Spring has finally arrived, but you might still be paying the price for the colder-than-usual winter. Some customers under variable rate electricity agreements saw major spikes in their bills after the polar vortex in January. More than fifty thousand have since switched back to their default energy providers. WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner reports on what caused the electric bill spikes
This week on Take Note, we'll talk with congressional candidates Thomas Tarantella from Renovo and Kerith Strano Taylor from Brookville. They're seeking the Democratic Party nomination to represent Pennsylvania's 5th Congressional District, a seat that's currently held by Glenn Thompson.
For National Poetry Month, poet and frequent BookMark contributor Marjorie Maddox reviews Jerry Wemple's newest poetry collection, The Artemas Poems. The linked poems about a man named Artemas are set in small-town Pennsylvania.
What do you get when you mix a Masters of Fine Arts and a Medical Doctor? The answer is Dr. David Teplica, a Penn State alumnus who uses his unique combination of talents in the Fine Arts and Plastic Surgery to bring about a better understanding of human anatomy. We'll talk with him about how photography has made him a better surgeon, and vice versa, about the need for gender-specific plastic surgery, and about what he's learned from his decade's long study of identical twins.
In the summer of 2012, I had a lot for which to be grateful. My husband and I were expecting our first child in early September. As an anxious mother-to-be I spent those early summer months devouring books, movies, articles and just about anything I could find about babies and those first crucial weeks. I was thrilled and terrified imagining what it would be like in a few short months. Never once did I think that I might not be there to experience it myself.
Today's guest, Jeffry Wert, is a historian and author who specializes in the American Civil War. He's written nine books about the Civil War. His book, Gettysburg--Day Three, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award. Wert also taught at Penns Valley Area High School for more than three decades. WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner talked with him about his career as an author and teacher.
Centre County Reads is an organization that encourages county residents of all ages to read and discuss the same book. This year's pick is Mary Roach's Packing for Mars. Our reviewer, Hannah Burks, is this year's undergraduate intern for the Center for American Literary Studies at Penn State.
Each year, WPSU holds our "Art for the Airwaves" contest. And our panel of judges selects a winner, whose work is made into a limited edition poster print offered during our fund drive. WPSU's Kristine Allen visited Smethport to talk with this year's winner.
Bob Zellner's story starts about as far as you can get from where it ended up. Born in lower Alabama, his father, uncles and grandfather were robe-wearing members of the Ku Klux Klan. In his inspirational memoir, "The Wrong Side of Murder Creek: A White Southerner in the Freedom Movement," he chronicles his journey to become one of the first white southerners in the early civil rights movement.
"Mitch, why are you such a knucklehead?" my dad says as he follows me out of our house and into the front yard. "Only a complete idiot would do something this stupid. Sometimes I wonder what goes on in that head of yours" SLAM! My dad's voice is suddenly cut off by the reassuring thunk of my car door. I jam the key into the ignition and start the engine. Before my dad even has a chance to finish his sentence, I'm turning out of the driveway, leaving him behind. I lift the clutch and hit the gas; first gear, I can feel the stress starting to melt away as the RPMs increase. Second gear, what was the stupid thing I did again? Third and fourth, a smile starts creeping across my face, and by the time I hit sixth gear, I'm completely at peace; no upset parents, no problems. It's just me, my WRX, and the open road.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In October, we stopped at the Old Gregg School in the Penns Valley town of Spring Mills. Penns Valley Conservation Association president Jim Zubler and the new executive director, Andrea Ferich, talk to Tom Doman, one of the early leaders of PVCA, about its importance to the Penns Valley community.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In October, we stopped at the Old Gregg School in the Penns Valley town of Spring Mills. Robin Bastress talks with Penns Valley Elementary School teacher and cross-country and basketball coach Terry Glunt about coaching and teaching in Penns Valley for 25 years.
Renowned futurist and New York Times best-selling author Peter Diamandis advises the world's top CEOs on how to make the most of what he calls exponential technologies. April 1, he'll be the keynote speaker at Penn State's Shaping the Future Summit on the Impact of Innovation. WPSU's Patty Satalia finds out why he's so optimistic about the future.
Longtime State College resident Cindy Wolf reviews Notes from Inside a Burst Bubble: Penn Staters on the Sandusky Scandal. The collection of essays, blog posts, and news articles is edited by Sheila Squillante and Dave Housley.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In October, we stopped at the Old Gregg School in the Penns Valley town of Spring Mills. Sandra Yohe talks with her mother Marie Breon about her life, and how she met her husband.
WPSU's Beyond the Classroom examines innovative student learning that isn't bound by university walls. Penn State University is embracing this concept in an initiative it's calling "Engaged Scholarship." WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner reports the inaugural Engaged Scholarship Symposium was held at the Nittany Lion Inn yesterday.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In October, we stopped at the Old Gregg School in the Penns Valley town of Spring Mills. Jim Zubler and Andrea Ferich talk to Nicholas Brink about his time in central Pennsylvania starting with when he moved here in 1970 to take a job at Penn State. Brink had already been active in the civil rights movement while he was working on a PhD at UCLA.
WPSU's Beyond the Classroom is our series featuring students engaging in hands-on experiences outside university walls. Today, WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner takes us to Lock Haven University, where a group of students are traveling abroad as a class. The university will soon require all students to fulfill a global awareness requirement.
Why is hunger still a widespread problem in a world of plenty? WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner talks about that with activist and journalist Roger Thurow. He's the author of Enough: Why the World's Poorest Starve in the Age of Plenty and The Last Hunger Season. Thurow visited Penn State's School of International Affairs in February.
In case you were wondering what Ethiopian Pop music of the 60's & 70's would sound like blended with jazz and funk - . wonder no more! WPSU's Kristine Allen says the answer can be found when Debo Band plays a concert in the Juniata Presents Series at Juniata College in Huntingdon.
It's 6 am. I peel myself off the bed. I drag myself to the shower. I get dressed. I grab my lunch, my coffee mug, my gym bag. I get into the car. For the next 15 minutes as I drive to work; suddenly it's not a Monday morning any longer. And it's not freezing January outside. I am engulfed in the wonderful, crazy, scary, challenging world of a book I am listening to on my smartphone.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In October, we stopped at the Old Gregg School in the Penns Valley town of Spring Mills. Mary T. Hosterman asks her husband Orvil about his life growing up on a farm outside of Aaronsburg.
Nearly 35 million Americans claim Irish ancestry. That's seven times more people than currently live in Ireland! No wonder Saint Patrick's Day has evolved to celebrate all things Irish! We'll talk with Cahal Dunne, the Cork-born singer/songwriter, and now, self-published author. He's been sharing his musical heritage with American audiences since immigrating here in 1983.
Lauren Ostberg reviews Carter Sickels' The Evening Hour, a novel set in a West Virginian coal town. Sickels earned his MFA from Penn State. He will be visiting Penn State University Park on March 20 as part of the Mary E. Rolling Reading Series.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In October, we stopped at the Old Gregg School in the Penns Valley town of Spring Mills. Curt Bierly and his son Stan talk about the family business, Stanley C. Bierly, in Millheim.
Across the country, budget cuts continue to cripple libraries. For WPSU, Melissa Bierly reports on one Central Pennsylvania community's effort to keep their library open.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In October, we stopped at the Old Gregg School in the Penns Valley town of Spring Mills. Longtime friends Pauline Zerby and Jerelene Reish talk about growing up in Millheim.
We remember Col. Gerald Russell, a decorated Marine commander and devoted community volunteer. He died February 24, 2014, at age 97. We share our last interview with him from May, 2007. Plus, historian Jeffry Wert on the significance of Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address, which he delivered 149 years ago this week. Some say it's his greatest speech.
Universities are testing the boundaries of online education with MOOCs, or Massively Open Online Courses. The courses are free and open to anyone and everyone who wants to take part. WPSU's Emily Reddy takes a look at a Penn State MOOC that's just wrapping up, about a year after the university first decided to try out this new educational format.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In October we stopped in the Penns Valley town of Spring Mills. Don and Peggy Myers talk about the bicentennial celebration in Spring Mills in 1976 and about Don's memories of growing up on his family farm.
Today marks 149 years since Abraham Lincoln delivered his second inaugural address, just over a month before the end of the Civil War. WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner talks with historian, author, and Centre Hall native Jeffry Wert about why the speech has lasting significance.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In October, we stopped at the Old Gregg School in the Penns Valley town of Spring Mills. Susan Haney talks to her friends Ina Bechtol and Tess Hartle, sisters who grew up in Spring Mills during the Great Depression.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In October, we stopped at the Old Gregg School in the Penns Valley town of Spring Mills. Doug Bierly talks to Vonnie Henninger, an historian who's given hundreds of presentations about the history of central Pennsylvania.
Yesterday, WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner reported on Centre County's Out of the Cold and Hearts for the Homeless programs. Today, we'll hear about the year-round reality of homelessness in State College, a town where many might assume homelessness isn't a concern.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In October, we stopped at the Old Gregg School in the Penns Valley town of Spring Mills. Greta Haney speaks with Carl Gaffron, her high school English teacher. He retired from teaching a few years ago.
For many of our listeners, the worst a colder-than-usual winter can bring is an expensive heating bill. But for the homeless, the frigid temperatures could be a matter of life or death. WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner talks with Centre County residents about how those without homes get out of the cold.
The more than year-long search for Penn State's next President has come to an end. The Board of trustees has chosen Dr. Eric Barron to lead Penn State as the University's 18th President. Currently the president of Florida State University, Dr. Barron is no stranger to Happy Valley. He spent more than 20 years here
Cancer. For most, hearing this word sends a shiver down their spine. For some, it brings to mind a loved one who has passed away because of the horrific disease. Cancer. But when I hear this word, I think of a family brought together with a stronger bond of love than they would have ever otherwise experienced. Cancer changed my life, but it changed it for the better.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In October, we stopped in the Penns Valley town of Spring Mills. Doug Bierly speaks with Betty Strouse about her life with her husband, Walter.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In October we stopped at the Old Gregg School in the Penns Valley town of Spring Mills. Wife and husband Mary Kay and Greg Williams talk about renovating the Cooke Tavern in Spring Mills.
Today is Valentine's Day and you might be thinking about plans to spend time with a loved one. Some couples like to go to the movies or out for a romantic dinner, but for Claudio Frumento and Beverly Crow a night out donating platelets is more their style. For five years, the couple has been donating together at the State College Red Cross Blood Donation Center. Danielle Matalonis met up with the couple during a recent donation.
Dr. Daphne Miller is a family physician who sees a link between sustainable farming and integrative medicine. Her latest book is titled "Farmacology: What Innovative Family Farming Can Teach Us About Health and Healing." WPSU's Kristine Allen spoke with her after her appearance at a conference of the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture in State College.
Daphne Miller is an family physician who practices integrative medicine and an associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the Univeristy of California. Her most recent book is "Farmocology: What Innovative Family Farming Can Teach Us about Health and Healing." It shows how lessons from sustainable farming can be applied to medical practice. And we talk with Brian Snyder, the head of the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture, about recent changes to food safety laws and what those changes mean to the small-scale farmers he represents.
This week WPSU is taking a look at water issues in central Pennsylvania. To outdoor enthusiasts, the 62-acre Millbrook Marsh in Centre County is one of the area's crown jewels. Penn State Professor Rob Brooks says the benefits of this unique ecosystem are far more than recreational. WPSU's Patty Satalia visited the marsh with Brooks and learned how this special environment prevents flooding and protects and filters our drinking water.
WPSU's Emily Reddy, who usually hosts BookMark, reviews Dave Isay's Ties That Bind. It's a collection of interviews about love and gratitude celebrating the first ten years of radio's StoryCorps.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In October, we stopped in the Penns Valley town of Spring Mills. Angela and her husband Troy discuss their life together in Millheim, Pennsylvania.
Hearts for the Homeless, a drop-in day center located in downtown State College, opened its doors for the first time yesterday. WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner reports.
This week WPSU is taking a look at water issues in central Pennsylvania. Today, WPSU's Emily Reddy explores the massive task of supplying and cleaning the water used by students, faculty, staff and visitors at Penn State University.
This story takes us to Philadelphia, where a volunteer effort is trying to change the way storm water passes through the city. And as WPSU intern Maria Bryant reports, for the student volunteers, it's about more than just helping out. They're turning classroom learning into a real life hands-on experience.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In October, we stopped at the Old Gregg School in the Penns Valley town of Spring Mills. Debra Heller talks with her mother-in-law Byrd Futhey about her life.
Acclaimed State College photographer Bill Coleman died last week at 88. He was known worldwide for his exquisite photographs of the Amish. We'll share our last interview with him dating back to 2008. We'll also hear about the recently completed stream restoration project at the Rothwell Farm in Centre County. Landowner Sally Rothwell and Clearwater Conservancy's wildlife biologist, Katie Ombalski, say the improvements impact water quality all the way to the Chesapeake Bay!
I was born weighing 2 pounds and 4 ounces. I was small, even for a newborn in a big world. While in the womb, the doctor gave my brother and me a low chance of survival because the umbilical cord was struggling to support us both. Despite this, we were born with no severe handicaps. By the time I was nine, however, I realized I was different from other kids my age.
Joel Rubin is the Director of Policy and Government Affairs at Ploughshares Fund, a foundation dedicated preventing the use and spread of nuclear weapons. We'll talk with him about the recent Iran nuclear weapons deal and why Americans should be concerned about the state of nuclear weapons today.
As part of our occasional series, Pennsylvania Music Makers, WPSU's Kristine Allen visits a group of folks in Altoona who get a lot of joy out of four little strings.
Linda Short reviews Eliot Pattison's latest book, Mandarin Gate. It's a political thriller set in Tibet and the seventh book of Pattison's Inspector Shan series.
(photo above by Michael Wilson) Pianist Jeremy Denk won a MacArthur Fellowship, sometimes called a "genius grant" this past fall. on Wednesday, January 29th, he makes his Penn State concert debut with a program of solo piano music at Schwab Auditorium on the University Park Campus, as part of the Center for the Performing Arts series. WPSU's Kristine Allen speaks with Denk about his performance.
John Sanchez is the only American Indian faculty member at Penn State. A member of the Apache Nation, we'll talk with him about Hollywood's misrepresentation of American Indians, about how those images influence how the entire world perceives them, and about why the use of American Indians as team mascots should be discontinued.
Our ten-year-old son has a variety of hobbies including cello, chess and swimming. But his favorite subject is the NFL. He's learned professional football is a universal language among the males in his life. Whether discussing Red Grange or Tom Brady, his eyes light up. "What if Eli Manning had stayed with the Chargers? What if the American Football League had never merged with the National Football League? These are the sorts of questions he ponders over breakfast. For all of his interest in the sport, his on field experience is limited to touch football with friends and flag football at the Y. Chances are if I tell him he can play tackle football next year, he will suit up in a minute.
Marjorie Maddox's Local News from Someplace Else is a collection of poems about how the tragedies we hear about in the news affect us at home. Amanda Richards reviews.
When I was ten, reading was the last thing I would do for fun. I always finished assigned readings for class, but I never enjoyed them. I had to motivate myself to read. I would choose a book, read for fifteen minutes, and then reward myself with a snack or television show. Reading was the thing I couldn't wait to finish so I could do something else.
WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner shadows Penn State School of International Affairs students as they participate in a simulation of a UN peace conference centered on a complicated international issue. Photo credit: Paul Sweeney
Martha Freeman's Chickadee Court Mysteries are set in a town based on State College. Shelby Caraway reviews Who Stole New Year's Eve?, the latest installment in the series.
I am ten years old and I can barely contain my excitement as I run down the stairs ready to rip open my presents underneath the Christmas tree. When I reach the tree, I find nothing. Not a single gift in sight, just the raw feeling of disappointment. Unexpectedly, however, my parents are standing behind me with an intangible surprise.
As Penn State's Executive Vice President and Provost, Nicholas Jones has a hand in virtually every aspect of the University. The New Zealand native recently came to Penn State from Johns Hopkins University, where he served as the Dean of the Whiting School of Engineering. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with him about what enticed him to join Penn State, about the challenges facing higher education in the 21st century, and about his vision for the future of Penn State.
Penn State Reads is a new program that encourages first-year students to read the same book over the course of a school year. The inaugural pick, Eyal Press's Beautiful Souls, explores why people choose to stand up for what they believe is right, even when it's difficult to do so. Our reviewer, Jonathan Marks, is the director of Penn State's Bioethics Program and a senior fellow at the Rock Ethics Institute.
Our series, Beyond the Classroom looks at the college experience beyond bookwork and classes. Two recent college graduates have created a place for students and young professionals with big goals for the future. "Co.Space" opened in downtown State College in August as both a place to live and a place to plan how to make the world a better place. WPSU's Emily Reddy visited the house during a recent internship potluck.
General Norman Schwarzkopf called him "the finest combat correspondent of our generation---a soldier's reporter and a soldier's friend." He was referring to Joseph Galloway, co-author of We Were Soldiers Onceand Young, written with Lt. Gen. Hal Moore. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Galloway about his experiences in Vietnam--and more.
This Sunday afternoon, Penn State's Essence of Joy will give a concert that will be broadcast live here on WPSU-FM. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports it will feature the world premiere of a piece written especially for the choir by Raymond Wise. (Photo above: Women from Essence of Joy at rehearsal.)
I believe in Christmas, but not in the way you might think; let me try to explain. I'm not Christian (or Jewish, or Muslim, or Buddhist) or any other religion. I wouldn't say I'm an atheist, though
While it's been over a month since Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines, Penn State students are working to ensure the victims continue to receive support for recovery. WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner has personal connections to the Philippines. She reports recovery is ongoing, but there's reason to be optimistic. photo courtesy of Dexter Julio
In honor of WPSU-FM's 60th anniversary, we're looking back at how it all began! WPSU's Patty Satalia visited with Sandra Thomas at her home in Foxdale Village retirement community. In 1953, Thomas was a Penn State broadcast student and one of the pioneering members of the "Radio Guild," the club that launched WDFM on December 6th, 1953. The student station was the precursor to today's WPSU-FM.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In August, we gathered stories about farm life at the Pasto Agricultural Museum at Ag Progress Days outside of State College. Sue Smith interviews her husband Ron about life growing up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin.
The station you know as WPSU-FM signed on the air 60 years ago, on December 6, 1953. WPSU's Kristine Allen speaks with two former Station Managers, Joe Krushinstky and Dave Dzikowski about how student radio station WDFM became your NPR station. (In photo above: Joe Krushinsky, PSU class of
The multifaceted poet, rock legend and artist Patti Smith was recently at Penn State to receive the 2013 Institute of Arts & Humanities Medal for Distinguished Achievement. She came by our studios to talk with us about her life's work, her family, and her deep friendship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In August, we gathered stories about farm life at the Pasto Agricultural Museum at Ag Progress Days outside of State College. Eight-year-old Samuel Bachman and 5-year-old Alejandra Bachman ask their grandmother Nancy Bachman to tell them stories from Mudlick Farms, where Nancy's great grandmother Mina B. Clark started a farm in 1884.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In August, we gathered stories about farm life at the Pasto Agricultural Museum at Ag Progress Days outside of State College. Pasto Museum intern Naomi Ulmer interviews Stephen Spencer about the advances he's seen in dairy farming throughout his lifetime.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In August, we gathered stories about farm life at the Pasto Agricultural Museum at Ag Progress Days outside of State College. Leslie Zuck interviews her nieces Vasilia and Jewels Sandoval about visiting her farm in Spring Mills, Pennsylvania, when they were younger.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In August, we gathered stories about farm life at the Pasto Agricultural Museum at Ag Progress Days outside of State College. Susan Gage interviews her father Peter Ferretti about what it was like growing up on a self-sufficient farm during the Great Depression.
They call it the "Red Zone." There are more sexual assaults on U.S. college campuses during this time than at any other time during the school year. WPSU's Emily Reddy talks with the Penn State Center for Women Students programming coordinator, Jennifer Pencekbut first, November is National Caregivers Month. Family caregivers provide an estimated $450 billion worth of uncompensated care to loved ones each year. But family caregiving comes at a cost. Caregivers experience high stress levels that can lead to physical and mental health problems. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Dr. Steven Zarit, a distinguished professor and head of the Department of Health and Family Studies at Penn State, about ways to reduce caregivers' stress and improve their health and well-being.
November is National Caregivers Month. Family caregivers provide an estimated $450 billion worth of uncompensated care to loved ones each year. But family caregiving comes at a cost. Caregivers experience high stress levels that can lead to physical and mental health problems. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Dr. Steven Zarit, a distinguished professor and head of the Department of Health and Family Studies at Penn State, talks about ways to reduce caregivers' stress and improve their health and well-being.
As we mark the anniversary of President Kennedy's death, some residents of Central Pennsylvania share where they were when Americas daily routine was shattered by a news bulletin.
The time of year that is just wrapping up right now at colleges and universities across the United States is one of the most dangerous for sexual assaults. WPSU's Emily Reddy talked about the "Red Zone" with Jennifer Pencek, the programming coordinator for the Center for Women Students at Penn State.
November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month. Ann Kolanowski reviews Donald and Carol Ford's Carol's Alzheimers Journey, a memoir about caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease.
In a time when potential employers are increasingly interested in more than just a grade point average, students are turning to internships, even in disciplines that don't require it
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In August, we gathered stories about farm life at the Pasto Agricultural Museum at Ag Progress Days outside of State College. Naomi Ulmer interviews Darwin Braund about life on a farm and his experiences with draft animals.
Today marks the 150th Anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's most famous speech, the Gettysburg Address. WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner takes a look at why the speech is so significant to Americans, even today.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In August, we gathered stories about farm life at the Pasto Agricultural Museum at Ag Progress Days outside of State College. Emily Steffensmeier interviews her father Darrell about growing up on a 300-acre farm in Iowa.
Pete Hatemi teaches Political Science, Microbiology and Biochemistry at Penn State. His research explores the complex connection between evolution and our political attitudes. He speaks with WPSU's Kristine Allen.
Dr. Pete Hatemi teaches Political Science, Microbiology and Biochemistry at Penn State. He has also studied genetics, psychology and psychiatry. Hatemi talks with WPSU's Kristine Allen about the complex connection between genes and politics. (You can hear a longer version of the conversation Sunday morning on Take Note on WPSU-FM.)
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In August, we gathered stories about farm life at the Pasto Agricultural Museum at Ag Progress Days outside of State College. Larry Harpster and Kenneth Rudy interview their friend Elwood Homan about growing up on a farm just down the road from Ag Progress Days.
The Bellefonte Borough Council held a special meeting yesterday to vote on the fate of the historic Garman Theatre. WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner reports the council approved demolition of the Garman in a 5-4 vote.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In August, we gathered stories about farm life at the Pasto Agricultural Museum at Ag Progress Days outside of State College. Marilyn Bloom tells her husband Bob about the story of her grandfather, who came from Canada to start a farm in Michigan.
You could say art is in her blood. Victoria Wyeth is the only grandchild of iconic artist Andrew Wyeth. She's been giving talks about Wyeth art since she was 16, both here in the U.S. and abroad. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with her about growing up in the so-called "First family of American art" and about the lessons she learned at her grandfather's knee.
Stephanie Powell Watts' We Are Only Taking What We Need is a collection of short stories about African American women in North Carolina. Millheim resident Abby Minor reviews.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In August, we gathered stories about farm life at the Pasto Agricultural Museum at Ag Progress Days outside of State College. Glenn Carter and his wife Doris discuss how it was growing up during the end of the Great Depression and how they met each other at Penn State University.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In August, we gathered stories about farm life at the Pasto Agricultural Museum at Ag Progress Days outside of State College. Pasto intern Naomi Ulmer interviews Edward Buss about growing up in a tough time and place for farmers- in the Midwest in the 1930s.
Pedro Noguera is an internationally renowned professor of education at New York University and the author of seven books, including "The Trouble With Black Boys: And Other Reflections on Race, Equity, and the Future of Public Education." We'll talk with him about education's most pressing problems, about why installing metal detectors isn't the answer, and about why we should assess schools the way we access hospitals.
The conversations you've been hearing from Story Corps Ag Progress Days were recorded at a unique museum. The Pasto Agricultural Museum's "collection" is made up of farming implements from a time when horse power referred to how many animals you hooked up to a piece of equipment. WPSU's Emily Reddy visited the Pasto during the recent Ag Progress Days events to give us a taste of the farming and household innovations of yesteryear housed at the museum.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In August, we gathered stories about farm life at the Pasto Agricultural Museum at Ag Progress Days outside of State College. Billie Thompson interviews her husband Darrell about his life on a farm in southwestern Pennsylvania during the Depression years.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In August, we gathered stories about farm life at the Pasto Agricultural Museum at Ag Progress Days outside of State College. Randy Moore interviews his father Lou about growing up on a farm in Maryland.
We'll find out what college professors can do to turn entitled, self-absorbed Millennial students into Millennial thinkers. Plus, why doesn't "scientific consensus" settle disputes about climate change or other risk issues? We'll talk with a professor from Yale law school who studies how cultural values and group identity impact how we interpret science and perceive risk.
Philip Winsor reviews Stanley Weintraub's latest book, Young Mr. Roosevelt. Weintraub will be speaking about his book at the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg on November 6.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In August, we gathered stories about farm life at the Pasto Agricultural Museum at Ag Progress Days outside of State College. Danadee Miller-Boyle talks about her great-grandfather's farm, which he called "Fairyland Farms," and which often hosted country western singers who later became stars.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In August, we gathered stories about farm life at the Pasto Agricultural Museum at Ag Progress Days outside of State College. Naomi Ulmer interviews Larry Harpster. The two have worked as volunteers together at the Pasto Museum.
Poet, musician and artist Patti Smith visited Penn State to receive the 2013 Institute of the Arts and Humanities Medal for Distinguished Achievement. She joined us in our studio just a few hours before the evening's celebration, and her much-anticipated solo performance, to talk with us about her life, art and friendships.
The United States is made up of people from many different cultures and religions. Unfortunately, many people forget their traditions and cultural heritage when they're far from their homeland and they settle in other countries. I believe in embracing my Indian roots.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In August, we gathered stories about farm life at the Pasto Agricultural Museum at Ag Progress Days outside of State College. Gary Petersen is interviewed by his eight-year-old grandson Evan Mellace, about growing up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In August, we gathered stories about farm life at Ag Progress Days outside of State College. Winabelle Deppen interviews her husband Marion about his experiences as a farm boy during the Great Depression and his life-long involvement with Ag Progress Days.
Among his many achievements, he was a decorated fighter pilot in Vietnam, an aerospace engineer, and a corporate leader, but above all, Guy Bluford is best known as the first African-American to fly in space. He was also a 1964 graduate of Penn State. We'll talk with him about his career, about his experiences in space, and about the future of space exploration.
Pennsylvania native Dan McNichol is traveling around America in partnership with CASE Construction to highlight the country's ailing infrastructure in a project he's calling "Dire States." The clincher? He's driving the 10,000 miles in a 1949 Hudson Commodore. WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner reports he stopped in State College this week to speak at an event with Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation Barry Schoch.
Scientists who do research in Antarctica are feeling the effects of the US government shutdown. That includes researchers from Penn State, could lose a whole season's worth of work studying glacier melt and climate change. Dr. Sridhar Anandakrishnan teaches in the Geosciences Department at Penn State. WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with him about the effects of the National Science Foundation's freeze on Antarctic research.
Gold, Barbara Crooker's latest book of poetry, deals with themes like loss and aging. Reviewer Marjorie Maddox is a poet, herself. She teaches at Lock Haven University.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In August, we gathered stories about farm life at Ag Progress Days outside of State College. Betty Jane Mincemoyer talks about what it was like to grow up on a farm in Blair County during the Great Depression.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In August, we gathered stories about farm life at Ag Progress Days outside of State College. Nancy Hatch talked with her husband Cordell about growing up on a farm in Tennessee and how he decided to leave the farm to go to college.
The health insurance exchanges, that are part of the Affordable Care Act, opened for business on Tuesday. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports that Penn State Extension has created a website, designed to provide a broad range of information about the health care law
I believe in dirty shoes. I believe in wearing shoes until there are holes in them, and then wearing them some more. Although my practice might seem extreme, I got this habit from BOTH of my parents. Ever since I can remember, my dad has said, "There is no hole in my shoes that some duct tape can't fix." My mother, on the other hand, has always encouraged me to date my shoes
Penn State announced today that employees who take part in the Take Care of Your Health Initiative will receive a cash reward. WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner reports.
"Beautiful Souls," by Eyal Press, tells four stories about people who did what they considered the right thing under extremely trying circumstances. A Swiss border guard smuggled Jews into Switzerland against policy, a Serbian misidentified Croats to save their lives, an Israeli soldier refused to continue to guard what he felt were illegal settlements and a broker blew the whistle on a Ponzi scheme. The book was chosen as the inaugural text for the Penn State Reads initiative.
2013 is a year of major anniversaries: as we look back on the events of the civil rights struggle 50 years ago, like the March on Washington. As WPSU's Kristine Allen reports, Penn State presents a play that recalls the turbulent times of the 1960's.
Penn State's Second Annual Conference on Child Protection and Well-Being took place Wednesday. WPSU's Emily Reddy says it focused on helping child victims of abuse work their way through the legal system.
Johnstown, Pennsylvania isn't exactly a multicultural mecca, but every summer since 1977 Indian adoptees and their parents have gathered there for a heritage camp. The camp pulls families from Florida to Maine to Illinois who have adopted Indian children. This year marked the 30th anniversary of the camp. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports on the camp and how it found an unlikely home in Johnstown.
For Banned Book Week, Andrew Bode-Lang reviews Dav Pilkey's Captain Underpants and the Revolting Revenge of the Radioactive Robo-Boxers. Books from the Captain Underpants series were the most frequently challenged titles in the country last year.
Penn State's Faculty Senate passed a resolution addressing controversial university health care changes in a special meeting yesterday. WPSU'S Kate Lao Shaffner reports.
The New York Times called her ""The Green Power Broker." We'll talk with Majora Carter about the revitalization and community improvement projects she's leading in her South Bronx neighborhood. We'll also talk with her about her efforts to stop the placement of polluting industries in low-income or minority communities.
I believe in pottery. Pottery is an art of possibilities, a perfect union of form and function. While people create other types of art purely for decoration, ceramic art isn't made to be hung on a wall. Rather, ceramics can be used for everything from storage to gardening to cooking to drinking. Pottery adds an element of beauty to the most routine aspects of life. Drinking your morning coffee? It will probably look and taste better in a custom-made, wheel-thrown mug with a perfectly trimmed bottom and a marbled glaze.
Penn State President Rodney Erickson says the university will suspend the $100 a month surcharge for employees who don't participate in the controversial Take Care of Your Health initiative. WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner reports.
Rebecca Kuensting reviews Horse People, Cary Holladay's collection of short stories. Holladay will be visiting Penn State University Park on September 24 as part of the Mary E. Rolling Reading Series.
Last night, the group that has conservatorship of Bellefonte's historic Garman Theatre stuck with its original recommendation -- to sell the Garman property to a State College developer, rather than back a local group's efforts to rehabilitate it. WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner reports.
On September 11th, the State Theatre in State College,will present a musical theatre piece created by Richard Biever in response to the attacks of nine eleven. The show uses Broadway songs and texts from survivors and spiritual leaders from many traditions around the world. WPSU's Kristine Allen visited a rehearsal for "The New Normal".
Penn State's Faculty Senate met yesterday for the first time this academic year. The university's controversial new health plan was at the forefront of the agenda. WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner reports many spoke out against the changes.
It's been about a month since Penn State rolled out its controversial new wellness initiative, which includes a surcharge for failure to participate. In a recent conference call, Penn State officials said the initiative is meant to keep costs down and representatives from Highmark discussed research that points to savings. Today, WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner looks into how much money the wellness initiative might save.
Like most people, I get to feeling bad from time to time about one thing or another. Things don't always go my way, and the march of daily disappointments often leaves me in the dumps.
As summer draws to a close, many gardeners are turning their attention to end-of-the-season projects and taking note of their successes and failures. Hear from the experts about what you should be doing in your garden. (Today's Take Note is an encore presentation of "Conversations LIVE: Get Your Garden On!")
WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner reviews the winner of this year's Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. The Orphan Master's Son, by Adam Johnson, is an epic novel set in North Korea.
Today is the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and Martin Luther King Jr's "I have a dream" speech. At the StoryCorps oral history recordings in Bellefonte in 2010, one pair talked about that day. Ted Graef talked with his father Leslie about taking part in the March on Washington in 1963 50 years ago today.
I knew something was different about my daughter Lucy by the time she turned one. She couldn't bear weight on her arms or legs. She hadn't started crawling or pulling up on things, and she wasn't talking at all. Her hands made odd motions in the air, and she didn't always respond when we called her name.
Penn State's Faculty Senate Council met yesterday for the first time since the controversial changes to employee healthcare benefits were announced last month. The meeting was not open to the public, but afterward WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner spoke with the Faculty Senate Chairman and Penn State's Vice President for Human Resources.
As NPR reported earlier this week, libraries around the country are building their collections of E-books. WPSU's Kristine Allen spoke with one local library about the trend, and how they're helping their customers stay on top of it.
My dad is a Lutheran minister, and I'd never heard him use the "f"-word till he tried to fix our bathroom plumbing. He had never trained, apprenticed, or even been acquainted with a plumber that I knew of. Yet he took on the leak under our sink armed with thriftiness, a Reader's Digest book on home repair, and a five-gallon bucket of good intentions.
It's been 80 years since the first drive-in movie opened in Camden, New Jersey. At its heyday, there were more than 4,000 drive-in movie theaters across America. Now there are fewer than 400. The latest challenge for drive-ins everywhere is Hollywood's switch to digital film distribution. Kate Lao Shaffner visited a drive-in along Route 322 in Clearfield County.
First, a Q & A with Penn State's VP for Human Resources about the university's new "Take Care of Your Health" program. Employees who do not participate in the three-part plan will be charged a $100 a month surcharge. Then an encore conversation about water fluoridation and just why it's so controversial. (photo by Jessica Paholsky)
At Shaver's Creek Environmental Center, summer campers contemplate the decline of the little brown bat, and learn about white nose syndrome. WPSU intern Lauren Ostberg visited the camp to find out more.
According to the CDC, contaminated foods cause 3,000 deaths a year in the US. In response to large-scale and highly-publicized contaminations in recent years to foods like spinach and peanut butter, the government has created the Food Safety Modernization Act. But WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with one advocate who worries the bill will hurt smaller farms.
Penn State is introducing changes to its employee health insurance benefit plans. WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner met with Penn State's Vice President for Human Resources, Susan Basso, to ask some questions.
Penn State has rolled out a new health program called the "Take Care of Your Health" initiative. Employees who do not participate in the three-part plan will be charged a $100 a month surcharge. This is the first of a series of changes to employee health insurance benefits. WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner has the story. (photo by Jessica Paholsky)
I believe in playing horseshoes on a sunny summer day on the 110th street beach in Stone Harbor, New Jersey. Playing horseshoes on the beach is a family tradition that dates back long before I was born. It began when my Great Grandfather built a house in Stone Harbor back in 1960. Over the years he passed down the tradition to my grandfather and then to my mom and aunts and uncles.
A new gardening concept is sprouting in Central Pennsylvania. Woody Wilson, a graduate of Penn State, took an idea he entered in an agriculture competition and made it his business. Wilson's Home Farms gives State College area residents another way to bring local vegetables to their kitchen tables. WPSU intern Jessica Paholsky went along with Wilson to find out more.
