Coming up on this week's edition of The Spark Weekly: Vice President Kamala Harris selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Among those who had been in consideration was Pennsylvania Governor, Josh Shapiro. Berwood Yost, Director for the Center of Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall College, and Stephen Caruso, journalist with …

Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges served in the military for 38 years. He has been making appearances in Pennsylvania including the Midtown Scholar Bookstore and the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle. Hodges most recently published a book called Future War and the Defense of Europe. “I wanted to write a book that would help wake people up about what needed to be…

Vice President Kamala Harris selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Among those who had been in consideration was Pennsylvania Governor, Josh Shapiro. Berwood Yost, Director for the Center of Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall College, and Stephen Caruso, journalist with Spotlight PA shared their general reactions to Harris’…

In just two weeks, students attending Franklin & Marshall College will be back on campus for the fall semester. F&M President Dr. Barbara Altman says the start of a new academic year is the highlight of her year. “We're expecting a first-year class of about 500, which is pretty much what we planned. I know we might want to talk about the various th…

The One World Festival in Lancaster will be held Sept. 8 at the Franklin and Marshall College at the Alumni Sports and Fitness Center. Deepa Balepur, Chair of the One World Festival Committee and Tom Daniels, Performance Coordinator of the festival appeared on The Spark to promote the festival. The festival was born in 2018, as Deepa was attending …

It's been ten years since the spotted lanternflies began showing up in Pennsylvania. Brian Walsh, Spotted Lanternfly Researcher at Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences began noticing the insects when he was a landscaper years ago. "I was running a landscaping business, and it lanternfly landed very close to where we worked from just a few mi…

Boar's Head recalled seven million more pounds of deli meat due to a listeria outbreak. That outbreak follows an earlier recall of more than 200 thousand pounds of deli meat by the same company. Those outbreaks have been reported in Pennsylvania and 12 other states. Martin Bucknavage, Senior Extension Program Specialist with the Penn State Departme…

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will soon convert its tolling system to Open Road Rolling east of Reading and on the Northeast Extension. The Open Road Tolling system will be in place in January 2025. The turnpike was opened in 1940 with a cash collection system, then in the 2000’s the EZ pass was added. Craig Shuey, Chief Operating Officer of…

The York County Sheriff's Office is eager to engage with communities across York County for National Night Out on August 6. The goal of the event is to strengthen relationships between law enforcement and the residents they serve. Lieutenant David Godfrey and his deputies at the York County Sheriff’s Department look forward to this event each year.…

Inflation has been impacting many industries from food prices at the grocery store and even affordable housing. In Central Pennsylvania, there’s even a housing shortage. Jodi Diego of the National Association of Realtors says there’s even a lack of homes to sell in the area. “We don’t have enough homes to sell. Plus, you know, new construction. It’…

On June 3, the Dauphin County Library System had its first Library named after an historic African-American couple. The Kline Library located in the Allison Hill area of Harrisburg was renamed the George & Hettie Love Memorial Library. This library is the first library in the county named after African Americans. About a year ago, Dauphin County Bo…

Coming up on this week's edition of The Spark Weekly: Upper Allen Township announced that it has officially been recognized as the 57th Bird Town in the State of Pennsylvania. According to the Bird Town Pennsylvania website, their mission is to work in partnership with local municipalities and like-minded organizations to promote community-based co…

Braver Angels is leading the nation’s largest cross-partisan, volunteer-led movement to bridge the partisan divide for the good of our democratic republic. As we are in an election year, Braver Angels is bringing together “We the People” to find a hopeful alternative to toxic politics. Linda Beck is a national volunteer with Braver Angels. After th…

The U.S. Supreme Court decided earlier this year that cities can enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outdoors, even in areas where shelter space is lacking. John Leciew, Pennlive Patriot News Reporter has been following the unhoused trends in Harrisburg and Cumberland County. "It is right here in our backyard. Everyone was seeing it. We defini…

As we are in an election year, there is a strong need for poll workers. The typical role of a poll worker includes showing up to the precincts at 6 a.m. on Election Day, set up the polls, help check people in to distribute the ballots, and overall make sure those ballots and voters are taken care of. Sean Drasher, Director of Lebanon County Board o…

Service dogs are more than just pets. They are highly trained working members of the community aiding those with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. Deb Tack, Executive Director of Susquehanna Service Dogs was a guest on The Spark to talk about the difference between emotional support and service dogs. “A service dog is covered under the …

Avian Influenza, also known as bird flu, has been affecting wild, commercial, and backyard birds in Pennsylvania since 2022. Highly Pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been affecting wild birds as well as domestic poultry species. HPAI in birds can have high death rates for domestic poultry such as chickens, quail, and turkeys. Avian flu has show…

