautify your yard, or just want to keep that house plant alive, your gardening questions will be welcome when we talk with Crystal Huff from the Milton Hershey Horticultural Center on Friday's Radio Smart Talk. | 4/15/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/14/2011 | Governor Corbett's proposed state budget calls for cuts in a lot of areas – none, perhaps, more controversial than in education. In a previous program, we focused on the impact of his proposed cuts to higher education. Today, we'll explore what his budget cuts would mean for primary and secondary education in the Commonwealth, and then we'll discuss other challenges facing public schools in Pennsylvania, as we talk with Ron Cowell, President of the Education Policy and Leadership Center. Cowell is a former state lawmaker, and a member of a number of educational boards and advisory committees. | 4/14/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/13/2011 | witf's Vice President of Multimedia Content and Distribution Mitzi Trostle takes your calls, e-mails, and texts about witf radio and television programming. If there's anything you'd like to know about the programs on our radio or TV station's schedules, or programs you'd like to hear or see, call in with your questions, comments, and suggestions. | 4/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/12/2011 | America's non-profit arts industry is big business. According to the national art advocacy group Americans for the Arts, the industry generates 134 billion dollars in economic activity each year, including 24 billion in tax revenue. But those numbers were arrived at in 2002. Earlier this year, Rocco Landesman, the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, touched a nerve in the arts world when he argued, in essence, there's too much theatre. He told a Washington conference on new play development, "You can either increase demand or decrease supply. Demand is not going to increase, so it is time to think about decreasing supply." Meanwhile, three new research studies based on the results of an NEA survey of public participation in the arts offer observations about what prompts people to attend – or not attend – arts events. Is Landesman right? If audiences are declining nationwide, what's the turnout like here in Central PA? And just what are those factors that determine whether your show plays to a packed house, or to chirping crickets? We'll talk over the intricacies of arts attendance with Lew Silverman, who reviews theatre for The Patriot-News, Melissa Nicholson, the Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Harrisburg-based Gamut Theatre Group, and Eric Grode, copy editor and writer for The New York Times – he's the former chief theatre critic for the New York Sun, and a mid-state native who's in town in connection with a production of the musical Hair, playing at the Hershey Theatre. (Grode's the author of a book examining the historical and cultural impact of that landmark show). | 4/12/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/11/2011 | Today, witf unveils Facing Cancer Together – a new, interactive multimedia effort in partnership with Lancaster General Health, PinnacleHealth, and WellSpan Health – to connect the stories and lives of people touched by cancer in Central Pennsylvania. Designed to inspire and guide honest conversations about the many aspects of cancer – from treatment options close to home, to survivor and caregiver concerns, to healthy lifestyle choices for cancer prevention – Facing Cancer Together will engage Central Pennsylvanians across all of our media. Radio Smart Talk will play a large role in this effort – we'll devote at least a part of one show, every week, to conversations about cancer and its impact on all of us. We'll begin today by talking about the project, and then we'll present a sort of "cancer 101" – a chance for you to ask any basic questions you may have about cancer, what it is, what causes it, and how and when to seek treatment. | 4/11/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/08/2011 | When I was five years old, I suffered through a bout of chicken pox. And, unfortunately, one of those especially itchy blisters appeared squarely on my right eyelid. Yikes! In an apparently not completely uncommon twist of fate, that eye turned inward, and I had what's known as double-vision. (I'm cross-eyed). So, from that day forward, I've worn glasses. I haven't actually seen double in a very long time, fortunately - it's not fun! But my single image of the world, without glasses, will always be blurry. Our eyesight is one of those great human gifts we take for granted until it starts to let us down. Perhaps you've dealt with near or farsightedness, or cataracts, or you, too, have experienced double-vision. Or maybe you're just holding that menu a little further away from your face, or upgrading from 10 to 12 point font. Whatever the case, and whatever you'd like to know about your eyes, we'll welcome your questions on Friday's show, for ophthalmologist Dr. Drew Stoken. | 4/8/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/07/2011 | Starting this year, financial literacy is being included in Australia's national school curriculum. But here in the United States, what you learn about finance in school may depend on where you live, and what your school elects to teach. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for instance, has no statewide financial education course requirement, though personal finance may be taught in school as an elective, and there have been financial literacy standards required to be addressed within other classes since 2003 for grades 3, 6, 9 and 12. Neighboring states, however, do have required courses: Ohio's new curriculum, passed in 2007, will apply first to the class of 2012. And since 2009, New Jersey has required students take courses in financial, economic, business or entrepreneurial literacy. If Pennsylvania is to remain economically competitive, should there be greater emphasis on teaching financial literacy in our schools? What do kids know and not know today about money? Are they more or less prepared to become financially responsible than past generations? | 4/7/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/06/2011 | The Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College will host a lecture by Bob Edgar, the national President and CEO of Common Cause, an organization that characterizes itself as an "independent voice for change" and a "watchdog against corruption and abuse of power." It was founded by a Republican. Edgar, its current leader, is a former