The Pennsylvania legislature passed a budget on time but none of the major initiatives proposed by Governor Corbett were enacted. Funding for transportation, state pension reform, and privatization of liquor sales were victims of the political process. WPSU's Greg Petersen talks with Mary Wilson, Capitol Bureau Chief for Pennsylvania Public Radio about legislative news.
This is Morning Edition. I'm Mel DeYoung. At the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts in State College last weekend, most of us were there to shop and enjoy the entertainment. But, WPSU's Kristine Allen reports, some 300 artists were there to make a living
The trees of Cook Forest State Park survived the clear-cutting of Pennsylvania more than a hundred years ago. Now the virgin old-growth hemlocks in the park are threatened by a pest that has plagued trees from New England to Georgia. This spring, WPSU's Emily Reddy tagged along with a group headed out into the forest to save the hemlocks.
Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report has become a household name, and not only because he's funny. Daniel Mallinson reviews Penn State professor Sophia A. McClennen's Colbert's America: Satire and Democracy.
Penn State's national reputation regarding child abuse took a major hit in 2011 with the Jerry Sandusky revelations. One academic response from the university is underway with the first of several new faculty hires. WPSU's Scott Weybright reports.
Beverly McIver is one of the most acclaimed black female painters working today. Her larger-than-life portraits of her family and herself examine race, gender and social identity. We'll talk with her about growing up in the segregated South, about her career as a painter, and about the HBO documentary that chronicles six years of her life as Renee's caregiver.
Dan Batrom, Dick Brown, Pam Cummings, Wes Gleave, Deborah Plackey, Sarah Pollock, and Steve Strouse--eight Pennsylvania artists exhibiting at Arts Fest--discuss memorable projects they completed between first and eighth grade.
Eight Penn State students traveled to Tanzania this summer. They were there for a three-week summer session course called Biology of Eco Health. WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner took the opportunity to tag along and see what the course is all about.
Alan Matsumoto talks about his sand sculpture for the 2013 Festival of the Arts in State College. The process of creating the sculpture is the highlight of the weekend for Matsumoto and many passersby of all ages.
I am not an artist. Whatever gene my children inherited that allows them to draw, sing, write poetry or play music came from somewhere else on the family tree. Yet I learned early on everyone can enjoy art, even those of us with limited natural talent.
Dave Felice, who plays the role of brigade commander, talks about what it's like to be part of the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg Reenactment.
This week on Take Note, we'll find out what's in store at this year's Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts in State College, and at People's Choice Festival of Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts in Boalsburg. We'll talk with the directors of both festivals. We'll also talk with one of the organizers of BookFest PA, which has been part of Arts Fest for the past four years. It celebrates the written word and offers folks a chance to hear and meet authors!
The 150th Gettysburg Reenactment brings thousands from around the world together to relive and celebrate history. Experience some of the sights and sounds of the event in this video.
It's time for BookMark, the book review show on WPSU. It's been 150 years since the Battle of Gettysburg. For the 4th of July, reviewer Raymond Beal revisits this key event in American history. Civil War historian Allen C. Guelzo's Gettysburg: The Last Invasion, is a narrative account of the three-day battle.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Altoona. Jerry Zolten interviews Jerrone Barnes about his experiences in music and performance.
We'll introduce you to a simple, science-based diet that could get you off the dieting treadmill, but first...Time Magazine labeled those born between 1925 and 1942 as "the Silent Generation." The 1951 cover story described those who came of age in the 1950s as "grave and fatalistic, conventional, expecting disappointment, and for women, desiring both a career and family." What shaped the so-called Silent Generation and why were they not acknowledged? We'll talk about that with our guest, Judith Thompson Witmer, a graduate of Curwensville High School Class of 1955. She's also an assistant professor of education at Penn State-Harrisburg. Her book, "Growing Up Silent in the 1950s," is self-published.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Altoona. Ken Womack interviews his colleague, Lori Bechtel-Wherry, the Chancellor of Penn State Altoona.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Altoona. Mark and Lynn Chaplin talk about the unusual hotel their father ran.
Republican state Representative Matt Gabler represents the 75th district which includes Elk county and parts of Clearfield county. He was elected to the state house in 2008. Greg Petersen talked with him about legislative issues including transportation, privatization efforts and his support of the coal industry and gun-owner rights.
Andrew Blum's Tubes: A Journey to the Center of the Internet is a behind-the-scenes look at how the internet works. Blum is a featured author in this year's BookFest PA. Amanda Minchin reviews.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Altoona. Travis and Krista Etters interview their grandmother, Hilda Heacox, about her husband, her career, and Depression-era Pennsylvania.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Altoona. Jon Yon talks with his mother, Naomi Yon about her childhood and her career as a nurse.
To celebrate Father's Day, we talk with two poets whose writing is strongly influenced by their relationships with their fathers. First we have Marjorie Maddox, whose book of poems Transplant, Transport, Transubstantiation focuses on her father's unsuccessful heart transplant. Todd Davis's newest book of poetry, just out this month from Michigan State University Press, is In the Kingdom of the Ditch. Davis's poems have been featured on Garrison Keillor's "The Writer's Almanac."
Environmentalists aren't the only ones who want to know the effects of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, on water quality. The drilling process pumps water and chemicals into shale rock deep underground to extract natural gas. Some worry those chemicals could make their way into local water supplies. A Pennsylvania group called the Shale Network, gathered recently to pool data on samples gathered from water wells and streams in drilling areas. WPSU intern Lauren Ostberg has the story.
"You got time to lean, you got time to clean." That was my boss's favorite motivational quote. I started working at Leo's Steak Shop when I was 14. The small kitchen was unbearably hot at times, and the walk to the freezer 40 feet out back was unbearably cold at times. But just as fast as the workdays began, they ended. And the long days were somehow always so satisfying, even if I was only making $5.15 an hour.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Altoona. Paula Pimentel interviews her father, Benjamin Root. He talks about his childhood and his community involvement.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Altoona. Robert S. Donaldson interviews his parents, Connie and Robert I. Donaldson. They talk their family bakery and growing up in Altoona during WWII.
Arthur Goldstein describes himself as a pianist, composer and teacher. Audiences describe him as not just versatile, but highly accomplished in a wide variety of musical styles including classical, jazz and rock-
Athletes from across the state participate in a variety of competitive events during the 2013 Summer Games at Penn State. The Special Olympics brings together the hard work and support of more than 2,000 athletes.
Becky Aikman's memoir, Saturday Night Widows, is about how she pursued healing after her husband's death. Aikman, originally from Brookville, PA, is a featured author at this year's BookFest. Reviewer MIschelle Marie (also known as KC O'Day) is a morning radio host at WALY 103.9.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Altoona. Cathy Griffith talks with her friend Kaitlin Farnan. They were brought together by cancer.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Altoona. Annie Clay interviews her husband (and WTAJ news anchor) John Clay about being a father and about what's important to him in their relationship.
Democratic state Representative Mike Hanna. Hanna represents the 76th district which includes Clinton county and parts of Centre county. WPSU's Greg Petersen talked with him about legislative issues including transportation infrastructure, privatization efforts, health care, and education.
With all due respect to the more serious nature of most "This I Believe" essays I believe I'll have a beer! If you enjoy sharing a crisp, hoppy pils with your friends and neighbors, then I raise a glass to you!
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Altoona. Amy McCall talks with her father, Richard Walker, about his father's work in construction, including helping build the Squirrel Hill Tunnel in Pittsburgh.
On Memorial Day 2013 in Boalsburg, a city that bills itself as the birthplace of Memorial Day, celebrations included Civil War reenactors to entertain the crowds.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Altoona. Lisa Purcell talks with her sister Kathy Seiler about their family history and about growing up in Lewistown.
USA Today described him as "the closest thing to a rock star" in the graphic design world. Chip Kidd is a book jacket designer for Alfred A. Knopf Publishing. He's also a Penn State alumnus. Among his many creations is the iconic T-Rex skeleton for Michael Crichton's "Jurassic Park," which became one of the most iconic images of the 1990s.
Sarah May Clarkson reviews Charles Todd's An Unmarked Grave, a novel that piqued her interest because it's been likened to PBS series Downton Abbey. Charles Todd is one of the featured authors of this year's BookFest, PA.
In State College, Corl Street Elementary School Principal Scott Mato organized the second annual Tour de Corl Street to promote health, safety and fun during this year's National Bike Month. On Wednesday, May 22, the event brought together first to fifth-grade students, their teachers and their families. An avid biker, Mato said he believes community events like this can encourage healthy lifestyle changes.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Altoona. Robert Reese talks with his friend Brent Ottaway.
Just hearing someone mention "The Great Gatsby" is enough to evoke vivid images of the roaring twenties--elaborate parties, flappers and booglegging gangsters! But how much do we know about the man behind Gatsby? F. Scott Fitzgerald and his contemporaries form a cohort of some of the greatest writers of the twentieth century. Literary expert and Penn State Professor Linda Patterson Miller is the editor of "Letters of the Lost Generation." She talks with us about the authors of The Lost Generation, about what their letters reveal, and about how real life is often more interesting than fiction.
Thirteen medical students just wrapped up their third year of medical education at the Penn State College of Medicine Regional Medical Campus located at University Park. Created in partnership with Mount Nittany Medical Center, the goal of the program is twofold: training the next generation of physicians and improving access to medical care in Centre County. The hope is that, after graduation, some of the graduates will choose to stay and practice in the community. WPSU's Patty Satalia begins her report with a visit to Mount Nittany Medical Center.
I just made it over the last hill. The hardest part is over and it's exhilarating. My cheeks are red, but my breathing is leveling off. I can feel my bangs flying out of my headband. I try to focus on my feet hitting the ground at a consistent "step step, step step" pace.
Pamela Synder-Etters talks with long-time Altoona Symphony Orchestra member Shirley Pechter. Pechter is 92 and has been with the symphony since it was founded in 1928.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Altoona. Brenda Jennings talks with her friend and neighbor Jan Housman about growing up Jewish in the 1950s.
State Senator Jake Corman has represented the 34th district since 1999. WPSU's Greg Petersen interviews him about legislation to privatize liquor sales, his lawsuit to keep the NCAA fine levied against Penn State in the commonwealth, and other topics of note in the state legislature.
Former Penn State professor Josip Novakovich is a finalist for the Man Booker International Prize, which is awarded every two years to a writer for his or her body of work. Jessica Matzko reviews Navokovich's book, Infidelities: Stories of War and Lust.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Altoona. Hiro McNulty talks with his grandmother Bridget McNulty about growing up in Pittsburgh.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Altoona. Robert Donaldson talks with his wife Carolyn about how they met thirty years ago when Robert's friend Mickey introduced them.
What will it take to avoid war with Iran? According to our next guest, the real obstacles to successful nuclear diplomacy with Iran lie in Washington, not Tehran. We'll talk with Flynt Leverett, co-author of the controversial new book, "Going To Tehran, Why the United States Must Come to Terms with the Islamic Republic of Iran." Leverett is a founding member of Penn State's School of International Affairs.
A group of State College-area residents who share a passion for locally sourced food is in the process of starting a cooperative grocery store. They've called it the Friends and Farmers' Co-op. WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner has the story.
When I was a couple of months old, I had pneumonia and I stopped breathing. My mom called for an ambulance and immediately began to pray. The ambulance arrived minutes later, and the EMT performed CPR on me. That day, I was the first baby the EMT had ever "brought back to life."
The University Park Airport has a brand new installation. It's not a new escalator or body-scanner. It's a living plant wall. WPSU intern Orent Paddy went to the airport to find out more.
Charles Figley has spent more than thirty-five years studying trauma and its effects on both victims and caregivers. His work has led to innovations in psychology, psychiatry, and social work. We'll talk with him about the field of traumatology, about what he means when he says there's a cost for caring, and about his personal experiences with "compassion fatigue." Figley is a professor and Distinguished Chair in Disaster Mental Health at Tulane University.
Jennier Haigh's latest book, News from Heaven: The Bakerton Stories, is about the residents of a fictional coal mining town in Pennsylvania. Reviewer Kirk Weixel has long been an admirer of Haigh's work. He's known the author since she attended high school with his children.
This year's winner of WPSU's Art for the Airwaves contest is a photographer. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports she photographed a tree on Penn State's University Park campus. The tree has been a prominent feature of the landscape for many decades.
Today, Take Note takes a look at two locally made films. The first is by a Penn State film major who hopes to spread awareness of the problem of rape on college campuses with her documentary, "Unreported." The second is by Gregory Collins, a filmmaker from State College. He talks about his new feature film, "A Song Still Inside," about an under-employed father struggling with parenthood and with his wife's success.
I look down at the screen of my ringing iPhone and it clearly states that the caller is my best friend of eight years, Chelsey. I have some time to chat between classes, but as usual, instead of picking it up, I let it ring, ring, ring until it goes into voicemail.
Just a day after the explosions at the Boston Marathon, more than 100 people gathered for a vigil following the Jeremy Herbstritt 5k memorial run. The race is held annually to honor the Penn State grad who died in the Virginia Tech shootings. WPSU intern Danielle Matalonis has the story.
Penn State's Centre for the Performing Arts is focused this week on music of the 18th century. Tonight, the orchestra Tafelmusik will give a concert of baroque music, and Thursday night, the orchestra will join Canada's Opera Atelier to present a fully staged opera at Penn State. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports they'll present "The Magic Flute" by Mozart.
In 2011, Chuck Felton organized a reunion for the Cresson TB Sanatorium. The retired aerospace engineer now living in Texas, spent 16 months at the state-run tuberculosis facility that was located on a remote mountain top outside of Cresson. For more than 50 years, Felton kept his experience there mostly to himself. Then, in 2009, he decided to create a website to share his story with his two grown children. To his surprise, other TB survivors, staff, and children of patients who died at the facility, came out of the woodwork to reminisce, share stories, and
This year's pick for One Book Bradford is Garth Stein's The Art of Racing in the Rain. It's a novel about family, aging, and death--told through a Golden Retriever. Reviewer Cheryl Bazzoui lives in Bradford. She is a pet owner, registered nurse, and author.
A number of privatization initiatives have been proposed in Pennsylvania in recent years. A combination of state and local budget crises has prompted these so-called public-private partnerships that seek to transfer ownership of public assets or services to the private sector in exchange for lump sums of money. Everything from the state lottery to liquor sales and even prisons are up for grabs. The belief among proponents of these deals is that the private sector can do many things better
Since the Newtown tragedy in December, the issue of school violence has been a focus of national attention. Penn State's World Campus and Social Science Research Institute partnered with area school districts this past Monday night to sponsor a panel discussion on the issue. The program was held in the lobby of the Outreach building at Penn State, University Park, with participation from live and online audiences. Before the event, WPSU's Kristine Allen spoke with one of the panelists for whom combatting school violence is a full-time job.
Many people say "I'll believe it when I see it," But I believe touching things is what makes them real: Feeling the water soak into my shoes after I step into a puddle Makes the rain real. Brushing my fingers over the imprints of the words pressed into a friend's letter Makes their meanings real. Compressing all the tiny air pockets In my bed's memory foam pad with the weight of my body Makes my end-of-the-day exhaustion very real.
The State College Borough Council unanimously passed a resolution to oppose the Penn State pipeline during last night's council meeting, which lasted over four and a half hours. The council agreed to advise the Borough Manager to deny a construction permit for the pipeline as part of the resolution. WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner reports.
Penn State University Park plans to convert its on-campus power plant from coal to natural gas. The move is part of an effort to meet new US Environmental Protection Agency air pollution standards. But there's been a community backlash. A high-pressure gas pipeline required for the conversion is slated to run right through the Highlands neighborhood south of campus. WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner has the story.
When Stacy Parks Miller was sworn into office in January of 2010, she became the first woman to serve as district attorney in Centre County, easily defeating Republican Incumbent Mike Madeira, who served only one four-year term. Parks Miller talks about what the district attorney's office does, how the Jerry Sandusky trial affected day-to-day operations, and about the greatest challenges facing Centre County's office of DA.
Since 2010, Penn State's Center for American Literary Studies has paired with Centre County Reads to present a program in which the entire community--on and off campus- -is encouraged to read a single novel. This year, the selection is Sandra Cisneros' Caramelo. Reviewer Shannon Brace is a student intern at the Center for American Literary Studies.
The Centre Crest nursing home in Bellefonte is currently run by Centre County. But because of financial concerns, the County Commissioners are considering making Centre Crest a nonprofit, outside of County control. At a public meeting Wednesday evening, March 27th in Bellefonte, the Commissioners will talk with citizens about the proposed change. As WPSU's Kristine Allen reports, some citizens are uneasy about the county transferring control of Centre Crest.
We talk with two of the speakers in this year's Penn State TEDx conversation series about their "ideas worth sharing." Dannah Gresh is a leader in the evangelical chastity movement. She says the hottest sex is between monogamous married partners. Plus, Penn State professor Nichola Gutgold says it will take imagination, not image, to elect the first woman president.
It all seems like a blur looking back on it. One minute I was throwing my graduation cap in the air and the next minute a moving van was driving away from the place I had called home for more than a decade. My parents had retired and were moving to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, a ski town they had fallen in love with years ago.
State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff has represented the 171st district for 16 years. WPSU's Greg Petersen interviews him about legislation to privatize liquor sales in the Commonwealth, infrastructure funding, and other topics of note in the state legislature.
First-grade teacher Sue Shaffner has read thousands of children's books. She reviews a new personal favorite: Jon Klassen's This is Not My Hat, this year's Caldecott Medal winner.
This evening, right after the sun slips below the western horizon, an unusual sight will be visible, if the weather permits. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports it's a visitor from the far reaches of our solar system. It's a comet.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called community water fluoridation one of the great public health achievements of the 20th century. But critics say fluoridated water is not as safe and not as effective as we've been led to believe. They argue for a consumer's right to choose. Why is water fluoridation controversial? WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Michael Connett, special projects director of the Fluoride Action Network, a group that opposes water fluoridation. (The PA Dental Association and the PA EPA declined our invitation to talk.) In the second half of the show, WPSU's Kristine Allen talks with NPR's Guy Raz about the expansion of the TED Radio Hour.
The buyer of Hilltop Mobile Home Park, Trinitas Ventures, finally presented its request to the College Township Council to rezone the park to allow for the development of student housing. WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner reports it was standing room only last night as the council voted to keep the rezoning request alive.
Eat better, feel less stressed, become more productive at work, have more patience, and use your credit card less!? All these things and more have happened to me. Are they the result of having a regular exercise routine as new research I've read claims? I can't prove it, but I believe it! And believing something will work is necessary to making a habit stick, this too according to research.
A candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania stopped in State College Monday evening, to chat with volunteers at the Centre County Democratic Committee office. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports he's a young Bradford County Commissioner.
NPR's Guy Raz, former host of Weekend All Things Considered, debuts this weekend as host of The TED Radio Hour (heard Sunday afternoon at 3:00 on WPSU-FM). WPSU's Kristine Allen speaks with him about this latest twist in his eventful career.
For Black History Month, Eric Ian Farmer reviews The Amistad Rebellion, an account of the slave rebellion at sea that proved pivotal to our country's notions of freedom.
Democrat John Hanger's campaign for Pennsylvania governor began last November, a full two years before the 2014 race. The candidate stopped by Penn State yesterday to speak to a group of student Democrats. WPSU's Kristine Allen was there.
This weekend, revelers celebrated the annual student-created drinking holiday "State Patty's Day." But this year a partnership between the State College borough and some Penn State students and alumni attempted to combat drinking. The partnership paid 34 local bars $5000 each to close their doors Saturday and also implemented some other community initiatives. WPSU intern Cynthia Hill has more.
Where do life and art intersect? We'll talk about that, but firstif you resolved to diet in January, but have already lost interest, you're not alone. Research shows that dieting is a short-lived New Year's resolution. We'll introduce you to a simple, science-based diet that could get you off the dieting treadmill. Our guest is Dr. Barbara Rolls, professor of nutritional sciences and the Helen A. Guthrie Chair in nutrition at Penn State. She's creator and author of The Ultimate Volumetrics Diet, a #1 New York Times Bestselling Diet book.
This is Morning Edition. I'm Mel DeYoung. It's February, Black History Month. And this afternoon, Penn State Altoona is hosting a homemade journey through diversity. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports the Tunnel of Oppression is an interactive exhibit, designed to give the viewer greater awareness of prejudice and intolerance.
I believe that English proficiency is important in my life. I'm from China. English is an important part of our schooling from grade school to university. Some students not only study English in school, they also attend training courses and watch English television. Others just regard it as a task and study it carelessly.
Penn State's annual IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, or THON, concluded yesterday with another record-breaking year. The proceeds benefit Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital's Four Diamonds Fund. WPSU intern Cynthia Hill reports.
The two-time Grammy winning singer Kathy Mattea has never been afraid to push the creative envelope. Her newest albums, "Coal" and "Calling Me Home," are her most personal and daring. Both records pay tribute to her rich alto and to the folk music of her native Appalachia. We'll talk with her about the power of music, her fight to end mountain top removal, and about facing Alzheimer's disease head on.
Rep. Scott Conklin, has represented the 77th district since 2006. WPSU's Greg Petersen interviews him about funding for education, transportation funding, his bill to shrink the size of the Penn State Board of Trustees and other legislation in Harrisburg.
State College Community Theatre will present the muiscal Legally Blonde this weekend. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports as the curtain goes up tonight, a new era begins for the theatre group.
Tonight at Penn State's Eisenhower Auditorium, an internet project becomes a Musical, starring members of the Gay Men's Chours of Los Angeles. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports the show brings a message of hope to teenagers who are bullied because of their sexual orientation.
Terrible things happen in the world. But it's easy to believe bad things only happen to other people, in other places. On December 14, 2012, I lost that naivety. When a shooter walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School, my heart broke.
The state of Pennsylvania has a long history, including housing the one-time capital of the United States. That means many important historical artifacts in the state are very old, and not all are in good shape. That's why the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts has developed a new program called Pennsylvania's Top 10 Endangered Artifacts. WPSU's Emily Reddy talks with the Conservation Center's executive director Ingrid Bogel about the program.
In 1975, Tyrone Werts was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Then, in 2010, after 36 years as a model prisoner, his sentence was commuted by former-Governor Ed Rendell. Today, Werts is a consultant with the Philadelphia Public Defenders Association and with Temple University's Inside-Out Prison Program, a nationally renowned program that takes college students inside prisons to examine crime and justice issues alongside inmates. WPSU's Patty Satalia talked with Werts about his long road out of prison, about Pennsylvania's "life means life" policy, and about his views on our criminal justice system.
Muchacho, by LouAnne Johnson, tells the story of how a boy with a troubled past begins to realize his potential. Our reviewer, Joan Papalia-Eisert, lives in Youngsville, where she grew up with the book's author, LouAnne Johnson.
A play that opens in Altoona tonight deals head-on with the issue of same sex relationships, intolerance and violence. But WPSU's Kristine Allen reports, the play is also a a powerful and touching love story.
Jackie Schoch talks with Anita McDonald. Both women have held the top job at Penn State DuBois. McDonald is just retiring from the chancellor position. Schoch held the position from 1978 to 1990, when it was called Chief Executive Officer. Schoch talks about growing up in DuBois and the challenges she faced while leading the Penn State DuBois campus.
Joe Paterno supporters braved single digit temperatures Tuesday night to mark one year since the former Penn State coach's death. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports several hundred fans attended a vigil to remember Paterno.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In October, we stopped in DuBois. Paula Giffin talked to her mother Joanne Giffin about how she met Paula's father.
The Nittany Valley Symphony gives a family concert this Sunday afternoon in State College. WPSU's Krisitne Allen reports the concert includes a mystery story for narrator and orchestra, written by novelist Lemony Snicket.
Yesterday (Thursday, January 17th), we had a world class pianist, Christopher O'Riley, speaking and performing just outside of WPSU's studios here in the lobby of the Outreach Building at Penn State! WPSU's Kristine Allen reports that tonight (Friday, January 18th) O'Riley will give an eclectic concert, with cellist Matt Haimovitz, in Penn State's Center for the Performing Arts Series.
Bombshell examines the stories and motives of female terrorists. Our reviewer, Paige Deckert, is a PhD candidate at Penn State University Park. She's also a research assistant at the International Center for the Study of Terrorism at Penn State.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In October, we stopped in DuBois. Jenny Lisak talked with Carol Houser, her best friend of 51 years, about their time together in Catholic school, their time working in predominantly male professions, and their current fears about fracking in their town.
In 1975, Tyrone Werts was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. After 36 years as a model prisoner, his sentence was commuted in 2010 by former-Governor Ed Rendell. In part two of our two-part interview, WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Werts about the men and women serving life terms in Pennsylvania's prisons and about his work with the Philadelphia Public Defenders Association and with Temple University's Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program.
In 1975, Tyrone Werts was convicted of second-degree murder, as an accomplice, and sentenced to life in prison without parole. He spent 36 years at Graterford State Correctional Institution before his sentence was commuted in 2010 by then-Governor Ed Rendell. In part one of a two-part interview, WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Werts about his long road out of prison, about Pennsylvania's "life means life" policy, and about his thoughts on our criminal justice system.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In October, we stopped in DuBois. Yola Sekula talked with her son Paul about her parents and about how she met the love of her life.
Jerry Sandusky's lawyer is asking for a new trial. He says the defense didn't have adequate time to analyze the more than 12,000 pages of documents from the Attorney General's office and the Grand Jury. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
This week at the Pennsylvania Farm Show hundreds of cows, goats and pigs will be shown off. And while you can tell the humans in the winner's circle to "say cheese," it's harder to get the animals to look their best. At last year's Farm Show WPSU's Emily Reddy learned the tricks to photographing livestock from a pro.
I believe hardship presents opportunity. I am a father to three boys, a loving husband to a beautiful wife, and an educator with the awesome responsibility to instruct our youth. But my life hasn't always been so pleasant.
A statewide law requires cars and trucks to give four feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist. Known as the 4-Foot Safe Passing Law, it went into effect this past April. But who really knows about it? WPSU's Patty Satalia hits the road to find out.
WPSU's own Emily Reddy usually hosts BookMark. Today she reviews a book that could be just the thing to help you with your New Year's resolutions: Learn Something New Every Day: 365 Facts to Fulfill Your Life, by Kee Malesky.
On January 2nd, at Penn State's University Park Campus, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett faced questions about the timing of his lawsuit against the NCAA. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports.
Some Stones Shine, by Joseph C. Tarone, follows four brothers who find work in a coal patch after the death of their father. Our reviewer, R. Thomas Berner, is a 9th generation Pennsylvanian from the coal region where the book is set. He's also a retired journalism professor who taught at Penn State for 28 years.
Should Pennsylvania privatize its state-run liquor stores? Supporters say such a move would improve product quality, reduce costs, and help close the state's budget deficit. Opponents say the move is short-sighted; while it would provide a one-time financial boost, it would lead to large-scale layoffs and loss of revenue.
When I first get to know someone, I ask them what type of tea they like. It sounds like a strange icebreaker, I know. But there's more to the subject than meets the eye.
State representative Scott Conklin of Centre County is offering up four bills he says will increase accountability and transparency at Penn State. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports they have the support of at least one member of Penn State's Board of Trustees.
From December 26th to January 7th, nineteen Penn State students will be in Ghana; they'll be working on a water project with a local community. WPSU student intern Kate Lao Shaffner has the story.
We continue our PA People series with a new and intimate profile of one of the people who makes Pennsylvania so interesting. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with longtime state legislator Camille "Bud" George. The feisty lawmaker retired at the end of November after representing Pennsylvania's 74th district for nearly four decades.
Saturday night, WPSU presents the 2nd annual Winterfest concert, with The Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra, conducted by Douglas Meyer. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports the orchestra will be joined by an accomplished young choir, and a harpist with a fascinating resume.
Residents of Hilltop Mobile Home Park will have to wait a little longer to find out whether they might be able to stay in the park. Last night, about 80 people gathered at the College Township building hoping to hear a verdict on the rezoning of Hilltop. WPSU intern Danielle Matalonis reports the buyer asked for the hearing to be rescheduled.
Residents in two mobile home parks in State College have been told they have to move out. It seems to be a done deal at one of the parks, but residents at the other mobile home park hope they can find a way to stay put. WPSU intern Danielle Matalonis reports.
Major Erik Orient has been a Marine for 22 years. He works for Penn State's Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. Major Orient reviews After Action: A Cobra Pilot's Journey, by Dan Sheehan. Sheehan is a fellow Marine who came back from Iraq carrying the lingering impacts of war.
Pennsylvania's Governor Tom Corbett faces a December 14th deadline over whether to create a state-run health insurance exchange program -- or leave it to the federal government to create. A requirement of the Affordable Care Act, the online marketplace will help Pennsylvanians compare and buy individual health insurance policies. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Antoinette Kraus, the project manager of the Pennsylvania Health Access Network, about what's at stake.
If you tell Frank Warren your secret there's the chance he'll share it with a whole lot of people. Warren is the founder of the website "PostSecret." He was on the Penn State campus last night to talk to students as a part of the Penn State Student Programming Association's Distinguished Speakers Series. WPSU's Emily Reddy spoke with Warren before the event.
According to my parents, I was obsessed with her from the start. My little sister was born just two years and eight months after I was. To me, her arrival didn't mean having to share my parents with someone else; it meant having a friend whenever I wanted.
I believe walking is a natural act, far beyond exercise. While visiting French relatives in March, I twisted my leg skiing and spent the next three weeks limping around Paris. The limping isn't important to this story. The walking is.
Coal is king when it comes to electricity generation in Pennsylvania, and worldwide. But a new book confronts the fuel's supremacy when it comes to human health! WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with the author of The Silent Epidemic: Coal and the Hidden Threat to Health. Author Alan Lockwood is a neurologist and board member of Physicians for Social Responsibility.
Where We Once Gathered: Lost Synagogues of Europe by Andrea Strongwater contains descriptions and colorful illustrations of synagogues destroyed on or around Kristallnacht. The book is reviewed by Linda Short, a Jewish history lecturer at Penn State University Park.
In 2008, college students played a significant role in electing Barack Obama president. WPSU's Kristine Allen went to Penn State's University Park Campus on Election Day to check on turnout.
The Obama and Romney campaigns brought some star power to Central Pennsylvania this weekend to fire-up their volunteers for the final days of the campaign. WPSU's Kristine Allen visited the Obama and Romney campaign offices in State College to hear some high-level campaign surrogates.
The 171st Pennsylvania House District is made up of parts of Centre and Mifflin Counties. The seat has been held by Republican Kerry Benninghoff since 1997. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports this year a Democratic candidate with a famous lineage is trying to win the seat.
The Attorney General race has had all the plot points of a great pulp novel: unproven allegations of a scandal within a scandal, blatantly false attacks and hints of cronyism. At the center, reports Mary Wilson, are two well-pedigreed candidates.
Simple physical tasks have always been difficult for me. Running the bases in softball, climbing the basement stairs, even reaching for something on the top shelf. I couldn't do these everyday activities, because for as long as I can remember I've always had some sort of pain.
On the final day of the Penn State Sexual Abuse Conference, Elizabeth Smart gave the audience a message of hope. WPSU intern Danielle Matalonis reports.
In his latest work, renowned photographer and researcher Richard Ross opens our eyes to the harsh realities of America's juvenile justice system. For his new book," Juvenile In Justice," Ross photographed and interviewed more than 1,000 youths over a five-year period, in juvenile detention facilities across the country. The result is powerful and haunting. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Ross, a professor of art at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Foreign policy and American security overseas have taken a more prominent role in this upcoming presidential election, especially the US mission attack in Benghazi, Libya. WPSU intern Kate Lao Shaffner spoke with former ambassador Dennis Jett, a professor in Penn State's School of International Affairs, about key foreign policy issues and about his experiences as a diplomat.
What's left of hurricane Sandy is headed for Central Pennsylvania. WPSU's Kristine Allen speaks with meteorologist Aaron Tyburski of the National Weather Service in State College.
Dead End in Norvelt won the prestigious John Newbery Medal for children's literature in 2012. Our reviewer, Steven Herb, chaired this year's committee to select the companion prize, the Randolph Caldecott Medal for Illustration. He's also a child of the 60s, which is when today's book is set.
A candidate for Vice President recently campaigned in Central Pennsylvania. No, it wasn't Paul Ryan or Joe Biden. It was Cheri Honkala, Vice Presidential candidate from the Green Party, who stopped by our studios to speak with WPSU's Kristine Allen.
The 23rd district in the Pennsylvania Senate includes Bradford, Lycoming, and Sullivan counties and parts of Susquehanna and Union counties. An upstart candidate in Williamsport hopes opposition to fracking will help her knock off an incumbent who's a big supporter of gas drilling. But the task won't be easy for Luana Cleveland. She's running as a Democrat
With the presidential debates in full swing, WPSU-FM will shift focus for one hour on a contest that hits closer to home. Two-term Republican incumbent Glenn Thompson and Democratic challenger Charles Dumas face off in the race for the 5th Congressional district. Who are the candidates? What have they accomplished? And what do they stand for? WPSU's Patty Satalia begins the hour with Democratic challenger Charles Dumas--and we'll be back in the second half of our program to talk with Congressman Glenn Thompson who is seeking a third term in office.
Waterproof, a historical fiction by Judith Redline Coopey, paints the story of a woman who survived the Johnstown flood of 1889. Our reviewer, Denise Holliday Damico, is a professor of history at St. Francis University near Johnstown. Damico specializes in water history and has assigned class projects on the flood.
Jerry Sandusky has been sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports Sandusky continued to maintain his innocence during sentencing.
Sentencing begins Tuesday for Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State football coach who was convicted of molesting ten young boys. Matt Bodenschatz is a 39-year-old Penn State student who became public about his childhood sexual abuse shortly after the Sandusky scandal broke. He talked with WPSU intern Danielle Matalonis about the good and the bad that came out of the scandal.
Sentencing begins this morning for Jerry Sandusky, the former assistant Penn State football coach who was convicted in June of 45 counts related to molesting young boys. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports a de-facto life sentence is expected.
This month marks the 50th anniversary of Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring." The book changed the way we think about pollution and human health and led to the creation of the EPA and to a ban on DDT. What would the Pennsylvania native have to say about hydrofracking? WPSU's Patty Satalia poses that question to biologist, best-selling author and cancer survivor, Sandra Steingraber, who is sometimes referred to as the "new Rachel Carson."
Hearings continue today on the fate of Pennsylvania's controversial new voter ID law. Critics say acquiring a valid ID can be difficult or even impossible for some. For Penn State students the solution could be as easy as a sticker. But WPSU's Emily Reddy says many students don't even know the law exists or what they'll need to vote.
A forum last night on Penn State's University Park campus encouraged Penn State students to vote. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports the evening had plenty of star power.
In October of 1962, the United States was held rapt by the Cuban Missile Crisis. This book tells the story of Navy members who held a little-known, but important job. They took aerial reconnaissance photos over Cuba.
Where can you find Beethoven, banjos, Shakespeare and tap-dancing? In the Center for the Performing Arts Series on Penn State's University Park Campus. WPSU's Kristine Allen has a few highlights of the coming season.
The 2012-2013 season of the Penn State Center for the Perfoming Arts includes a generous helping of classical music, especially chamber and orchestral music by Beethoven. George Trudeau, Director of the Centre for the Performing Arts joins WPSU's Kristine Allen to listen to some of the performers and the music that will be heard this season on Penn State's University Park Campus.