Upper Allen Township announced that it has officially been recognized as the 57th Bird Town in the State of Pennsylvania. According to the Bird Town Pennsylvania website, their mission is to work in partnership with local municipalities and like-minded organizations to promote community-based conservation actions to create a healthier, more sustain…

A team from the University of South Florida and Pennsylvania State Police has exhumed the body of Dauphin County’s last John Doe in hopes to identify him through DNA samples. Dr. Erin Kimmerle is an Associate Professor at the Department of Anthropology College of Arts and Sciences at the University of South Florida. Dr. Kimmerle began working with …

The Summer 2024 Olympics have officially kicked off in Paris, and a local doctor has the opportunity to practice medicine during the Olympic games. Dr. Mark Lavallee will serve as one of the International Weightlifting Federation's (IWF) Chief Medical Officers. Dr. Lavallee is a Sports Medicine Physician at UPMC in Harrisburg, Pa. He has nearly 30 …

The 2024 Olympic Summer Games have officially kicked off in Paris and one Pennsylvania company has been tasked with outfitting the U.S. Women's and Men's gymnastics team. GK Elite has as partnered with thee USA gymnastics to provide on-mat attire for athletes include Simone Biles, Yul Moldauer, and Suni Lee. This year's collection drew inspiration …

Coming up on The Spark Weekly; There's a new tool created by the Pennsylvania State Police for individuals with autism to enhance interactions with law enforcement officers. The cards, which include a person’s name, contact information and emergency contacts, state that the cardholder has autism and urge officers to be patient and direct in their i…

WITF Music's Joe Urich speaks with Tony McManus, a world-renowned acoustic guitarist. Who is participating in The Mansion House Concert series August 24th. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By WITF, Inc.

Ann Barshinger passed away at 100 years old, and leaves behind a lasting impact on the people she's served in Central Pennsylvania. Barshinger was known for her big heart and generosity. Over the years, she's donated millions to hospitals, colleges, churches, and many more organizations. Ann was also instrumental in the opening of Ann B. Barshinger…

Amber Roadcap is the new Executive Director of the LGBT Center of Central Pennsylvania. Roadcap has earned a degree from Penn State Health, and has a background in mental health. She started her career in crisis intervention at Geisinger Holy Spirit Hospital. She's also worked at Malvern Health where she helped to develop a LGBTQ+ based behavioral …

As the demand for electric vehicles are on the rise, car dealerships and mechanics are faced with new challenges. Roger Cackovic is a dealer at RJ Cackovic Auto Sales, Service and Rental, and has been in the industry for over 60 years. Cackovic was a guest on The Spark and spoke with Asia about where the auto industry is going now that the demand o…

In January Governor Josh Shapiro announced the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program, or PTRR for short. With the program, hundreds of thousands of older and disabled Pennsylvanians will now be eligible for a rebate up to $1,000. This brings the maximum standard rebate up from its previous level of $650. Secretary of Revenue Pat Browne sat down with The…

There's a new tool created by the Pennsylvania State Police for individuals with autism to enhance interactions with law enforcement officers. The cards, which include a person’s name, contact information and emergency contacts, state that the cardholder has autism and urge officers to be patient and direct in their interactions. Lieutenant Adam Re…

There has been some unofficial conversation about the possibility of reopening of the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Dauphin County. The plant was completely shut down in 2019 after more than 40 years in service. TMI was also the site of the 1979 accident which completely crippled the unit two reactor. Terry Fitzpatrick the President and CEO of…

Molly of Denali is a children's show on PBS centered around Molly, an Alaska Native girl, her dog Suki, and friends on their adventures in Alaska. The show is created by a team that includes Indigenous advisors, and is the first nationally children's program to feature Native American and Alaska Native lead characters. Yatibaey Evans, the Creative …

Mecum Auctions comes to the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg for their 2024 auto auction and car show. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By WITF, Inc.

Two Pennsylvania educators talk about the importance of reading to young children to prepare them to learn literacy in phonics when they reach Kindergarten. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By WITF, Inc.

