Author: julrich

Like everyone else, the federal court system has had to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the Middle District of Pennsylvania, that means jury selections and jury trials in both civil and criminal cases have been continued. The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the accused a speedy trial. Does continuing criminal cases jeopardize the right to a speedy trial?

Tuesday’s Smart Talk addresses the federal courts during the pandemic with Judge John Jones, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania; Middle District U.S. Attorney David Freed; and Chief Federal Public Defender for the Middle District Heidi Freese.

Also, it’s safe to say that more people than normal are grieving the death of a loved one in 2020 considering 160,000 people have died in the U.S. from the novel coronavirus since February.

However, grief is not a subject many people know how to discuss.

Smart Talk will have a conversation about grief on Tuesday’s program with Patti Anewalt, PhD, Director of the Pathways Center for Grief & Loss with Hospice & Community Care in Lancaster .

Watch the documentary Speaking Grief that explores the transformative experience of losing a family member in a death- and grief-avoidant society, Thursday, August 13, at 8 p.m. on WITF-TV.

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The latest Franklin and Marshall College poll of registered voters released this week noted several key findings.

Pennsylvanians are “generally” optimistic that the state is “heading in the right direction.” Although, that percentage dropped from the October 2019 poll.

Respondents also consider COVID-19 the most important problem facing the state and may, as a result, feel less optimistic about their finances. The 2020 general election and voter intentions were also key poll questions.

Franklin and Marshall College political analyst and pollster Dr. G. Terry Madonna, Ph.D., appears on Monday’s Smart Talk to discuss the results and provide perspective.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, social distancing and mask-wearing have been important tools in the plan to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Different countries and even communities have been slower to advocate for and require masks in public places. Many public health officials believe this is the reason the U.S. is experiencing a COVID-19 surge in different parts of the country.

A recent study on mask wearers found a gender divide in mask wearing, with men more likely to resist wearing masks. So, is there a correlation between mask wearing and masculinity?

Joining Smart Talk to explore the attitudes toward mask-wearing is study author Rolfe Peterson, Ph.D., assistant professor of Political Science at Susquehanna University.

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The opportunity to work, buy things for yourself, participate in community; to enjoy daily life in mainstream America is something that most people take for granted.

For Americans living with a disability, their right to live a free and open life was never actually guaranteed until thirty years ago.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H.W. Bush, to prevent discrimination against the disabled. The ADA was modeled after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to be an “equal opportunity” law for people with any kind of physical or cognitive disability.

Pennsylvania, in many ways, was central to the debate advocating for the deinstitutionalization of people living with disabilities, particularly individuals with cognitive impairment. Pennhurst State School and Hospital in Eastern Pennsylvania was one of nearly 300-like institutions in the United States but it became a symbol for the disability civil rights movement.

I go home chronicles the role institutionalization played in the life of people with intellectual disabilities in 1960s America and shines a light on life at the Pennhurst State School and Hospital. The WITF Original Production I go home broadcasts Sunday at noon on WITF TV.

Two authors join Smart Talk Thursday to share the details of a book they co-authored and edited, Pennhurst and the Struggle for Disability Rights.

Author Dennis Downey, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of History, Millersville University, and co-author Jim Conroy, Ph.D., a social science researcher and Co-President of the Pennhurst Memorial Alliance appear on Smart Talk, along with Debbie Robinson, a self-advocate and the Executive Director of Speaking for Ourselves. Robinson was present at the signing of the ADA of 1990 and will share her observations.

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It has become apparent that there are many questions about reopening schools this fall. While the number of COVID-19 cases increase in some parts of the country and even some places in Pennsylvania, how students will be educated in a safe environment is of major concern for parents, teachers and administrators.

Pennsylvania’s 500 public school districts are devising plans that include in-person classroom instruction, classes on-line, or a hybrid of the two. Schools are planning social distancing for students and students wearing masks. They’re also considering holding in-person classes only two days a week. Buses, cafeterias, gym classes and recess are all challenges for schools.

Appearing on Wednesday’s Smart Talk to discuss how schools may reopen are John Callahan, Chief Advocacy Officer with the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, Rich Askey, President of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, Damaris Rau, Ph.D., School District of Lancaster Superintendent, and Adrian Allan, Head of School, Harrisburg Academy.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics advocate for a return to in-school classes but warn that re-opening schools must be done safely and based on solid health guidelines, not on politics.

It is not surprising that kids perform best when they are in school learning, but they also benefit in other ways.

Children learn social and emotional skills at school and take advantage of healthy meals and personal health support. Access to teachers and adult advocates also plays a role in keeping kids safe from abuse, as evidenced by the significant drop in abuse reports the past five months.

As important as in-school learning is to kids, there are additional health issues that medical professionals say must be evaluated before opening schools.

Joining Smart Talk to explore these topics, as well as the safe return to school are Dr. William Keough, MD, Pediatric physician and Member of the Pennsylvania Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics and Co-chair of the Chapter’s Advocacy Committee and Lori Kelley, RN, President, Pennsylvania Association of School Nurses and Practitioners.

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With so many Pennsylvanians working from home, students taking their classes on-line and doctors communicating with patients through telemedicine — reliable, broadband internet has taken on more urgency during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Broadband has become an essential part of the infrastructure during the pandemic, but many areas of Pennsylvania – especially rural, but not limited to rural areas – don’t have access to the speeds and capacities needed.

There is near universal agreement that broadband should be more widely available but the cost has always been a hurdle.

Appearing on Monday’s Smart Talk to discuss the renewed push for broadband are Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York) and Rep. Pam Snyder (D-Greene).

