Author: julrich

In his new book The Second Founding: How the Civil War and Reconstruction Remade the Constitution, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian Eric Foner writes about the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments to the U.S. Constitution and significant impact they had on the United States — even to this day.

The three amendments ended slavery, provided equal protection under the law to all American citizens (and identified citizens) and gave the right to vote to all Americans (except women), regardless of race.

Foner explores the many issues the Congress and the nation had to deal with as the newly freed slaves and free blacks were integrated into American society. Along the way, he writes about monumental racial discrimination in both the south and north, that included violence against African-Americans and how courts interpreted the amendments that set the stage for Jim Crow laws in the south.

Eric Foner appears on Friday’s Smart Talk.

Smart Talk takes a Road Trip for Friday’s program featuring Foner to the Midtown Scholar Bookstore in Midtown Harrisburg in the midst of the Harrisburg Book Festival. Several best-selling and well-known authors are appearing through Sunday.

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To some, the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements is the stuff that high school exam nightmares are made from. To others, it represents enormously important scientific discoveries.

Simply put, the table is a cataloging tool that enables scientists to predict the existence and properties of matter on earth and in the universe itself. It has been called “one of the most significant achievements in science,” and scientists point out that the table reflects not only chemistry, but the fundamental qualities of physics and biology, too.

Dmitri Mendeleev, a Russian chemist, was credited with the discovery of the table when he devised a way to not only diagram known elements but also to allot spaces for elements not yet discovered. The periodic table’s design and use as a predictive tool for determining the composition of the universe is considered its genius.

This year marks the 150th anniversary since Mendeleev “discovered” the Periodic System. Appearing on Smart Talk to discuss its significance in past and future discoveries is Catherine T. “Katie” Hunt, Ph.D., former R&D director, Rohm and Haas/Dow Chemical Company and a Past President, American Chemical Society (ACS).
Catherine T. “Katie” Hunt, Ph.D., former R&D director, Rohm and Haas/Dow Chemical Company and a Past President, American Chemical Society (ACS).

Catherine T. “Katie” Hunt, Ph.D., appears on Smart Talk October 3, 2019. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Hunt)

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Think about how much the world has changed in the past 20 years. Now, narrow that change down to just science – how much technology has made our lives and many other aspects of life on this planet different in the last two decades. Picture how much more we know about the Earth, space, communication, diseases and illnesses, human ancestry and other animal species — all through scientific research.

Then, there is perhaps the most significant science project of all – climate change.

Why focus on the changes of the past generation? Because, that’s about how long it’s been since the science curriculum in Pennsylvania’s public schools has been updated.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has begun a review of the state’s science standards. These standards serve as the basis for curriculum development and instruction in schools. The Department will evaluate the standards against the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), which are aligned with current research and practices.

Appearing on Smart Talk Thursday to discuss science education are Matt Stem, Deputy Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Carla Zembal-Saul, Ph.D., Professor Penn State College of Education, Science Education, and Jeff Remington, who is one of ten National STEM Teacher Ambassadors from a program administered by The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and funded by the National Science Foundation and a science teacher at Palmyra Middle School.

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Pennsylvania cities are classified for governance based on the size of their population. Most cities in the state are designated as third class, with populations less than 250 thousand.

According to state law, third class cities are required to provide certain public services but when it comes to funding those services their authority to raise revenue is restricted.

Local city leaders are calling on state government to help solve this financial dilemma through local government reform.

Appearing on Smart Talk Tuesday to discuss revenue reform options are Republican state Senator Scott Martin of Lancaster and Lancaster Mayor Danene Sorace.

Also, anyone with a family pet understands what it is like to look into their eyes and wonder what they might be thinking. A movie released in August goes one step further and gives voice to the family pet.

Based on the best-selling novel by Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a story narrated by the family dog, Enzo. His casual observations chronicle family life as his owner marries and the family grows. The film is part racing movie and part dog movie. Through the family’s many ups and downs, Enzo is there to see it all.

Author Garth Stein joins Smart Talk to discuss his book-turned-movie and the reason for his upcoming visit to Central Pennsylvania.

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Most advocates and legislators agree that any discussion of criminal justice reform must begin first with comprehensive changes to the state’s probation system.

Probation and parole is intended to be a channel out of the criminal justice system, but instead they often lead to a life in limbo, where a minor infraction can lead a person straight back to lock up.

More than 45 thousand individuals are incarcerated in Pennsylvania’s correctional facilities, many of whom will be either paroled or serve probation upon their release. During that time, their conduct and lives are supervised. They must adhere to specific rules of conduct and failing to can result in a return to incarceration. Infractions can include missed appointments or failing a drug screening. About half of all parolees successfully complete parole.

Imprisoning people for minor violations is expensive; Pennsylvania spends over $100 million a year for probation and parole violations.

Appearing on Smart Talk Monday to discuss two legislative proposals for probation reform are Republican state Representative Sheryl Delozier of Cumberland County and Democratic state Senator Anthony Williams of Philadelphia.

Also, since voters in Great Britain voted to leave the European Union in 2016, Brexit has dominated the headlines in not just in Britain and Europe but here in the United States. More than three years later, Britain doesn’t have a formal plan in place to leave the EU.

Hear an update on Brexit on Monday’s Smart Talk and why it matters in the U.S. Our guest is Professor Mark E. Duckenfield Ph.D, Chairman of the Department of National Security and Strategy (DNSS) at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle.

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As the nation enters election season there are many concerns facing voters, including wide-ranging national security issues. Tensions in the Middle East underscore the significance of U.S. policies and actions around the world.

National security refers to the ability of the country to survive a myriad of threats. The threats can come in the form of physical, economic or diplomatic challenges that the nation must prepare to manage or neutralize. National security issues are complicated and drive government strategy.

The Foreign Policy Association of Harrisburg believes that America’s foreign policy is everyone’s business and that all are directly affected by the role the United States plays in world affairs.

Throughout the year, the association invites internationally known diplomats and experts in foreign policy to speak to central Pennsylvania audiences about national security issues.

Appearing on Smart Talk Thursday is October’s association speaker Christine Wormuth to discuss the national security issues in the 2020 election. Wormuth is currently the Director of the International Security and Defense Policy Center at RAND Corporation. Previously she was Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, serving both Defense Secretaries Leon Panetta and Chuck Hagel.

Also, WITF Capitol Bureau chief Katie Meyer joins Smart Talk to discuss the issues the newly returned Pennsylvania legislature could address this fall. They include a package of eight bills called “Energize PA,” in addition to a minimum wage increase and criminal justice reform.

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