Democratic Congressman from Pennsylvania. We'll talk with Edgar about Common Cause's reactions to news events of recent months, including its own activities investigating Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas's finances, and a recent rally that drew the ire of conservative media. | 4/6/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/05/2011 | Governor Tom Corbett's proposed budget, while calling for dramatic cuts in some areas, like education, does include increases in other areas, including corrections, probation, and for the state police. Considering the possibility that more money may be headed into our criminal justice system, it may be valuable to consider how that money could be used, and what the priorities might be for those who are tasked with prosecuting crimes. And Pennsylvania's district attorneys do have some ideas - they want to close what they see as "loopholes" in Megan's Law. They want to control synthetic drugs. They want to expand the use of DNA testing and wiretapping. And they want to set limits on the appeals process. We'll learn more on Tuesday's Radio Smart Talk when we speak with Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico, and Crawford County District Attorney Francis Shultz, who will succeed Marciso as President of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association this summer. We'll welcome your questions for DAs Marsico and Shultz. | 4/5/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/04/2011 | I have a quadrennial fascination with curling. Seriously. Every four years, during the winter Olympics, I watch the curling matches. I can't get enough of them. The curlers reading the ice, the strategic placement, the sweepers guiding the stone to the four foot, the sense that, if I wanted to, I could devote the next four years of my life to curling and probably make the U.S. Olympic team...I'm just plain fascinated by it. And then, as soon as the Olympics are over, I forget curling exists for another four years. There's a similar pattern, for some, associated with Presidential elections. Every four years, someone, somewhere, remembers the idiosyncrasies of our Electoral College system and thinks, "there has to be a better way to do this." Someone else calls for a Constitutional Amendment abolishing the Electoral College in favor of Presidential elections based on the popular vote. And then, whatever slight momentum surrounding the idea goes away, until the next election. Yet, here we are, a full year and a half away from the next Presidential election, and a group called National Popular Vote is trying to change how each state votes for President, by getting states nationwide to agree to a compact to elect the President by popular vote. We'll find out what they have in mind on Monday's Radio Smart Talk. We'll also learn about other election reform efforts here in Pennsylvania. | 4/4/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 04/01/2011 | More than 400 thousand Americans live with Down syndrome. It's a genetic condition, in which extra material – an additional copy of the 21st chromosome – causes delays in a child's physical and mental development. People with Down syndrome have an increased risk for a variety of medical conditions, but thanks to strides in research and treatment, the life expectancy for someone with Down syndrome has risen substantially in the last 30 years. We'll learn more about Down syndrome research and treatment, and what it's like to live with it, when we talk with Cori Guillaume, co-founder of the Central PA Down Syndrome Awareness Group, and Dr. Roger Ladda from Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. | 4/1/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/31/2011 | Now that (hopefully) the nastiest snowstorms are behind us, and as we head deeper into spring, we look forward to sunny days and cool breezes, in between the thunderstorms and tornadoes and snizzle – yes, that's right – snizzle (combination of snow and drizzle). While we don't live in "tornado alley" per se, tornadoes and other severe weather can threaten our region at any time. So, we want to be sure you're prepared. We'll offer you a chance to win some free stuff as we present a severe weather preparedness quiz, and we'll give you another chance to ask any and all questions you may have about the weather, as we talk with Tom Russell, the Chief Meteorologist from WHP-TV, the CBS affiliate in Harrisburg, and Dr. John Scala, meteorologist from WGAL-TV, the NBC affiliate in Lancaster. | 4/1/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/30/2011 | We welcome your questions about Governor Tom Corbett's proposed state budget for Pennsylvania's Budget Secretary Charles Zogby. Govenor Corbett tapped Zogby, a former Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, to head up the Office of the Budget, which is responsible for preparing the Governor’s annual state budget, and implementing it once passed by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor. Zogby served as Education Secretary under Governors Tom Ridge and Mark Schweiker back in the early 2000s. He also served several years at Governor Ridge's policy director. We'll welcome any questions you have for Secretary Zogby in the first half of the show. Then, in the second half, we'll welcome your feedback about what you hear, as we're joined by witf Capitol Bureau Chief Scott Detrow. | 3/30/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/29/2011 | Is there truly religious liberty in the United States, or is that largely a myth? According to David Sehat, Assistant Professor of History at Georgia State University, the separation of church and state that we have come to cherish as a defining feature of America is misstated – that, in fact, there is a long history of religious control of government in the United States. We'll find out what Sehat means by "control" when we talk with him about his new book The Myth of American Religious Freedom. | 3/29/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/28/2011 | The Supreme Court heard oral arguments recently in Ashcroft v. al-Kidd. The case explores whether former Attorney General John Ashcroft is immune from a lawsuit alleging he used the federal material witness statute to detain terrorism suspects after the September 11th, 2001 attacks. And the case has an interesting mid-state connection. An article by Wesley Oliver, who teaches law at Widener University, was cited by a lower court ruling – erroneously, according to Oliver. Now, he's filed an amicus brief with the High Court in an attempt to clarify, and as a result, we could soon