Category: Uncategorized

What to look for on Smart Talk Wednesday, December 19, 2018:

The United Nations Climate Change Conference was held earlier this month in Katowice, Poland. The conference was convened to decide the rules and guidelines for implementing the Paris Climate Accord.

The 2015 Paris agreement was touted as a major milestone in reducing global emissions, but since it was signed the Trump administration has stated the U.S. will withdraw from the agreement in 2020.

The Polish conference took on renewed urgency because of the U.S. plan and the need for slowing climate change,

Professor Donald Brown attended the climate conference and he is appearing on Smart Talk to share his observations and analysis. Professor Brown is the Scholar in Residence for Sustainability Ethics and Law for Widener University Commonwealth Law School, Environmental Law and Sustainability Center.

Also, a recent demographic assessment by D.C.-based analytics firm has drawn an interesting conclusion.

Their findings show that Dauphin County is “statistically closest to resembling America as a whole.”

Called the ‘Middle America Project,’ the analysis was made using a myriad of statistical variables: income, voting patterns, race, religious affiliation, and a wide range of social and demographic characteristics.

Joining Smart Talk to discuss the analysis and what the findings mean is Patrick Ruffini, Partner and Co-Founder of Echelon Insights.

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What to look for on Smart Talk Tuesday, December 18, 2018:

The year 2018 will go down as one of the wettest on record in South Central Pennsylvania. The region received between 10-to-15 inches of rainfall above the average for the last 12 months.

More rain and several significant rain events resulted in more homes being damaged by water. Whether it was a flooded basement, a damaged foundation or leaking roof, the rain took its toll on many structures. Unfortunately, some homeowners discovered after it was too late that their homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policies didn’t cover the damage caused by water.

They needed flood insurance even if they didn’t live near a body of water.

Flood insurance is one of the most misunderstood forms of insurance and with an average yearly premium of $700, it can be one of the most expensive.

We discuss what you need to know about flood insurance on Tuesday’s Smart Talk with Jim Enders, Vice President of Enders Insurance in Dauphin County.

Also, in his new book While Reason Slept, Thomas Brier Jr. (a Hershey native) tells the story of the nation’s founding principles and how the men who wrote the Constitution envisioned government for the common good. He writes that the Constitution has been eroded by self interest, consumerism and propaganda.

Thomas Brier appears on Tuesday’s Smart Talk.

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What to look for on Smart Talk Monday, December 17, 2018:

During the holiday season, many of us reminisce about our past. Often, a favorite gift we received will be part of those memories. For a lot of us, that favorite gift was a toy. That same toy may be in the attic as a keepsake. Even if you didn’t want to sell it, you probably have wondered how much money it is worth or its value today.

That’s where Monday’s Smart Talk comes in.

David Cordier of Cordier Auctions and Appraisals is in the studio to discuss antiques, collectibles and how much value they may have.

And it’s not just toys Mr. Cordier will be evaluating. It can be anything — furniture, firearms, heirlooms — you name it.

What makes this show fascinating is not just hearing about the estimated price of a piece, but about its history and where it came from, how it was acquired or how long it has been in the family.

Do you have an item you’d like to have appraised from a long distance? Send a brief (under 25 words) description or maybe a photograph to smarttalk@witf.org.

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What to look for on Smart Talk Friday, December 14, 2018:

Pennsylvania could avoid a “devastating and permanent blow” to its economy and environment if it considers the ways other states have helped bail out their own failing nuclear plants… that’s according to a recent legislative report.

Two of Pennsylvania’s five nuclear plants are soon set to close prematurely.

Exelon plans to shutter its Three Mile Island plant in 2019, and FirstEnergy announced it would retire its Beaver Valley plant ahead of schedule, in 2021.

The early closures are part of a broader trend across the U.S. as the industry has struggled amid slowing demand for electricity, high operating costs, and competition from cheaper natural gas and renewables.

In recent years, other states have used various, controversial mechanisms to give billions of dollars to prop up their ailing nuclear plants by recognizing them as a source of carbon-free power… and there’s a big push to do something similar in Pennsylvania.

Appearing on Smart Talk to discuss a possible bailout are Rep.Thomas Mehaffie (R- Dauphin) and David Fein, Senior Vice President of State Governmental and Regulatory Affairs at Exelon.

Also joining the program are Mark Szybist, senior attorney, Climate and Clean Energy Program, Natural Resources Defense Council, Stephanie Catarino Wissman, Executive Director, Associated Petroleum Industries of Pennsylvania, and Glen Thomas, President GT Power Group.

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What to look for on Smart Talk Friday, December 7, 2018:

The last Smart Talk Road Trip of the year takes us to the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg. Inside the Front Street home, we’ll discuss Governor Tom Wolf’s recent re-election and his plans and priorities for the next four years. Will Wolf push for more money for education as he has in his first four years in office? What about a tax on natural gas drilling that has failed to make it through the legislature each year? Other issues that may be discussed are what the state will do, if anything, with regards to reducing emissions that contribute to climate change and how Congressional district boundaries will be drawn in the future.

