Smart Talk: Pa Senate Democrats unveil big relief plan

The Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus recently released a COVID-19 relief funding plan that would allocate $4 billion to help Pennsylvanians and, they say, shore up the Commonwealth’s economy.

The Pennsylvania Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security Act of 2021 would provide direct aid to workers, families, small businesses and “vulnerable populations.” The plan would continue funding for already existing aid programs and would establish new programs, as well.

Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa appears on Smart Talk to lay out details of the funding plan and the proposed priorities.

As hospitals and ICU’s fill up with COVID patients, one local ICU nurse pleas for Pennsylvanians to take the pandemic seriously

Lancaster County intensive care unit nurse Nikkee Asashon believes we all have a responsibility to heed health recommendations to stop the spread of the Coronavirus.

From her perspective, though, there are many people not taking this responsibility seriously enough and that is why she took pen to paper in a local newspaper last weekend.

“What is it going to take? When will people get the message? When will people understand and listen?,” LancasterOnline.com

Nurse Nikkee Asashon joins Smart Talk to share her perspective from the ICU wing of a local hospital.

With cases and deaths mounting, why do some people shrug off the risk of contracting the virus? Smart Talk is joined by two psychologists to examine why some continue to ignore the risks and live life as normal.

Melissa Auerbach, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychology with Temple University and Elizabeth Gosch, Ph.D., Psychology Professor, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine appear on Wednesday’s program.