"If you're gonna play all-stars you have to be dedicated." That's what my dad said to me after I found out I made the State College National All-Stars Baseball team. I didn't really know what he meant, but I replied, "Yes, Dad," to appease him.
Small town America is changing. Linda Short reviews Nude Walker, a book about the challenges in one Pennsylvania town when a group of soldiers returns from war. The author, Bathsheba Monk, lives in the Lehigh Valley.
The coming season of concerts by the Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra will include two soloists who are father and daughter, a story about bullying set to music, and PLENTY of Mozart! WPSU's Kristine Allen has this preview.
Around three forty-five on a rainy Saturday morning, I was startled awake by the sound of my pager beeping. As a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician, I can never count on a full night of sleep. I groggily pulled myself out of bed and staggered toward the desk to grab my radio. Our crew was being dispatched to a nearby home where a man was in cardiac arrest.
Joe Posnanski had unprecedented access to Joe Paterno in the last two years of his life. Posnanski set out to write a biography and stumbled on a scandal. This book outlines Paterno's life, including the last turbulent months before the longtime Penn State coach died of lung cancer. State College resident and Penn State grad Jonathan McVerry reviews the book.
Without a queen bee a colony can't produce. For the past several years Colony Collapse Disorder has killed off roughly a third of bees every year. That means a lot of beekeepers who need new queens for their hives. Many of those queen bees are bought by mail-order from breeders in the south. But WPSU's Emily Reddy reports a group of researchers at Penn State wants to see if local bees might be a better idea.
Penn State has announced it will host a national conference on child sexual abuse at the end of October. The event is entitled "Traumatic Impact, Prevention, and Intervention." WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with Kate Staley, a researcher in Penn State's Justice Center for Research and the co-organizer of the conference. (Photo by Patrick Mansell)
Former Penn State President Graham Spanier and his lawyers spoke-out yesterday about the Sandusky scandal and the Freeh Report. WPSU's Kristine Allen has the story.
At a press conference Wednesday, local Democrats charged the Romney/Ryan presidential ticket plans to cut education funding.WPSU's Kristine Allen spoke with Centre County Comissioner Mike Pipe, and Charles Dumas, a Penn State Professor who is the Democratic candidate for US Congress from Pennsylvania's 5th District.
I believe in the movies. I believe in silent films, in talkies, in grainy foreign documentaries. I believe in the Marx brothers, Doris Day, John Wayne, even Tom Cruise.
This is Morning Edition. I'm Mel DeYoung. Yesterday, we took a look at the resurgence of Main Street in Milheim, Pennsylvania. Today, WPSU's Kristine Allen visits a church in the town that has become a recording studio for some local musicians, working to re-imagine songs of a bygone era.
Pennsylvania's controversial voter ID law has passed its first legal challenge. A Commonwealth Court judge has upheld the measure, paving the way for implementation before the November general election. Mary Wilson reports on the polarizing new requirement and the debate that preceded the court opinion.
Marcellus Shale drilling is a subject of interest for many people in Pennsylvania. Our reviewer, Ray Beal, lives in an area that has seen some changes as a result of gas drilling. He reviews an author's account of real people that take on every angle concerning the issue.
Congressman Glenn Thompson and the President of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Carl Shaffer, hosted a Barnyard Discussion on agriculture policy Tuesday afternoon on the first of Penn State's Ag Progress Days. WPSU intern Danielle Matalonis reports.
Penn State trustees held a meeting last night by conference call. They discussed President Rodney Erickson's decision to accept NCAA sanctions. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports trustees on the call overwhelmingly supported Erickson's actions.
Pennsylania's new Voter ID law has created some confusion for voters. WPSU's Kristine Allen speaks with a Central PA voter grappling with the new rules, and a State Representative trying to help his constituents get up to speed on the law.
The Olympics wrap up on Sunday. Treasure Lake resident Ray Beal shares an ode to a sport that is featured at the games. The Olympics wrap up on Sunday. Treasure Lake resident Ray Beal shares an ode to a sport that is featured at the games.
Last August, Chuck Felton organized a reunion for the Cresson TB Sanatorium. The retired aerospace engineer now living in Texas, spent 16 months at the state-run tuberculosis facility that was located on a remote mountain top outside of Cresson. For more than 50 years, Felton had kept his experience there mostly to himself. Then, in 2009, he decided to create a website to share his story with his two grown children. To his surprise, other TB survivors, staff, and children of patients who died at the facility, came out of the woodwork. They contacted him through letters, emails and phone calls---eager to talk about a subject that had been shrouded in silence too long. WPSU's Patty Satalia attended "The San Reunion," which brought together more than 150 people to reminisce, share stories, and
In 1955, Chuck Felton was seventeen, president of his senior class at Towanda Valley High School in northeastern Pennsylvania, with plans to attend Penn State. Then he was diagnosed with TB--tuberculosis
Lisa Genova has a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Harvard University. In her second novel, she explores a real psychological condition called "left neglect." Our reviewer, Cheryl Bazzoui, explains how the main character deals with losing awareness of the left side of her body.
A State College company has launched a survey to get a look at the core values and priorities of the Penn State community. WPSU's Emily Reddy says the company's CEO hopes the survey will help community leaders and administration figure out how to move forward.
I believe in being a kid. Today's world is full of over-eager parents and competitions to cross the finish line. But where is that finish line? Life is not about breaking through the red ribbon or lapping your peers on the race track. I believe life is about enjoying what you have while you have it.
The Penn State Board of Trustees met last night in State College to discuss NCAA penalties levied against the University. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports after meeting for more then three hours the trustees appear to have come to terms with the sanctions.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Huntingdon. Sue Querry talks with her niece, Zoe Babe. The two talk about what it was like to grow up on a farm in Warriors Mark.
The NCAA handed down penalties against Penn State yesterday morning. It's not the so-called "death penalty," but WPSU's Emily Reddy reports sanctions are severe.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Huntingdon. Pam Grugan talks with her daughter, Cecilia. Pam shares one of their family's many treasured stories about Cecilia's father, Scott, who died of a heart attack seven years ago.
There's now an empty concrete alcove where the statue honoring longtime Penn State football coach Joe Paterno once stood. WPSU's Emily Reddy says the statue was removed early Sunday morning with no advanced warning from University administration.
The beach is a place to enjoy sun, surf, and sandcastles, but what happens when a dragon arrives? Babs Bengtson reviews this playful children's book by Boalsburg author Jodi Moore.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Huntingdon. Nancy Shedd, talks with her brothers, John and Charles Swigart. The siblings reminisce about growing up in Huntingdon and how different life was back then.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Huntingdon. Leo Steinbeiser talks with his older brother, Skip. They reminisce about growing up on a farm in Sinking Valley.
Altoona is having financial problems. Without help, from the state, the city is at risk of not making payroll for city workers. Two political newcomers say they have what it takes to help the city overcome its money issues. They're fighting for a seat in Pennsylvania's 79th District, located in Blair County. WPSU's Patty Satalia begins her report with a look at the situation in Altoona and an introduction of the candidates.
Pennsylvania Dance Theatre will present an unusual, unsettling dance piece at the State Theatre in State College Thursday, July 12th, as part of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. Earlier this week, WPSU's Kristine Allen sat-in on a rehearsal for this powerful performance.
On the eve of the release of the Freeh report, the Paterno family shared an op-ed yesterday they say was written by Joe Paterno less than a month before he died. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports that in the column Paterno defends the integrity of the Penn State football program he guided for decades.
As you whiz by in your car, you may see me. Just a glimpse in your rearview mirror of a middle-aged woman moving up a hill on her bicycle. I say "moving" because it's just as likely that I will be pushing it as riding it. I say "moving" because I will be doing just that
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Huntingdon. Dana Harris talks with her friend, Heidi Averill. Despite their 19-year age difference, the two bonded through their battles with cancer.
The long-awaited Freeh report will be released online Thursday morning at 9 o'clock. WPSU's Emily Reddy says the report explores whether football coach Joe Paterno and other top Penn State officials took steps to conceal that former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was a child molester.
Stanford Lembeck talks with his friend Holly Mollo. Lembeck and Mollo are a part of the synagogue, Agudath Achim of Huntingdon. The two friends helped to create The Center for the Study of Jewish Life in Central Pennsylvania. It's a collaboration of Agudath Achim, Juniata College, and the Juniata College Hillel Association. These groups are collecting and recording stories of Jewish history in central Pennsylvania.
Mischelle Marie, aka KC O'Day, is a local morning radio personality at WALY 103.9. She reviews the debut novel by author Gale Martin, Don Juan in Hankey, PA. Martin will be featured at Schlow Library's upcoming Bookfest PA on July 14th.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Huntingdon. Ross Rager talks with his wife, Michele. The young Huntingdon couple talks about Ross's family, and what he learned growing up on a small farm in Jackson Township.
I place the wide, flat disc on the turntable, close the dusty lid and press "start." The guitar slowly fades in, followed by a loud bell. Finally, the drums break into a groove. Then, as Brad Delp of the band Boston starts to sing, I close my eyes and slip away.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Huntingdon. Three friends, Cloyd Howerton, Stephen Heine, and Robert Blair Stewart, who are all members of the Huntingdon Park and Road Association, talk about their memories of Blair Park. Stewart is a relative of J.C. and Kate Blair, who originally donated the park to the community.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Huntingdon. Carrie VanPelt talks with her friend, Eda Case. After discovering that farm life in Penns Valley was not for her, VanPelt attended Penn State, and later the University of Pennsylvania, to become a nurse.
The jury has returned its verdict in the child sex abuse case against Jerry Sandusky. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports the former Penn State assistant football coach has been found guilty of 45 out of 48 charges.
The jury continues its deliberations today in the child sex abuse trial against Jerry Sandusky. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports that unbeknownst to them new allegations have come out against the former Penn State coach.
Testimony in the child sex abuse trial against Jerry Sandusky has ended. Sandusky did not take the stand to testify on his own behalf. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
State College Area High School student Abby Reese reviews the popular teen series Pretty Little Liars. Sara Shepard, the author of the books-turned-TV-show, will be speaking at Schlow Library BookFest PA on July 14th, 2012. Shepard has surprising ties to State College.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Huntingdon. Gene Hoffman talks with her friend, Bonnie Morningstar. They talk about Hoffman's experiences growing up on a farm in Huntingdon.
Dueling psychiatrists took the stand yesterday in the child sex abuse trial against Jerry Sandusky. They followed a string of character witnesses and Sandusky's wife, Dottie. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
The judge in the child sex abuse trial against Jerry Sandusky wrapped things up early yesterday because of "technical difficulties" with a witness. But WPSU's Emily Reddy reports the trial is on track for closing arguments to be delivered Thursday morning.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Huntingdon. David Bowen talks with his wife, Reba. They talk about their work in prison ministry.
The judge in the child sex abuse case against former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky has sent jurors home for the week. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports that after four days the prosecution appears to have called all its witnesses.
Last month, a Penn State faculty member won an international piano competition in Orleans, France. Saturday evening, he'll be the guest soloist with the Penns Woods Festival Orchestra, on Penn State's University Park Campus. As part of our "Music Makers" series, WPSU's Kristine Allen speaks with pianist Christopher Guzman.
The Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse trial is nearing the end of its first week. The judge now says the prosecution will be done with its case ahead of schedule, by Friday. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports three new alleged victims took the stand yesterday. A word of caution, this story contains graphic description.
I believe in writing. Not newspaper reporting, or composing essays for class, or informational writing but inspirational writing. I believe in telling a story.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Huntingdon. Greg Anderson talks with co-worker, Priscilla Gibboney. Anderson and his wife, Jessie, started a popular coffee shop in Huntingdon, called the Standing Stone Coffee Company, where Gibboney is now a barista.
Gerardo Edelstein, Music Director of Music at Penns Woods joins WPSU's Kristine Allen for an hour-long special. It features music from the 2012 season of Music at Penns Woods orchestra concerts.
The first day of the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse trial included opening statements and questioning of the first of the alleged victims. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
A standoff is underway at the Riverdale Mobile Home Park on the outskirts of Jersey Shore. Just over three months ago residents were told they had to leave. The park has been sold and the new owner plans to put in a water withdrawal facility to service nearby fracking activities. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports the deadline to move has passed, but a few holdouts say they have nowhere to go.
June 16th is a little-known holiday. For fans of classic literature, it marks a day for commemorating Ulysses, a work by James Joyce. Kate Hoffman, a State College Area High School English teacher, has been participating in "Bloomsday" for years. She reviews the book in honor of this year's upcoming celebration.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Huntingdon. Andrew Murray talks with his former co-worker, Liz Widman. In 1985, Dr. Murray founded the Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies at Juniata College.
Late in the day on Tuesday, June 5th, 2012, Venus will pass in front of the sun. This transit will not happen again for more than a century. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports on an alignment of science and art that pays tribute to this rare astronomical event. (For information on transit watch events, please visit the community calendar at WPSU.org.)
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Huntingdon. Annie Wishard talks with her employee, Julie Price. They talk about the Gage Mansion in Huntingdon. Wishard lives in the mansion and runs her business out of it. And she says it's haunted.
I just finished my sophomore year at Penn State. The school boasts thousands of students, hundreds of clubs and an endless number of opportunities. With all those choices, you may wonder how I managed to achieve anything in college. Well I'll tell you how: I'm a firm believer in indecision.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Huntingdon. Siblings Mimi Isett, Charles Stewart and Susan Cipar talk about their mother who died recently at the age of 106 and their uncle who died a few years ago at 101. The three reminisce as they take a break from cleaning out their mother's house.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Huntingdon. Mary Ann Buckley talks with her uncle and aunt, Dean and Betty Grove. They talk about growing up in the Huntington area, and how they met in the local grange, which is an organization for farmers.
There's a World Premiere this weekend at the State Theatre in State College. It's an unorthodox way of presenting favorite songs by Gilbert & Sullivan. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports on the Nittany Theatre Company's new musical comedy.
WPSU's Kristine Allen, our arts and culture reporter, reviews a book about why we do what we do. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg looks at how habits are created and how we can change them.
Douglas Stiffler, a Chinese history professor from Juniata College talks with Mao Xiaoyu who is a student from China. Mao is interested in politics, and has discovered an admiration for a 1950's Chinese student leader named Lin Zhao. The day before coming to America, Mao even took a trip to visit her grave.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Huntingdon. Herman Nagle talks with his son Roy Nagle. They talk about Herman's experience growing up in Altoona during World War II.
I believe in penny loafers, plaid skirts, navy blue stockings and white Oxfords. I used to sigh each morning as I threw on the same school uniform every day, wishing I could wear something more comfortable to school. I never had to worry about dressing to impress in a small all-girls Catholic high school.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Huntingdon. Robert Wagoner talks with his former student Sarah Worley. They talk about Wagoner's years of teaching and his close encounter with medieval Russian icons.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. In March, we stopped in Huntingdon. Eugene Goshorn talks with his wife Alberta Goshorn. They talk about Goshorn's childhood memories with his grandfather, who died of silicosis after years of working in a local brickyard.
Since 1938, the American Library Association has awarded a Caldecott Medal to the year's best American picture book for children. This year, Penn State's Steven Herb chaired the committee that reviewed more than 1,200 books to select this year's winner, a wordless picture book titled "A Ball for Daisy." WPSU's Patty Satalia picks up the story at one of Penn State's child care centers.
I believe that a woman's place is in the home. Now don't get me wrong. I'm not suggesting that women shouldn't work or that men shouldn't help out around the house. But I believe that the woman is the one who makes the house a home. No matter how humble or how grand, it's the feminine touch that makes the difference.
WPSU's Patty Satalia CONTINUES her conversation with Penn State alum, Dr. Janet Rosenzweig, the interim executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Pennsylvania. Her new book is The Sex-Wise Parent: The Parent's Guide to Protecting Your Child, Strengthening Your Family, and Talking to Kids about Sex, Abuse and Bullying.
April is Child Abuse Awareness Month. Having the "sex talk" with your kids doesn't have to be a scary or awkward event and could save them from serious harm. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Penn State alum, Dr. Janet Rosenzweig, the interim executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Pennsylvania. Her new book is The Sex-Wise Parent: The Parent's Guide to Protecting Your Child, Strengthening Your Family, and Talking to Kids about Sex, Abuse and Bullying.
Since January, Penn State students have worked with members of the State College community to complete the town's newest mural. The Colors of Music community mural will be installed on the side of Jezebel's Boutique, near the intersection of Garner Street and College Avenue. Student intern Rosemary Santarelli reports.
Susan Vreeland's latest novel, Clara and Mr. Tiffany, is this year's selection for One Book Bradford, a community reading event. As part of the event, Vreeland will visit the Pitt Bradford campus on Tuesday, May 1st at 7:30 pm.
The winner of WPSU's annual "Art for the Airwaves" contest this spring is Alyson Leach of Galeton, Pennsylvania. WPSU's Kristine Allen paid a visit to the town where Leach has a home, gallery and studio
Tuesday, April 24th is primary day in Pennsylvania. In Rush Township, Centre County, voters will decide whether a commission should be formed to study the question of adopting a home rule charter in the township. WPSU's Kristine Allen explains the effort began with concerns over Marcellus Shale gas wells.
Welcome to Joe Paterno in his own words. I'm Steve Jones. For 32 years I covered and worked around Joe Paterno including 20 seasons on the Penn State Sports Networkthe last 12 seasons as the play-by-play announcer. What you are about hear are personal interviews and press conferences I saved over the years as well as play-by-play of his greatest moments courtesy of the Penn State Sports Network a property of Learfield Sports.
In June of 2009, I went with my family to Key Largo, Florida for a vacation. We headed out into the emerald waves nearby to go SCUBA diving. As we skimmed across the choppy water, I felt a mix of emotions. I was excited to try SCUBA diving for the first time, nervous to put my skills to the test, and anxious about the possible dangers of diving. Strong gusts of wind greeted our boat as we reached the spot our dive would start. The rapid slap of waves against the hull synced perfectly with my racing heartbeat.
Ever since it became an elected position in 1980, Pennsylvania's attorney general has always been a Republican. David Freed is hoping that doesn't change. The Cumberland County District Attorney is the GOP's candidate for the state's top law enforcement officer. Freed spoke to Pennsylvania Public Radio's Mary Wilson about why he's qualified for the job, and what his priorities would be if he were elected.
Patrick Murphy is one of two candidates this year hoping to become the first elected Democratic state attorney general. The former Bucks County Congressman sat down with Pennsylvania Public Radio's Mary Wilson to explain why he's running for the job, and what is his vision for the office.
Kathleen Kane is a former Lackawanna County prosecutor and one of the Democratic candidates running for the state attorney general. Pennsylvania Public Radio's Mary Wilson spoke to Kane about her candidacy and her qualifications for being the state's next chief prosecutor.
Americans have turned up their noses at the hamburger additive officially known as Lean Finely Textured Beef, now infamously called Pink Slime. Technically it IS beef, just not what consumers generally think of as beef. A celebrity chef's televised expose about the amonia-treated beef scraps set off consumer outcry, prompting supermarkets nationwide to stop selling the stuff. So, what's all the fuss about? WPSU's Patty Satalia begins her report at the meat case in the State College Wegmans.
Our reviewer, Linda Short, is an avid mystery reader. Her latest endorsement in the genre goes to writer Harry Dolan. She reviews his first novel, Bad Things Happen. The sequel, Very Bad Men, is out now.
The judge overseeing the child sex abuse case against Jerry Sandusky has denied requests by the defense that all 52 charges against the 68-year-old former Penn State assistant football coach be dismissed. But WPSU's Emily Reddy reports there are likely to be additional dismissal motions before the trial begins.
The judge in the trial of Jerry Sandusky wants to hold off on debating the merit of charges against the former Penn State assistant football coach. As WPSU's Emily Reddy reports, that's because of investigations that are still underway.
We continue our PA People series with a new and intimate profile of some of the people who make Pennsylvania so interesting. WPSU's Patty Satalia visited the former Centre Hall SPCA to talk with longtime friends and animal advocates, Deb Warner and Cheryl Sharer. The two co-founded Pets Come First, the new SPCA.
When I was 10 years old, my grandfather died. I was so sad and cried for a long time. But then I remembered a promise I made to my grandfather. Even now, I believe that keeping the promise is my duty.
The crowded field of Republican U.S. Senate candidates vying for their party's nomination in Pennsylvania's April 24th primary are trying to prove their conservative credentials. Mary Wilson reports several had a chance to persuade those on hand at this past weekend's gathering of small government activists.
First there's a hushed suggestion. Then, the grandchildren start to whine. As my mother tries to calm everyone, my dad puts down the paper and issues the decree. We hold our breaths, fingers crossed.
A Marcellus Shale Impact fee years in the making is now law. WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with StateImpact Pennsylvania's Scott Detrow, who has been covering the legislation, about what happens now. Centre County Commissioners are expected to vote April 3 on whether to enact the Marcellus Shale Impact fee.
Legendary Irish Singer Mary Black talks to Folk Show host Art Wachter about her new CD "Stories from the Steeples," including her collaboration with Janis Ian and Finbar Furey.
On the eve of St. Patrick's Day, we start a new series on WPSU, called Music Makers. WPSU's Kristine Allen visits an Irish jam session in Central Pennsylvania, and talks with a musician who's helping Irish music thrive in the area.
The author of The Book Thief, Markus Zusak, will speak at the Mt. Nittany Middle School auditorium via Skype video call Tuesday, March 20th, at 7 pm. WPSU's Patty Satalia will moderate. You can find more information about Centre County Reads and other upcoming events at www.centrecountyreads.org.
The Penn State board of trustees released a statement yesterday to further explain their rationale for the dismissal of Joe Paterno as head coach last November. Later in the day the Paterno family issued a response. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. The first stop was in Bradford, in McKean County. Justin Willoughby talks with his friend Josh Hatcher. They talk about Willoughby's long struggle to lose weight, about 600 pounds so far.
We continue our Pennsylvania People series with a new and intimate profile of one of the people who makes Pennsylvania so interesting. WPSU's Patty Satalia caught up with Daniel Clemson at the Train Station Office of the Bellefonte Area Chamber of Commerce. Clemson is a leading authority on the world-renowned vocal group, The Mills Brothers, who trace their roots to Bellefonte.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. The first stop was in Bradford, in McKean County. Dick McDowell, the President of Pitt-Bradford from 1973 to 2002, talks with his long time colleague Jim Evans. Evans is currently the Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs at the university. They talk about Tullah Hanley, an early benefactor of the university and quite a character.
This past August, Act 7 of 2011 went into effect in Pennsylvania. The new law bans the sale or possession of synthetic marijuana and other so-called "designer drugs." Last week, State police raided three State College stores and seized thousands of items suspected of containing Schedule 1 Controlled Substances. WPSU's Patty Satalia files this report.
This is the time of year when many Community Supported Agriculture Farms, or "CSA's" are selling shares for the coming growing seasons. WPSU's Kristine Allen visited a CSA Fair in State College this week to get the lowdown on this growing practice.
Our reviewer, Nancy Eaton, helps kick off Women's History Month by sharing a book about a Penn State alumna who worked in the Nixon administration. The book, A Matter of Simple Justice, premiers on March 8th at a Women's History Month event at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
The Acoustic Brew concert series in State College is celebrating 20 years of bringing folk artists from around the country to perform in Central Pennsylvania. WPSU's Kristine Allen has the story of a community of volunteers who keep the concert series thriving
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. The first stop was in Bradford, in McKean County. Christina Siewe, who was born in Cameroon, talks with her friend Tammy Haley about their experiences volunteering at a health clinic in Siewe's hometown. Siewe helped create the clinic and it's run by her sister.
In 2009, Michael Mann was accused of manipulating research findings to strengthen the case that human activity is causing global warming. Mann, and other researchers, were subsequently cleared of all charges. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with the Penn State Professor about his new book, The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars. It's a personal account of what he describes as an aggressive and ongoing assault on climate science
I believe in books. Reading books became one of my hobbies on the day my mother led me to the library in our village and introduced me to the librarian. At that time I was a fourth grader and it was my first visit to the library. The librarian showed me a thin red book. The title of the book was "Arbi." At first, I didn't want to read it because it seemed boring. But, I took it home anyway. I didn't have any interest in reading until I got that book. It was so interesting that I couldn't get my eyes from its pages.
Penn State's annual theatre festival, "Cultural Conversations", presents a theatre piece by high school and college students titled Body Language 2012: LGBT Citizens & Allies Asking & Telling. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports that the show uses video, dance, music and monolouges to foster understanding of the gay community.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. The first stop was in Bradford, in McKean County. Cheryl Bazzoui talks with her granddaughter Stephanie Cleveland.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. The first stop was in Bradford, in McKean County. Cliff Hastings talks about some of his childhood memories, including a visit to Bradford by the circus.
Themes of war and peace are at the heart of an exhibit this month at the Bellefonte Art Museum. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports it's an exhibit that combines art and poetry to help us heal from the wounds of war.
Today, a State College Area High School teacher arrives in Antarctica to begin a five-week research project with the environmental outreach program, PolarTREC. Nell Herrmann was one of only 12 U.S. teachers to earn a spot on the research team. WPSU's Patty Satalia visited with Herrmann and her students last week and files this report.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. The first stop was in Bradford, in McKean County. To celebrate Valentine's Day, a story that shows love can strike twice. Marcia Daly McAndrew interviews her mother Rita Daly Hogan about the great loves of her life.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. The first stop was in Bradford, in McKean County. Last week, Robert Fair was interviewed by his wife Tracy Keppel. Now they turn the tables. Tracy talks about her Irish grandparents and her lifelong love of horses.
The Obama re-election campaign opened a new office this week in State College. WPSU's Kristine Allen visits the opening and speaks with the campaign's National Press Secretary, Ben LeBolt.
We continue our Pennsylvania People series with a new and intimate profile of one of the people who makes Pennsylvania so interesting. WPSU's Patty Satalia visits with Thom Brewster, executive director of CentrePeace. Most people know it as a place that restores and sells used furniture, but Brewster sees it as a place that restores prisoner's lives.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. The first stop was in Bradford, in McKean County. Robert Fair talks with his wife Tracy Keppel. Fair started his degree in Psychology at Pitt Bradford, where this recording took place.
Penn State's annual Celebration of African American Music Festival continues Friday and Saturday, February 3rd and 4th, on the University Park campus. WPSU's Kristine Allen has the story of one very influential African American composer whose music will be played in-concert Friday Night.
Semhar Mengisteab, a high school student from State College, recommends a novel that will help you commemorate Black History Month, which begins this week.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. The first stop was in Bradford in McKean County. Cheryl Bazzoui talks with her father, Robert Himes, about his life, including his time in World War Two.
The Penn State Law School's new TV series, "World on Trial," premieres on public television stations beginning January 31st. The best legal minds in the world argue both sides of sharply contested human rights issues and live juries from throughout the globe render their verdicts! WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Randall Robinson, the acclaimed human rights advocate and law professor who conceived and hosts the ground-breaking program.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. The first stop was in Bradford, Pennsylvania in McKean County. Rebecca Billings talks with her friend Margie Holland about her lifetime involvement in girls' sports.
In State College yesterday, some 12,000 people turned out for the memorial of long-time Penn State football coach Joe Paterno. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports mourners trekked in through the rain to fill Bryce Jordan Center for the memorial.
My mother was a great believer in "paying attention." She didn't need to say, "be careful crossing the street" or "watch out for strangers," or "drive carefully." PAY ATTENTION! covered all situations. The way she said it got your attention, and I still hear her voice in my head, 15 years after she's gone.
Students, alumni and fans gathered to say a final goodbye to a legend yesterday. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports that thousands of people lined the route of Joe Paterno's funeral procession yesterday.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. The first stop was in Bradford, Pennsylvania in McKean County. Fred Young talks with his son Jeffrey. They talk about the first time Fred met Forest Dorn, an oil tycoon in Bradford. It was in the early 1940s.
A public viewing was held for Joe Paterno Tuesday in Pasquerilla Spiritual Center on Penn State's University Park Campus. WPSU's Kristine Allen has this report.
Storyteller and comedian Mike Daisey is in central Pennsylvania for two very different performances. WPSU's Greg Petersen interviewed Daisey about them.
A steady stream of mourners visited the bronze Joe Paterno statue outside Beaver Stadium yesterday. WPSU's Emily Reddy gathered this remembrance from those who went to pay homage to the legendary Penn State football coach.
A South African composer/choreographer , Penn State student dancers, and PSU theatre professor Charles Dumas will collaborate Sunday night to present a story of racism and reconciliation. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports on a new theatre piece with a powerful message.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. The first stop was in Bradford, Pennsylvania in McKean County. Mary Rose Cuiffini talks with her granddaughter Jill Smith. They start by talking about how Cuiffini's family came to Bradford.
Saturday afternoon, January 21st on radio and in select theatres, the Metropolitan Opera will present a new production that's the first of its kind for the Met. WPSU's Kristine Allen gets the inside story from the Met, through a Penn State connection.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. The first stop was in Bradford, Pennsylvania in McKean County. Naomi Carlson talks with her friend Fred Patterson, also known as Buzz. They were childhood friends growing up in Bradford in the 1930s and 40s.
On Martin Luther King Day, actor and playwright Barry Scott brings his one-man show about Dr. King to Penn State, University Park. Scott talks with WPSU's Kristine Allen about the play, and about his own life-changing experience during the Civil Rights Era.
Tony Gaskew talks with his former criminal justice student Timothy Rooke. Gaskew worked in law enforcement for years before becoming a professor at Pitt Bradford. Rooke is now a police officer at the school. Gaskew talks about his early life and how he got his start in law enforcement.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. The first stop was in Bradford, Pennsylvania in McKean County. Richard Marcott talks with his daughter Kimberley Weinberg. They talk about Marcott's father.
Richard Biever is a rofessional actor, singer, composer, teacher and long time State College resident. He's also the new Executive Director of the State Theatre. He talks with WPSU's Kristine Allen about the future of this community arts venue in downtown State College.
In my last year of high school, I had a lot of responsibilities. I could hardly keep my eyes open during my classes because I only slept three hours every night. After school, I had to practice the play, "Mamma Mia!" for my school festival. After that, I went to a special school to cram for the entrance examination for college. I thought I was like a clock: I'd always keep working and never stop. But that year, I learned to slow down and trust others to help me.
State Senator Jake Corman represents the 34th Senatorial District, which includes Juniata, Perry and portions of Centre, Mifflin and Union Counties. Now in his fourth term, he's chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. This past December, WPSU's Patty Satalia talked with him about state funding for Penn State, his legislative priorities and about life in politics.
WPSU is traveling to towns across central and northern Pennsylvania to collect oral history recordings. The first stop was in Bradford, Pennsylvania in McKean County. Mary Rae talks with her friend and former co-worker Patrick Ryan. They talk about their work at Futures, a rehabilitation center that provides sheltered employment to individuals with disabilities.
As a busy college student, I'm realizing free time is a rare gift. I spend my days running from class to class, to my part-time job as a customer service rep, to the radio show I host or to my THON organization's functions. My mind is constantly bursting with thoughts about my obligations, but I always have something to look forward to: my afternoon nap.
Cheryl Bazzoui, an author and Bradford resident, reviews a young adult Christmas novel. Christmas with Tucker, by Greg Kincaid, is about a young boy struggling through his first Christmas after the death of his father with the help of a neighbor's dog.
The boom in natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale has profoundly affected the economy in drilling areas in Pennsylvania. Some locals are finding jobs in the industry. Some have sold their gas rights and become millionaires. And some have been priced out of their homes by an influx of drillers. WPSU's Emily Reddy takes us to a county in northern Pennsylvania that has opened its first-ever homeless shelter.
For as much as I can remember of my 12-year-old life, my family and I have gathered to listen to stories from our Hindu mythology. We get together every other Sunday with members of the Indian community in State College. This "Story Hour" is made to help children, and even adults, stay connected with Indian traditions and culture.
When the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board was established in 1933, its purpose, according to then-Governor Gifford Pinchot, was to "discourage the purchase of alcoholic beverages by making it as incovenient and expensive as possible." In the last 40 years, three governors have tried
Jerry Sandusky has waived his right to a preliminary hearing. He's now headed straight to trial on 52 counts of child sexual abuse. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
Paige Cooperstein, a Penn State University Park student, reviews Rebecca Rasmussen's debut novel. Rasmussen received one of her Master of Fine Arts Degrees at Penn State.
Hydraulic fracturing produces vast quantities of salty water called brine. Until recently, a lot of this brine ended up in rivers and streams, where it eventually posed a danger to drinking water. Pennsylvania thought it solved this problem by keeping this waste out of treatment plants. But as The Allegheny Front's Reid Frazier and Ann Murray found, the problem hasn't gone away. Scientists are scrambling to find out why, and what to do about it.
Members of the Penn State Faculty Senate were split yesterday on whether to allow a vote of "no confidence" against the university's Board of Trustees. WPSU'S Emily Reddy reports that while the measure didn't get enough support to proceed yesterday, it will be considered.
I believe in wearing mismatched socks. But it took me a while to get to this belief. When I was in 3rd grade, I had a nagging need to be perfect. It began with my grades, but as I got older I started getting desperate to have a perfect life as well. Needless to say, my socks had to match. By high school my need to be perfect became even more intense.
In the wake of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal, student groups hosted a panel of university administrators on the Penn State University Park campus. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports, university president Rodney Erickson and seven vice presidents answered questions from an all-student audience for two hours.
Looking for a great book about food this Thanksgiving? Anthony Bourdain called this novel, "Outstanding!" Let our reviewer, Sheila Squillante, tell you more about this culinary journey that travels from India to France.
It's estimated that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. Recent events at Penn State have sparked national attention around this issue, which is typically shrouded in silence and too often unreported. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Dr. Andi Taroli of Penn State's Hershey Medical Center. Dr. Taroli is one of the country's very few pediatricians board certified in Child Abuse Pediatrics.
Allegations against former Penn State football coach, Jerry Sandusky, have survivors of child abuse and child abuse advocates speaking out. Peter Pollard of Hatfield, Massachusetts is both a survivor and an advocate. He's the Western Massachusetts Area Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests. And he's the Training and Outreach Director for 1in6. 1in6 works with men who were abused in childhood. The non-profit group gets its name from the number of men researchers estimate are sexually abused before the age of 18. Pollard was motivated by the events of the past weeks to write this commentary.
Penn State Public Broadcasting and host Patty Satalia broadcast a special live one-hour radio program following Sunday's installment of This American Life, which is featuring Penn State in the episode, "Back to Penn State." This is a re-broadcast of the December, 2009 episode, "#1 Party School," with new interviews recorded this past week with Penn State fans and loyalists trying to make sense of the current crisis. Satalia, Michael B?rub?, Damon Sims and Penn State student Rowan Nasser discussed the reactions and responses to the events unfolding at Penn State during the past two weeks and the steps the University will take to move forward.
With the graphic grand jury report and heavy media coverage, it's hard for those in the State College area to avoid details of the child sex abuse allegations against Jerry Sandusky. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports mental health professionals are working hard to help the community cope -- and that includes some who have been re-traumatized by the recent allegations.
As a child growing up in the hills that surround Tyrone, Pennsylvania, I spent many happy days exploring the riverbank behind my home. My friends there, plants and animals, consoled me through the heartaches, and celebrated with me the accomplishments of growing up. In return for all their kindnesses, I wrote them thank you notes in child's rhyme. These were my earliest lessons in writing poems that could heal my wounds and bless my heart.