First Lady Frances Wolf also joins the conversation to talk about the initiatives and platforms where she is focusing her attention. Those include the arts and education.

The holiday season is a great time to visit the Governor’s Residence that is decked out with holiday decorations. We’ll have photographs on this site after the show.

The Governor’s Residence is almost 50 years old and has a history of its own. Smart Talk explores that history and the art in the residence with Juli Bossert, Executive Residence Manager.

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What to look for on Smart Talk Thursday, December 6, 2018:

It’s wasn’t long ago that if the word gerrymander was used in public, eyes would quickly glaze over. It just wasn’t a topic that generated a lot of passion. That is not the case today – gerrymandering or a majority party drawing legislative boundaries to favor their party’s candidates – is one of the most high profile political issues the nation and Pennsylvania faces.

A new organization called Draw the Lines PA is addressing the gerrymandering issue head on and doing it in a way that involves Pennsylvanians in a meaningful way. It is back to the drawing board, in a manner of speaking.

Appearing on Smart Talk today to lay out the challenge are David Thornburgh, Draw the Lines PA managing director and president and CEO of the Good Government group the Committee of 70, along with Chris Satullo, Draw the Lines PA project director.

Also, while preparing for holiday celebrations, don’t forget to plan for year-end financial tasks and the coming tax season.

Joining Smart Talk with year-end tips and “don’t-forget-to’s” is Jean M. Zahurak, CPA, and senior manager with McKonly & Asbury in Camp Hill and Eric MacCollum, CPA, and principal with Hudak & Company in Lemoyne.

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What to look for on Smart Talk Wednesday, December 5, 2018:

More than 26 million Americans suffer from asthma. About 1.7 million seek treatment for asthma at hospital emergency rooms each year.

It disproportionately affects poor people.

Asthma is a condition in which airways narrow, swell and produce extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.

For some people, asthma is a minor nuisance. For others, it can be a major problem that interferes with daily activities and may lead to a life-threatening asthma attack.

Asthma can’t be cured, but its symptoms can be controlled.

A new study conducted by the Medicaid managed care company AmeriHealth Caritas — based in Philadelphia — found that asthma patients responded better to treatment and weren’t readmitted to the hospital as often if the patient engaged with a healthcare professional more often after being discharged from the hospital.

What makes this unique?

We’ll find out on Wednesday’s Smart Talk from Dr. Andrea Gelzer, the Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs and Registered Nurse Karen Michael — both of AmeriHealth Caritas.

Also, Republican State Representative Bryan Cutler is the newly-elected Majority Leader in the House of Representatives. Cutler is the first House Leader from Lancaster County in almost a century.

The majority leader manages the daily operations of the majority party — Republicans in Pennsylvania’s case — on the state House floor. The majority leader acts as a spokesperson for the party’s policy positions, schedules the daily calendar, and helps direct the party’s overall legislative agenda.

Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler joins us on Smart Talk Wednesday to discuss his new role and priorities.

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What to look for on Smart Talk Thursday, November 29, 2018:

Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale is taking aim at gun safety and has made a dozen recommendations that he thinks will reduce crimes committed with firearms and suicides. In 2016 more than 1,500 Pennsylvanians were killed by guns.

DePasquale says over the last decade, firearm-related injuries cost Pennsylvania taxpayers about $1.5 billion in health care costs.

The Auditor General is calling for a “community approach” to saving lives from firearms. He says his recommendations will not infringe on anyone’s rights to own a firearm

General DePasquale appears on Tuesday’s Smart Talk to discuss the plan.

Also, hunting on Sundays in Pennsylvania is currently limited to only crows, coyotes and fox. This is considered a substantial restriction, especially for a state with one of the highest densities of licensed hunters per square mile.

Some hunters and advocates want to see restrictions lifted to allow hunting on Sundays.

Appearing on Smart Talk to discuss the issue are Republican State Senator Dan Laughlin, Bryan Burhans, executive director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Mark O’Neill, director of strategic communications with the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, and Joe Neville, executive director, Keystone Trails Association.

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What to look for on Smart Talk Monday, December 3, 2018:

A Smart Talk holiday tradition is back! One of our favorite shows of the year — the annual books-as-gifts guide.

Everyone enjoys a well-thought gift, especially when it is a good book. Whether it is fiction, a novel, non-fiction, poetry, a how-to book, or one of the classics — books make great gifts.

On Monday’s Smart Talk, we discuss the books that would make great gifts with guests who know their books.

Joining us is Catherine Lawrence, co-owner of the Midtown Scholar Bookstore in Harrisburg and a writer herself, Dr. Travis Kurowski, an assistant professor of creative writing at York College of Pennsylvania and Brian Frailey, owner of DogStar Books in Lancaster.

We’d like to hear your suggestions, as well. What books do you like and think your friends or loved-ones would enjoy? What is on your wish list this year?

Click here to view Catherine Lawrence’s recommendations

Click here to view Brian Frailey’s recommendations

Click here to view Dr. Travis Kurowski’s recommendations

See comments section below for our listeners recommendations.

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