Also, there are many college students who don’t think they should have to pay full tuition if their classes are not being conducted in person. We’ll hear from one who started an online petition that is getting a lot of attention. Millersville University senior Michael Kleine appears on Smart Talk.

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The Wolf administration imposed stricter limitations on bars, restaurants and businesses yesterday in response to a reported rise in coronavirus cases state-wide. Spotlight PA reporter Angela Couloumbis reported on this new development and she joins Smart Talk to share the details.

Governor Tom Wolf also enacted a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures at the beginning of the pandemic, expressing concern about a possible wave of evictions and homelessness. That deferment was set to expire in July until the administration continued it until August 31.

The extension offers tenants more breathing room, but what about landlords and property owners?

According to a lawsuit filed on behalf of one owner’s association, the moratorium has put them in a very difficult financial position and that tenants aren’t the only ones feeling the strain.

Joining Smart Talk Thursday to discuss assistance for renters and homeowners are representatives of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency: Lori Toia director of the Homeowners’ Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program and Bryce Maretzki, director of strategic planning and policy. For phone assistance with the PHFA call 1-855-827-3466.

Also joining Smart Talk to discuss the impact the pandemic has on landlords and property owners are Marlynn Orlando, CEO, Pennsylvania Apartment Association and Leah Sailhamer, Vice President of Government Affairs, Pennsylvania Apartment Association.

 

 

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With the scheduled start of K-12 classes just over a month away, Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts are working on plans to educate their students in environments that are safe from contracting or spreading COVID-19, while attempting to maximize learning. However, schools face significant challenges.

Gov. Tom Wolf wants a return to education this fall after shutting down schools when the pandemic hit Pennsylvania last March. President Trump all but demanded last week that students return to school.

It’s up to local districts to decide how that can happen, under the guidelines established by the state.

At this point, it appears schools can opt for all students returning to the classroom physically — with precautions and alterations to school buildings being made — a combination of in-person classes and virtual learning or all classes being taught on line.

Other issues will have to addressed as well like transportation, food service and sports.

Appearing on Tuesday’s Smart Talk to discuss how schools re-open are John Callahan, Chief Advocacy Officer with the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and Rich Askey, President of the Pennsylvania State Education Association. David Christopher, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools, Cumberland Valley School District and Michael G. Leichliter, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools, Penn Manor School District, join us, as well.

 

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As the final arbiter of the nation’s laws, any decision made by <a href=”https://www.supremecourt.gov”>the U.S. Supreme Court</a> can be considered historic. <a href=”https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/475847-the-7-big-supreme-court-cases-to-watch-in-2020″>However, some rulings are more significant than others.</a> Under that premise, the Supreme Court term that ended last week was one for the history books.

The Court’s decisions also weren’t as predictable, as many expected them to be based on the justices’ political philosophies.

The Court ruled it is illegal for employers to discriminate against an employee based on that employee’s sexual orientation or gender identity, struck down Louisiana’s law that would have required doctors who performed abortion to have admitting privileges at a hospital, and upheld the Trump administration rule that exempts employers who cite religious or moral objections from part of the Affordable Care Act that requires providing no-cost contraceptives to employees.

<a href=”https://commonwealthlaw.widener.edu/”>Widener University Commonwealth Law School</a> <a href=”https://commonwealthlaw.widener.edu/academics/faculty/detail/13/”>Professor of Law Michael Dimino</a> is on Monday’s <em><strong>Smart Talk</strong></em> to provide context to the Supreme Court rulings.

Also, <a href=”https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/payment-deadline-extended-to-july-15-2020#:~:text=The%20filing%20deadline%20for%20tax,file%20as%20quickly%20as%20possible.”>the extended tax deadline, due to the coronavirus pandemic, is Wednesday, July 15.</a>

Michael G. Radich, CPA, is the chairman of the federal tax committee of the <a href=”https://www.picpa.org/”>Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants</a> and <a href=”https://www.mgrcpa.com/”>Founding Shareholder &amp; President at MGR CPA &amp; Consultants</a> and he join <em><strong>Smart Talk</strong></em> to answer tax questions. Radich is also going to spotlight other tax issues that business owners should understand, especially if they have taken advantage of <a href=”https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/cares”>CARES Act</a> assistance from the federal government.

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Moving the US economy forward and getting people back to work will depend a great deal on the availability of affordable, quality childcare.

Early in 2020, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation partnered with the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry and the Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission to quantify the lack of childcare in cost to Pennsylvania. Their report found the loss to the state due to lack of sufficient childcare exceeded $3 billion. 

Then came the pandemic and childcare centers had to apply for an exemption to the state-wide closure order issued by Governor Wolf in March, but only if they served families of essential personnel. Without an exemption they closed their doors.

Joining Smart Talk on Thursday to discuss the economic impact of insufficient childcare and the impact of the loss of this essential service to the state is Teresa Miller, Secretary of the Department of Human Services, along with s

A group of friends from the Harrisburg area have a big vision for a former Harrisburg area school.

Four members of the group are former athletes and graduates of the Milton Hershey School who observed that some alumni, or “Milt” brothers and sisters, struggle after graduating. What began as a brainstorming session on ideas to help fellow grads developed into a business idea – The Bridge Eco-Village.

The pandemic hasn’t slowed the pace of the project that started last year. In fact, they say it has made them more productive and focused, and they point out that the project is uniquely suited to impact many of the social and racial inequities being reflected upon today.

Appearing on Smart Talk Thursday to talk about moving The Bridge Eco-Village from a concept to reality are Corey Dupree, Chief Operations Officer, Jordan Hill, Chief Community Officer and Garry Gilliam, Jr., Founder and CEO.

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