The Penguin Project is a 20 year old program that promotes theater for everyone by putting students who have disabilities at center stage in a shortened Broadway musical. The Penguin Project was conceived by Dr. Andrew Morgan to give children with disabilities an opportunity to participate in the performing arts. “Dr. Andy” is a developmental pedia…

It's been a little after a year since the Broad Street Market in Harrisburg caught on fire. Half of the building was destroyed and the other half sustained huge damage. On the half of the building that was destroyed, the roof was gone and only the walls remained standing. Recently, a big tent was added to help vendors, as the Broad Street Market Al…

On this week's edition of The Spark Weekly: WITF’s Director of Journalism Scott Blanchard, and LNP’s Managing Editor of Content Stephanie Zeigler, spoke with The Spark’s Asia Tabb about their commitment to staying accurate when covering breaking news. Zeigler also spoke with Asia about language around reporting breaking news and why that matters an…

WITF’s Director of Journalism Scott Blanchard, and LNP’s Managing Editor of Content Stephanie Zeigler, spoke with The Spark’s Asia Tabb about their commitment to staying accurate when covering breaking news. Zeigler also spoke with Asia about language around reporting breaking news and why that matters and building trust with the community when rep…

Saturday July 20th Chambersburg will host two historically events that took place in Harrisburg 160 years ago. The Old Market Day will bring over 100 different vendors, and the 1864 Ransoming, Burning, and Rebirth of Chambersburg commemorates the 160th anniversary of a historical event. Janet Pollard the Executive Director of the Franklin County Vi…

Philadelphia has mandated all city employees to return to their offices if employed full-time, as of July 15. Mayor Cherelle Parker made the announcement, saying she wants to create a more visible and accessible government. The decision ends the city’s virtual work policy that was put in place in 2021 and essentially returns employees to pre-pandem…

Kim Bailor is the owner of Terrarium Therapy which was established in 2017. Terrarium Therapy offers workshops, team building functions, fundraising events, and virtual events. In the podcast, Kim speaks with Asia about the connection between plants, soil, and happiness. Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/ See omnystudio.com/listen…

The York County SPCA is without power due to Tuesday night's storms, and will not have power until this weekend. The current canine population is large, and the shelter is in dire need of emergency foster homes for the dogs until the power is restored. The York County SPCA will provide all resources for the foster parents including food, toys, crat…

The 5th annual Susquehanna Folk Festival returns August 9 and will run until August 11. The festival will take place at the Appell Center in downtown York, Pa for a weekend of music, dancing, family activities and more. Peter Winter Lee is the Executive Director of the Susquehanna Folk Music Society. He says the music society is South Central Penns…

Carlisle Events returns for another season, while celebrating 50 years of bringing vintage car lovers together. More than 400 cars will be on display at the auction while featuring vehicles from more than a century of auto history. For the big anniversary, the fairgrounds will have a wall of events that were held in Carlisle. Bill Miller Jr. the Co…

F&M’s Center for Public Opinion Research has conducted a random-sample survey of 900 Lancaster County Residents. Typically, about 60 attend the two-day forum. Those who attend are briefed about topics and issues they are asked to deliberate about. On day 1, attendees are asked to discuss topics and potential solutions to challenges. On Day 2, they …

The Pennsylvania Department of Conversation and Natural Resources oversees 124 parks and 2.2 million acres of forest land. PA DCNR Secretary Cindy Dunn, and Planning Chief in the Resource Management and Planning Division of DCNR’s Bureau of State Parks Rachel Eckman made an appearance on the Spark with host Asia Tabb to chat about what new parks ar…

Lesa Brackbill is a wife, mother, advocate, and author raising awareness about Krabbe Disease. Her daughter Victoria was born in July 2014 and began exhibiting symptoms of Krabbe Disease in January 2015. “She was perfectly healthy, so we thought. And it wasn't until she was five months old that everything changed. She became a completely different …

Coming up on this week's edition of The Spark Weekly: The SS United States Conversancy has issued a $500,000 emergency fundraiser to rehome America’s flagship. The SS United States has been docked at Pier 82 in Philadelphia since 1996. “SS United States or America’s flagship is the nation’s only remaining great ocean liner. She smashed the transatl…

The Cumberland County Court Appointed Special Advocates Program (CASA) is in dire need of volunteers to work with abused and/or neglected children involved in the child warehouse court system. CASA Outreach Coordinator Virginia Koser, and CASA Volunteer Art McNulty, made an appearance on The Spark to talk about why people should volunteer. "I've be…

Celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Amy Schumer, Kelly Clarkson, and Tracy Morgan have all tried the Ozempic drug for weight loss. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Ozempic in 2017 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, as an effective weight loss tool. The hype surrounding the injectable drug has led to an increase in sales and shortage…

The Dauphin County’s Drug and Alcohol Services is hosting its first annual ‘Youth Summer Sports Fest’. It began in June, and will continue every Wednesday until August 14 from 12 p.m.-2 p.m. Basketball, soccer, volleyball, and other outdoor activities will be held at local parks around Harrisburg giving young people a positive alternative activity …

The pandemic babies who were toddlers, and preschoolers are now school aged showing signs of learning loss, speech delays, behavioral problems and more. Ms. Denean Bressi serves as the Director of Special Education and Student Services at the Susquenita School District. Bressi expressed the students were affected in many ways depending on age level…