be witness to an oddity. The Supreme Court could cite Wes Oliver's article in overturning a lower court decision citing Wes Oliver's article. Confused? Oliver will fill us in on the whole saga, as we explore the legalities of detaining suspected terrorists as material witnesses. | 3/28/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/25/2011 | From the international military operation in Libya, to the earthquake, tsunami, and subsequent nuclear emergency in Japan, to Governor Corbett's proposed state budget, to the plight of NPR, the NCAA tournament, and the bizarre saga of Charlie Sheen (and the coverage of Charlie Sheen...and the coverage of the coverage of Charlie Sheen), a lot has happened in the news of recent weeks – some serious, and some, well, not so much. We like to take the opportunity, from time to time, to review the news, and put it in its proper context. We'll do so with another Radio Smart Talk roundtable. We'll be joined by Gil Smart from the Lancaster Sunday News, and Dr. Matthew Woessner from Penn State Harrisburg. We'll also welcome your comments, and we'll play another round of Good News, Bad News, No News. | 3/25/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/24/2011 | Federally qualified health centers, or FQHCs, are non-profit, community-based health organizations. Originally, they were designed to provide health services to medically underserved populations in order to reduce the patient load on hospital emergency rooms. But today many health clinics provide comprehensive health services, and not just to the medically underserved, but also underinsured and uninsured patients. Some are FQHCs, and charge on sliding scales, while some are not, and provide free care. But what services should these clinics and health centers offer? How should they be funded? Who should they serve? We'll learn more about health clinics from Jeannine Peterson, CEO of the Hamilton Health Center in Harrisburg, and Gale Thomason, Executive Director of Water Street Health Services, which provides Christian health services in Lancaster. | 3/24/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/23/2011 | NATO allies have agreed to warship patrols off of Libya’s coast, in order to maintain a United Nations arms embargo. Meanwhile, the top U.S. Commander for the international military operation in Libya, General Carter Ham, says most missions being flown are by pilots from other countries in the coalition. Still, the United States, in participating in assaults on Libyan air defenses, has played a key role in the establishment of a U.N.-authorized no-fly zone. Meanwhile, most recent fighting within the country itself has taken place hundreds of miles from the capital. Loyalists to Muammar Gaddafi are battling rebels trying to force him out. President Obama says the U.S. wants to see Gaddafi leave, but that the international effort's goal is more limited – to set up the no-fly zone and protect civilians. Is this air assault and establishment of a no-fly zone, then, a responsible step by the international coalition in Libya? Or is it overreaching, and a dangerous indication to the rest of the region of further Western interference? Should it – as Germany is calling for – be coupled with a full oil and gas embargo of Libya by the European Union? And does America really want (or can it even afford) military involvement – of any kind – in yet another Middle East nation? We'll take up these and other questions with former Congressman and U.S. Senate candidate Joe Sestak, who has been critical of the Obama administration in recent days, and John Craig, a former political officer at the American Embassy in Libya, and the former U.S. Ambassador to Oman. Ambassador Craig is a Scholar-in-Residence at Elizabethtown College, and just returned from Kuwait last week, where he heard Middle Eastern views of what's going on in the region, including concerns about Western influence. He can also tell us more about Gaddafi, whom he's met several times, and can confirm or clarify whether the conventional wisdom that Gaddafi is a crazed dictator is accurate, or lacks nuance. We'll also explore whether Americans are really for democracy everywhere, or merely where it serves our economic or political interests. | 3/23/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/22/2011 | As health care and lifestyle improvements allow more people to live longer, the last 30 years or so have seen the development of a new challenge – what's known as "The Sandwich Generation" – the term refers to those among us who care for our children, while at the same time, finding ourselves caring for – in various capacities – our aging parents. We'll discuss some of these challenges, and seek information about practical ideas - and services – from Dr. Linda Rhodes, former Pennsylvania Secretary of Aging. She's the author of Finding Your Way: A Practical Guide for Family Caregivers, and has been a caregiver for her own parents. We'll also talk with Lesley Davis, a licensed professional counselor at PinnacleHealth, and Eliza Booth, a woman currently facing this challenge first-hand, as she cares for her household, as well as other older relatives. | 3/22/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/21/2011 | We're going to talk in greater detail about a subject that came up this past week on Radio Smart Talk - funding for higher education. You may recall Governor Corbett's proposed state budget calls for slashing funds for state-supported colleges and universities by 50 percent. We'll consider where such cuts would leave those schools, and their students. We'll also seek your view on how much (if at all) the state should fund such institutions. WITF's State Capitol Bureau Chief Scott Detrow produced a summary of Gov. Corbett's proposed higher education cuts for NPR today. | 3/21/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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Radio Smart Talk 03/18/2011 | National History Day is a competition which tests students' knowledge of history. It's closer to a traditional science fair than a spelling bee - students are given time to devise ways to highlight the historic topics they address. We'll talk with two of the people coordinating the competition at the state and regional levels, and with a teacher involved in it, as well. Then, we'll listen to a conversation Scott LaMar conducted recently with Jack Rakove, author of the book Revolutionaries, which profiles our Founding Fathers. | 3/18/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| Total: 301 Episodes |
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