The years may pass, the weaponry and public opinion may change, but one thing about war remains constant: the bond it creates between the men and women who serve. In honor of Veteran's Day, WPSU'S Patty Satalia talks with Ray Fortunato, a WWII veteran from State College, about his military service, about how the experience changed him, and about what Veteran's Day means to him.
Night before last, thousands of students rioted to protest the firing of long-time Penn State coach Joe Paterno. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports yesterday saw some in State College trying to shift attention back where they thought it should be -- to Sandusky's alleged victims.
In honor of Veteran's Day, WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Col. Lewis Watt, a Vietnam War veteran, about his military service, about how the experience changed him, and about what Veteran's Day means to him.
Best-selling author Lisa Genova visited Penn State yesterday and gave a talk titled Still Alice: Understanding Early Alzheimer's to a sold-out audience. WPSU's Patty Satalia talked with her about how her personal experiences with Alzheimer's and about how her background in neuroscience shapes her narratives.
Thousands of Penn State University Park students marched last night in downtown State College and on the Penn State campus to support football coach Joe Paterno, whose future as head coach is up-in-the-air. The Grand Jury report for the Jerry Sandusky child abuse scandal cleared Joe Paterno of legal culpability, but reports say the Penn State Board of Trustees still may be considering removing the coach. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
This Friday is Veteran's Day. To celebrate, WPSU will bring you oral history recordings from WWII veterans, recorded at the Mid-State Airport near Philipsburg during a WWII fly-in event. Joseph Tomczuk talks with his wife, Kay. They talk about his preparation for a war he never ended up fighting in.
The state Attorney General is not ruling out additional charges being filed in the ongoing investigation into child sex crime charges against former Penn State football assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. Mary Wilson reports from Harrisburg.
Lawyers for two Penn State officials say they'll fight charges against their clients in connection to allegations of child sex abuse by former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky. MW has more from Harrisburg.
Along with the gas rush going on in Pennsylvania, there's a rush to study the risks and the rewards of the Marcellus Shale. Some of that research is paid for by the very corporations extracting the gas. Should public universities do research that benefits corporations? As The Allegheny Front's Reid Frazier found out, corporate cash can help researchers, but some wonder whether the public is really being served.
This Friday is Veteran's Day. To celebrate, WPSU will bring you oral history recordings from WWII veterans, recorded at the Mid-State Airport near Philipsburg during a WWII fly-in event. Scott Finnigan talks with his father, Edward. They talk about his time during WWII on a PT boat in the Pacific Theater.
According to a new study conducted by The Center for Rural Pennsylvania and Penn State University, Marcellus drilling has had "very little" impact on drinking water supplies. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Bryan Swistock, a water specialist and lead investigator, about their findings, how the study was conducted, and about the need for additional testing.
Municipal elections in Pennsylvania are next Tuesday. In the borough of State College, voters will choose more than just judges, school board members, and county commissioners. They'll also vote on a referendum that would outlaw Marcellus Shale fracking in the State College borough. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports. (Photo courtesy Groundswell)
I believe in Civil War Reenacting. I believe in donning my 19th century clothing and stepping back in time. And during the Civil War's 150th Anniversary, I'm especially proud to be a Civil War Re-enactor and Living Historian.
A new play-in-verse premieres this week in State College. WPSU's Kristine Allen spoke with local writer Mary Rohrer-Dann, who wrote a series of poems about an orphan girl who becomes a violin virtuoso. Those poems are now a play, adapted by director Cynthia Mazzant of Tempest Productions, a theatre company based in Bellefonte.
Although candidates running in municipal and county races may not get the attention of presidential contestants, their decisions on everything from local taxes to what services to provide, can have a bigger direct impact on the lives of local residents.
As a Halloween treat, WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with science fiction and fantasy writer Daryl Gregory. Gregory has a new book out tomorrow. It's a collection of short stories called Unpossible and Other Stories.
To celebrate Halloween, a brand new theater group takes to the stage in a very old historic building in Altoona. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports on "Things Unseen".
Retired Lock Haven University Professor, Carolyn Perry, came out with her memoir this year. It details her survival of Hurricanes Agnes and Katrina. Our reviewer, Marjorie Maddox, is the director of the Creative Writing program at Lock Haven University.
I believe in rocks. Not just any rock, but my rock in particular. My rock is grey and smooth. It has little grooves on it as though fingers have held it tightly, and oftenbecause they have. My best friend, Zoe, gave me this rock in third grade.
Last year, StoryCorps, the national oral history project, came to central Pennsylvania to collect conversations between local residents. WPSU broadcast excerpts from more than 40 of those recorded conversations over the past year. Now WPSU is going from town to town to collect more stories starting with Bradford on October 28th through the 30th. WPSU's Patty Satalia talked about the project with her colleague Emily Reddy, the producer of WPSU's StoryCorps.
Temple Grandin visited Penn State on Thursday in honor of Disabilities Awareness Month. Grandin is not only a world-renowned livestock industry consultant, she is also the most accomplished and well-known adult with autism in the world. WPSU's Patty Satalia talked with her about channeling her unique gifts into a brilliant career as a scientist, author and groundbreaking animal activist.
A public opinion poll out this week found that 57 percent of Pennsylvanians oppose fracking for natural gas in state forests. But thousands of Marcellus shale wells will be drilled in the forests over the next decade. How will this drilling affect the wildlife that calls these woods home? The Allegheny Front's Reid Frazier went up and over one of these forests to answer this question. (Photo by Martha Rial.)
Pamela Kavanaugh, a former science teacher and high school librarian, brings her love of science and reading together when she reviews the debut novel of Cornell physicist, Paul McEuen. That novel is Spiral.
Municipal elections will take place November 8th. In the State College area, Adam Smeltz -- the senior editor at StateCollege.com -- has been covering the races. And next Tuesday he'll moderate a debate among State College School Board candidates. WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with him about the upcoming election.
Pennsylvania is not alone when it comes to making potential changes to the way Electoral College votes are awarded for president. Pennsylvania Public Radio's Mary Wilson looks at how the efforts could re-shape next year's election.
We continue our Pennsylvania People series with a new and intimate portrait of one of the people who makes Pennsylvania so interesting. WPSU's Patty Satalia catches up with 91-year-old George Etzweiler, founder of the Old Men of the Mountains running team. This October 23rd they'll be competing
The Williamsport Symphony season begins with a concert on October 11th. WPSU's Kristine Allen talks with the orchestra's conductor and Music Director, Gerardo Edelstein, about what's in store for the coming season.
I believe that you and I and the entire world are connected. Buddhists say "We are all one." Christian's say "We're all God's children." Carl Jung says we share a collective unconscious. However you want to describe it, I believe that which connects us as human beings is much stronger than that which divides us.
Governor Tom Corbett has put plans for a Marcellus Shale well drilling fee on the table. WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with StateImpact Pennsylvania's Scott Detrow about the details of the governor's plan. (Photo by Scott Detrow)
The Altoona Symphony's concert season begins with a concert October 1st at the Mishler Theatre in Atloona. WPSU's Kristine Allen recently spoke with the orchestra's conductor and Music Director, Teresa Cheung, about the ASO's upcoming season.
Imagine an "inexhaustible" energy source that runs on wastewater and salt water alone. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well it actually exists. WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with the Penn State University Park professor who just invented it.
The Nittany Valley Symphony concert season begins Tuesday night at Penn State's Eisenhower Auditorium. WPSU's Kristine Allen spoke with the orchestra's conductor, Michael Jinbo, about what's in store for the coming season.
Professor and playwright Charles Dumas talks with his wife Jo about his involvement in the civil rights movement, and about the importance of storytelling.
The Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra opens it's season with a concert Sunday, September 18th in State College. WPSU's Kristine Allen spoke with conductor Douglas Meyer about that concert, and the rest of the season ahead.
An hour-long look ahead to the Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra's coming season. WPSU's Kristine Allen talks with Douglas Meyer, Music Director of the PCO, and brings us music from the coming season of concerts as well as performances by some of the soloists who will appear with the PCO in 2011 and 2012.
Nationwide, these are challenging times for higher education. In his annual State of the University address last week, and in a WPSU call-in last evening, Penn State President Graham Spanier and Vice President and Provost Rodney Erikson discussed the challenges faced by Penn State. WPSU's Patty Satalia talked with both of them about maintaining the University's land-grant mission in the face of declining resources and about the future of Penn State.
John Connolly, the author of The Burning Soul, will speak at Schlow Library in downtown State College on Tuesday, September 27th at 7 pm. Mystery fans will not want to miss this.
The Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County has been 10 years in the making. On September 10th, it will be dedicated and opened to the public. Mary Wilson of Pennsylvania Public Radio offers a preview.
Choirs around the country, from the East Coast to Hawaii, will mark the 10th anniversary of nine eleven by singing Mozart's Requiem in memory of the fallen. WPSU's Kristine Allen speaks with Russell Shelley, Music Director of the State College Choral Society, as he prepares to conduct the requiem this Sunday afternoon at Penn State, University Park.
"Take a letter. Okay, take another. Ha! Take a letter!" We all groan, looking at our Z's ,K's and Q's seriously piling up. We exchange looks that say, "Now how is this fair?" My mom happily continues to slide around her letter tiles, building her ultimate crossword. When the tiles are all used up, my mom throws her hands in the air and yells "WOOO HOOOO!" This is one of the many times my mom has beaten our butts at Bananagrams, and the feeling of relief that the round of humiliation is over isn't unfamiliar. But then, of course, someone says, "Who's in for another round? How about this time you have to use one dirty word!" And there we are, once again, all in.
Reverend Robert Way is the pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Clearfield, Pennsylvania. But he just started there a few weeks ago. Before that he served in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Reverend Way was new to town when United flight 93 crashed there 10 years ago. WPSU's Emily Reddy spoke with him about that day and about the Flight 93 Memorial that will be dedicated on Saturday.
Saturday in Somerset County, the Flight 93 National Memorial will be officially dedicated and opened to the public. The ceremony will mark the completion of a 10-year effort to honor the 40 passengers and crew members who perished when the plane crashed in a rural field in Stonycreek Township. Tim Lambert, the news director at WITF-FM in Harrisburg, owned land that was considered an essential part of the crash site -- land that is now a part of the memorial. He's spent more time walking those grounds than most and in this exclusive story, revisits the property with a Flight 93 family member.
Audie Cornish, a former Capitol Hill reporter for NPR News has been named the new host of the program Weekend Edition Sunday, heard Sunday mornings from 8:00 to 10:00 on WPSU-FM. WPSU's Kristine Allen recently spoke with Cornish about her journalism career, and her plans for Weekend Edition Sunday.
Penn State Football kicks off this weekend. Gear up for another season of sports with David and Matt Pencek's new book, The Great Book of Penn State Sports Lists. Our reviewer, Joshua Guiher, says it would be a great feature at any tailgate.
An electronic revolution is coming to the world of medicine, and doctors and hospitals can't avoid it. One requirement of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The start of he fall concert season is almost here. WPSU's Kristine Allen talks with George Trudeau, Director of the Centre for the Performing Arts at Penn State about what's in store for 2011-2012.
Josh Ritter was scheduled to open at the Dispatch concert on Sunday August 28th at the Bryce Jordan Center. But Hurricane Irene prevented his arrival. In lieu of hearing him perform live, Rachel Sweeney reviews Ritter's debut novel, Bright's Passage.
By KELSEY (RIGHT), WITH HER SISTER (LEFT) AND MOM (CENTER)•
August 18, 2011
"Everything happens for a reason." That's what my mom told me when I was a little girl. And as a little girl, I didn't realize the significance these words would have in my life. But I soon found out.
Kathryn Stockett's 2009 novel, The Help, was just released as a film. The film stars Viola Davis, Emma Stone and Octavia Spencer. Our reviewer, Sarah May Clarkson, is a frequent contributor to BookMark.
The StoryCorps oral history project recorded interviews in Bellefonte for a month last summer. Robert Maddox talks with his best friend Christine White about his experience in the Army during the Korean War and his time as a jazz club owner.
Earlier today at the WPSU studios, WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with Glenn Thompson, the U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 5th Congressional District, about what's going on in Congress.
A couple years ago, my Grandpa and Nana visited my house for a cookout. We have a small farm nestled at the bottom of Mount Nittany. And we just finished putting the finishing touches on our pool. It was warm that day, the birds were singing and the sun was shining. We could even see some of our horses grazing on the grass. We all devoured hamburgers and hot dogs on the front deck that looks over the barn.
Our occasional series, History in Your Backyard, brings you windows into the history of Central Pennsylvania. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Start of the Civil War. And on July 30th and 31st, a Civil War encampment was held on the grounds of a famous Blair County historical site. WPSU's Kristine Allen was there.
Constance Weaver talks with her daughter Anne Suttles, who was visiting from Austin, TX. Weaver talks about how she met her current husband, Dr. Allan Block.
The National Veterans Wheelchair Games are the largest wheelchair sports event in the world, with more than 600 vets attending this year in Pittsburgh August 1st through the 6th. WPSU's Kristine Allen met Bill Lightner, an Air Force veteran from Hollidaysburg, who will compete in a variety of wheelchair sports.
I first had "coffee with the guys" in Oil City in 1980. I was in the habit of arriving at work early. But one day, I forgot my keys. Since I couldn't get into the office until my staff arrived, I went down the street for a cup of coffee.
This Strange Land is a collection of poems written by Shara McCallum and released with an audio CD of her reading. It is McCallum's third book of poetry. Our reviewer, Marjorie Maddox, is a poet and prose writer.
Penn State students will have to reach deeper into their pockets this year to pay for tuition. Penn State's Board of Trustees approved a tuition increase of up to 4.9 percent for undergraduate students for the upcoming year. WPSU intern Kelsey Penna talked with students and administrators about their reactions to the increase.
Karen Urbina and Beverly Stewart talk with their aunt Evelyn Smith about her time as a nurse during World War II. They recorded this interview when Smith was visiting from her native Jamaica. Smith is 96 years old.
It's one thing to speak out to bring attention to environmental causes. It's another to travel 6-thousand miles by foot, bicycle, and kayak to get attention for at-risk habitats. WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with a man doing just that.
On a recent trip to Washington D.C., I went to the Library of Congress. Modestly displayed next to Thomas Payne's Common Sense was a single piece of parchment written by "An American Lady." As a woman and a writer, I was intrigued. Crowds of people moved past me to more well-known documents, but I was hooked.
Sloane Crosley published a new collection of essays, How Did You Get This Number?, last year in 2010. If you remember her debut collection, I Was Told There'd Be Cake, you can be assured of another hilarious read.
The StoryCorps oral history project recorded interviews in Bellefonte for a month this past summer. David Mercer talks with his daughter, Deb Gadsby. Mercer talks about his experience as a father and grandfather and the influence of his father on his life.
School districts across Pennsylvania are scrambling to fill gaping holes in their budgets. The Pennsylvania Assembly made a 12% cut to education funds in the state budget for the coming year. WPSU intern Kelsey Penna talked with administrators from Altoona, Dubois, and Kane about how they are dealing with the impact.
I believe in the smell of fresh laundry. I love the warmth from the clothes and the smell of detergent rubbed into every single fiber. I believe in this particular smell because it reminds me of home and family. This smell keeps me in touch with where I come from, no matter how far away I am.
This Saturday, more than 20 local and Pennsylvania authors will take part in the second annual BookFest PA in State College. WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with the event's headliner, Lisa Scottoline, about her mystery/suspense novels. Scottoline is President of Mystery Writers of America.
Lisa Scottoline is a mystery writer visiting State College this Saturday as a part of BookFestPA. A local writer, Maggie Gould, reviews one of Scottoline's suspenseful stories.
The StoryCorps oral history project recorded interviews in Bellefonte for a month last summer. Valerie Anderson talks with her father Robert Stover about his experience in the US Army at the end of World War II. This interview was recorded on Stover's birthday, and his granddaughter Maggie was also there.
When they get back from their summer recess, members of the Pennsylvania general assembly will consider a bill that would put tough new restrictions on abortion clinics. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
WPSU's station manager Greg Petersen mixed a bit of business with pleasure last February during a vacation in Florida when he went to the final launch of the shuttle Discovery.
At a very early age, I learned what respect was and why I needed to use it. I saw respect reflected in the way my parents treated my sisters and me when handling important family issues. When my father was in the Air Force, my parents always let us kids help decide where we wanted to move next. We got to help decide where to go on family vacations and which charities we wanted to support. We were just kids, but our parents respected our opinions.
Author Tamar Myers was born in the Belgian Congo. Her latest mystery series takes readers there. Myers will visit State College on Saturday, July 16th as part of BookFestPA.
"Everybody needs to play catcher at least one time this season." That's what my peewee baseball coach told the team when I was 8 years old. I had never caught in my life. I thought all you did was sit in an uncomfortable crouch and let the ball smack your hand until it throbbed. The black pads bake you in the hot sun. And your nose sits inches away from a dangerous metal bat. SMACK! Stuck behind the plate, there's no chance to snag a line drive. No hanging a glove over the outfield fence until the ball drops into it, robbing a hitter of a home run. That season I did the minimum and caught exactly once.
A play by a State College playwright continues its run at the State Theatre through this weekend, then moves to the Capital Fringe Festival in Washington, D.C. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports on a play about Pablo Picasso.
Bob Barton has been with WPSU-FM for more than a decade as a classical music host and Morning Edition host. As he retires from Morning Edition, to experience once more the thrill of a good night's sleep, we prepared this send-off, with all our best wishes!
Weather Whys: Facts, Myths and Oddities explains weird weather phenomena with wit and efficiency. The author, Paul Yeager, will be in State College as a part of 2011's BookFestPA.
The farmland in Centre County provides wildlife habitat, helps to replenish the groundwater supply, provides tax revenue, and helps to feed local residents. But as the county's population grows, more and more farmland is lost to development. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports on efforts to preserve farmland - involving a group of local artists who gathered at a Centre County farm last weekend.
Happiness may come naturally to some people, but it doesn't work that way for me. I have a good life, and people who love me. So why couldn't I be happy?
One of the biggest concerns in drilling a Marcellus Shale gas well is protecting ground water. To safeguard the water, it's essential to know how to properly drill and encase a well. Last week, WPSU's Emily Reddy attended an event held by the Pennsylvania Ground Water Association to train those in the well drilling -- and water protecting
Today's reviewer, Linda Short, has reported on racial issues for the monthly newspaper Voices. She takes that interest to the book world by reviewing The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.
Taxing natural gas in the Marcellus Shale has been painted as a solution to Pennsylvania's budget deficit, and as a threat to a growing industry. Meanwhile, a fee on natural gas extraction is gaining traction in Harrisburg. Larkin Page-Jacobs reports for WPSU from Pittsburgh.
In Congress, the drilling debate ranges from oil rigs in water to hydraulic fracturing on land. Use of the drilling process known as "fracking" is growing here in Pennsylvania, and the state is taking steps of its own to address concerns about health effects. From Washington, Patrick Terpstra looks at what the federal government may do to address those concerns.
An incessant buzzing wakes me. I roll over and slam my palm against the alarm clock. 5:35 AM. Even after seeing this five days a week, for the past four years, I still hope it will magically read 5:35 PM so I can sleep for another 12 hours.
Kieryn Nicolas, a State College Area High School student, has written her second novel. It's out today and her high school English teacher, Kate Hoffman, has reviewed it for BookMark. Hoffman also reviewed Nicolas' first novel, Rain.
WPSU's Kristine Allen and Gerardo Edelstein, Music Director of Music at Penns Woods co-host this special program. They talk about the festival concerts coming up in June 2011 and listen to some of the music to be played on those concerts, including works by Beethoven, Milhaud, Mendelssohn and Richard Strauss.
When I was growing up, I played with Barbies every day. I would sit cross-legged on the floor for hours and make up whole imaginary worlds for myself. The Christmas I was 7 years old, my parents surprised me with a Barbie dream house. They also gave me complete sets of furniture to fill the pink plastic rooms. That Christmas remains my favorite Christmas ever.
This year's wet spring not only dampened your home gardening plans, it's putting farmers way behind schedule. What impact will that have on crop yields and food prices? And what are the implications for Pennsylvania farmers? WPSU's Patty Satalia talks about that with James Dunn, Penn State professor of agricultural economics.
Global Connections is a local agency that helps people from around the world adjust to life in the State College area. They sponsor a concert series in June at Schlow Library that gives international students a chance to share their music with the local community. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports on the first performance of "World Sounds at Noon".
Six months ago Book Mark producer Sarah Blake was anticipating a baby. She just gave birth to a baby boy last Wednesday. We're rebroadcasting her review of Spoon to celebrate.
We continue our Pennsylvania People series with a new and intimate profile of one of the people who makes Pennsylvania so interesting. WPSU's Patty Satalia is talkin' trash with Al Matyasovsky from Penn State's Office of Physical Plant.
"You'll enter stage left, and I'll introduce you, and then...." My screaming brain drowned out the conductor's directions. All I could think was, "This is it!" The conductor nudged me onto the stage, and I tried not to look at the tiers of seats flooded with people. I shuddered as I breathed in the musty smell of the antique opera house.
A Penn State Harrisburg professor recently published her first book of literary nonfiction. This collection of essays shares family stories, and tales of amazing, old greenhouses that made up the family business.
Food prices may double within the next twenty years. That's according to a report released today by the international humanitarian organization Oxfam. WPSU intern Kelsey Penna reports.
There's a major shortage of primary care doctors in the United States. The only area of healthcare where the need might be bigger is rural medicine. WPSU's Emily Reddy visited a secluded hospital in Northern Clinton County last month to find out more about the problem.
When I was little, I would listen to my older brother play his guitar. The sound of the strings would echo through the house and into my ears. Over the years, I grew more and more interested in the guitar, until I finally decided to learn how to play.
A new mystery series will have you barking for more! Narrated by a fun-loving canine, these books follow a dog and his owner as they run the Little Detective Agency.
I believe in wooden roller coasters. I believe in the orchestra of clinking gears, crackling wood and screaming people. I believe in rustic and rickety coasters, even if they don't come with the loop-de-loops of the newer steel designs. I believe in wooden roller coasters.
When a NYC journalist visits State College and falls in love with a farmer, what happens next? Our review will tell you about the exciting new book that tells this true story.
State College Community Theatre's summer season begins with the opening of the play "Epic Proportions" at the Boal Barn Theatre in Boalsburg. The show is directed by State College lawyer Bruce Fleischer, a former Morning Edition host on WPSU. Kristine Allen reports that Fleischer brings a unique perspective to the project as the son of a Hollywood director.
This past December, I went for a routine physical for the first time in three years. I had taken a stance not to go until my mom went for one. She hadn't had a physical in close to 10 years. I knew that if I held out long enough, my mom would eventually go. She would cave for the sake of my health long before her own.
Fiction can help us through difficult truths and can move us to act. One novel recently captivated a local college student, and she came to WPSU to share her review.
It can be hard to figure out the facts when it comes to the contentious topic of Marcellus Shale drilling. Dr. Anthony Ingraffea, a professor of engineering at Cornell University, has done research and development for the oil and gas industry for 25 years. Last night he tried to separate myth from reality when it comes to hydraulic fracturing in a talk sponsored by the Sierra Club and Penn State Eco-Action on the Penn State University Park campus. WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with him earlier in the day yesterday.
The StoryCorps oral history project recorded interviews in Bellefonte for a month this past summer. Brandon Zlupko talks to his grandmother, Paula Wales, about growing up in Altoona during WWII and meeting her husband.
We continue our Pennsylvania People series with a new an intimate profile of one of the people who makes Pennsylvania so interesting. WPSU's Patty Satalia travels to Lycoming County to talk with Rev. J. Morris Smith. He serves as Shepherd of the Streets in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
When I was seven years old, I had rheumatic fever. During April of that year, I was in the hospital for what seemed like months, but was really about 10 days. That whole summer, I was confined to bed rest. In 1958 there was no such thing as a television in a child's bedroom. No Internet. No video games.
The StoryCorps oral history project recorded interviews in Bellefonte for a month this past summer. In honor of Mother's Day, Anna Miller talks to her mother, Sharon Miller. They talked about when Sharon and her husband adopted Anna from Guatamala.
The State College-based dance company "Van Dance" presents "Dancing for Hope" this weekend at the State Theatre in State College. The show is a series of dances, choreographed by women, about women. It is a benefit performance for the Centre County Breast Cancer Coalition. WPSU's Kristine Allen recently spoke with Ann Van Kuren), Director of "Van Dance".
For the last week of National Poetry Month, we take a look at a book published by the University of Pittsburgh Press. Find out more about a poet that's working everything from Reagan to Scrabble into his exciting poems.
The StoryCorps oral history project recorded interviews in Bellefonte for a month this past summer. Barbara Ryan talks to her friend Caitlin Rivers. The two know each other from the Pet Pantry, part of the Bellefonte Faith Center's food bank. Rivers volunteers there. She asks Ryan how the Pet Pantry has helped her family - and her pets - in tough times.
Around 1923, the American Viscose Company established a community for workers at their Lewistown factory. The factory shut down nearly 40 years ago, but the tiny enclave of brick row houses has changed very little. Now two Penn State University Park graduate students are hoping to get the company town of Juniata Terrace on the National Registry of Historic Places. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
ProPublica broke the story that oil and gas inspectors policing Marcellus Shale development in Pennsylvania will no longer be able to issue violations to drilling companies without first getting approval from DEP's top officials. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with investigative reporter Abrahm Lustgarten who has been covering Marcellus Shale drilling for ProPublica, a non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism from it's headquarters in Manhattan.
This Sunday, children will hunt for Easter baskets filled with milk chocolate bunnies, colorful jellybeans, peanut butter eggs, and speckled malted milk balls. Some of those treats will come from McIntyre's Candies, a central Pennsylvania shop that still hand-makes its confections. WPSU's Emily Wiley discovers the sweet history of this Altoona landmark.
My grandfather has always called me "Doll" and my brothers were "Harry." I thought they were pet names until I was old enough to realize he just couldn't remember what my real name was.
It's our third week of National Poetry Month! Our book this week is half poetry and half paintings and drawings. No matter the form, the book explores nature and the amazing world that surrounds us.
The StoryCorps oral history project recorded interviews in Bellefonte for a month this past summer. Vana Dainty talks with her friend Steve Heverly. They talk about Heverly's interest in his family tree, and his ancestor's legacy in show business.
Parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder face a maze of choices. How do they know which interventions will best serve their child? WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Dr. James Coplan, author of Making Sense of Autistic Spectrum Disorders. It's been called an indispensable guidebook for caregivers of children on the autistic spectrum.
By BECKY (ON THE RIGHT) WITH HER BROTHER’S GIRLFRIEND, KRISTEN.•
April 14, 2011
I was just shy of 17 the first time my brother Daniel introduced me to his girlfriend. Her name was Kristen, and I hated her immediately. She was short and quiet and my brother loved her. Granted, I may not have known what love was at the time, but in my teenage years, love meant a brother who would rather be with his girlfriend than with his siblings. Call it what you want, but I wasn't happy.
The StoryCorps oral history project recorded interviews in Bellefonte for a month this past summer. Judy Stanford talks with her daughter Kim Stanford Lefever. They talk about Judy's husband Leland Stanford, who Judy met when she was 13 and he was 15. Judy and her daughter talk about the medical issues that lead to Leland's death at the age of 55.
Photographer Linda Hale is the winner of WPSU's 2nd annual "Art for the Airwaves" contest. Her winning photograph is titled "Arch Bridge". A limited edition poster print of the work is on offer as a welcome gift in WPSU's Spring Membership camaign. On a recent Sunday, WPSU's Kristine Allen met Hale and took a trip to the location on the Little Juniata River near Tyrone, where the photograph was taken.
Penn State's School of Theatre opened its production of the musical, "Rent" last night at the Pavilion Theatre on the University Park Campus. Two of the performances will creatively reveal the source of inspiration for this Broadway hit. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports that RENT is a modern retelling of a centruy-old story.
The founder of the FBI's Art Crime Team will give a free talk at Schlow Centre Regional Library on Thursday, April 7, at 7pm, to talk about the riveting but little known world of art crime. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Robert Wittman, the "most famous art detective in the world," about pursuing thieves, con men and black market traders from Philadelphia to Paris.
I believe the world would be a more peaceful place if we were all amateur radio operators. I'm an amateur radio operator -- sometimes called a ham radio operator -- and I've been one for forty-nine years. I delight at talking on my short wave radio to people all over the world. Regardless of country, we're all friends in the ham radio world.
We've all noticed gasoline getting more expensive, largely due to the turmoil in Libya and the earthquake in Japan. With summer on its way, analysts are expecting prices to climb
The StoryCorps oral history project recorded interviews in Bellefonte for a month this past summer. Craig Wiernick talks to his grandparents, Betty Kaplan, who he calls Mimi, and Albert Kaplan, who goes by Big Dad. They talk about Albert's service in World War II.
Two very different groups gathered yesterday in State College to call for changes to Governor Tom Corbett's proposed budget. A panel discussion gathered in the downtown municipal building. Then on campus several hundred students gathered to stand with the university to fight the proposed cuts. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
Penn State and other universities are scrambling to fight off steep cuts by the governor to their state appropriations. The proposed cuts would be tough for Penn State as a whole. But they'd be devastating to Agricultural research and Cooperative Extension at Penn State. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports on what services might be lost.
I believe in feeling - in emotion. Emotions can be destructive, but I believe they also have the power to lift us up and make us more human. I am a self-proclaimed and proud "crybaby"; I cry happy tears, sad tears, overwhelmed by the wonder of life tears.
Wrap up March with a little more March Madness! As the final game of the tournament approaches, listen in for our review of a book by a basketball legend.
The StoryCorps oral history project recorded interviews in Bellefonte for a month this past summer. Jim Kinney talks with his wife Jan. They've been married for over 50 years. They talk about how different their childhoods were.
Bradford is in the running for "America's Toughest Weather City", in an online "tournament" on the Weather Channels' Website. WPSU's Kristine Allen finds out what's so tough about Bradford weather.
Gov. Corbett has rescinded a policy that required well operators who wanted to drill for natural gas in state park and forest land to obtain an environmental impact assessment before applying for a drilling permit. What does that mean for Pennsylvania's state parks and forests? WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with John Quigley, former secretary of PA's Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), and Kathryn Klaber, president and executive director of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, about the change in policy.
One morning, I called the local barbershop to make an appointment. Unfortunately, the barber was all booked up for the day. "Well, this is a hairy situation," I said to my girlfriend as I hung up the phone. She replied, "They certainly left you stranded.
A Penn State Harrisburg professor recently published her first book of literary nonfiction. This collection of essays shares family stories, and tales of amazing, old greenhouses that made up the family business.
The StoryCorps oral history project recorded interviews in Bellefonte for a month this past summer. Leo Keim talks with his son Jonathan, whom he calls "Munchie."
Current efforts to avoid a nuclear meltdown at a Japanese power plant may remind Pennsylvanians of another event. Thirty-two years ago an accident at Three Mile Island kept the state and the nation in crisis mode for several days. Dr. Arthur Motta is the chair of the nuclear engineering program at Penn State University Park. He talked with WPSU's Emily Reddy yesterday to compare the Three Mile Island event with unfolding events in Japan.
With a name like Carlini, people think my family members must greet each other with enthusiastic embraces and kisses on both cheeks. Isn't that what Italians do? Well, not all Italian families are like the Corleones from the Godfather films.
A new mystery series will have you barking for more! Narrated by a fun-loving canine, these books follow a dog and his owner as they run the Little Detective Agency.
The StoryCorps oral history project recorded interviews in Bellefonte for a month this past summer. Matt and Sarah Watson talk about what they went through to become parents.
The state's former top environmental cop and the head of the state's largest natural gas drilling trade group call a recent New York Times series that's highly critical of gas drilling oversight, quote, "dishonest reporting." WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with John Hanger, former secretary of the DEP, and Kathryn Klaber, executive director of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, about one of the key issues in that series--namely the handling of contaminated wastewater. (The New York Times reporter was asked to speak with us but didn't respond to our invitation.)
Stand-up comedian Paula Poundstone -- who you may know from the NPR news quiz show Wait, WaitDon't Tell Me -- will perform at the Community Arts Center in Williamsport tomorrow night. She talked with WPSU's Emily Reddy about her comedic style.
Penn State President Graham Spanier says the cuts to Penn State in Governor Tom Corbett's proposed state budget would mean larger tuition increases, program cuts, salary freezes, and, possibly, the closure of some branch campuses. WPSU's Emily Reddy attended a press conference held by President Spanier yesterday to respond to the proposed cuts, and she filed this report.
I believe in eating my convictions. When I was twelve, I stopped eating meat because I liked animals and didn't want to hurt them. My grandmother saw this decision as a personal betrayal.
Learn more about a moving new book of poetry by a local poet, who recently read at Lock Haven University. You may have heard her poems on The Writer's Almanac.
Governor Corbett set state lawmakers' agenda yesterday, when he delivered his first budget address. As Scott Detrow reports from the state Capitol, Corbett's education policies drew the most attention, and will likely become the focal point of legislative debate in the months to come.
The StoryCorps oral history project recorded interviews in Bellefonte for a month this past summer. Today is International Women's Day and February is Women's History Month. For StoryCorps, Sherren McKenzie talks with her friend Sharon Stringer about the strongest woman she ever knew.
The Community Supported Agriculture movement lets people support their local farms, buying shares and getting a box of produce each week. Now, a Central Pennsylvania resident is using the same idea to help support local artists. WPSU's Kristine Allen was in Huntingdon Saturday afternoon for the first shareholder's meeting of a program called Articulture.
Just in case you didn't know, this is National Invasive Species Awareness Week. It's estimated that over 100 billion dollars is spent in the United States each year trying to eradicate invasive species. Here in Happy Valley, a Penn State study is tweaking with conventional wisdom. It says there's evidence that invasive honeysuckle can be beneficial to some ecosystems
Start March off with a book that will take you to Italy! This novel, composed of linked short stories, follows four generations of an Italian family. They immigrate to Pittsburgh, and many stories take place there as well.
With President Hosni Mubarak out of office and the military in charge, what will likely happen to Egypt moving forward? WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Arthur Goldschmidt, Professor Emeritus of Middle East History at Penn State, where he has taught for the past 45 years, the last 10 as a retired faculty member. He is best known for writing what's considered to be the definitive introductory textbook on the Middle East.
Singer-songwriter Jesse Winchester has a lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Composers, Artists and Publishers. His songs have been recorded by stars like Elvis Costello, Bonnie Rait, Joan Baez and Reba McEntire Winchester will give a concert at the WPSU studios tomorrow night, as part of the Acoustic Brew series. He recently spoke with WPSU's Kristine Allen by phone from his home in Virginia.
The StoryCorps oral history project recorded interviews in Bellefonte for a month this past summer. Mary Abbott talks with her mother, Fay Jester. Jester was the first person in her family to graduate from high school and college. She talks about how she got from Pensacola, Florida to Penn State.
We continue our Pennsylvania People series with a new and intimate portrait of one of the people who makes Pennsylvania so interesting. WPSU's Patty Satalia travels to the Green Drake Gallery and Arts Center in Millheim to talk with artist Elody Gyekis, a community arts organizer, mural painter and academic all-star.
February is Black History Month. To celebrate, WPSU brings you oral history recordings of African Americans living in central Pennsylvania. Deborah Atwater talks with her friend and colleague, Cathy Lyons. The two women helped establish The Center for Minority Graduate Opportunities and Faculty Development at Penn State. The goal of the Center is to retain minority professors and graduate students at the university.
