Author: julrich

It has been almost four months since the COVID-19 pandemic began in the U.S. Since the end of February, 2.3 million people have tested positive for the virus with 122,000 dying from it. In Pennsylvania, more than 82,000 have contracted the virus and 6,400 have died.

We have learned much about COVID-19 over the past four months including about symptoms, how the virus is spread and who is at risk. However, many people still have questions about the virus, how to avoid exposure and what to do if you experience symptoms.

Dr. Gerald Maloney, DO, is the Chief Medical Officer for Geisinger Hospitals and he joins us on Tuesday’s Smart Talk to answer questions about COVID-19 and stopping the spread.

Dr. Maloney was on Smart Talk in early April to answer questions about the virus. His appearance Tuesday will be a good indicator of how much has changed and what has been learned about the coronavirus.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Contact tracing is a key strategy touted by Pennsylvania health officials as an integral part of stopping, or mitigating, the spread of the coronavirus.

The process of tracking the contacts of an infected person is a disease control measure that is also used by public health officials to prevent the spread of other infectious diseases, like the measles and sexually transmitted diseases. The challenge is in the resources it requires to track accurately.

Many counties in Pennsylvania have moved forward with reopening plans, even without the resources and trained personnel in place to conduct the tracing. The result could be a resurgence of infections.

Spotlight PA reporter Aneri Pattani investigated the “patchwork” system that is in place right now, and she joins Smart Talk with more details.

The Lancaster branch of Church World Service is part of a larger organization and network of faith-based humanitarian agencies. Their role in the community is to assist refugees, immigrants, and asylum-seekers who are seeking safety and new lives in the United States.

Sheila Mastropietro has spent the past 33 years overseeing the resettlement of literally thousands of refugees in Lancaster County as part of CWS. At one point, there were more resettlements there per capita than anywhere in the country earning Lancaster the title of “refugee capital of America.”

Sheila Mastropietro appears on Smart Talk to share her experiences upon retirement.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Last year, WITF’s Transforming Health reporter Brett Sholtis told the story of then 27-year-old Kimberly Stringer — a Bucks County woman who had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder in high school, but was refusing to take medication or see a therapist — claiming she wasn’t mentally ill.  Kim lived a metal shed even though she had an apartment, drank water from streams rather than from the tap or a bottle and scoured garbage dumps collecting items in a shopping cart. Brett’s story provided details on Kim’s parents’ numerous efforts to get treatment for their daughter even if it mean having her committed to a treatment facility involuntarily.

Last week, Brett began receiving collect phone calls from inmates at the Bucks County Jail — telling him that Kimberly has been confined to a bare cell, “completely naked,” with only a soiled blanket and a smock given to patients who are on suicide watch, which she rarely wears.

She urinates and defecates on the floor and on herself.

She has gone without a mattress at times and has no books or possessions.

She is covered with bruises, and at times has hit her head or punched herself.

She hasn’t had a shower in weeks.

After Brett updated Kim’s struggles this week, she was transferred to a hospital for treatment.

Kimberly Stringer’s experiences provide a sad example of what happens when someone living with mental illness goes to jail instead and the difficulty of getting treatment for someone who doesn’t want it.

Transforming Health’s Brett Sholtis appears on Friday’s Smart Talk.

Also, the Wolf Administration released guidelines last week for high school and youth sports, along with other outdoor activities to resume from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joining us on Friday’s Smart Talk to provide details are Melissa Nash Mertz, Associate Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA), Jeremy Flores, Director of Athletics for the Chambersburg School District, and Justin Rose, Associate Executive Director of the Carlisle Family YMCA, who will address how their YMCA is preparing for summer camps, and hosting current day camps under the Pennsylvania guidance.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Systemic problems require systemic change. WITF presents a bi-weekly summer series of virtual community conversations to address systemic racism and injustice.

The series will be a forum for essential conversations about race and racism — its effects on housing, education, finance, healthcare, relations with police and inequality.

Appearing on Smart Talk to share details is series moderator Charles Ellison, executive producer and host of Reality Check, a daily public affairs program on WURD radio in Philadelphia. Joining him is Major Kristal M. Turner-Childs-Director, Bureau of Forensic Services, Pennsylvania State Police & WITF Board Member.

As states begin to ease coronavirus-related restrictions the economy is sending signals of a potential recovery. Some experts are saying the numbers show what could be a slow and prolonged rally.

Michael Horrigan, president of the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research authored an article for the PEW Charitable Trust and he’ll join Smart Talk to discuss what current economic data says about jobs and a recovery.

One Central Pennsylvania county is working to provide tools for small businesses to jump start a recovery there.

Lancaster County is one of only seven in the state to have received direct CARES money from the federal government. County leaders established a grant application program designed to help small businesses reemerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lisa Riggs, President of the Lancaster county Economic Development Company and Tom Baldrige, President and CEO of the Lancaster Chamber, appear on Smart Talk to share details about the Lancaster County Economic Recovery Plan.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Nearly 51 years ago, New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular club in Greenwich Village with a mostly gay clientele, who were accused of serving liquor without a license.

Raiding gay clubs in the city was not uncommon at that time, but this one sparked a riot that led to days-long protests and violent confrontations with police.

What is now known as the Stonewall Riots is largely considered the catalyst for the Gay rights movement in the United States.

