A push to increase oversight and transparency of Pa. fracking industry – Also on the program: Understanding Electric Vehicle Technology

Pennsylvania is the second largest producer of natural gas in the country and Democrats in the legislature say that the industry has boomed with little accountability to the impact it is making on communities.

There are known risks to fracking, to include the contamination of ground water, risk of chemical spills, and air pollution impacts.

Senate Democrats are introducing a package of bills they say will make concrete changes to reduce the health and safety risks to Pennsylvania communities.

Joining Smart Talk Wednesday to outline the recommendations is Democratic State Senator Maria Collett of Bucks and Montgomery County.

Electric vehicles hit the roadways, what should we know about the technology

President Biden threw his support behind electric vehicle technology recently, by including transition incentives in the $2 trillion infrastructure plan. When General Motors announced that by 2035 they will only make electric vehicles, it became clear this isn’t a fad.

Electric vehicle technology is being called the biggest revolution in motoring since Henry Ford’s production line first started.

So, what is all of the excitement about and what should we understand about the technology?

Christopher Van Stavoren is an Assistant Professor in Automotive Technology with the Pennsylvania College of Technology and he appears on Smart Talk Wednesday to share the fundamentals about electric vehicles.

 

 

 

Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month – New book details the importance of movement and music in battling brain disease

Listen to Smart Talk every weekday at 9am and 7pm on WITF 89.5 & 93.3. You can also stream WITF radio live on our website or ask your smart speaker to “Play WITF Radio.”

Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month is recognized in June. Although a cure and even effective treatments for Alzheimers disease remain elusive, researchers continue efforts to find treatments to stop or delay the disease progression.

Appearing on Smart Talk Tuesday to share important statistics and what is on the horizon for treating the disease are Clay Jacobs, Executive Director, Greater Pennsylvania Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, along with board member Kris Hansen-Kieffer, Ed.D., Vice Provost for Student Success & Engagement/Assistant Professor of Exercise Physiology at Messiah University.

New book details the importance of movement and music in battling brain disease

In a new book, author Jem Spectar writes about the looming threat of neurodegenerative diseases, and that he believes people at risk should develop a plan of action to fight against these incurable disorders.

He argues that scientific research reveals how movement, exercise, and dance therapy are helping people in their struggle against brain diseases and that others can benefit from understanding the medicinal impact of rhythmic movement.

Author Jem Spectar, Ph.D., President of the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown, appears on Smart Talk Tuesday to share highlights of his book, Movement + Music = Medicine: Fight Alzheimer’s, Dementia & Parkinson’s.

For more on brain health issues plus a deeper look at the changing tide of healthcare–check out WITF’s Transforming Health. Online at TransformingHealth.org, a partnership of WITF, WellSpan Health and Capital Blue Cross.