February is Black History Month. To celebrate, WPSU brings you oral history recordings of African Americans living in central Pennsylvania. Wanda Knight talks with her friend Karen Keifer-Boyd. They talk about Knight's education before and after segregation in North Carolina, and her current efforts to teach her own students tolerance.
As a Penn State student, I am used to being one of the masses. At football games, hard as I may try, my individual cheers cannot be heard above the roar of the crowd. At THON, I am just an extra body - another pair of aching feet in bright tube socks.
February is Black History Month. To celebrate, WPSU brings you oral history recordings of African Americans living in central Pennsylvania. Harriet Gaston talks with her friend Paul Johnson. They talk about Gaston's childhood in North Carolina, and her trouble with dating as a black woman living in Altoona.
It's the final week of Black History Month! Listen in to learn more about a forthcoming biography of a literary activist. A Penn State professor authors the book, and a Penn State student offers her review!
February is Black History Month. To celebrate, WPSU brings you oral history recordings of African Americans living in central Pennsylvania. Reverend Paul Johnson talks with his friend Harriet Gaston. They talk about Johnson's mother, who passed away last year, and her life of service to the Altoona community.
Pediatric surgeon Dr. Chris Coppola regularly treats youngsters at Geisinger's children's hospital in Danville and at Geisinger-Gray's Woods in Centre County. When the former lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force served two tours of duty as a surgeon in a combat hospital in Balad, Iraq, he found himself treating the most helpless victims of war
Penn State students are gearing up for the 46-hour dance marathon commonly referred to as THON, which raises money for the Four Diamonds Fund to combat pediatric cancer at the Hershey Medical Center. Some 15,000 students volunteer with THON, but some make it their lives, and then can turn it into a career. As WPSU intern Anthony Brino finds, in today's job market, top companies are looking for that kind of dedication.
February is Black History Month. To celebrate, on Tuesdays and Thursdays this month WPSU brings you oral history recordings of African Americans living in central Pennsylvania. Kathy Wright talks with her daughter, Letitia Bullock. They talk about Wright's childhood and how she integrated a government office in the District of Columbia.
It's ten o'clock on a Saturday morning, and I'm stationed on the corner of a busy intersection in Wilkes-Barre. Several layers of clothing can't quite shield me from the sub-twenty degree weather. I hold a sign in one hand, and a coffee can in the other.
President Obama visited the Penn State University Park campus two weeks ago to talk about clean and renewable energy. Last week, a Community Wind Across America Conference for the Mid-Atlantic region was held at Penn State, with funding from the university, the federal government, a non-profit group called "Windustry" and others. WPSU's Kristine Allen was there, and found out that community wind is a booming business.
This week is our third book for Black History Month! A professor at Penn State's Altoona campus recently won a Liberian Award, recognizing her work as critic, professor, and poet. Hear more about her poetry in this review.
February is Black History Month. To celebrate, on Tuesdays and Thursdays this month WPSU will bring you oral history recordings of African Americans living in central Pennsylvania. Letitia Bullock talks with her husband, Duane. They talk about Letitia's family history and how the two of them met in State College.
This Valentine's Day, you might notice chocolate getting more expensive. More and more people across the world are developing a taste for it, while fewer farmers are growing cacao, the shade-loving but hard-to-grow trees that give us chocolate. Instead, cacao farmers are cutting down tropical forests to grow more lucrative crops like palm trees, wheat and rice. But with a new understanding of cacao genetics, plant biologists say they can produce a tree that's beneficial to farmers, the environment and consumers. WPSU intern Anthony Brino reports.
In his State of the Union address, and again last week during his visit to Penn State, President Obama said that if America's scientists and engineers assemble teams of the best minds in their fields, and focus on the hardest problems in clean energy, his administration will fund their projects. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Dr. Henry Foley, Penn State vice president for Research and lead investigator of one of the so-called Energy Innovation Hubs that the federal government is funding.
When the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture held its annual conference at the Penn Stater last weekend, farmers and foodies had a lot to talk about. One issue in particular garnered a lot of attention: Pennsylvania's natural gas rush. WPSU intern Anthony Brino was there.
"The Three Musketeers," as my dad, my sister, and I liked to call ourselves, were shopping for school supplies for my first day of third grade. On our way home, my dad pulled up to a four-way intersection and stopped. When he proceeded through the intersection, everything suddenly turned black.
February is Black History Month. To celebrate, on Tuesdays and Thursdays this month WPSU will bring you oral history recordings of African Americans living in central Pennsylvania. Ronnie Burrage talks with his friend, Eli Byrne. Burrage talks about growing up in St. Louis, Missouri and the importance of music in his life from a young age.
Did the Maya really predict that the world would end on December 21st 2012? WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Matthew Restall, a Penn State history professor who specializes in Maya culture. Restall is co-author of "2012 and the End of the World: The Western Roots of the Maya Apocalypse," a new book that demystifies the 2012 phenomenon.
By CATHRYN, HUNTER DELONG, THOMAS•
February 9, 2011
Black History Month continues on BookMark. This week we're featuring a book of nonfiction that just reached its 50th year in print! Hear more from two local high school students.
February is Black History Month. To celebrate, on Tuesdays and Thursdays this month WPSU will bring you oral history recordings of African Americans living in central Pennsylvania. Moses Davis talks with his friend, Keiwana Jones. Davis is an Assistant Director of Residence Life. He shares an experience he had last semester with a white student who wanted a new roommate.
In his recent state of the union address, President Obama called for a new era of American competitiveness. That's in a world where English is declining as the lingua franca. But fewer than half of U.S. middle and high school students are taking foreign language classes. WPSU intern Anthony Brino visits two State College schools trying to buck that trend.
President Barack Obama visited State College yesterday to talk about energy innovations And he unveiled a new initiative to make buildings more energy-efficient. As WPSU's Emily Reddy reports, the president visited several labs on campus, then spoke to a crowd of about 3,000.
Cedric Watson and his band, Bijou Creole, have just been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Cajun/Zydeco Album. The band plays at the State Theatre on Saturday, February 5th. WPSU's Kristine Allen spoke with Watson from the studios of KVRS in Lafayette, LA.
February is Black History Month. To celebrate, on Tuesdays and Thursdays this month WPSU will bring you oral history recordings of African Americans living in central Pennsylvania. Gwendolyn Pattillo talks with her friend Harriett Gaston. Pattillo talks about her early schooling and integrating a social services organization in Altoona.
BookMark kicks off Black History Month with this year's National Book Award winner in Poetry. It's sure to delight, and the poet, Terrance Hayes, will be reading in State College on February 10th!
February is Black History Month. To celebrate, on Tuesdays and Thursdays this month WPSU will bring you oral history recordings of African Americans living in central Pennsylvania. Alan Payne talks with Jefferson Cauvin, one of his students at Penn State University Park. Payne is a Research Engineer at the applied research lab at the university. He talks about his education and early career while living in Atlanta, Georgia.
At Penn State and beyond, friends, family, and even those who didn't know him, are mourning the loss of William Schreyer. Schreyer died last Saturday at his home in Princeton, New Jersey at the age of 83. He was a Penn State alumni and one of the university's biggest benefactors. WPSU's Emily Reddy gathered this remembrance.
Last week, a documentary about the benefits of a plant-based diet premiered to a sold-out crowd at the State Theatre in State College. WPSU's Emily Wiley attended the event. She talked with community members about the film's claim that eating the right food can control or even reverse diseases like cancer and diabetes.
Saturday afternoon at Penn State's Ag Arena, you'll have a chance to see three wild mustangs, tamed by trainers from Next Level Horsemanship in Port Matilda. WPSU's Kristine Allen has the story.
Find out more about this year's pick for Centre County Reads. Described as a true-life novel, by the award-winning author of The Glass Castle, this new book is sure to be a treat.
The StoryCorps oral history project recorded interviews in Bellefonte for a month this past summer. Ted Graef talks with his father Leslie. Leslie participated in the March on Washington in 1963.
Nationwide, state governments have promised public employees--judges, police officers, firefighters and others--trillions of dollars in retirement benefits. The problem in many states, however, is that the money to pay those obligations doesn't exist! Can promises made be promises kept? WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Ron Gebhardtsbauer, who heads up the Actuarial Science program in Penn State's Smeal College of Business, about Pennsylvania's state pension problem.
As the Capitol Steps are to politics, so "Foribdden Valley" is to the foibles of life in Central Pennsylvania. WPSU's Kristine Allen speaks with the creator of Forbidden Valley, Penn State English Professor Pamela Monk.
When a NYC journalist visits State College and falls in love with a farmer, what happens next? Our review will tell you about the exciting new book that tells this true story.
Votes are expected in the U-S House of Representatives today on a repeal of President Obama's health care reform bill. WPSU's Emily Reddy talked yesterday with presidential cabinet member Tom Vilsack. Vilsack is Secretary of the Department of Agriculture.
The StoryCorps oral history project recorded interviews in Bellefonte for a month this past summer. Today is Oliver Runde's 96th birthday. Back in August, he talked with his daughter, Deborah Meszaros, about his memories of both World Wars.
WPSU producer Cynthia Berger is spending a year on a boat, cruising "The Great Loop," the system of waterways that circles eastern North America. Each year about two-hundred boaters make this adventurous trip. They call themselves "Loopers," and they even have a yearly "Looper Rendezvous," where boaters exchange tips and advice. Cynthia went to the meeting this year and sent back this audio postcard.
Governor Rendell has just a few days left in office. As Scott Detrow reports from Harrisburg, the Democrat will be remembered as a big talker and a big spender, once he departs Pennsylvania's political scene.
There was a time, years ago, when playing outside was the highlight of my day. From the moment I stepped off the bus after school, I was on a mission. A mission to change out of my good school clothes, call my friends, and play outside.
In our occasional series, HISTORY IN YOUR BACKYARD, WPSU's Kristine Allen brings you stories of local haunts where you can take a trip back in time. This time, we're going way back
Effective January 1st, Pennsylvania became the first state in the country to require residential fire sprinklers in all newly constructed one- and two-story family homes. Safety officials say the law will save lives; home builders and sellers say the requirement will add thousands of dollars to the price of a new home and hurt a recovering housing market. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with both sides about what turns out to be a hotly debated issue.
In 1951, tissue samples from Henrietta Lacks arrived in a lab. Amazingly, the cells still survive today. One book tells the story of this woman and her legacy.
The StoryCorps oral history project recorded interviews for a month this past summer in Bellefonte. It's a New Year, and in this time when people are thinking about what they'd like to achieve, this conversation seemed appropriate. Bill Taliaferro and his daughter Kelli Steindl talk about their proudest accomplishments.
I was always "the girl with the plan." In whatever situation, if my plan A fell through, there was always plan B. And if that fell through, well, you know the rest. From the age of three, I had concrete career plans. I was going to be a broadcast journalist, and I knew the precise path I was going to take to reach my goals.
After a sudden tragedy, a child is inspired to take a lifelong journey into science. Hear more about this Penn State alum's exploration of time travel with this week's book review.
The StoryCorps oral history project recorded interviews for a month this past summer in Bellefonte. Amanda Colianni talked with her mother, Jennie Colianni, who is a breast cancer survivor.
We continue our Pennsylvania People series with a new and intimate profile of one of the people who makes Pennsylvania so interesting. WPSU's Patty Satalia travels to Tyrone to talk with third-generation artist, Peter Frantz.
Winner of the PEN/Winship Award for best book by a New England author, you can't miss this book! Set in Bakerton, it not only tells a great story, but it acts as "a love letter to our industrial past."
My little brother and I have always had our differences. Only three years separate us in age, but we're worlds apart. Cory is quiet and withdrawn; I'm outgoing. Although he's my little brother, he towers nearly a foot over me.
Imagine having to give an out of state company access to your land...then imagine that company can dramatically alter the landscape. That's what has the municipality of Brockway headed to court. WPSU's Emily Reddy went to Jefferson County and filed this report.
In this striking debut novel, readers are taken into a small Pennsylvania steel town. The author won the Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction from the LA Times.
The StoryCorps oral history project recorded interviews for a month this past summer in Bellefonte. Donald Michaels talks with his daughter Jessica about Christmases past and about Jessica's sister Melissa.
Housing activists in Pennsylvania were riding high this year. Just a couple of weeks ago, it looked like Congress might finally put money into the National Housing Trust Fund. But WPSU's Emily Reddy reports that recent political bargaining means Pennsylvanians will likely have to wait for more funding for affordable housing.
The first time I danced for myself, I was nine or ten years old. I'd been taking dance classes for about two years. I was a good student and would pay close attention when my teacher taught technique. But one day, I found pure passion.
The StoryCorps oral history project recently finished a month of recording interviews in Bellefonte. Andrea and Deanna Fletcher talk with their great aunt, Mary Luther. They start by talking about their family's experience in the Johnstown Flood, and what prompted Mary to leave Johnstown.
Senator Jake Corman (PA 34th District) has introduced legislation aimed at deterring repeated alcohol abuse and funding police efforts to prevent the violations associated with problem drinking. WPSU student intern Matt Avedesian talks about the proposed legislation with Senator Corman, State College law enforcement and students.
Last summer, just months after the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill took place, Geosciences professor Timothy Bralower created a course at Penn State University Park to study the spill. But rather than focus just on the environmental impact, he reached out to the Rock Ethics Institute to create a course that would also delve into issues like corporate social responsibility and integrity. WPSU's Emily Reddy visited the class earlier this week as students gave their final reports.
I believe everybody deserves a second chance when life doesn't go according to plan. My 12-year-old daughter was not part of my life plan, but in many ways, she saved me from myself. She gave me a purpose and drive I might not have otherwise had. But I didn't always see it that way.
The StoryCorps oral history project recently spent a month recording interviews in Bellefonte. Jill Engle talks with her father, Paul Imgrund, about how he went from farmer's son to radio DJ.
We continue our Pennsylvania People series with a new and intimate profile of one of the people who makes Pennsylvania so interesting. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Don Ford of State College. He's a clinical psychologist and family caregiver.
I believe in the power of music. I don't remember learning how to talk. But I remember hearing my mom telling someone on the phone, "We were in the car today and Laura started harmonizing. She's 4!" I didn't know what harmonizing was, but Mom sounded impressed. My 4-year-old singing inspired her that day.
A USDA report released last month found more than 17 million households lacked access to adequate food at some point during 2009. That's 3 of every 20 households in the United States. But what might be surprising is that, despite the recession, the number of food insecure houses held steady from the year before. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports on why that is, and how agencies in Central Pennsylvania have helped stave off hunger.
Violinist and composer Mark O'Connor is at home in any genre: folk, country, jazz, classical. He recently played a concert with his HOT SWING group at the WPSU studios in State College, broadcast live on public television, WPSU-TV. The event was part of the Acoustic Brew Concert Series. WPSU's Kristine Allen caught up with Mark O'Connor by phone before the concert.
The StoryCorps oral history project recently finished a month of recording interviews in Bellefonte. Courtney McMeans, who is 22, talks with her grandmother, Rhetta McMeans, who is 80, about their family history.
Former Governor Tom Ridge has joined The Marcellus Shale Coalition as a "strategic adviser." WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with the ex-governor about what the role entails, what he'll do to ensure that Marcellus Shale is "developed responsibly," and about his views on a severance tax for the industry.
Looking for a great book about food this Thanksgiving? Anthony Bourdain called this novel, "Outstanding!" Let our reviewer tell you more about this culinary journey that travels from India to France.
Every year the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry puts out a list of High Priority Occupations. These are jobs that are in demand, have higher skill needs, and pay a family-sustaining wage. The list gives colleges and career assistance centers direction in helping out-of-work Pennsylvanians find a new career. WPSU's Emily Reddy went to the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport to find out who's getting trained for these High Priority Occupations.
The StoryCorps oral history project recently finished a month of recording interviews in Bellefonte. Jessica Illuzzi interviews her parents, Angelo and Matilda Illuzzi. Jessica is a Penn State student and her parents live in DuBois. But they talk about how Angelo and Matilda met and how Jessica came into their family.
The days of fresh berries and sweet corn are long gone. Winter is right around the corner. So what is on the plate of a local foodie during this time of year? Emily Wiley visited Tait Farm in Centre Hall to find out.
I believe in wiffle ball. I believe in slow pitch or fast pitch, one-on-one or nine-on-nine wiffle ball. In wiffle ball tournaments, leagues and pick-up games. I believe in wiffle ball.
The Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra and the State College Choral Society perform Handel's "Messiah" in State College and Philipsburg. WPSU's Kristine Allen visits a rehearsal to ask the singers why the piece is so enduringly popular.
Find out more about a new collection of essays that David Sedaris called, "Perfectly, relentlessly funny." This book is perfect to brighten up the winter evenings.
The StoryCorps oral history project recently finished a month of recording interviews in Bellefonte. Bessie Rubinstein interviews her father, Leonard Rubinstein. They talk about his experience in World War II. He was in charge of a prisoner of war camp for German soldiers.
Kai Schafft, founder of the Harry Smith Festival, and Kevin Moist, Harry Smith scholar, discuss the Anthology of American Folk Music that Smith created, and they illustrate their points with excerpts from recordings as well as a live studio performance by the band Chicken Tractor. Schafft also describes the lineup of artists scheduled to perform at the festival, held at the Elk Creek Cafe and Aleworks in Millheim on Nov. 14.
Amy Ray, one half of the folk-rock duo, The Indigo Girls, will give a solo performance in State College this Sunday at Caf? 210. She talked to WPSU's Emily Reddy from WABE in Atlanta.
I believe in the neighborhood where I grew up. John's Circle in Norwood, New Jersey has had more of an influence on the person I've become than most people have.
"Toward Daylight," a new film made by Penn State faculty and students, focuses on suicide and survivorship in Centre County. The short documentary will be shown at the State Theatre in State College on Sunday, November 14. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with the filmmakers and with the founder of the nonprofit organization that commissioned the piece.
The Next Stage is a nonprofit theatre company in State College that stays off the beaten path. The group focuses exclusively on modern plays. WPSU's Kristine Allen caught up with the two co-founders of THE NEXT STAGE before a rehearsal for their production of "A Delicate Balance" by Edward Albee.
WPSU's Cynthia Berger and her husband, Penn State professor Bill Carlsen, are spending the year on a solar-powered canal boat. Cynthia sent this audio postcard from the Great Lakes, specifically the North Channel of Lake Huron, where she and Bill learned about a radio broadcast that's just for boaters.
After a sudden tragedy, a child is inspired to take a lifelong journey into science. Hear more about this Penn State alum's exploration of time travel with this week's book review.
The StoryCorps oral history project recently finished recording interviews in Bellefonte. Rich Fornicola and his mother Beth Fornicola talk about the Bush House in Bellefonte that burned down 4 years ago. Beth's husband Gino was the manager back in the 1960s. The family moved into the hotel when Rich was 6 years old.
I believe in walking. Every day. I take about 45 minutes every day to walk with Smitty, our family dog, up to a place called the Peace Chapel. The route takes me across the Juniata College campus and through neighborhoods to an expanse of protected land that is wildish.
There are more people enslaved today than at any time in human history. How did human trafficking become one of the largest and fastest-growing criminal industries in the world today and what can we do about it? WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Dr. Mary Burke of Carlow University. She founded the Project to End Human Trafficking.
Learn more about the incredible life and achievements of Bill Strickland. He has made an amazing difference in the lives of thousands in the Pittsburgh area and beyond.
We continue our "Pennsylvania People" series with a new and intimate profile of one of the people who makes Pennsylvania so interesting. WPSU's Patty Satalia pays a visit to the gifted poet Patricia Jabbeh Wesley, a survivor of Liberia's civil war. She teaches English, Creative Writing and African Literature at Penn State-Altoona.
The 2010 midterm elections are now just four days away, with a number of competitive and high-profile races to be decided in Pennsylvania. WPSU is dedicating much of the next two hours to interviews with the candidates. You'll hear from both candidates for Governor of Pennsylvania and all three candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, 5th District. We begin with the hotly contested race for U.S. Senate. Republican Congressmen Pat Toomey and Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak are vying for the seat held by five-term Senator Arlen Specter, whom Sestak defeated in the May primary. Both candidates were offered one-on-one, half-hour interviews, however candidate Toomey's office failed to accept numerous invitations for our interview. Here's our conversation with Joe Sestak, recorded on October 15th.
As a part of 2010 Midterm Election Coverage, WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with the two candidates for Pennsylvania governor. She talked with Democratic candidate Dan Onorato in the student union building on the Penn State University Park campus on Monday.
As a part of 2010 Midterm Election Coverage, WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with the two candidates for Pennsylvania governor. She talked with Republican candidate Tom Corbett Wednesday after a rally on the Penn State University Park campus.
With just days left before the gubernatorial election, Democrat Dan Onorato keeps plugging away. As Scott Detrow reports from State College, the Allegheny County Executive is confident he'll overcome Republican Tom Corbett's lead in the race's final days.
Republican Tom Corbett has led Democrat Dan Onorato in the polls throughout the entire election. As Scott Detrow reports from Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, the Attorney General is urging supporters not to become complacent during the final days of what's been a low-key gubernatorial campaign.
For a long time I thought that rain was dismal. The wetness, the coldness, the humidity, the clouds and the darkness: gross. Everything about it gave me the blues. Especially on a Monday.
Ryan Buell is the Director of the Paranormal Research Society, and star of the A&E TV docudrama, "Paranormal State". His new book, "Paranormal State: My Journey into the Unknown" tells the behind-the-scenes story of the TV show. Buell shares some frightening stories with WPSU's Kristine Allen and tells how his career grew out of a Penn State student club.
Suicides by gay teens in recent weeks have sparked an outcry across the nation and in Central Pennsylvania. In State College, local high schoolers made a video responding to the suicides Last week, Penn State University Park Students held a candle-light vigil to call for an end to anti-gay bullying. WPSU's Emily Reddy spoke with vigil attendees. (A warning, you may find some of the language offensive, and you might find the topic unsettling.)
The StoryCorps oral history project recently recorded a month of interviews in Bellefonte. Eve and John Marchione talk with their son's martial arts teacher, Terry Summers. They talk about how martial arts has helped both Summers and the Marchiones's son, Andrew.
I believe teachers can change lives. Everyone has amazing teachers. And I don't mean amazing because they don't give you homework, or because they let you use your cell phone in class. I mean Amazing. A life-altering, values-changing educator.
Using poetry, portraits, and a wealth of research, this book tackles big issues. Listen to learn more about this book and about the human rights of children around the world. And don't forget
The StoryCorps oral history project recently recorded a month of interviews in Bellefonte. Paul Bixby, 96, talks with his minister, Joel Blunk. Bixby tells Blunk about his early life as a part of a pioneer farming family in Minnesota.
Marcellus shale drilling across Pennsylvania has expanded tremendously in the last couple of years. To extract the natural gas, companies drill straight down about 5,000 feet then shoot highly-pressured water mixed with chemicals and sand vertically through the shale to release the gas. It's called hydrofracturing, or "fracking." The whole process requires heavy equipment and millions of gallons of water to be trucked in over roads built to carry passenger cars. WPSU's Emily Reddy went to Luzerne County to find out an unexpected environmental impact of ruined roads and the unlikely group that's trying to do something about it.
Three years ago on a beautiful Sunday in September, I went on a bike ride with my dad and my brother. We changed out of our church clothes, saddled up, and hit the road.
Head into western Pennsylvania coal country with Tawni O'Dell's newest novel. You might know her first book, Back Roads, which is an Oprah Book Club Selection.
The StoryCorps oral history project recently recorded a month of interviews in Bellefonte. David Price talks with his friend Gert Aron, a retired Penn State Civil Engineering professor. Price starts by asking Aron about his family's escape from Nazi Germany.
About a third of schoolteachers quit in their first three years. By five years in that number is up to half. Katy Farber has written a book about teacher attrition called "Why Great Teachers Quit: And How We Might Stop the Exodus." WPSU's Emily Reddy asked her: Why do teachers quit?
The StoryCorps oral history project recently recorded a month of interviews in Bellefonte. Azalea and Albert Stevenson talk to Carla Roser-Jones. Roser-Jones started by asking Albert how he came to work at City Hall in New Orleans back in the 1950s.
Today is the last day to register to vote in the upcoming election. Democratic and Republican committees in Centre County have been hard at work for months to get voters on their side. WPSU intern Chelsea McCartney reports.
The award-winning documentary film, "Gasland," is coming to State College. Industry groups say the scathing film that shows the downside of natural gas extraction is "short on fact and long on innuendo." Advocates for stronger environmental protections on drilling call it a wake-up call. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with filmmaker Josh Fox about the film that aired on HBO and is now being screened in communities across the country.
When I was younger, the school librarian read my class a book about a Japanese man who traveled back and forth between his homes in California and Japan. Whenever he was in one place, he'd long for the other.
Khaled Hosseini, the critically acclaimed author of "The Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns," kicks off Penn State's Distinguished Speakers Series tomorrow night at 8:00pm at Eisenhower Auditorium on Penn State's University Park campus. WPSU's Patty Satalia talked with Hosseini earlier by telephone from his home in California.
Vice President Joe Biden was the guest speaker at a Democratic rally Tuesday afternoon. He expressed optimism about the midterm elections, and encouraged students to pledge to vote in November. WPSU's Kristine Allen was there.
The StoryCorps oral history project just finished a month of recording interviews in Bellefonte. Anna Miller talks to her mother, Sharon Miller. They talk about when Sharon and her husband adopted Anna from Guatamala.
WPSU's Patty Satalia travels to rural Huntingdon County to meet with writer, teacher and legendary potter, Jack Troy, who retired from Juniata College in 2006. Troy is wrapping up a three-day firing in the anagama kiln he and fellow potters built and operate at his home-studio.
A national organization called "Interfaith Power and Light" brings congregations from many different religions together to work on responding to climate change. People of many faiths from around Pennsylvania will gather in State College this weekend to establish the first Pennsylvania chapter of Interfaith Power and Light. WPSU's Kristine Allen attended a planning meeting.
I was a child of the '50s and had a pretty idyllic childhood, playing kickball and hula-hoop on the street, riding my bike to the ball field to watch a game.
When you think of the big greenhouse gas creators, you probably think of cars. But farm animals pollute the air too. A professor at Penn State University Park may have found just the right "ingredient" to make cows a little "greener." WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
The winner of the 2010 Newbery Medal is a mysterious book that will have you thinking about time travel and the hidden lives of middle school students.
The StoryCorps oral history project just finished a month of recording interviews in Bellefonte. Ulicia Gage talks to her mother, Mary, about her childhood in England during World War II.
Beverly Lewis writes books about the Amish set in Lancaster County, where she grew up. Lewis was at the Barnes & Nobel in State College recently to sign her latest book for fans. WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with her after the book signing.
The folk group Simple Gifts is known for playing a variety of ethnic music on more than 12 instruments. Two members of the group, Linda Littleton and Karen Hirshon, visit the WPSU studios to speak with Kristine Allen.
The culinary arts program at Penn College offers a hands-on teaching environment for aspiring chefs. Students learn to slice, dice, and chop, and they learn to be gracious hosts. Join Emily Wiley in the kitchen and at the table for a gourmet meal prepared with local ingredients.
I know Wolverine's real name. I know where Jim Kirk was born. And I'm pretty sure I beat Super Mario Bros before I could spell. I'm a nerd; there's no disputing that fact. Cool kids go to drinking parties, I go to LAN parties. That's the way it's always been with me.
Winner of the PEN/Winship Award for best book by a New England author, you can't miss this book! Set in Bakerton, it not only tells a great story, but it acts as "a love letter to our industrial past."
Concert pianist Jeffrey Siegel gives a concert called "Chopin for Lovers" at Penn State's Schwab Auditorium. Before the show, he stopped by the WPSU-FM studios to speak with Kristine Allen.
The StoryCorps oral history project just finished a month of recording interviews in Bellefonte. Brandon Zlupko talked to his grandmother, Paula Wales, about growing up in Altoona during WWII and meeting her husband.
A staged reading of aplay based on letters between writer Virginia Woolf and her lover, Vita Sackville-West, is performed at the Palmer Museum of Art on Penn State's University Park Campus. The stage will be a small platform set amongst the paintings of several of Virginia Woolf's good friends. The paintings are part of the Palmer Museum's exhibit, "A Room of Their Own: The Bloomsbury Artists in American Collections". WPSU's Kristine Allen spoke with the play's director, Susan Schulman of Penn State's School of Theatre.
I believe in bicycles. My bicycle is simple. I move the pedals, which spin the gears, which turn the back wheel. The wheels simply rotate. My bicycle does not need a windshield, heated seats or even a radio.
The StoryCorps oral history project just finished a month of recording interviews in Bellefonte. Jessica Welch and her sister Jennifer Theiss came to StoryCorps to honor their father, Bill Welch, who was mayor of State College for 15 years. Jessica and Jennifer recorded this conversation just before the anniversary of their father's death.
The StoryCorps oral history project has been recording interviews all this month in Bellefonte. Jill Herr talked with her father, John Herr, about his stint in the voluntary service. He served for two years in the time between the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The pair came from Lancaster County to record this interview.
It's Ramadan right now, a month when Muslims fast, pray, and purify themselves through good deeds. The recent flooding in Pakistan would seem to be an ideal opportunity for the State College Muslim community to offer help. But as WPSU's Emily Reddy reports, the mosque in town is afraid to make donations.
My husband got a call the other night as we finished a late dinner. One of his friends had two extra tickets to the baseball game and wanted to know if he'd like them. Of course he did.
In this striking debut novel, readers are taken into a small Pennsylvania steel town. The author won the Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction from the LA Times.
The StoryCorps oral history project is recording interviews all this month in Bellefonte. Sylvia Feldman talks with her mother, Joanne Feldman, about her classical music career with her husband, who she met at Julliard.
All the lawn's a stage, as the Nittany Valley Shakespeare Festival presents free outdoor performances of "Much Ado About Nothing". WPSU's Kristine Allen speaks with Susan Riddiford-Shedd, founder and Artistic Director of the festival.
The Little League World Series started Friday in Williamsport and runs for a week and a half. Thousands proud parents and fans will come from around the world to watch the games. Hotel rooms in Williamsport and the surrounding area are always tight, but this year they've been harder to come by than usual. WPSU's Emily Reddy went to Williamsport on Wednesday to check out the situation.
In the halls of my elementary school in Massachusetts, there was a poster that said, "Life is a journey, not a race." From kindergarten through fifth grade, I walked by that poster every day. I read it a thousand times, but I never really understood what it meant.
WPSU radio producer Cynthia Berger and her husband are spending the year traveling by boat around the eastern half of North America. The vessel is unusual . . . it's a solar-powered canal boat. One goal of their trip is to meet other people who are using "sustainable technologies" in innovative ways.
The StoryCorps oral history project is recording interviews all this month in Bellefonte. Mary Polak talks with her father, Stefan Polak, about his parents' lives during the Holocaust.
Way Fruit Farm was one of 19 farms that participated in the 5th Annual Central PA Farm Tour. Join Emily Wiley as she talks with sixth generation farmer, Brooks Way, and others who support local foods.
I sometimes forget I have an older sister. She passed away before I was born, but that doesn't mean I don't have a sister. I didn't know about her until I was 12 years old. But now I think of her often.
The StoryCorps oral history project is recording interviews all this month in Bellefonte. Elizabeth Gilliland talks with her grandfather Fred DelGrosso, a part of the Altoona family known for its pasta sauces and amusement Park. They talk about some illnesses DelGrosso has faced.
The StoryCorps oral history project is recording interviews this month in Bellefonte. Sue Paterno, the wife of Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, and her granddaughter Olivia Hort kicked off the project with the first interview. Olivia asked her grandmother about World War II, which started when Paterno and her brothers and sister were very young.
I believe in poetry. In the book Franny and Zooey, one of J.D. Salinger's characters says, to be a poet you have to leave something beautiful behind. That's my goal in life.
As part of the occasional series History in Your Back Yard, WPSU's Kristine Allen brings you part two of a visit to the Boal Mansion Museum in Boalsburg.
As part of an occasional series, History in Your Backyard, we'll visit the Boal Mansion Museum in Boalsburg. There we'll find a family with connections to some famous names in history. WPSU's Kristine Allen takes a tour with Christopher Lee, a descendant of David Boal.
Around the world, bees continue to disappear and scientists still don't quite know why. This week regulatory agents, bee keepers, agricultural chemical companies, and researchers from around the world gathered in State College to pool their knowledge on the causes of Colony Collapse Disorder. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
Head into western Pennsylvania coal country with Tawni O'Dell's newest novel. You might know her first book, Back Roads, which is an Oprah Book Club Selection.
"A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams is now playing at the Boal Barn Theatre in Boalsburg, produced by State College Community Theatre. WPSU's Kristine Allen speaks with the show's director, Charles Dumas, about the play and what makes this production unusual.
An engineer right out of college can make up to $90,000. So why would graduates from a top engineering school like Penn State turn those jobs down? WPSU news intern Chelsea McCartney spoke to a group of students choosing alternative career paths.
The 6th annual summer jazz celebration begins tomorrow afternoon in Bellefonte. WPSU's Greg Petersen talked with the driving force behind the event, Catherine Dupuis.
I believe in the life-changing potential of good guidance. Every semester I tell my Sociology students: when I rolled the cosmic dice, I found myself a white male born into a middle-class family who raised me in a genuinely Minnesota-nice suburb. All I had to do to become the professor they see in front of them was not squander the opportunities within my reach.
The winner of the 2010 Newbery Medal is a mysterious book that will have you thinking about time travel and the hidden lives of middle school students.
In two weeks, a silver Airstream trailer will roll into downtown Bellefonte and park across from the courthouse for a month. No one will be living in the trailerbut it will get a lot of visitors. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
WPSU radio producer Cynthia Berger is on a yearlong canal boat adventure around the "Great Loop," a system of waterways that turns North America east of the Mississippi into one great big island. Cynthia sent this audio postcard from a trip through a lock on the Erie Canal.
The immigration debate is heating up again. The federal government has challenged a contentious Arizona immigration law. What you might not have heard is that a similar law has been proposed in Pennsylvania. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
For fans of Webster's Bookstore Cafe in State College, the economic downturn has hit home in a big way. The locally-owned used bookstore has learned that its lease will not be renewed at the end of July. Webster's customers have mobilized to support the store. WPSU's Kristine Allen Reports.
I believe in Mario Lemieux. What if I told you that Mario Lemieux's career stats are 690 goals,1,033 assists. and 2 saves? You might ask how he has two saves if he was a forward while playing hockey. Well, I'm not talking about the type of saves a goalie makes.
Follow the author as he journeys through Mexico and discovers his love for running. And catch him as he runs through State College this Sunday at the Arts Festival 10K race.
The 2010-2011 Pennsylvania state budget lacks only Governor Ed Rendell's signature to become law. StateCollege.com reporter Adam Smeltz has been covering the expected impacts on Penn State. WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with him yesterday afternoon about what he's found.
This 4th of July, over 500 volunteers put together State College's annual 4th Fest celebration. WPSU news intern Chelsea McCartney checked out preparations for the main event -- Fireworks!
Newspaper columns have been compiled for this delightful book about the rich history and hidden treasures of Pennsylvania. There are plenty of ideas for summer day trips!
It's not often that groups of undergrads get to make big archaeological discoveries. But a group of Penn State students has done just that. WPSU's Emily Reddy takes us to their excavation site in Huntingdon County.