June is Pride month and the outgrowth of the 1969 Stonewall uprising. Joining Smart Talk to share what this means to the LGBTQ community are William Burton and Barry Loveland, authors of Out in Central Pennsylvania: The Story of an LGBTQ+ Community, which is being released this month.

And with people now mobilizing around the country in support of Black Lives Matter, some are drawing parallels between these protests and the Stonewall legacy.

Smart Talk will examine the connection between the two movements with the  Ismail Smith-Wade-El, President of Lancaster City Council, and Kimeka Campbell, Ph.D., cofounder of Young Professionals of Color (YPOC) in Harrisburg.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

The Black Lives Matter demonstrations over the past three weeks and subsequent attention on discrimination, inequality and violence toward African-Americans may re-open a conversation that up until now has not gained widespread national support — reparations for the descendants of enslaved people in America.

There is near universal agreement today that kidnapping Africans and enslaving them was wrong and immoral. But there never has been agreement on how to or even to apologize for slavery. Over the years, there have been rare occasions when an institution or company offered reparations to descendants of enslaved people. But fewer people have supported providing monetary reparations to the descendants of the enslaved.

Beyond questions of actually whether to provide reparations, logistics arise like how does one prove their enslaved ancestry and where would the money come from?

Democratic state Rep. Chris Rabb of Philadelphia has proposed a reparations bill and explains on Tuesday’s Smart Talk.

Also, statues and memorials commemorating Civil War Confederate soldiers, slave owners and others who are thought to have played a role in the nation’s racist past are being removed either by protestors or local and state governments.

Those who oppose eliminating the memorials or the Confederate battle flag often say they honor their heritage or history.

Professor Scott Hancock, Ph.D., associate professor of History and Africana Studies at Gettysburg College appears on Tuesday’s Smart Talk with his thoughts.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

At the beginning of every summer, Smart Talk produces a program that focuses on books to read on the beach or during vacation. This year is different. During the coronavirus pandemic, many people are home — either not working or not going on a getaway vacation.

Many people haven’t used the opportunity at home to read more books so this summer’s program will have suggestions for books to read while you’re at home or if you do go on a vacation.

Smart Talk welcomes a panel of area wordsmiths to share their summer book recommendations, from popular new releases to literary classics, even pandemic fiction and racial nonfiction. These books will keep you entertained for the summer to come.

We’d also like to hear about a few of the books you’re reading this summer. Call the program at 1-800-729-7532 or email us at smarttalk@witf.org.

Joining Smart Talk Monday are Catherine Lawrence, a writer and owner of the Midtown Scholar Bookstore in Harrisburg, Travis Kurowski, an assistant professor of English and coordinator of creative writing at York College of Pennsylvania and Carolyn Blatchley, Executive Director of Cumberland County Library System.

Reading Lists:

Catherine Lawrence book list

Travis Kurowski book list

Carolyn Blatchley book list (digital list forthcoming)

Listener and host book recommendations

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Since Pennsylvania schools closed their physical buildings last March due to the coronavirus pandemic, there has been speculation about whether classes would begin on time in August and September and, if so, how they would be different.

Plans are being made for a fall opening of classes with dozens of guidelines from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Among the many issues that schools will have to address are transportation to and from school while maintaining social distancing, monitoring the health of students and staff, limiting the number of students and staff in a classroom, extracurricular activities like sports and band and attendance.

Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera and Deputy Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education Matthew Stem appear on Thursday’s Smart Talk to discuss what changes are coming.

Also, we’ll examine a new report by Self Financial that pinpoints how many hours of work it takes in order to pay rent in Central Pennsylvania’s metro areas.

Pennsylvania is the 28th least affordable state according to the survey. A person making the median income of $39,490 a year would have to work 34.9 hours to afford a one-bedroom apartment and 43 hours a week to afford a two-bedroom. Self Financial’s Vice President Jeff Smith is on Smart Talk with more details.

High School baseball and softball players who missed their senior years due to the COVID-19 pandemic are being invited to play in an invitational this summer at People’sBank Park in York. York Revolution President Eric Menzer joins us to explain.

 

 

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, dental care for most non-emergency procedures was deemed non-essential and many providers closed their doors.

Because the virus is most frequently transmitted through direct contact and respiratory droplets, the decision to stop routine dental treatments was considered imperative.

The danger is in the aerosols that are created in the treatment room. Dental equipment generates aerosols because of the high-speed rotation that is part of certain procedures. An aerosol is a tiny liquid particle that is suspended in the air for anywhere from seconds to hours. Dental patients, as well as providers, are then at risk of inhaling the contaminated air particles.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health recently released guidance for dental providers under the Governors phased reopening plan so that non-urgent dental procedures can resume.

Joining Smart Talk on Wednesday is Dr. James Tauberg, DMD, President of the Pennsylvania Dental Association to talk about the state’s guidelines and protocols to keep patients and providers safe.

Routine teeth cleaning also stopped when dental providers closed their doors in March. Regular cleanings are just one component of oral health and advocates point out that not everyone has equal access to dental care in Pennsylvania, let alone regular cleanings.

Appearing on Smart Talk to address these and other aspects to community dental care are Helen Hawkey, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health and Kelly Braun, RDH, MSDH, the Dental Delivery Systems Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, Pennsylvania State University.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS