When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.
As Americans get ready to celebrate Independence Day, the bald eagle—a powerful symbol of freedom and the nation itself—continues to be a soaring success story in Pennsylvania. Once nearly wiped out due to pesticide use, bald eagles have made a remarkable comeback across the Commonwealth.
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In the heart of downtown Lancaster, a new museum is preparing to open its doors — one that highlights a powerful, and often overlooked, chapter of American history. The Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy is set to open next spring, led by LancasterHistory, the organization behind the museum's development.
As temperatures soar and heatwaves become more common in Pennsylvania, health experts are urging people to understand the dangers of extreme heat — and how to protect themselves and others.
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Mount Gretna may be a small Pennsylvania town, but it’s home to something historically unique: the only remaining Chautauqua in the state. For more than 130 years, the Mount Gretna Chautauqua has championed the same four foundational pillars—arts and culture, education, religion, and recreation—that began with the movement’s founding in 1874.
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More than a decade after the loss of 19-year-old Peyton Walker to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), the foundation created in her name is saving lives across Pennsylvania and beyond.
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Local educator, historian, and adventurer Adam Zurn has taken his passion for Pennsylvania’s hidden history from blog to bookshelf. In his debut children’s book Canassatego and His Six Arrows, Zurn tells the powerful story of unity shared by the Onondaga chief Canassatego during the 1744 Treaty of Lancaster—a message that helped shape America’s earliest ideas of governance...
In the heart of downtown Harrisburg, Gamut Theatre Group is doing more than just putting on plays — it’s reimagining the way stories are told and connecting them to the community it calls home.
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As Congress considers what could be the most significant Medicaid cuts in U.S. history, experts are sounding the alarm about the far-reaching consequences—especially for small businesses and rural communities.
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For children affected by parental incarceration, the trauma can be deep, isolating, and difficult to express. But in Lancaster, a unique nonprofit is helping those children find their voice ...
With summer temperatures climbing and heat waves becoming more frequent, energy bills can quickly get out of hand. But there are simple, affordable ways to stay cool without breaking the bank.
Dan McCunney, Senior Communications Manager at NRG Energy, joined The Spark to share expert tips on how to lower energy usage while stayi...
Harrisburg’s own M. Travis Dinicola had his public radio dreams come true when he was selected as the winner of NPR’s Sunday Puzzle segment on Weekend Edition. A long-time listener, public media volunteer, and nonprofit fundraiser, Dinicola represented Central Pennsylvania on the national airwaves with enthusiasm and humility.
As Pennsylvania's June 30 state budget deadline approaches, lawmakers in Harrisburg remain at odds—especially over the controversial issue of whether to tax so-called "skill games." On this week’s Journalist Roundtable, The Spark explored the state budget standoff with Spotlight PA reporters Katie Meyer and Stephen Caruso, who outlined the widening ...
As summer kicks off, much of the East Coast — including Pennsylvania — has already endured a punishing stretch of extreme temperatures, thanks to what meteorologists are calling a "heat dome." According to ABC 27 Meteorologist Dan Tomaso, the phenomenon is a classic — but intense — example of high-pressure systems trapping heat across large regions.
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As vacation season heats up, safety officials are reminding Pennsylvanians to travel smart, buckle up, and never drive impaired — especially with increased traffic expected around the July 4th holiday.
In a recent conversation on The Spark, Kelly Whitaker with the Pennsylvania Traffic Injury Prevention Project (PA TIPP) ou...
As Congress considers what could be the most significant Medicaid cuts in U.S. history, experts are sounding the alarm about the far-reaching consequences—especially for small businesses and rural communities.
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The Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association (LSRA) has sounded an alarm for outdoor enthusiasts this summer: several locations along the Susquehanna River near Harrisburg are currently unsafe for recreational activities like swimming, kayaking, and fishing due to dangerously high levels of E. coli and other bacteria.
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As conversations around mental health and social media continue to intensify, one expert says there’s growing evidence that screen time—especially among teens—is doing real harm. On The Spark, WITF’s Asia Tabb spoke with Dr. Yann Poncin, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, about what research is revealing and how families can respond.
The Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts is celebrating a major milestone — 25 years of engaging the Central Pennsylvania community with its unique blend of science, art, and education. We spoke with President and CEO Mary Oliveira, who reflected on the center’s legacy and shared how it’s planning for the future.
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Journalists have long risked their safety to report the news — but in today's political and digital climate, that danger is only growing. Whether on the frontlines of protests or facing online harassment, reporters are increasingly “in the line of fire” in more ways than one.
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For children affected by parental incarceration, the trauma can be deep, isolating, and difficult to express. But in Lancaster, a unique nonprofit is helping those children find their voice — through music.
Scaling Walls a Note at a Time (SWAN) was founded in 2011 by violinist and educator Diana Vuolo to serve children impacted by the incarceration of a parent. The organization offers free music instruction, performance oppor...
When Stella Boheme received the first physical copy of her debut book, Read Like a Queen, she was overcome with emotion.
“Oh my gosh… the word that just comes to mind for me is surreal,” she said in an interview on The Spark. “It went from an idea that I had to start ...
United States of Kennedy is a podcast about our cultural fascination with the Kennedy dynasty. Every week, hosts Lyra Smith and George Civeris go into one aspect of the Kennedy story.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.