Russian pianist Svetlana Rodionova calls Central Pennsylvania home. She tells us how she made a new life here, and talks about playing a romantic Russian piano concerto with the Penn's Woods Festival Orchestra. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports.
It's a hot night and my six-year-old's room doesn't have a fan. Since my husband has a cold and is in the guestroom, Ryan is bunking with me. Truth be told, Ryan ends up in our bed for at least a few hours most nights.
Penn State University Park is full of students of all ages this week. Several different science camps for kids are taking place. The Tech Savvy Girls Camp is one of them. WPSU intern Chelsea McCartney reports.
What was at first billed as a dream herbicide for farmers has started breeding superweeds. The herbicide is Roundup, and the problem has become so severe in Southeast
Every year on June 19th African-American communities around the United States celebrate a holiday called Juneteenth. WPSU's Emily Reddy attended a Juneteenth festival in Williamsport where there was more to celebrate than usual.
Pilots from around the country gather each year at the William T. Piper Memorial Airport in Lock Haven for the "Sentimental Journey to Cub Haven Fly-in". WPSU's Kristine Allen visited the event on opening day.
Amy Homan McGee was killed by her husband in State College in 2001. Our sister station, WPSU-TV, has made a documentary about McGee's last years. It's called "Telling Amy's Story." WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with the documentary's narrator, State College Police Detective Deirdri Fishel.
The nation is a-Twitter about privacy concerns on social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace. Teens and young adults often post details of their mischief on these sites in spite of the public nature of the internet. Police in Pennsylvania have caught on. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
I believe in writing it all down. Since freshman year of high school I've been keeping a journal. It's a personal account of my life, starting from a point when school dances were life changing, and being caught with your parents in public was life ruining.
As a part of WPSU's new "Jobs Series," we're focusing on the impact of the poor economy on businesses and organizations in Central Pennsylvania. WPSU's Emily Reddy brings you the story of a gas station off I-80 that's thriving in tough times.
I believe in pink. It's a timeless symbol of femininity. It is the color of a baby girl's first blanket. It's the best flavor of lemonade and the color of Elvis's Cadillac. It is a vibrant, feel good color.
It's a big week for horse racing with the Belmont Stakes on June 5th. If you're a fan, you'll love this book about a horse race that took place all the way back in 1823.
"Broadway on Allen" Street in State College begins this week in downtown State College. During the month of June, singers form Penn State's Musical Theatre programwill give free lunchtime performances in the Downtown Theatre Center. Kristine Allen serves-up the story.
This past Memorial Day Weekend, a local crowd witnessed history come to life, as the Allies and the Germans faced-off once again at the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports from the front.
What are the environmental impacts of drilling in the Marcellus Shale? Listen to a recording of the call-in, hosted by WPSU's Cynthia Berger with experts Tom Murphy (co-director of the Penn State Marcellus Initiative for Outreach and Research), Bryan Swistock (water resources specialist), and Dave Yoxtheimer (graduate student and senior hydrologist with ARM Group, Inc.).
A talented local author brings the classic story of the journey home into the world of science fiction, where monsters and mysteries are everywhere. Publisher's Weekly named it one of the Best Books of 2009.
After last Tuesday's primary possibly only one thing became clear: Pennsylvania's Congressional delegation is going to look a lot different at the start of the next Congress. Matt Laslo reports for WPSU from Washington on how the changes may impact the state.
Pennsylvania's budget deadline is just over a month away and continued shortfalls could mean cuts for organizations that depend on state money. WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with Ann Walker, executive administrator for the Child Development and Family Council of Centre County, about a panel discussion on education funding.
I believe hunting is more than killing. Hunting is about being in nature. It's the sound of wind blowing through leaves and the trickling of mountain streams.
Low turnout for Pennsylvania's primary elections yesterday, but several races made national news. Here's a quick look at election results, statewide and in our region.
The Pennsylvania primaries made national news today. Incumbent Arlen Specter lost the Democratic primary bid to Joe Sestak, ending his 30 years as a Senator representing Pennsylvania. WPSU intern Chelsea McCartney set out to hear what people had to say about the race.
The Pennsylvania primary election is May 18th. WPSU's Scott Detrow interviewed all the gubernatorial candidates to hear their final pitch to voters. He spoke with Attorney General Tom Corbett, a Republican, on the phone.
The Pennsylvania primary is May 18th. WPSU's Scott Detrow interviewed all the gubernatorial candidates to hear their final pitch to voters. He spoke with Allegheny County executive Dan Onorato, a Democrat, on the phone.
Arlen Specter has been a household name for decades, but it's his challenger, Joe Sestak who's making headlines as the race to nominate a Democrat to run for U.S. senate narrows. To find out what distinguishes the two candidates, WPSU's Patty Satalia visited local democratic party eventsand files this report.
No Democrats are up against 77th District Rep. Scott Conklin in the primary. But two Republicans are vying for the chance challenge him in November. WPSU's Emily Reddy introduces you to candidates Joyce Haas and Ron Reese.
The Pennsylvania primary is May 18th. WPSU's Scott Detrow interviewed all the gubernatorial candidates to hear their final pitch to voters. He and Auditor General Jack Wagner, a Democrat, spoke outside the state Capitol.
The Pennsylvania primary is May 18th. WPSU's Scott Detrow interviewed all the gubernatorial candidates to hear their final pitch to voters. He spoke with Republican state representative Sam Rohrer outside the Capitol.
Here's a growing trend: Urban agriculture! As more and more city dwellers grow their own, officials are scrambling for ways to regulate land use and livestock. Erika Beras reports from Pittsburgh.
The Pennsylvania primary is May 18th. WPSU's Scott Detrow interviewed all the gubernatorial candidates to hear their final pitch to voters. He spoke with Democratic state Senator Anthony Williams in the Harrisburg Hilton's front lobby.
The Pennsylvania primary is May 18th. WPSU's Scott Detrow interviewed all the gubernatorial candidates to hear their final pitch to voters. He spoke with Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel over the phone.
Trombonist Christopher Dudley grew up in State College, and is now Principal Trombone of the Baltimore Symphony. He plays some jazz and rock, as well as classical music, and recently played on a recording by a world-famous rock star. His mother, Dolores Dudley Simpson, will be in the audience as he returns home to be guest soloist with the State College Municipal Band on Mother's Day. WPSU's Kristine Allen has the story.
Though Penn State holds the title of #1 Party School, not ALL students drink to excess. WPSU News intern Zack Valenta toured campus and downtown on a recent Saturday night and discovered these scenes of sobriety.
Just in time for Mother's Day, the oral history project StoryCorps has released a collection of interviews about moms in book form. The book is called, Mom: A Celebration of Mothers from StoryCorps. WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with StoryCorps founder David Isay about StoryCorps and "the mom book."
The primary vote for Pennsylvania governor is May 18th. WPSU's Emily Reddy talks to a local political pundit about the big issues in the race, and where the candidates stand on those issues.
A bill on teen dating violence is moving through the Pennsylvania Legislature. WPSU's Lindsey Whissel talks with the executive director of the Centre County Women's Resource Center about teen dating violence and the pending legislation.
Five years ago, State College Borough applied to the League of American Bicyclists for "Bicycle Friendly" status. They were told they had work to do. The Centre Region Bike Coalition is gearing up to apply again
Philip Jenkins, Edwin Erle Sparks professor of humanities in the Department of History and Religious Studies at Penn State and distinguished senior fellow of the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor University, speaking Thursday, April 29, on the topic of "The World's Religious Map in 2050" at the Penn State Forum, held at the Nittany Lion Inn, University Park, Pa.
Jenkins has authored numerous papers and more than 20 books on Christianity, its history and its place in modern society. In 2008 he wrote "The Lost History of Christianity," and his most recent book, "Jesus Wars: How Four Patriarchs, Three Queens And Two Emperors Decided What Christians Would Believe For The Next 1,500 Years," was released in March 2010. Jenkins teaches a wide range of graduate and undergraduate courses including Sects, Cults and New Religious Movements; America in the 1960s; American Catholic: Roman Catholicism in 20th Century America; and Beyond the Good War: Politics and Culture in 1940s America.
Primary elections are coming up, and one Pennsylvania race is attracting NATIONAL attention. In Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District, voters must pick a successor to Congressmen John Murtha, a Democrat. Will the district go Republican for the first time in nearly 4 decades? WPSU's Cynthia Berger reports.
To mark the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, WPSU's Kristine Allen toured the Morning Star Home, an experimental energy-efficient house on Penn State's main campus. Her guide was Penn State professor Andy Lau.
I've never touched a gun. And, until recently, I'd never thought much about guns entering my children's lives. But when my son's Boy Scout leader raised the idea of a trip to a shooting range, I was alarmed.
Democratic candidates for Pennsylvania governor are all virtual unknowns. WPSU's Emily Reddy talked to a Centre County "Democrat-in-the-know" about how Onorato, Wagner, Hoeffel and Williams are trying to become household names.
We continue our Pennsylvania People series with a new and intimate profile of one of the people who makes Pennsylvania so interesting. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with neuropsychologist, Dr. Ruben Echemendia. He "wrote the book" on concussive head injuries.
Artist Lisa Dawn White was the winner of WPSU's first "Art for the Airwaves" contest. A limited edition poster of her collage, titled "Pine Creek Meanderings", is one of the welcome gifts for WPSU's Spring Membership Campaign. WPSU's Kristine Allen visited White at her home in Pine Grove Mills to learn how she creates art from materials found in nature.
In the 19th century, timber was a source of wealth in Pennsylvania . . . and a source of jobs for lumberjacks. For entertainment, the loggers invented contests of skill that today have become a collegiate sport.
About one in four young adults has NO health insurance. That's true nationwide and that's true in Central Pennsylvania. WPSU's Emily Reddy looked into how health insurance reform will impact young adults.
The Altoona Symphony and Juniata College Orchestras will join forces to perform "The Planets" by Gustav Holst. WPSU's Kristine Allen spoke with conductor Teresa Cheung of the Altoona Symphony.
When people drink too much they're more likely to have accidents and get injured . . . Who picks up the pieces? WPSU's Cynthia Berger spent a Saturday night downtown with a Penn State student who's also a paramedic.
I believe, as the old clich? goes, that you can't judge a book by its cover. Like most people, I used to make assumptions about a person's character or lifestyle based on outward appearance. But I've recently come to realize how detrimental that can be.
Join us for National Poetry Month! This book of poetry, a finalist for the National Book Award, has beautiful poems that go into the swamps and out to the stars.
Nobel Prize winning writer Toni Morrison is coming to Central Pennsylvania to pick up the 2010 Medal for Distinguished Contributions to the Arts and Humanities from Penn State's Institute for the Arts and Humanities. WPSU's Emily Reddy recently spoke to Morrison about the writing life and what she thinks about Barack Obama's presidency.
Lisa See, author of the critically-acclaimed international bestseller, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (2005), has always been intrigued by stories that have been lost, forgotten, or deliberately covered up, whether in the past or happening right now in the world today. For Snow Flower, she traveled to a remote area of China
Two State College residents, playwright Mary Gage and composer Richard Biever, recently wrote a musical that reveals the secret lives of chickens! WPSU's Kristine Allen reports.
The chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh was recently honored for his role in combating high-risk drinking on campus. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Mark Nordenberg, winner of the 2009 Presidential Leadership Award, presented by The Gordie Foundation and Outside the Classroom.
Like most people, I'm busy. I'm busy cleaning, writing, cooking, teaching, exercising, or doing any host of activities that consume the day. Sometimes I move through life so quickly there's no time for reflection.
President Obama can take direct credit for at least one new job created since his election: the Capitol Steps have hired a new Obama! Kristine Allen spoke with two presidential impersonators:one newcomer and one veteran of the Capitol Steps, at the State Theatre in State College.
I sometimes forget I have an older sister. She passed away before I was born, but that doesn't mean I don't have a sister. I didn't know about her until I was 12 years old. But now I think of her often.
For the past few weeks we've been covering the alcohol issue. Most of our stories have been reactions from the State College community. WPSU's Patty Satalia brings you a story from a student's perspective. Stephen Fiehler is a graduate student pursuing a Master's degree in Communications. Stephen started a 12-step program for fellow students called Saturday Night Sober, which meets Saturday nights at 11 pm in Room 106 HUB.
PA Congressman Joe Sestak is challenging long-time PA Senator Arlen Specter in the primary. WITF's Scott Detrow spent a day recently with the Congressman and says, Sestak may be trailing in the polls but he's trying to out-campaign his opponent.
The economy is beginning to recover, but most businesses are waiting before they add employees. One sector never stopped growing - care for the elderly. WPSU's Emily Reddy takes a look at two elder care businesses in Central Pennsylvania that are creating jobs.
Arlen Specter served nearly five terms in the Senate as a Republican before joining the Democratic Party. Have his principles changed? Specter says no, but his opponents call him a political opportunist. WITF's Scott Detrow spent a day with the Senator to learn more.
Tuesday night State College will be the site of a public forum on alcohol issues. It's hardly the first time for this kind of meeting. But organizers think THIS meeting will bring results.
We're launching a new series here on WPSU called Pennsylvania People. Each month or so, we'll present a new and intimate profile of one of the people who makes Pennsylvania so interesting. WPSU's Patty Satalia begins the series with a visit to the home of renowned sculptor Ziggy Coyle
Penn State's School of Music and the Institute for the Arts and Humanities present Mozart's opera "The Marriage of Figaro" at the State Theatre in State College. The opera was based on a French play considered scandalous in the 18th century. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports.
As I cut a piece of burgundy thread and pull it through the material, I remember the tip my Nanny taught me about tying knots. My Nanny is a remarkable quilter. Over time, she has passed some of her knowledge on to me.
It's no secret that underage drinking is an issue in State College, but what's not so clear is where the drinks are coming from. That's why local police launched the "Source Investigation Project"... to identify and prosecute people who give alcohol to minors.
Irish fiddler Kevin Burke took classical violin lessons and learned folk tunes in the Irish pubs of London He played traditional tunes with a rock beat in the 1970's with the Bothy Band, but his latest album contains a suite of Irish tunes for string quartet. Kristine Allen reports.
Penn State baritone Norman Spivey takes on an extraordinary challenge: acting, singing and playing piano in a one-man show about composer Reynaldo Hahn. WPSU's Kristine Allen repots.
Justin Catanoso is a newspaper journalist, a university lecturer and the author of the memoir My Cousin the Saint. He is a native of North Wildwood, NJ, and considered only one college after high school
Glenn Thompson, Pennsylvania's Freshman Representative for the 5th Congressional District is up for reelection in November, and he has a challenger. Thompson visited Philipsburg today. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
Pennsylvania holds primary elections May 18th. Who's on the ballot? That's being determined right now . . . and the process is more complicated than it seems.
Author and central Pennsylvania native Alison Bechdel was best known for her comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For. That was until Time Magazine named her critically acclaimed graphic memoir, Fun Home, one of the best books of 2006! WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Bechdel about the graphic medium and her career.
When it comes to underage drinking in college residence halls, the first line of defense is a group of students called Resident Assistants, or RAs. Penn State University Park has hundreds of RAs, who receive special training. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
It's 2001. I'm 10 years old, and my heart is breaking. I've just been told my father's car caught on fire. He's very badly burnt and might not make it.
To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, many dairy farms will need to cover their manure lagoons. In this report from the Ohio River Radio Consortium, Tom Borgerding reports on a farmer who hopes to convert greenhouse gases to money in his pocket.
Buffalo NY Singer-songwriter Greg Klyma talks with Mel DeYoung in the WPSU studio about his upcoming (Feb27, 2009) opening set for the Abbie Gardner/Anthony daCosta Acoustic Brew concert in Lemont at the Center for Well-Being. Klyma discusses his hometown of Buffalo, his connections to State College, and his Acoustic Brew concert. He performs three songs, including one not yet available on CD.
The Beatles: Pop culture is now an academic subject, and we've got a couple of local experts. Patty Satalia talks with two Penn State-Altoona professors, Ken Womack and Jerry Zolten, who contributed to the just-released "Cambridge Companion to The Beatles."
Penn State's student choir,"Essence of Joy", performs music from the African and African American choral traditions. Professor Tony Leach, founder and director of the choir, will lead the group in a concert Saturday afternoo at Penn State's main campus, part of the Celebration of African American Music Festival. WPSU's Kristine Allen listened-in during a recent rehearsal.
I've been thinking over the last few years about legacies. While many of us ponder our legacy as we get older, the idea became a good bit more meaningful a few years back when I was diagnosed with leukemia.
Last week was the one-year anniversary of President Obama's first economic stimulus package. Did the money help? What did we spend it on in Central PA? Patty Satalia talks with a labor economist from the Keystone Research Center.
In February 2010, one thousand inmates from Pennsylvania will be transferred out of state in an effort to alleviate prison overcrowding. WPSU's Lindsey Whissel talks with a Penn State professor of Criminology about causes of overcrowding and possible solutions.
State Patty's Day is a holiday created by students; the main way to celebrate is by drinking. Commentator and State College police captain Dana Leonard makes the case for a responsible State Patty's Day. Police Chief Thomas King contributed to this commentary, which also appears in the Centre Daily Times. Watch for ongoing coverage of alcohol issues in Centre County
The play "Sundays in the Park with George," by Steven Sondheim, is onstage in Central PA this weekend. The composer takes a well-known painting and makes the scene literally come alive; WPSU's Kris Allen tells how.
This week is Penn State's Dance Marathon--the world's largest student-run philanthropy. WPSU News Intern Erica Brecher takes a look at one way students raise money.
Traffic--in the form of cars and trucks--is a major source of greenhouse gas. But there's also ANOTHER kind of traffic: it's on the river. Anne Murray of the Ohio River Radio Consortium takes a look at the air pollution produced by river boats . . . and how researchers are trying to make boats greener.
Stephen L. Baker, author of The Numerati, is a senior writer at BusinessWeek, covering technology. Previously he was a Paris correspondent. Baker joined BusinessWeek in March, 1987, as manager of the Mexico City bureau, where he was responsible for covering Mexico and Latin America. He was named Pittsburgh bureau manager in 1992. Before BusinessWeek, Baker was a reporter for the El Paso Herald-Post. Prior to that, he was chief economic reporter for The Daily Journal in Caracas, Venezuela. Baker holds a bachelor
In 2008, Gov. Rendell mandated that PA schools address cyberbullying. First Amendment advocates wonder if resulting punishments violate free speech. WPSU's Lindsey Whissel talks with Bob Richards, a Penn State Professor of First Amendment Studies.
Legislation in the Pennsylvania Assembly could change how child custody cases are decided. The legislation pits groups that oppose domestic violence against groups that support fathers' rights. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
I believe in the African concept of Ubuntu. According to this philosophy, each of us is part of a larger global community and our humanity is interconnected.
I believe in a good laugh. I'm the youngest child, and we're known for clowning around, acting up, even breaking things if it gets the family's eyes turned our way. So I learned early on humor can make you the center of attention.
Mobile homes are a common housing choice in rural Pennsylvania. And no surprise. They're affordable for young couples, retirees on a budget, and low-income workers. A new study from Penn State finds something else. Mobile home dwellers are overwhelmingly satisfied with their choice of housing. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
Politically interested students at Penn State University Park voice their opinions on President Barack Obama's first year in office. Student journalist Brittany Smith reports.
Two of the 9/11 terrorists boarded their flights in Portland, Maine. Did they expect lax security at a smaller airport? No one knows for sure. WPSU's Cynthia Berger takes a look at security at small airports in rural Pennsylvania.
Many of Pennsylvania's basic rules and laws were established in 1873. A growing number of groups in Pennsylvania say it's long past time for reform and a constitutional convention. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Russ Eshleman the associate head of Penn State's journalism department, about the whys, whats, whens and hows of constitutional change.
Pianist Steven Smith of the Penn State music faculty is performing all of Beethoven's masterworks for solo piano in a series of 11 recitals. WPSU's Kristine Allen asked Smith, "What made you do it?"
I dig shovels. I believe shovels allow us to appreciate tasks accomplished through our own exertions. The minimal carbon footprint is a bonus. And what else can you buy for twenty bucks that comes with a 25 year warranty?
Actor and playwright Barry Scott brings his one-man play about Martin Luther King, Jr. to the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford on January 22nd. WPSU's Kristine Allen reports.
Actor Bary Scott has been inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. since he was a boy. He has written a one-man play based on the life and words of Dr. King, which he performs in Bradford.
Penn State gained notoriety in an episode of "This American Life" last month. That got senior journalism major Rich Coleman thinking. (This commentary originally ran in Penn State's student newspaper, The Daily Collegian.)
Dairy farmers in Pennsylvania are saying "good riddance" to 2009. It was a devastating year for the dairy industry. Price predictions for 2010 are looking up a bit. WPSU's Emily Reddy went to the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg to find out more.
Anthony T. Leach, associate professor of music and music education at The Pennsylvania State University is director of The University Choir, Essence of Joy and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in choral music education.
In 12th grade I was the best student in my class and the valedictorian. I was very proud of myself. I was dedicated only to my studies. My plan was to get the best grades, so in the future I could get scholarships and travel to new places.
What sounded like gunfire on the Penn State-University Park campus recently WAS a war of sorts: The University's "Crow Relocation Program." Thousands of roosting crows are making a big mess, and the university wants them to move away from buildings and people.
I always thought negatively when I was a child. I always thought bad things like, "I will make a mistake", or "She definitely dislikes me." Those thoughts made me afraid of other people. I didn't have a brave heart. Also, I worried about change, so I didn't try new things.
When I was a little kid living in the Dominican Republic, I believed in magic. The idea of transforming things, making them appear and disappear, made me feel a great excitement. I remember seeing a magician once at a birthday party. His color-changing scarves and flowers pulled from nowhere made me think there was nothing impossible in this world.
On New Year's Eve. in New York City, a crystal ball drops in Times Square. Here in Central Pennsylvania, we drop OTHER things! WPSU's Cynthia Berger reports on the Great Chip Drop in Lewistown.
When I was growing up, I fought constantly with my parents over making my bed in the morning. An after-breakfast check-in was routine at my house. My mom or dad would walk down the hall, check each room, and call from upstairs, "Stop whatever it is you're doing and come make your bed." It was a chore that I simply did NOT like, and so I avoided it. I thought it was absurd to make my bed every morning. It was counterproductive. What could be the benefit of straightening a bed in the morning that would inevitably be undone that evening? This puzzled me for a long time.
Santa Claus dropped by the WPSU studios to talk with WPSU's Lindsey Whissel about what kids want for Christmas, how many elves work at the North Pole, and if reindeers really can fly.
Want happier, better-adjusted kids? Pay more attention to your marriage. That's according to David Code, a central Pennsylvania family coach. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Code about his new book, To Raise Happy Kids, Put Your Marriage First.
The U.N's Climate Change Conference is wrapping up in Copenhagen--and here's a report from literally the front lines of climate research. Penn State scientist Sridhar Anandakrishnan spoke to WPSU's Cynthia Berger by phone from his camp on a fast-flowing glacier in Antarctica.
When I was a child, I was very shy. When I had to give a speech in front of my classmates, I became nervous, my legs trembled, and my heartbeat became fast. But an experience in high school changed my personality.
The "Images of America" series offers concise histories of American towns in picture-postcard format. This installment features the logging towns that grew up along Pine Creek in the late 19th century.
A group of seven Iraqi officials were in central Pennsylvania last week for a training program at Penn State. WPSU's Lindsey Whissel talked with the University's Sue Purdum and Colonel James Hess, a U.S. Army officer, about the program.
Traditions add depth and meaning to Christmas. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Pennsylvania author Judith Vicary Swisher about her book, Celebrate Advent: 25 Legends and Ornaments.
Just a few years ago I was a stereotypical teenager. Everything was about "me." I wasn't interested in anyone else or their needs. I often neglected my family because time with my friends seemed more important. Family dinners were a burden and vacations a punishment.
During Thanksgiving week on NPR you heard stories about road safety. To find out about what's happening here in Central Pennsylvania, WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with Penn State researcher Paul Jovanis.
The number of workers and their families who get their health care coverage through their jobs has dropped for the seventh year in a row. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with a Penn State expert on employee benefits law about the innovative way one Pennsylvania manufacturer retained good employee benefits.
Penn State prof Michael Mann is one of the climate scientists whose emails were illegally hacked two weeks ago. He talked with WPSU's Cynthia Berger to answer questions raised by climate-change sceptics.
Growing up, I knew I was different. Girls are supposed to have sleepovers, giggle, gossip, blah.blah.blah. But, I was a painful homebody. I was the girl who called her parents to come pick her up from sleepovers. That burning, bubbling pain in my belly, also known as anxiety, controlled my life. I had no idea how to overcome it, but knew I had to eventually.
Like the classic "1984," this post-apocalyptic tale presents a world where leaders keep the populace pacified--but with television rather than drugs. In a warped version of the TV show "Survivors," teens must compete to the death.
Patty Satalia talks with Donald Ford, a friend and neighbor for 25 years. He has been married to his wife, Carol, for 61 years. Carol was diagnosed with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease about eight years ago. When Carol has difficulty sleeping, Don reads from the archive of family letters that she's saved for more than 60 years.
Last Fall WPSU radio reporters conducted StoryCorps-style interviews with friends and family. WPSU's Patty Satalia talked with Donald Ford, a friend and neighbor for 25 years. He has been married to his wife, Carol, for 61 years. Carol was diagnosed with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease about eight years ago. When Carol has difficulty sleeping, Don reads from the archive of family letters that she's saved for more than 60 years.
Our series for the National Day of Listening continues as WPSU's Emily Reddy talks with her friend, Destiny Aman. When the two first met in State College, Destiny was going through a time of transition.
Last Fall WPSU radio reporters conducted StoryCorps-style interviews with friends and family. WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with her friend, Destiny Aman. The two met in State College at a time Destiny was going through a time of transition.
Our series for the National Day of Listening continues as WPSU's Cynthia Berger interviews her father, Jay Berger, 83. He's a law-abiding pillar of his community now . . . but in his youth he had some surprising adventures.
Last Fall WPSU radio reporters conducted StoryCorps-style interviews with friends and family. WPSU's Cynthia Berger interviewed her father, Jay Berger, 83. He's a law-abiding pillar of his community now . . . but in his youth he had some surprising adventures.
Today, WPSU's Lindsey Whissel talks with her colleague and friend, Emily Perry. Co-workers often talk about their families and backgrounds. Lindsey was surprised to learn what an exotic childhood Emily had.
People often take it for granted that hospitals will be there when they need them. But hospitals are businesses and the weak economy affects them too. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports on Central Pennsylvania hospitals making changes to stay afloat.
Last Fall WPSU radio reporters conducted StoryCorps-style interviews with friends and family. WPSU's Lindsey Whissel talked with her colleague and friend, Emily Perry. Lindsey was surprised to learn what an exotic childhood Emily had.
On July 28, 2007, my mom broke the news to my brother and me that she and my dad were splitting up for good. At first I was shocked. She had been involved in an affair that I knew nothing about. She decided that she loved this person more than she loved my dad. She was moving out.
Are Women Safe in Centre County? That's the title of a recent article that appears in Voices of Central PA, a monthly non-profit newspaper. WPSU's Lindsey Whissel talks with Suzan Erem, author of the article and managing editor of Voices about what her research revealed.
This week Penn State hosts the "Pennsylvania Natural Gas Summit," a conference addressing drilling for gas in the Marcellus Shale. WPSU's Cynthia Berger was there and reports on water resources issues.
Barbara J. Rolls is Professor of Nutritional Sciences and the Helen A. Guthrie Chair in Nutrition at The Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Rolls also holds positions at Penn State as Professor in Biobehavioral Health, Professor of Neural and Behavioral Sciences in the College of Medicine, and is a faculty member in the Intercollege Graduate Program in Physiology. Dr. Rolls received a B.A. in biology from the University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. in physiology from the University of Cambridge, England. After spending her early research career at the University of Oxford, England, Dr. Rolls joined the faculty of the John Hopkins University School of Medicine as Professor of Psychiatry. In 1992, she became a faculty member at The Pennsylvania State University where she currently teaches and conducts research as the Director of Laboratory for the Study of Human Ingestive Behavior.
Dr. Rolls is Past-President of both the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior and The Obesity Society. She has been a member of the Advisory Council of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH). In 1995 she was the recipient of the American Society of Nutritional Sciences Award in Human Nutrition. In 1996, she received the Pauline Schmitt Russell Distinguished Research Career Award from the College of Health & Human Development, Penn State. In 1997 she was the recipient of a MERIT award from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease for her outstanding research performance. She was the 2001 recipient of the International Award for Modern Nutrition. In 2003 she was awarded Honorary Membership in the American Dietetic Association. In 2006 she was elected a fellow of the American Association of the Advancement of Science and received the Evan G. and Helen G. Pattishall Outstanding Research Achievement Award, College of Health & Human Development, Penn State. She was selected as the 2007 W.O. Atwater Lecturer at Experimental Biology (sponsored by USDA
A local musician has launched a music festival to honor the work of the eclectic archivist, Harry Smith. Smith's anthology of folk songs from the 1920s and 30s was adapted by many famous performers from the 1960s and 70s. WPSU folk host Mel De Young reports.
Thirity-three Pennsylvania veterans talk about their experiences during World War II in a book that's a companion volume to a popular TV series on Pennsylvania Cable Network.
Penn State University Park gets most of its heat from a coal plant on campus. Students will rally today in front of the coal plant, asking for a switch to cleaner energy sources. Professor Brent Yarnal will speak at the rally about the impacts of coal use and about more environmental alternatives. WPSU's Emily Reddy talks with him now.
In Central Pennsylvania, college students who want to be teachers are looking for work in the worst job market since before they were born. Unemployment rates just hit 10.2 percent, the highest in 26 years. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
Deep in the heart of Central Pennsylvania, a fierce tribe gathers each fall to play ball games and worship at their massive temple. What's it all about? WPSU's Cynthia Berger invites two anthropologists on an "Expedition to Paternoville." CREDITS: You heard from Penn State students (and Paternoville denizens) Gregory Oddo, Jay Johnson, Erin Murphy, Jeff Lowe, and Alex Cohen. Margot Berger contributed to this report and supplied the photograph.
On the first Earth Day in 1970, I was 10 years old. Someone from our neighborhood in upstate New York had dropped off a flyer. It suggested we gather to clean up the street that connected our neighborhood to the busy main road. That street was littered with trash, dead leaves, and the remnants of late night teenage partying. I don't know who sent that flyer around, but I'm still grateful to them, because it was one of the best days of my childhood.
When you go to the polls tomorrow, you'll see three statewide races. Two of them, the Superior and Commonwealth Court races will give you a lot of candidates to choose from. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
Voters throughout the state will be going to the polls on November 3rd to vote for mayors, council people, township supervisors and district judges. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with reporter Kay Stephens of the Altoona Mirror about races to watch in Blair County.
Ever since Bram Stoker penned Dracula in 1897, people have been fascinated by vampires. These days, interest in the undead seems to be at an all-time high. Why are these creatures so popular? WPSU's Lindsey Whissel talks with a Penn State professor who studies trends in pop-culture.
In the run-up to the municipal elections on Nov 3., WPSU takes look at local races. Today, Cynthia Berger talks with the editor of the Centre Daily Times, Bob Heisse.
Frank Lloyd Wright is celebrated as America's pre-eminent architect--but his personal life was complicated and stormy. The Fellowship tells the story of the landmark training program Wright created for young apprentices--and the overbearing way in which he directed their professional development.
It's the "Superbowl of Trout Fishing!" Anglers gather in State College for the U.S. National Fly Fishing Championship. WPSU's Cynthia Berger follows angler Loren Williams as he trains for the big event.
Flu activity is now widespread and increasing in 37 states. Doctor visits, hospitalizations and flu-related deaths are also on the rise. What impact is H1N1 having locally? WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Dr. Theodore Ziff to find out. He's in charge of the emergency department at Mount Nittany Medical Center in Centre County.
Director Spike Jonze has turned a children's book with just 300 words into a feature-length Hollywood movie. As "Where the Wild Things Are" hits theaters, it's worth a look at the book to see how it holds up in its original format, 40 years after it was first published.
Every time someone asks me what my major is, I cringe. "I'm double-majoring," I tell them, "in Communication Media and English. It'll only take me four years to graduate." I'm proud of that accomplishment. But I'm always hesitant to talk about it, because the response is so predictable. "Oh ya? What're you gonna do with that?" As if I had said philosophy.
Pennsylvania has a reputation for beautiful autumn scenery. But in recent years, temperature, drought and insects have all contributed to lackluster leaf color. What are expectations for this year's fall foliage?
Ben Carson has a childhood dream of becoming a physician. Growing up in a single parent home with dire poverty, poor grades, a horrible temper, and low self-esteem appeared to preclude the realization of that dream until his mother, with only a third-grade education, challenged her sons to strive for excellence. Young Ben persevered and today is a full professor of neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery, and pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and he has directed pediatric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Children
Late 19th century Williamsport, PA, was a lumber boom town. Some of the wealth went to build churches--and to place in those churches magnificent stained glass windows. Lycoming College art historian Amy Golahny has curated an exhibit at Williamport's Taber Museum about the windows of Williamsport, a window into the town's past.
It took my wife and me three days to empty the cardboard boxes in our new apartment. I took care of the kitchen, unpacking mixing bowls and wooden spoons, placing them on unfamiliar shelves. "When will this feel like home?" I wondered. It didn't smell like home: the woodsy scent of particleboard in the cupboards, the overpowering lavender soap left by the previous tenants. It needed something familiar, like the smell of baking bread.
NPR international correspondent Tom Gjelten has written a history of Cuba using the story of the Bacardi family (famous for their rum) as a framework. Successful capitalists and guerilla revolutionaries, the Bacardis played a role in every stage of Cuba's fight for independence.
The election for governor isn't until 2010, but the field's already getting crowded. The latest candidate to join the Democratic field is Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato. He spoke to a group of students at Penn State University Park today. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
If you've tuned into the news lately, you probably heard Pennsylvania's budget impasse was on the verge of being solved. But two weeks after an agreement was trumpeted, Democrats and Republicans are still divided on critical issues, and the spending plan isn't anywhere near complete. Scott Detrow has a look at why the deal still isn't a deal.
I answer the phone and hear a familiar voice. "Kait!" she says. "I can't believe I'm celebrating my first birthday without you since that time you got strep. Was that fourth grade?"
If you're a Penn State alum--or a football fan--a visit to the University Park campus probably is not complete without a trip to the Penn State Creamery. A generously illustrated new book from Penn State Press gives fans the history of this venerable institution.
As the public television series on National Parks continues, WPSU takes a look at another kind of public resource in our commonwealth: the system of State Heritage Parks. More than 30 states have now adopted the model pioneered in Pennsylvania. WPSU's Lindsey Whissel talks about these regions with Bob Imof, Director of Government Contracts for the North Central Regional Planning Commission. Imhof helped establish the Pennsylvania Lumber Heritage Region, the second largest Heritage Park in the US.
How much time did your kids spend doing homework this weekend? For stressed-out parents and over-scheduled children, homework can be a major source of tension. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Gerald LeTendre, head of the Education Policy Studies department at Penn State, about the battle over homework.
Today and throughout this week, public television premieres a new documentary by Ken Burns about America's National Parks. In honor of the series, WPSU's Emily Reddy takes a look at one of the many state parks in Pennsylvania
The upcoming G-20 meetings in are a magnet for social activism and protest. Penn State sociology professor John McCarthy talks with WPSU's Patty Satalia about who the protestors are, what their message is, and how preparations for protest are being handled in Pittsburgh.
Back in 1999, the World Trade Organization conference in Seattle was the setting for violent protests. Liam Moriarty was there; he's a reporter with public radio member station KPLU in Seattle. Larkin Page-Jacobs, of Pennsylvania member station WDUQ, interviewed Moriarty recently, to ask what lessons Pittsburgh can learn from Seattle for the upcoming G-20 summit.
Barbisch is president of Global Deterrence Alternatives, a strategic planning organization providing policy and program guidance on integrating solutions related to the national security threats of terrorism, natural disasters, and emerging infectious diseases. She is among the nation's most distinguished experts in terrorism and disaster preparedness and response. With more than 20 years in managing complex medical and organizational challenges, Barbisch moved her focus to the complexities of combating terrorism and complex disaster management in the early 1990s. She has been described as a visionary in reducing threats and responding to complex disasters both nationally and internationally.
As a strategic planner, Barbisch focuses on developing effective programs built on evidence-based information, measurable objectives, and best outcomes in catastrophic events. Barbisch uses research-based theory and practice reinforced by modeling and simulation to drive decision support tools at all levels from individual preparedness and response to executive decision-making for today's escalating threat environment. Her integrated training and operational modeling are designed to produce a cultural shift in preparedness. She is a leader, educator, facilitator, and proven agent for change who can build or reform organizational cultures to deal effectively with the ambiguous and unknown challenges in today's environment.
In addition to her other civilian accomplishments, Barbisch is a retired army major general. She served in a multitude of active and reserve assignments from Vietnam to the Pentagon. Her most recent assignment was as director of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear program integration for the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Barbisch holds a bachelor's degree from California University of Pennsylvania, a master's degree in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a doctorate in health administration from the Medical University of South Carolina.
More soldiers from the Pennsylvania National Guard came home yesterday, after a tour of duty in Iraq. WPSU's Cynthia Berger was there when friends and family welcomed soldiers home to Bradford and Ridgway, and collected this impression.
The Greenwood Furnace Folk Gathering is a weekend full of musical fun. The focus this year is on Pennsylvania music; WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with folklorist Carl Rahkonen of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, about the life and work of a pioneering Pennsylvania musicologist, Samuel Bayard.
Municipal elections are Nov 3 . . . and the candidates are getting out there. The candidates for Centre County District Attorney were at the Grange Fair last week.
The mayor of State College died last week; his memorial service is today. Most people know Bill Welch because he was mayor, or from his previous job as a reporter and editor for the Centre Daily Times. But he wore a lot of other hats. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
In a university town there's often conflict between students and permanent residents. The neighborhoods near Penn State University Park are no exception. Some residents are fed up with student partying, and the University and Borough are trying new tactics to intervene. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
Governor Rendell talked yesterday with reporter Scott Detrow of member station WITF in Harrisburg, about the state budget impasse. Excerpts aired in this morning news; here's the complete interview.
Small groups of soldiers from the Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker are returning to their Central Pennsylvania hometowns this week. WPSU's Cynthia Berger was in Bellefonte yesterday for one reunion.
The Pennsylvania Poetry Society just held its annual poetry contest. And the winner is . . . a poet from Arkansas. Dana Washington says, you should read his new book.
Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey head back to D-C next week to work on healthcare legislation. During the break, they held town hall meetings. Some of them
As football season begins, we talk with WSPU-TV producers Jeff Hughes and Cole Cullen, whose documentary, "Making the Blue Band," chronicles the famous Penn State marching band. And, to celebrate the 200 anniversary of Edgar Allen Poe's birthday, Penn State DuBois professor of English Richard Kopley discusses his latest book,which tracks the origins of POe's most famous short stories.
Centre County's yearly Grange Fair starts today. It takes a lot of people to put on the fair: People to organize the livestock and the thousands of exhibit items. People to find the musical acts, and line up the rides and concessions. People to set up 980 tents, and to help 15-hundred RVs park in neat lines. WPSU's Emily Reddy talked to a long-time Grange Fair organizer as he prepared for opening day.
In Chinese culture there is a concept called "tong zhou gong ji"; the very sprit of cooperation. On a trip to China with my family, I saw that concept in action.
For six years, the world has watched Iraq's fledgling Democratic government struggle to take shape. Soldiers in the Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade are getting a first-hand look at that process as they provide security for regional lawmakers. Scott Detrow, of member station WITF, was in Iraq recently and rode along with the soldiers in the security detail.
Municipal pension funds have taken a big hit in the stock market recently. Towns may need to raise property taxes to fill the gap. The Pennsylvania Assembly COULD consider a couple of bills this week that would help head off tax increases. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
Bellefonte native and Marine Corps sergeant Bill Cahir was killed this week while serving in Afghanistan. Central Pennsylvanian residents got to know him in 2008 as a Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress.
This recording includes two late-night diary entries from platoon sergeant Matt Nedrow, a Bellefonte resident; the first was recorded in March, when he was a bit more than halfway his one-year tour of duty . . . and a little bit homesick. The second entry was recorded in July, when the end of the mission had started to seem like a reality.
Two years ago, a young man in Central Pennsylvania was convicted of a crime and handed an unusual sentence: he was given the choice to make a contribution to society. Thom Brewster, director of a local nonprofit that works for "restorative justice," says, judge and defendant both did the right thing.
The Pennsylvania state budget isn't the only one falling short. Cities across the state face shortfalls as well. In Philadelphia, Mayor Michael Nutter says the city needs to cut 700 million from its budget. The much smaller city of Bradford, in Northern Pennsylvania, has its own budget woes. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
The CDC predicts the H1N1 virus could affect as many as 40 percent of all Americans this fall. WPSU takes a look at how people are preparing in Centre County
Sgt. Matt Nedrow of Bellefonte describes the terrain and the people of Nasser Wa' Salaam, the small town near Baghdad that lends its name to a military Joint Service Station
Written by a former president and historian Forest K. Fisher, this book on Mifflin County offers a unique glimpse into one of the historic areas of Pennsylvania. Pictures, letters, and detailed descriptions of influential people and places map out the county's past from its founding in 1789. Whether you are a history buff, or just a curious Pennsylvania resident, this book has some interesting facts to offer.
WITF's Scott Detrow continues his reports from Iraq. The Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Strkyer Brigade is based at Camp Taji, but it also mans nine smaller bases called "joint service stations"--with the Iraqi Army.
One of Pennsylvania's most endangered natives is the bog turtle. Development has taken a toll on its habitat: stream-fed wetlands in eastern Pennsylvania. Penn State researchers are working with landowners to reverse the downward trend. The Allegheny Front's Deborah Weisberg has the story.
This month, Scott Detrow of member station WITF in Harrisburg is on assignment in Iraq. Today's story about Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade looks at the small military bases called "joint service stations." These bases need fuel, water and food -- and it's the 328th Brigade Support Battalion's job to get those supplies there. . . .
This month, Scott Detrow of member station WITF in Harrisburg is on assignment in Iraq, reporting on the members of The Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade. Soldiers who are injured or sick at Camp Taji make their way to a squat building nicknamed, "Charlie Med." Detrow paid a visit on a slow night...
I grew up lucky. I had a home where I could put my report cards and spelling tests on the fridge door. I could sprint across the alley to my friend Lizzy's house if her phone line was busy. I could go for a run around the neighborhood and treasure my part of the early morning calm. Growing up, my life was easy and safe.
This book, recently featured on NPR's Morning Edition, examines the Earth through a multifaceted lens. On one level, John Felstiner has compiled a noteworthy collection of nature poems and poets, many of whom are from Pennsylvania. On another level, the author takes a breathtaking look at the environmental threats currently facing the natural world. These elements combine in a book designed to spark the desire to preserve, appreciate, and protect our planet.
Thirty-three thousand Pennsylvania state workers will have their first payless payday on Friday unless a budget is passed before then. Union members from across Central Pennsylvania climbed on buses today and headed to Harrisburg to protest. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
Homes in Pennsylvania entering foreclosure reached a four-year-high last March. Kate Newton of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, talks about assistance programs that could keep some Pennsylvanians in their homes. And, Peter Hudson,biology professor at Penn State University, discusses the evolution of new infections, such as the swine flu.
Remember Slinky, from your childhood? The big coil of wire that walks down stairs? Slinky is the State Toy of Pennsylvania. And the Hollidaysburg house of the woman who named and ran Slinky for decades is on the auction block tomorrow. WPSU's Emily Reddy got a sneak peak at the Slinky memorabilia that will also be auctioned off and talked "Slinky history" with the son of Slinky's inventor.
Communicating and cooperating with the Iraqi Army is one of the main challenges members of the Pennsylvania National Guard's 56h Stryker Brigade are facing during deployment. As part of our ongoing "Impact of War" series, Scott Detrow -- of member station WITF -- goes along with a platoon as it searches for buried weapons with Iraqi soldiers.
I wake up to the slight pulsing of my left big toe -- like the vibrations of a car with the bass up way too high. I clumsily dropped my skate onto the toe yesterdayblade down. I throw my covers off and swing my legs up into the air while still lying down so I can examine the toe. "Looks normal," I think. It's fine. I slide my legs off the bed and stand up. I walk groggily into the bathroom. With each step, my left ankle clicks and a sharp pain runs up my leg. I ignore it and continue on. You learn to adjust to the pain.
This small book by renowned entomologist and humanist E.O. Wilson asks some big questions. What happens when science and religion are necessary to save creation (both the spiritual and natural kind)? Couched in a letter to an imaginary Southern Baptist Preacher, Wilson sends a plea not only to the religious world, but also to the universe. He asks that we put aside differences in thought and bring great minds together
Pennsylvania state budget negotiations have now moved to a House Senate Conference Committee. WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with Republican Representative Kerry Benninghoff this afternoon about the budget impasse. Representative Benninghoff is a House Republican whose district is made up of parts of Centre and Mifflin Counties.
The Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade is a bit more than two-thirds of the way through a nine-month tour in Iraq. As part of WPSU's ongoing "Impact of War" series, member station WITF's Scott Detrow recently sat down with the unit's commander, Colonel Marc Ferraro, at the unit's headquarters at Camp Taji.
Over the years, as soldiers trained with live ammo at the PA National Guard's Fort Indiantown Gap, they did more than maintain their skills; they maintained habitat for a threatened butterfly, the regal fritillary. Now biologists are working to expand the butterfly's range, with habitat improvement projects at the Gap and Bald Eagle State Park. WPSU's Cynthia Berger reports.
I remember being the happiest I've ever been when I was about six years old. I was playing in a field near my house. It was early summer and getting dark. I remember I could see a storm coming over the hills, but I lay in the grass with my brother and sister looking up into the clouds. The entire sky was a light brown color as the sun hugged the mountaintop. We waited for the rain, and when it finally came, we ran around letting the droplets run down our cheeks.
Penn State University planned for modest tuition increases this fall, but last week university trustees considered an alternate plan...a hefty tuition increase if state budget cuts came through. WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with Penn State spokesman Jeff Rushton Thursday afternoon, about which plan was chosen, and why.
This Pulitzer Prize winning tale of overweight "ghetto nerd" Oscar Leon is Junot Diaz's debut novel. In a narrative rich in Spanglish, history and culture, it spans the lives of Oscar and several of his family members as they struggle with the family curse of fuku. Fuku stems from actual Dominican folklore Junot grew up with, and its effects can be seen throughout the book as the characters pay dearly for the choices in love, and life, they've made.
The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts took place in State College this past weekend. And one of the big draws on the entertainment schedule turned out to be a performance that included a well-known voice from National Public Radio. WPSU's Kristine Allen has the story.
A year ago, milk prices were high. Dairy farmers took advantage of the spike and produced more milk. Now the market is flooded and prices have dipped dramatically. That leaves milk producers across the United States and Pennsylvania just trying to stay afloat till prices come back up. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
Governor Ed Rendell was in Bellefonte Thursday--one stop in a two day statewide trip to promote his budget proposal in general and funding for education in particular.
This book follows the life of nutritionist turned author Joan Dye Gussow as she embarks on a journey to create a life based on sustainable agriculture. By farming her own soil, she produces healthy, organic produce, and creates some interesting recipes (included in the book) geared toward her new crops. This Organic Life is an aspiring tale of one woman's goal to live off the land, and the hazards and triumphs she faces because of it.
WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Penn State Dickinson Law professor Greg McNeal about the issues faced by the Obama administration as it tries to close the prison at Guantanamo
Firewirks are a Fourth of July tradition. If you happen to travel to State College, for the Fourth Fest display, you can see a major fireworks display. But also watch the crowd for scientists handing out free viewing masks--the same technology used to study the stars. WPSU's Cynthia Berger explains
The United States is mired in a recession, but three Penn State economists are looking to the future. Their recent study, "Pennsylvania: Road to Growth," uses past employment figures to predict the state's economy. post recession. WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with two of the report's authors.
This re-issue of the essay collection by NPR personality Cokie Roberts spans generations of women in every field and occupation imaginable. Roberts paints pictures of strength, heroism and courage. The vignettes both inspire and prove that regardless of sex, race ,or age, a goal can be achieved if you set your mind to it.
Under Governor Rendell's latest budget proposal, Penn State COULD receive about 60 million dollars LESS in state appropriations this coming year. To put the numbers in context, WPSU's Cynthia Berger talked with Michael Wood of the PA Budget and Policy Center
In Iran, at least 17 people have been killed while protesting results of the recent presidential election. At dusk last night, about 80 State College residents gathered to remember those killed. They held candles and observed twenty minutes of silence in front of Penn State's administration building, Old Main. WPSU's Emily Reddy gathered their voices.
Earlier this week President Obama signed legislation meant to curb youth tobacco use. Also in this week's news: Governor Rendell introduced a tobacco tax to help meet Pennsylvania's budget shortfall. Meanwhile, here in Central Pennsylvania, a new report shows high rates of tobacco use by rural youth. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
Last night I ate a salad of radishes, field greens, and asparagus. The ingredients never sat in a grocery store. Less than 2 days ago they were still stuck in the ground.
The human desire to leave behind something lasting is the concept behind this novel. The narrator, Reverend John Ames, knows his health is failing; as an inheritance for his seven-year-old son, he pens the intricate story of his life. Marilynne Robinson's tale illuminates the difficulties of fatherhood and family, and the ties that bind us all together.
Pennsylvania will receive a little more than a billion dollars in federal stimulus funds for transportation projects. We talk with Kevin Kline of PennDOT, about projects here in central Pennsylvania. And, a local nonprofit association is dedicated to helping small businesses with startup and management. We talk with two representatives of SCORE.
Sounds like a science fiction movie plot. Something ancient is dug up and brought back to life. But it really happened. WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with Penn State researcher Dr. Jennifer Loveland-Curtze.
Two Penn State meteorologists went to "Tornado Alley" this spring to take part in VOTEX2, the biggest study ever of the origins of tornadoes. WPSU's Kris Allen rode along.
Art critics cite Bradford native Roger Hane as one of the most important illustrators of the 20th century. A retrospective exhibit of his works opens today on the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford. WPSU's Cynthia Berger talks with Robert Hunsicker, author of a new book about Hane's life and work.
Award-winning author P.J. Piccirillo is no stranger to the land and history of Pennsylvania. As a native of the state, he has taken his expertise and experiences and crafted an inspiring debut novel of two men in a small logging town in the Alleghany Plateau. Heartwood follows John Blesh and Tobias Meier as they each try to find their way through life, and reflects the impact that the land and Pennsylvania culture has on them during their journey.
Democrats in the U.S. House and Senate are introducing healthcare reform legislation at President Obama's request. And one of the reform efforts appears to be modeled after a Pennsylvania healthcare innovation. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
The Annual Pennsylvania Rural Health Conference took place recently in State College. WPSU's Emily Reddy spoke with keynote speaker Tom Morris, Associate Administrator for Rural Health Policy in the Health Resources and Services Administration of the federal government.
Two years ago, a mysterious ailment started killing bats in New York State. Now "white nose syndrome" is affecting bats in Pennsylvania. We'll get an update on the problem from PA Game Commission biologist Lisa Williams. Plus, we'll talk with Dr. David Servan-Schreiber, whose book Anti-Cancer recounts the author's own battle with brain cancer.
Two years ago, a mysterious ailment started killing bats in New York State. Now the problem, called "White Nose Syndrome," has spread to bats in Pennsylvania. How serious is this problem? . . . And, why we should care if bats are dying? To find out more, WPSU's Cynthia Berger talked with Lisa Williams, a biologist with the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Memory Boy by Will Weaver (HarperTeen, 2003) Under a War-Torn Sky by L,M Elliott (Hyperion, 2003) Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix (Aladdin, 2006) Under the Persimmon Tree by Suzanne Fisher Staples (Square Fish, 2008) Blood Trailby Nancy Springer (Holiday House, 2006) As summertime rolls around again, your child's urge to become a couch potato greatly increases. To combat this summer lethargy, Dotty Delafield has chosen a list of books that will engage and distract even the most stubborn reader. With her concise, engaging pitches, called "Sound Bite Book Talks," she pulls listeners in, and inspires the urge to pick up a book instead of the remote.
There's "Microsoft Office for Dummies." There's "Gardening for Dummies." But there's NO book called, "War Zone Reporting for Dummies." Meanwhile, reporter Scott Detrow--from NPR member station WITF--is about to go to Iraq . . . to report on troops from the Pennsylvania National Guard who are stationed there. In this segment of WPSU's "Impact of War" series, Detrow describes the week-long training course, held recently in Georgia, that helped him prepare to report from a war zone.
Two competing bills propose to fill part of PA's budget gap by tapping into the wealth created by drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale. WPSU's Cynthia Berger recently traveled to Troy, PA for a public information meeting about gas drilling in Bradford County and filed this report.
During World War II, Americans helped the war effort by growing their own vegetables, in what were known as "Victory Gardens." Here in Pennsylvania, citizens planted more than a million such gardens. Fifty years later, in today's economic climate, the Victory Garden is once again fashionable, but as a way to triumph over economic challenges. WPSU's Cynthia Berger talked with a farm couple who teaches workshops in the art of the victory garden
Have you heard the joke about the boy who was being baptized? He was being dunked in the river for the third time when the preacher asked the lad what he believed. The boy replied, "I believe you're gonna drown me if you keep this up.
In this collection of thought-provoking essays from edge.org, members from every field of study contemplate what it means to change your mind about something. From thoughts about God and the universe, to scientific findings and human biology, these experts ponder what exactly it means to reconsider previously held beliefs and how it can have an impact on their lives.
College seniors have crossed the stage in their caps and gowns and moved those tassels from right to left. Now grads are trying to land that first job.in the worst job market in decades. A recent survey says employers plan to hire 22 percent fewer college graduates this year than last. The tough job market has led some Central Pennsylvania grads to adjust their career plans. WPSU's Emily Reddy followed two college Seniors in the weeks before graduation as they attempted to enter the work world.
Local author Carolyn Turgeon talks with Cynthia Berger about her new book, and its unique take on Cinderella's Fairy Godmother. And Geisinger's Dr. Alfred Casale discusses with WPSU's Kevin Conaway why Geisinger may become a national model for some aspects of its health care.
Yesterday, WPSU brought you a story about Central Pennsylvanians who are gardening more to cut their food bills. Today, a story about Pennsylvania gardeners who are planting a little extra to give to those in need. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
The healthcare warranties offered by Pennsylvania-based Geisinger Health System are drawing national attention. WPSU's Kevin Conaway talks with Dr. Alfred Casale, director of Cardiothoracic Surgery and associate chief medical officer for Geisinger Health System, about how the warranties work.
During the First and Second World Wars, Americans planted Victory Gardens in their backyards. With today's economy in turmoil, Central Pennsylvanians are once again ripping up lawns and shrubs to plant vegetables and grow savings. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
Since the emergence of Memorial Day in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, it has been become a day of reflection on the sacrifices other Americans have made for our country. One resident of Boalsburg has taken this a step further and written a story that takes us back to the Civil War era. In her book, Janice Sweet McElhoe tells us her version of how this holiday came about and the struggles of her fellow townsmen and women during a troubling time.
So . . . you're interested in folk music. How do you beef up your skills? Here in Central Pennsylvania, you go to college . . . "Folk College," that is. The distinctive three-day music festival just celebrated its 10th anniversary. WPSU's Cynthia Berger was there.
Patty Satalia talks with Kate Newton, director of Homeownership Programs with the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, which has helped more than 40,000 Pennsylvanians avoid foreclosure since 1972... ....and the emergence of Swine flu has health experts concerned. Patty discussed the subject with Dr. Peter Hudson, director of the Huck Institute of the life Sciences and the Willaman professor of biology at Penn State University Park.
Game Commission biologists climb down a cliff face to put identifylng bands on baby peregrines. Nearly wiped out by exposure to the pesticide DDT in the mid-20th century, the peregrine--fastest bird on Earth--are starting to make a comeback in cities, where tall buildings mimic their natural cliffside nest sites. Now, in Pennsylvania, the birds are slowly starting to populate cliffs as well.
Heavy, wet snow fell on Philadelphia. I was visiting the city for the first time to see my parents' new home. They'd moved from leafy suburbia to a gritty street of narrow row houses in South Philly. I wondered what they could have been thinking. Graffiti covered doorways. Broken glass laced the street. It was a place without trees. A place that looked short on hope.
Laura Gozenbach has crafted a collection of Sicilian folk and fairy tales that transcend the test of time. Her skill at storytelling transforms these old tales into detailed, thrilling accounts of magical encounters, princes and princesses and other adventures. And now, for the first time, her work has been adapted to English by the translator of The Brothers Grimm to allow an ever expanding audience to enjoy the stories.
Local municipal primaries are tomorrow. And the number of voters who get out to the polls is usually pretty low. In 2007, less than 30% of registered voters in Centre County cast their ballots. Bill White is a columnist for The Morning Call of Allentown. He also has a blog on the paper's website called Blogging With Bill White, where he has blogged about municipal elections. WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with White last week about the importance of these elections.
Ben Carson grew up poor in a single-parent home, yet he made his dream of becoming a doctor come true. He has also become a role model for disadvantaged young people. Next week, he visits Williamsport as the keynote speaker at a benefit to support the Lycoming County YWCA. WPSU's Patty Satalia spoke to Dr. Carson recently, about his career path and the educational initiative he has started.
All week, WPSU has been talking with local newspaper staff at papers throughout the WPSU listening area. We've talked with The Centre Daily Times, The DuBois Courier Express, The Altoona Mirror, and The Ridgway Record. On Wednesday, WPSU's Emily Reddy talked on the phone with Jim Runkle, a staff writer for the Lock Haven Express, about races in his area.
Our series on the upcoming municipal primaries continues as WPSU's Cynthia Berger talks with Kay Stephens of the Altoona Mirror about races in Blair and Cambria counties.
Thrift is a way of life for my parents. They were both born into families hit hard by the Great Depression. As kids they learned to skimp to make ends meet and throughout their lives they've never veered from that habit.
A fractal is a patterned object that looks the same whether you view it from close up or far away. Poet Timothy Green sees an analogy in the structure of American society.
It's time to go back to the pollsTuesday, May 19, Pennsylvanians choose their parties' representatives through municipal primary races. All this week, WPSU interviews local newspaper editors about the races in their regions . . . Elk and McKean counties are served by the newspapers The Ridgway Record, The Kane Republican, and The St. Mary's Daily Press. Today, WPSU's Emily Reddy talks with Brent Addleman, editor of those three papers.
To get you ready for the May 19 municipal primaries, WPSU looks at the races of particular interest in our region. Today, Cynthia Berger talks with Nick Hoffman, managing editor of the DuBois Courier Express, which serves Clearfield, Jefferson and Elk counties.
On May 19, Pennsylvanians go to the polls for the municipal primaries. All this week, WPSU brings you interviews with local newspaper editors about races of particular interest in our region. Today: Bob Heisse, executive editor of the Centre Daily Times.
The state is building a new medium security prison next to the existing Rockview facility. The state prison population has grown by 21 percent since 2001; the state's department of corrections already has 46,000 inmates in 26 state correctional institutions, a motivational boot camp, and 13 community corrections
Not everyone faced hard times during the Great Depression. These lucky few who had specialized skills helped their neighbors and gave generously to charities.
Local Pennsylvania politics have been getting some national attention recently. Senator Arlen Specter announced last week that he was returning to the Democratic Party. NPR Political editor Ken Rudin was in State College yesterday and WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with him in our studios.
Listen to former teachers describe the difficulties they faced during the Depression: students with bad behavior, alcoholic parents, and continuous paycuts. Their experiences give us a perspective on today's economic downturn.
Many people say my mother and I are like two peas. But I think our personalities are opposite. I am an optimistic and easygoing person, while my mother is hasty and judgmental. We have fights nearly every day.
The Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award is given each year by local organizations to recognize the most outstanding new book of children's poetry published in the previous calendar year. This year, the committee selected Diamond Willow, by Helen Frost, which tells the story of a 12-year-old dogmusher, and her lead dog, Roxy.
The Bradford "StinkFest" is a street festival that celebrates a seasonal speciality of Pennsylvania--wild ramps, also known as wild leeks. The smelly herb has also inspired an athletic competition at the festival: outhouse racing.
Penn State Historian William Pencak takes WPSU's Josh Korn on a tour of town and campus to learn just how Centre County was affected during the Great Depression.
An exhibit of New-Deal era artwork is on display at the State Historical Museum in Harrisburg. State College resident David Lembeck conceived the idea and is the co-curator. The exhibit is titled A Common Canvas: Pennsylvania's New Deal Post Office Murals. It is part of the national recognition of the 75th anniversary of the New Deal. Patty Satalia spoke with David Lembeck about the exhibit. Penn State's Palmer Museum of Art is a free-admission arts resource for the University and surrounding communities in central Pennsylvania. The financial crisis has led some universities to consider selling off collections or closing their art museums altogether. Patty Satalia spoke with Jan Muhlert about the situation at Palmer Museum of Art
Mushrooms are Pennsylvania's number one cash crop. But they're mostly grown in warehouses. The state does have plenty of wild mushrooms as well. And in the next couple of weeks, mushroom lovers will be on the trail of the morel, which grows ONLY in the wild. WPSU's Emily Reddy joined some novice mycologists to learn from a master how to identify the morel.
An exhibit of New-Deal era artwork is on display at the State Historical Museum in Harrisburg. State College resident David Lembeck conceived the idea and is the co-curator. The exhibit is titled A Common Canvas: Pennsylvania's New Deal Post Office Murals. It opened November 2008 and will continue to the middle of May. It is part of the national recognition of the 75th anniversary of the New Deal. The subject matter chosen for the art was usually tied to local history or industry. Patty Satalia spoke with David Lembeck
Yesterday on WPSU's This I Believe, Kane resident Liza Greville talked about why she believes in reading scary stories to her children. To find out what the experts say about "scary stories for kids," WPSU's Emily Reddy recently talked to Dr. Steven Herb, a collection development specialist for children's literature at Penn State University Park.
Irish-American journalist and government official Samantha Power recently released this debut book, which explores America's response to genocides in the 20th century. Power touches upon everything from the Armenian genocide to "ethnic cleansing" in Kosovo. A Problem from Hell won the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-fiction in 2003.
It's common for up-and-coming musicians to headline music festivals at big universities. Students at Penn State University Park have brought to campus such musicians as Sonic Youth and Wilco for the annual "Movin' On" Festival. A new festival at the school, Wallypalooza, is drawing some controversy because of headliner Asher Roth. Senior journalism major, Adam Clair, is the Tuesday columnist for the Penn State paper, The Daily Collegian. He adapted his opinion piece about Asher Roth's visit for WPSU.
As part of his budget plan for 2009-2010, Governor Rendell proposes to zero out funding for Public Broadcasting statewide. Anne Danahy of the Centre Daily Times talks with WPSU's General Manager Ted Krichels about what that could mean for WPSU and PBS stations across the state.
Pennsylvania's lieutenant governor, Joe Scarnati, makes local news today as he addresses the 2009 graduating class at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Recently, WPSU's Cynthia Berger talked with the lieutenant governor, about his unique position in government and about the budgeting process ongoing in the legislature.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is planning to conduct a proscribed burn in Centre County's Scotia Barrens. The Scotia Barrens is a unique forestland just north of State College. The burn is supposed to improve habitat conditions for the plants and animals in the forest. WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with Penn State professor of wildlife resources, Gary San Julian in the section of the Scotia Barrens where the burn will occur.
Governor Rendell has proposed to cut funding entirely for the Pennsylvania Public Television Network for the coming fiscal year. This would effect all Public Television stations in the state -- including WPSU. Reporter Ann Danahy of the Centre Daily Times spoke about the situation with WPSU's General Manager Ted Krichels. This is an excerpt from that interview.
As part of university-wide cost-cutting measures, Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania proposed to cut its men's baseball program. Alums and fans used social networking to organize a protest and save their sport.
For most of my professional life I've worked as a health care administrator. Over the years, I've come to understand that providing high quality and cost-effective care is important, but it's just one part of a more meaningful process. The true challenge for health care is protecting human dignity.
Author and historian John Hope Franklin passed away a few weeks ago at the ripe old age of 94. He is best known for his landmark book, From Slavery to Freedom: A History of African-Americans. The book, first published in 1947, sold more than three million copies and altered the way African-American history was studied. Franklin wrote several other books on understanding African-American history. In 1995, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.
Thirty years ago, when white supremacists began to deny publicly that the Holocaust ever happened, civil rights activist Ken Lawrence decided to fight back
Last week, here on WPSU, we reported, less garbage is going into landfills in this down economy. Today, a story about people who salvage what others throw out. WPSU's Emily Reddy introduces you to some State College residents who see DUMPSTER DIVING as a way to protest what they see as a culture of wastefulnessand to have a good time.
Ken Lawrence is a Boalsburg stamp-collector who has documented the horrors of the Nazi regime through a collection of letters, leaflets and other postal memorabilia
Tomorrow is "Adult Autism Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania. This developmental disorder is best known for its impacts on children--but adults with autism can find it challenging to get the services they need. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Penn State student Scott Robertson, an autistic "self advocate."
The other day my daughter Emma mentioned her class was writing to French students about the typical eating habits of Americans. She observed few of her friends' families ate dinner together. This conversation made me reflect on why I believe eating dinner as a family is important.
Only recently have researchers figured out how to extract the vast reservoir of natural gas locked beneath Pennsylvania in the rock formation called the Marcellus shale. To understand the possible impacts of widespread drilling on local communities, we can look to how gas drilling has affected ANOTHER state. A gas rush in Wyoming is the subject of a new book by award-winning author Alexandra Fuller, who will talk at the Penn State University Park campus next week.
Pennsylvania's human service agencies report an increase in domestic violence. Is it related to the economic downturn? We talk with Anne Ard, director of the Center County Women's Resource Center, and Peg Diekers, director of the PA Coalition Against Domestic Violence, about the connection between financial stress and domestic violence. Also, the rate of teen pregnancy is on the rise, after a decade of downward trends. Patricia Koch directs a new program at Penn State aimed at combating the twin issues of teen pregnancy and STDs.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness month. The Centre County Domestic and Sexual Violence Task Force is working to make sure ALL victims of violence get the help they need
A down economy means less of everything: It means ordering less take-out and finishing up those leftovers. It means patching up that old stove instead of buying a new one. It means holding off on building that dream house. And all that means less garbage. The amount of waste going into landfills across the United States
Pennsylvania native and Penn State alum Steven Kurutz translates his love for rock-n-roll music into a debut book that observes life at the "lower altitudes of the music industry." Kurutz follows the tribute band "Sticky Fingers" as the Rolling Stones knock-offs tour North America in 2005-2006.
Pennsylvania has a reputation for being the "puppy mill" capital of the East. We talk with Sarah Speed of the Pennsylvania Humane Society about a new state law that will require certain kennels to conduct twice a year veterinary exams and specifies larger cage sizes,and exercise requirements. And, an initiative called "A Few Good Women" increased the number of women in federal government. Barbara Franklin, Penn State Alum and former Secretary of Commerce spoke at the university recently about this initiative.
The cost of college continues to climb--and in this economy, many families find themselves stretched or outright unable to pay tuition bills. Governor Rendell has plans to make college more affordable. WPSU's Emily Reddy looks at how these plans would affect students and colleges in Central Pennsylvania.
This week, a congressional subcommittee met to consider the worst coal ash spill in U.S. history . . . when a dam at a Tennessee power plant gave way, spilling a billion gallons of toxic sludge. Pennsylvania had a similar spill back in 2005
Author Alan Moore is one of the few authors to bring graphic novels into the mainstream. Most recently, his graphic novel Watchmen was adapted into a major motion picture. The events unfold in a United States with an alternate history, where superheroes emerged in the 1940s and 1960s to help the nation win the Vietnam War and, eventually, fight off the Soviet Union.
National Public Radio has a tradition of April Fool's Day stories . . . and in that spirit, we bring you a story about a new technology teens will long for.
Our first guest is Lee Ann De Rues, professor of human development at Penn State Altoona and co-founder of the Save Darfur Central Pennsylvania chapter. De Rues is the 2009 recipient of the Carl Wilkens Fellowship, an honor given by the Genocide Intervention Network to twenty individuals across the country who have shown dedication to ending genocide. We also talk with celebrated pianist Emanuel Ax, who performs with violinist Itzhak Perlman, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma at Penn State's Center for the Performing Arts March 30th.
The controversial Employee Free Choice Act is currently working its way through Congress. Pennsylvania is a battleground for the legislation because of large union presence in the state
On March 28, 1979, a cooling malfunction caused a partial melt-down at the Three Mile Island nuclear power facility. The accident resulted in a significant release of radioactivity over an eastern Pennsylvania town. In The Warning: Accident at Three Mile Island, authors Mike Gray and Ira Rosen explore the cause of the accident and the effects it has had on local residents.
The Rocky Mountain News is defunct. The Seattle Post Intelligencer has stopped printing and exists on-line only. Pundits predict the imminent demise of the New York Times. Is "the end of newspapers" upon us? Three editors from small, local Pennsylvania papers say community newspapers will endure.
Connie Schultz is a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The Plain Dealer in Cleveland, known for a body of work that reflects compassion, humanity and an abiding concern for the underdog. She talks about her newest book, a memoir chronicling the 2006 Senate campaign of her husband Sherrod Brown. And, in late March in Centre County
Maybe you've heard the joke: State College, a drinking town with a university problem. But local officials aren't laughing about the public drunkenness, or the cost to the borough each time big groups gather to drink. Home football games . . . State Patty's Day . . . and this past Tuesday, St. Patrick's Day . . . it all adds up. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
I think a lot about what people think of me. I think about what they see when I first walk through the classroom door and choose a desk appropriately far from the front, and yet not completely in the back. Wondering what sort of person I look like occupies my mind quite a bit at the beginning of every school year. I especially think about how I appear in classes where I don't really know anyone, and no one really knows me, except as the quiet girl who once sat in front of them in math class or whatever. The "quiet girl": It's a pretty safe way to not look like a complete weirdo. Ok, then . . . not a loser. Mission accomplished.
This week marks the sixth anniversary of the war in Iraq. Over the past six years, some Central Pennsylvania residents have made protesting the war a WEEKLY tradition. WPSU's Cynthia Berger has more.
Award-winning author P.J. Piccirillo is no stranger to the land and history of Pennsylvania. As a native of the state, he has taken his expertise and experiences and crafted an inspiring debut novel of two men in a small logging town in the Alleghany Plateau. Heartwood follows John Blesh and Tobias Meier as they each try to find their way through life, and reflects the impact that the land and Pennsylvania culture has on them during their journey.
The organization called SCORE provides free business counseling to Central Pennsylvania residents. We talk with Bill Asbury, chair of the central Pennsylvania SCORE chapter, and Ned Book, a local volunteer. We also talk with State Senator Jake Corman, head of the senate appropriations committee, about the state budget.
This I believe; the three most powerful words in my life are "Make It Happen." I apply this simple phrase to any project or goal. Saying "Make It Happen" eliminates negative thoughts and focuses me on the task at hand. By consistently applying this phrase I have accomplished many things in life, large and small.
For the past year, in the run up to deployment, three soldiers the Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade have been recording their experiences, to share with you. In today's audio diary installment, you hear from platoon sergeant Matt Nedrow, who documented the flight overseas. The destination is Kuwait
Award-winning author and Lock Haven University professor Marjorie Maddox is best known for her works of poetry. In her new book, due out this April, Maddox pays tribute to America's favorite pastime--baseball.
Four thousand members of the Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade are now on patrol in Tajii, north of Baghdad. Three soldiers have been recording their experiences, to share with the listeners of WPSU. This week you hear from platoon sergeant Matt Nedrow and Sergeant Jason Burrowes, in "audio diary" entries created before the deployment. The soliders had a few days home at Christmas. Then, they went "back to the gap"
When the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan started, the military became a less attractive option than in times of peace. Recruitments and reenlistments were down ... but with today's tough economy, jobs are scarce. And the military is now meeting all of its recruitment goals. The Pennsylvania National Guard is no exception. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
When I was younger, I was shy and my self-esteem was a little low. I'm told I usually walked around looking miserable, as if I was tasting something sour. I moved as if I were alone in this world. I remember I always had pressure on my face and and the weight of the world on my shoulders. I barely smiled. Smiling seemed like the hardest thing to do. People would greet me with a smile and a word. I would respond with a word, but probably not a smile. My not smiling wasn't a problem for my friends, because they knew that was my way of being.
Glenn Thompson, the freshman Congressman representing Pa's 5th district, traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan this past weekend. Thompson was part of a six-member Congressional Delegation that heard briefings on military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Congressman just returned to Pennsylvania yesterday ... he spoke with WPSU's Cynthia Berger about the trip.
The General Assembly is back in session and there are some new faces in Harrisburg. WPSU is introducing you to the new members of the Pennsylvania legislature who represent Central Pennsylvania. This week, WPSU's Emily Reddy talks with Representative Donna Oberlander.
This New York Times bestseller is based on a popular episode of Sex and the City. Now it's a movie. Reviewer Nikki Wasserman reviews this humorous self-help book.
Author Khaled Hosseini is best known for his 2003 award-winning novel, The Kite Runner. The Afghan-American novelist recently followed up with another searing epic of Afghanistan in turmoil. A Thousand Splendid Suns covers three decades of anti-Soviet jihad, civil war and Taliban tyranny through the lives of two courageous Afghani women.
The State Assembly is back in session and there are some new faces in Harrisburg. WPSU is introducing you to the new members of the Pennsylvania legislature who represent Central Pennsylvania. This week, WPSU's Emily Reddy talks with Representative Bryan Barbin.
Hundreds of Penn State students have now been on their feet in the Bryce Jordan Center for fourteen and a half hours. They've got thirty-one and a half more hours of dance marathon to go. This year's THON - the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon - raises awareness... and money... to fight pediatric cancer. One student organizer is attending her 18th THON in a row. WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with her.
When the Mason-Dixon Line comes up in discussion, most people think of the Civil War, or segregation. Pulitzer prize- winning journalist William Ecenbarger thinks differently. In his latest book, Walkin' the Line: A Journey from Past to Present, Ecenbarger walks the accessible parts of the 365-mile-long line and seeks out people whose stories shed light on the line's historical and racial significance.
It's Valentine's Day, when couples around the world express their love with thoughtful presents. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports on a Central Pennsylvania group that's spreading the love today.
This past summer, Governor Ed Rendell established a state 'office of diversity management,' making Pennsylvania the first state in the nation with such an office. WPSU's Cynthia Berger talks with Trent Hargrove, the state's first chief diversity officer, about the mission of the new office.
Digital media seem to be changing the very machinery of democracy; the Huffington Post has famously said, Barack Obama owes his election to the internet." State College Borough is experimenting with new technology for citizen participation in government decisions. WPSU's Cynthia Berger has the story.
Walter Lippmann once wrote, "The adjustment of man to his environment takes place through the medium of fictions." In other words, people depend on stories the way explorers depend on maps. By "fictions" I don't mean made-up stories. I mean the narratives by which we define ourselves.
Many Koreans suffered oppression in the mid 1900s, when Japan took over their country. When My Name was Keoko, describes the struggles one family faced. The young-adult novel is loosely based on the historical experiences of author Linda Sue Park's parents.
The Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture met for its annual conference this weekend. PASA has made an effort to make its conference as environmentally sound as the agriculture it promotes. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
Research shows, senior citizens fear moving out of their houses ... and the resulting loss of independence ... more than death. In Centre County, a special interest group is looking at ways the elderly can 'age in place.' WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with two leaders of that group.
The State Assembly is back in session and there are some new faces in Harrisburg. WPSU is introducing you to new members of the Pennsylvania legislature who represent Central Pennsylvania. Last week, you heard from Rick Mirabito. This week, WPSU's Emily Reddy talks with Representative Matt Gabler.
On a rainy morning when I was ten, my neighbor Mr. Lovett invited me into his home for a woodworking project. Above his fireplace sat an ornate eagle carved by Mr. Lovett himself. Its wingspan was wider than I was tall. I remember wondering how long it took him to make that eagle.
Sergeant Matt Nedrow is the senior officer and the 'married guy' among the three soldier-journalists who are reporting about their experiences in the PA National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade. The unit had a few days home over Christmas; Nedrow lives in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, with his wife Amy, his mother Cathy, and his two young children. He took some time to reflect on how it felt to be away all fall.
As part of our ongoing series of 'audio diaries' from members of the Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Styker Brigade, you hear from Specialist Ilan McPherson about how soldiers can make a home wherever they find themselves. McPherson recorded his comments this fall, while his unit was training at Fort Polk, Louisiana.
Today is Groundhog Day, and WPSU talks with the guy who literally 'wrote the book' on the quirky holiday. Don Yoder is an expert on the folklife and folklore of the Pennsylvania Dutch, and the author of Groundhog Day, by Pennsylvania publisher Stackpole Books.
The Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade is now in Kuwait, about to move to a base in Iraq. The soldiers had spent the fall training at 3 Army bases here in the State's Camp Shelby, Mississippi, Fort Polk, Louisiana, and Fort Dix, New Jersey. Three local soldiers are keeping 'audio diaries,' to share their experiences with you. Today, hear from Specialist Ilan McPherson and Platoon Sergeant Matt Nedrow of the 2nd 112th Infantry - based in Bellefont - about training at Camp Shelby.
Americans have great expectations for their new president ... expectations that will be hard to meet. But polls show optimism about the coming four years. Can we expect real change? And what does the new administration mean for us here in Pennsylvania? WPSU's Patty Satalia posed these questions to Michael Berkman, a professor of political science at Penn State's University Park campus who specializes in American politics.
The State Assembly is back in session and there are some new faces in Harrisburg. Over the next few weeks, WPSU will introduce you to new members of the Pennsylvania legislature who represent Central Pennsylvania. For the first interview in our series, WPSU's Emily Reddy talks with Representative Rick Mirabito.
Standup comic and late-night television host Chelsea Handler is known for her ruthless sense of humor. Her second book, Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea, is a collection of autobiographical essays about her life. This book is Handler's second on the New York Times Best-Seller List.
Now in its second year, 'One Book Bradford' is a communitywide project designed to encourage reading and stimulate discussion. This year the Bradford committee has selected David Laskin's award winning book The Children's Blizzard, a non-fiction literary account of a deadly blizzard that hit the U.S. plains states in January of 1888.
Arun Gandhi, peace activist and grandson of the legendary spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi, delivered the keynote speech at Penn State's 2009 Martin Luther King commemoration. Gandhi speaks about his life's work, lessons learned from his grandfather, and about his own efforts to spread the word of nonviolence across the globe.
The clouds were thick and grey as I sped southwest down Interstate-64 that fall day four years ago. In fact the whole theme of my 8-hour trip was gloom. Carcass-strewn roads; dense fogs; desolate highways
Scientific American has named Stanford Law professor Lawrence Lessig one of the Top 50 Visionaries in 2008. He is best known as proponent for loosening the restrictions of copyright and trademark laws. In his final book about copyright, Lessig describes how the past and the future can help each of us thrive in today's 'hybrid economy.'
The inauguration's over. The people have gone home and the reporters have packed away their cameras, notepads and recording equipment. And how did they do at covering the inauguration? WPSU's Emily Reddy spoke Mike Hogan, a communications professor at Penn State University.
State College resident Greg Stewart was in DC last night, at the 'Yes We Did' Celebration; an inaugural ball at the Washington Plaza, hosted by Pennsylvania democrats. Stewart, the co-chair for Obama's field campaign in PA, phoned us with a first-hand account of the event.
Bob Storch teaches American National Government at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania. He grew up in the era of Vietnam and says, being at the Inauguration was on his 'Bucket List.'
Lucy Harlowe of Lemont, PA, promised her children PJ and Erin at trip to the Inauguration as a reward for their energetic work on behalf of the Obama campaign. After the swearing in ceremony, PJ had a message for the President.
The Shubin family of State College- Andy, Meredith, Jack and Ellie - were unable to board the metro in Arlington VA this morning. It was completely full, with estimated wait times of about an hour. They were in the process of walking three miles to the mall when they phoned in this report.
Social Studies teachers across the United States pushed aside the textbooks today to show students history in the making. WPSU's Emily Reddy talked to Philipsburg-Osceola High School students as their class watched Barack Obama's inauguration.
Visitors streamed into the nation's capitol this weekend for more than 100 unofficial inauguration balls and events. Some of them were central Pennsylvania residents ... including Sharon Stringer, who teaches journalism at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania. She collected these impressions of the varied events at the 'People's Inaugural Gala Weekend,' ... starting with a prayer breakfast at the Grand Hyatt hotel.
Each year the literary organization Centre County Reads encourages members of the community to read the same book and discuss it with their neighbors. This year Centre County Reads selected the graphic novel Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi for the community-wide read. The book, which also doubles as Strapi's autobiography, tells the tale of a young girl's life under the Islamic Revolution in Iran.
The bedrock here in Central Pennsylvania is limestone, which means, we have lots of caves, with beautiful rock formations. WPSU's Cynthia Berger visited the Central American nation of Belize, which has similar geology on her winter break . She was eager to see how Belize caves compared to ours, and filed this trip report.
Penn State President Graham Freeze has announced a wage freeze is likely for university employees in 2009. Labor economist Mark Price of the Keystone Research Center in Harrisburg talks about what that could mean for individuals and the region.
The Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade has just deployed for Iraq. Soldiers made plans for their children, their spouses, and their mortgages ... but what happens to their pets while they're away? One group in Pennsylvania supports the troops by helping to keep their dogs out of the pound. WHYY's Susan Phillips reports.
The Splendid Table, is a weekly NPR cooking program known for is modern approach toward food and cooking. In the show's recently released cookbook, the program's host Lynne Rossetto Kasper, and its producer, Sally Swift, shares simple recipes and stories for the everyday chef.
Handbell ringing is not exclusive to the holidays... but there's something about bells that just seems Christmas-y. WPSU's Emily Reddy visited a State College church to find out more about handbell ringing from the group that plays there.
The economy nationwide is bleak. Every day a new company is going bankrupt or laying off workers. So, what's the effect in central Pennsylvania? WPSU's Emily Reddy talked with a state economist to find out.
After many months of training, deployment to Iraq is just weeks away for members of the Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade. They'll come home for a week's leave near Christmas, and then head to Fort Dix in New Jersey, where they'll fly to Kuwait and begin their mission. Soldiers have been preparing around the clock since September, when they left for advanced training in Mississippi. As part of our ongoing Impact of War series, WITF's Scott Detrow visited the soldiers at Camp Shelby.
I can remember quite vividly a moment in the 5th grade when a classmate hit me, trying to start a fight. David P. was a good foot shorter than I was. He had to reach up to land a decent blow on my chin. My instinct was to hit back, but I remembered my father saying, "It takes a stronger man to take a punch than to give one.
Renowned surgeon a Atul Gawande has written extensively on medicine and public health. In his first book, he shares his true feelings about the medical field: that like its human counterparts, it is often flawed. With riveting true accounts from the operating table, Complications offers readers an unflinching view of modern medicine's limits through the eyes of those who hold the scalpel.
Although Bush administration officials and auto executives seem to be coming closer to sealing a deal on a multibillion-dollar industry bailout, the final outcome is still less than certain. Although Central Pennsylvania is hardly Detroit, local big three car dealers are getting nervous. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
Members of the Pennsylvania National Guard are citizen-soldiers. Usually, they leave their families and their jobs just once a month, for training. Now, the members of the 56th Stryker Brigade are about to deploy to Iraq. They left Pennsylvania in September for intensive training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. As part of our audio diary series, Sergeant Jason Burrows records the distinctive sound that marks a soldier's daily life at the post. We also hear from Sergeant Nedrow about what that sound means to him.
The members of the Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade are preparing to deploy to Iraq this winter. All this week we've been hearing from the men of 2nd 112th infantry regiment, which is based in Bellefonte as they said goodbye to their families and boarded the bus for training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Today Sergeant Jason Burrowes and Platoon Sergeant Matt Nedrow report on the training regime at Shelby.
Raised as a Christian, I have spent much of my life trying to believe and failing, trying to convince myself of things that sat uneasily in my mind. But consider this: if a truck is barreling toward you, you jump out of the way. It's simple. Natural. That is "believing in the truck," as Scott Adams, best known for his comic strip "Dilbert," argues in the speculative book "God's Debris".
Harvard professor Marjorie Garber is known for her love of pop culture. Her latest book covers an aspect of American culture most people can't get enough of: Houses. Through a series of essays, Garber takes a look at literature, history, cinema, and psychology to make sense of the fantasies and longings we often project onto our homes.
The Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade is preparing to deploy to Iraq. For the next year, three soldiers from the Bellefonte Armory will record their experiences to share with you. Today, Specialist Ilan McPherson captures the controlled chaos as families say goodbye and soldiers loaded onto buses headed to Camp Shelby for training.
The Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade is about to deploy to Iraq. WPSU equipped three members of the 2nd 112th Infantry, based in Bellefonte, with recording gear, so they can tell you about their experiences. Today, Platoon Sergeant Matt Nedrow shares a recording made the night before he boarded a flight to Camp Shelby, Mississippi, to train for deployment. The scene: the back yard of his Bellefonte home. His young son Jack motors around the driveway on a child-sized ATV.
What's it like to deploy to Iraq? Over the next year, you'll find out. As part of WPSU's participation in the NPR 'Impact of War' coverage, we've invited three members of the Pennsylvania National Guard 56th Stryker Brigade's 2nd 112th Infantry Regiment to share a recording kit. As they train and then deploy, they'll fill you in about their experiences. Our series kicks off today as you meet the audio journalists: Platoon Sergeant Matt Nedrow, Sergeant Jason Burrows, and Specialist Ilan McPherson.
The Mumbai attacks last Wednesday may have happened on the other side of the world, but they hit close to home for Indians living in central Pennsylvania. WPSU's Emily Reddy spoke with Indian students at the Penn State, University Park campus.
Local writer Julie Brink died Monday at age 50. Raised in rural Clearfield County, she called on her childhood experiences in her column for the Centre Daily Times and in her contributions to WPSU's community book review program, BookMark. Penn State's AnneMarie Mountz remembers her friend of 20 years.
Communities often try to boost interest in books with a "Community read." Blair County is going that right now, with the classic, Fahrenheit 451. They're also . . . having discussions! . . . watching movies! . . . and doing some quirky stuff. WPSU's Cynthia Berger tried her hand at "Pencilmania.
Writer and professor Joe Mackall is not Amish, but he has lived in Ohio's Amish country for more than 16 years. In Plain Secrets: an Outsider Among the Amish, Mackall explores the heart of the Amish tradition, and uncovers the meaning behind the hundreds of Amish traditions many of us do not understand.
Congressman-Elect Glenn Thompson got his first taste of Washington last week. He and 53 other new members - and their spouses - spent the week at the Capitol for freshman orientation. Tanya Snyder tagged along and files this report.
Black Friday is traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year. With a gloomy economic forecast, Central Pennsylvania's local merchants are trying varied strategies to get customers in the doors. WPSU's Emily Reddy reports.
When your family gets together for Thanksgiving, do you trot out the family stories? David Isay, the founder of Story Corps, has declared the Day After Thanksgiving the first Annual National Day of Listening. WPSU's Cynthia Berger talked with Isay about how you can get involved in the project.
Most people think life as a twentysomething means days without a care in the world. Sloane Crosley's debut book, lets you in on the not so carefree life" of the current generation's young adults.
The Presidential Election is over. Now, it's time to Monday Morning quarterback! Penn State's Journalism department brought in a distinguished panel to consider how the news media covered the campaign.
With the economy crumbling, college loans are few and far between. Students across the commonwealth wonder how they will pay for school. WPSU news intern Sahar Durali investigates.
Every weekday, I walk from my home in State College to my office on the Penn State campus and back. It takes me thirty minutes each way and over the yearly course of these thirty-minute strolls, I've formed a belief. I believe in imagination.
New York Times bestselling author Rick Riordan has written the first installment in a projected series that will include books by different authors,trading cards, and an online game where readers play a part in the story and compete for more than $100,000 in prizes. In the first installment, Riordan reveals the first clue to unlock a family's most powerful secret.
Communities across Central Pennsylvania observed Veteran's Day today. Producer Cynthia Berger collected this audio postcard from the ceremony held at the Bellefonte County Courthouse.
In America's international war on terror, the Pennsylvania National Guard plays an important role: Nearly one-quarter of the Guard's 20- thousand members have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now the Pennsylvania National Guard is preparing for another deployment . . . The 56th Stryker Brigade has been ordered to Iraq. As part of our ongoing series, "Impact of War," WVIA's Pamela Varkony talked with General Jessica Wright about what it's like to lead one of America's largest and most sophisticated National Guard units.
Award winning author and poet Sofia M. Starnes once said, 'We write for ourselves and for a stranger.' In her two latest books, Starnes takes her readers on a quest to understand herself and one another. The two diverse collections focus on the spiritual exchange" between the natural world and the world of the soul.
Pennsylvania registered half a million new voters since 2004, and they turned out in force yesterday. WPSU brings you voices from the polls around Central PA.
America focused on the presidential election last night . . . but there WERE other races. Here in Central Pennsylvania, at the end of the night, it was Republican Glenn Thompson over Democratic challenger March McCracken and Libertarian Jim Fryman for the 5th Congressional District. We talked with the congressman-elect by phone about his plans once he gets to DC.
This year, Congressman John Peterson declined to run for re-election in Pennsylvania's 5th District, and now there's a wide-open race: 12 candidates in all. On WPSU, you'll hear where each one of them stands on the issues in our series "Conversations with the Candidates." Today, WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Mark McCracken.
Yesterday we began a virtual road trip on Route 219, which runs from north to south in Pennsylvania's 5th Congressional District. The purpose? To talk with voters who live along the road, and to hear what they have to say about the hot issues in this hotly contested race. This morning, WPSU News Intern Heather Adamic continues our Journey.
Election day is here at last! To help you make SURE things go smoothly at the polls, WPSU's Cynthia Berger checked in with an expert on election integrity. Mary Vollero is the chairperson of Concerned Voters of Centre County.
With all the excitement about the election, Pennsylvania voters may not realize there's something else on their ballot tomorrow: a bond referendum. At stake: 400-million dollars for water and sewer system repairs and new construction. Do you know whether you'll vote YES or No?
This presidential election is certainly an historic race. But commentator Andrew Visnovsky, a senior and political science major at Penn State's University Park campus, has his eye on another historic race in Pennsylvania.
Yesterday a close friend told me that my home looks a little bit "Trailer-Park-White-Trash." He meant well, like the Queer Eye guys mean well when they say "tisk" and gently guide a straight guy to the barber's for immediate removal of his mullet.
The Horseshoe Curve Altoona, is one of the most famous railroad curves in the United States and an extremely important part in the U.S. railroad industry ... so important that the Nazis tried to blow it up during World War II. Dennis P. McIlnay's latest book talks about the Nazi's plan to destroy the curve, and why we are so lucky that they didn't succeed.
In March of 2004, a Penn State film student and National Guard member was deployed to Iraq. He packed his camera. The tour of duty resulted in an unauthorized and award-winning documentary. It screened this past weekend in State College. WPSU's Cynthia Berger talked with the filmmaker as part of our ongoing 'Impact of War' series.
Tonight on WPSU, 'This American Life' goes local, looking at the presidential election in Pennsylvania. One segment focuses on Penn State student Casey Miller, who single-handedly signed up more than a THOUSAND new voters. WPSU's Cynthia Berger takes with State College resident Sarah Koenig , who produced the segment.
States with Big 10 Universities are also battleground states in the presidential election. Political scientists from Big Ten Universities conducted their first poll in September and another one this week. Michael Berkman is the Penn State advisor to the poll. He stopped by our studios this morning to give WPSU's Cynthia Berger the fresh results.
I visited my mother recently. She's having some health problems. But she's passionately interested in politics, so of course we talked about the elections. It brought back some memories.
The Finger Lakes region in Central New York is, like Central Pennsylvania, rich with the beauty of nature . . . lakes, forests, and wildlife. Author Susan Brind Morrow's latest book, is a collection of essays on the history and natural history of the place she calls home.
York, Pennsylvania, is famous for barbells, Harleys, peppermint patties... and racial tension. Last month, NPR's Steve Inskeep and Michele Norris traveled to York to talk with a group of 13 voters about race and its role in this year's presidential election. Inskeep and Norris went BACK to York again this week, to continue the conversation. WPSU's Cynthia Berger talked with the NPR hosts about the project.
Oscar Wilde once said, 'Ones past is what one is.' Award winning author Philip Terman describes this sentiment well in his latest book Rabbis of the Air. In his third major collection of poetry, Terman writes of his Jewish ancestry and his current home in rural Pennsylvania, combining an awareness of history with its connection to the present.
John McCain visited Philadelphia, Harrisburgh, and the Pittsburgh area yesterday, whipping up excitement among local Republicans, but leaving commentator Rob Speel unmoved. The associate professor of political science at Penn State Erie notes, BOTH campaigns have left his neck of the woods out in the cold.
Members of the Pennsylvania National Guard are 'citizen soldiers' who balance military responsibilities with their personal lives. As the guard's 56th Stryker Brigade deploys to Iraq, First Lt. Sam Coover can tell you about that juggling act. He's a high-school chemistry teacher, AND a single father of three young children. WITF's Scott Detrow has more.
Russian author and historian Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn made the world aware of the Soviet Union labor camps through his writing. Although he was exiled from Russia in 1974, Solzhenitsyn was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1970, for his ongoing commitment to promoting the awareness of government mistreatment in the Soviet Union. Sadly, Solzhenitsyn passed away in August of 2008. However, his books about the Soviet prison camps, such as the First Circle, are still very accessible and are read by people all over the world.
Pennsylvania is home to 1.1 million veterans. Most of them are on VA healthcare. Senators Barack Obama and John McCain both pledge to reform the VA. WPSU news intern Sahar Durali asked local veterans to evaluate the two platforms.
Flip on your TV at 8 o'clock tonight and you can watch a new series in the best tradition of CSI. There's blood spatter, fingerprints, and a crime -- neatly solved in one hour. The difference is, the "set" is a familiar university campus, and the photogenic cast is 12 college students and their professor. Cynthia Berger has more.
This year, Congressman John Peterson declined to run for re-election in Pennsylvania's 5th District, and now there's a wide-open race: 12 candidates in all. On WPSU, you'll hear where each one of them stands on the issues in our series "Conversations with the Candidates." Today, WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Republican Matt Shaner.
In the race for John Peterson's fifth district congressional seat, there are many candidates and many issues. What issues have folks in our listening area talking? This week WPSU news intern Heather Adamic takes us on a trip down. Route 219 that runs north to south in Peterson's district.
During 'Domestic Violence Awareness Month,' Center County takes an important step to counter domestic violence. A new facility opens today, where divorced parents can make a safe and supervised custody exchange. WPSU's Cynthia Berger toured the Center County Child Access Center, and filed this report.
Pennsylvania is a state rich in American history--especially during the Revolutionary era, when the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were both signed in Philadelphia. David Liss's latest historical novel takes readers back to that monumental period in Pennsylvania history. The 'whiskey rebels' of the title are fictional but believable characters who have a chance to help shape our nation's destiny.
During 'Domestic Violence Awareness Month,' Center County takes an important step to counter domestic violence. A new facility opens today, where divorced parents can make a safe and supervised custody exchange. WPSU's Cynthia Berger toured the Center County Child Access Center, and filed this report.
The Pennsylvania National Guard's Stryker brigade heads for Camp Shelby in Mississippi today, for training before deployment to Iraq. They'll make the trip south by plane. But yesterday, one company began their journey according to a long-standing tradition.
I was a child of the '50s. And I had a pretty idyllic childhood, playing kickball and hula-hoop on the street, and riding my bike to the ball field to watch a game. Meanwhile, our neighbor's boy sat in the house and watched out the window. If Billy was lucky, he got to come out on the porch - but he never got to play on the street.
By REVIEWER MARJORIE MADDOX, AN AWARD-WINNING POET, IS DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE WRITING AT LOCK HAVEN UNIVERSITY.•
September 17, 2008
University of Pittsburgh professor and author Toi Derricotte is one of the most honored African American poets in the literary world today. Her poems often focus on reality and pressing issues in society today. In this book, her first memoir, which she began writing 20 years ago, Derricotte writes about what it means to be a black woman living in a racially divided world.
Author Randy Pausch was named 'Person of the Week' on ABC's 'World News with Charlie Gibson' September 21, 2007. His book and speech, The Last Lecture, has attracted international attention, from the media and millions of readers. The book is based on the speech Pausch gave at the 2007 Carnegie Mellon University graduation, titled 'Follow Your Childhood Dreams.' The author died of pancreatic cancer in July 2008.
As members of the Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade prepare for deployment to Iraq, their loved ones face an ordeal at home. Many women will become the sole heads of their households. They're turning to each other for strength. WPSU's Cynthia Berger got to meet the one woman everyone relies on.
Ever since Benjamin Franklin organized the nation's FIRST 'volunteer fire company,' volunteers have served Pennsylvania fire departments. But recently, volunteer numbers dropped dramatically. New legislation could create incentives. To learn more, WPSU's Cynthia Berger checked out the Alpha Fire Company's 'Firefighter for a Day' program.
This past the nation observed the 7th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. In Bellefonte, the day was also an opportunity for a tribute to the troops; a way to recognize members of the Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade, which deploys to Iraq this winter.
Our Election Update continues as WPSU's Cynthia Berger talks with Randy Griffith of the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat about the contest in the Pennsylvania Senate's 35th District.
Newsweek magazine calls Yasmina Khadra one of the rare writers 'capable of giving the meaning of violence' in the Middle East today. His latest book, The Attack focuses on the continuing hostilities between Israel and the Arab world. The plot involves a respected Arab doctor, living and working in Israel, who learns that his wife has carried out a suicide bombing.
This winter, nearly 4000 members of the Pennsylvania National Guard expect to be deployed to Iraq for a year-long mission. WPSU is collaborating with other Pennsylvania Public Radio stations in the "Impact of War" project. We'll follow reservists as they prepare for this dangerous mission, and leave their families in Pennsylvania. Today, Pamela Varkony, reporting for member station WVIA, profiles a member of the brigade from Williamsport, who will play an important role for many troops in the months ahead.
Maybe you already received your "Economic Stimulus" Payment. If you signed up to get your 2007 tax refund by direct deposit, you may have received a direct deposit to your bank account. Or maybe you're getting your check in the mail. Next week, the first checks from the federal government land in local mailboxes. WPSU asked some local residents how they'll spend the money.
Today, along with the rest of America, Central Pennsylvania remembers the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center. State College is small but remarkably diverse largely because it's home to Penn State University. Many people here have strong connections to the events of that day. WPSU news intern Sahar Durali talked to some of them and produced this remembrance.
After 5 terms in office, Congressman John Peterson decided not to seek re-election, to represent Pennsylvania's 5th District. Now, there's a wide-open race: 12 candidates in all. Here on WPSU, we're committed to making sure you hear where each one of them stands on the issues. We continue our series of "Conversations with the Candidate" as WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Republican Keith Richardson.
Native American names grace many of the cities, counties, rivers, mountains, and lakes in Pennsylvania. In fact, according to historian George P. Donehoo, 'No state in the entire nation is richer in Indian names or Indian history than Pennsylvania.' This book tells you the native roots of many familiar names, like Loyalhanna and Lehigh.
The Grange Fair Forum provided voters with a chance to hear from the candidates running for U.S. Congress in Pennsylvania's 5th District. Amy Glasmeier, director of Penn State's Center for Energy Policy, Environment, and Community Well Being, joins Cynthia Berger to recap the event.
When I was in the sixth grade I saw the musical "Rent" on Broadway. Afterwards I listened to the soundtrack non-stop for months, memorizing every lyric. For me, the message at the closing of the first act is what really stuck. The scene shows a group of 1990s "Bohemians," including a lesbian lawyer, a nightclub dancer, and a drag queen, raising their glasses to everything outrageous, scandalous, and, well, different. Unhappily observing are four conservative rich businessmen. I feel that in general our society lacks the ability to understand other viewpoints and stray from traditional values in the modern world.
In the run-up to the November elections, WPSU has been talking with candidates, and also asking local pundits to take a look at local races. Today, WPSU's Cynthia Berger talks with Ben Brewer of the Voices of Central Pennsylvania, about the contest in the General Assembly's 171st District.
Centre County residents are talking about the proposed transfer of land from the State Correctional Institution at Rockview to a number of owners. Under debate: Best Management Practices for a class-A Trout stream, and whether conservation easements really are forever. WPSU's Cynthia Berger has more.
My mom grew up in Hong Kong, where the education system is very different than the one we have here in the United States. In Hong Kong, students are taught to memorize, and not necessarily to understand. A friend from Hong Kong once told me a story of how she used to memorize the solutions to math problems because she didn't know how to do them. For this reason, math was never really her best subject.
By REVIEWER JOHN ALVAREZ IS SENIOR AT PENN STATE UNIVERSITY PARK, MAJORING IN ENGLISH AND PSYCHOLOGY AND CONSIDERING A CAREER IN EDITING.•
August 20, 2008
Entertainment Weekly has ranked Augusten Burroughs as one of the "25 Funniest People in America" His books are also some of the most heart wrenching. In this, the fifth of Burroughs's memoirs, he tells for the first time about his psychotic father, a man whose behavior defines the word "neglect."
In the run-up to the November elections, WPSU has been inviting candidates in our studios, for interviews we'll post to the web. And we've been asking local pundits to take a look at local races. Today, WPSU's Cynthia Berger talks with Mike Joseph of the Centre Daily Times, about the contest in the General Assembly's 76th District.
I'm no one special. I don't consider myself different from anyone else. But when some people discover what I do to pay my college tuition, they light up. They look at me as if I'm special. It's a little embarrassing. I've never understood why my ability to throw a football well entitles me to so much admiration. When people say, "Good luck next season," I just smile and say "Thank you."
By OUR REVIEWER, STEVE KOCHERSPERGER, IS THE POSTMASTER IN JULIAN, PENNSYLVANIA.•
August 13, 2008
If you love maps, you'll love this compendium that tells you practically everything you could want to know about the Keystone State. Far more than a how-to-get-there collection of road maps, this atlas has info about everything from ancient Indian cultures to the incidence of divorce in modern society to where in the Commonwealth radon is most prevalent.
Today, more than 98,000 Americans are on an organ donor waiting list; nearly sixty-five hundred of them are right here in Pennsylvania. Why is the need sogreat and how does the organ distribution system work? We'll talk about organ transplants. We'll also talk about the number one health risk facing American kids: Childhood Obesity. Guests: Dwendy Johnson & Barbara Layne
Pennsylvania's 5th District is the second-largest Congressional district east of the Mississippi. And this primary season, there is a huge field of candidates vying to represent it: 12 in all. WPSU is committed to letting you hear where each one of them stands on the issues. Our series of "Conversations with the Candidates" continues now, as WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Democrat Bill Cahir
John Lucas is a Penn State sports historian and an internationally recognized specialist on the history of the modern Olympic games. He has attended every summer games since 1960 and this year will be no different. We talk with him about the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. We also talk with the first Penn State women's soccer coach to attain a spot on the U.S. Olympic coaching staff. Guests: John Lucas & Erica Walsh
After years of wild success, have we "come to the end of the Internet?" The message of this book is that the internet is moving from innovation to regulation, where access is limited and the government takes control. Zittrain knows what he's talking about; he is a professor of internet governance and regulation at Oxford University.
You've heard the expression, "Ten miles of bad roads." Well, in Pennsylvania, we've got 30,000 miles of dirt and gravel roads, many of them poorly designed and maintained. We'll find out how they're polluting nearby waterways and what's being done about it. We'll also talk with the authors of "Long Journey Home," a collection of stories about the Lenape tribe, which settled along the Delaware River. Guests: Wayne Kober, Rita Kohn, & Jim Brown
The Pennsylvania Lumber Museum hosts an annual "Bark Peeler's Convention," a celebration of the region's lumberjack heritage. One aspect of the convention is a sort of "lumberjack Olympics," including competitive axe throwing, birling and the thrilling cross-cut saw contest, using a specially sharpened saw.
Snipers face unique risks. They work time in hostile territory. And they bear a heavy responsibility for the safety of other soldiers. As the Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade prepares to deploy to Iraq, snipers are going through intense training. Scott Detrow of member station WITF reports.
Motorcycle fatalities have been rising steadily for the past eight years. During the summer months more motorcycles are on the road. We find out what we can all do to reduce the risk of accidents. We also talk about the latest developments in fuel cell technology. The next generation of automobiles could look-and sound-quite different. Guests: Hal Hallock & Matt Mench
How would America handle a major outbreak of an infectious disease? Our nation has weathered terrible epidemics in the past-not necessarily launched by terrorists. This volume documents one of the earliest, the "Great Plague" of 1793 where yellow fever raged through Philadelphia, killing one-tenth of the inhabitants. Doctors of the day had no idea of the source of the fever (mosquitoes) and tried all kinds of cures, most just as damaging as the illness itself.
The horrifying images of Minnesota's bridge collapse last summer raise a frightening question: Could it happen here? Despite a record level of investment since 2003, Pennsylvania has the largest number of structurally deficient bridges in the nation, with nearly six thousand. We'll talk about bridge safety. We'll also talk about the pros and cons of tolling I-80. Guests: Andrea Schokker, Gary Gittings, & Barry Schoch
Here in Central Pennsylvania we have lots of farms and lots of fresh produce-and many owner-operated eateries that make the most of the abundance. Boalsburg artist Ken Hull has put together an offbeat guide to his favorite places to get a really great meal, made by hand from fresh, local ingredients, and served in an atmosphere you won't mistake for a national chain.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with breast cancer, you're probably confused, afraid-perhaps even angry. But you are not alone. More than two million women in the U.S. today are breast cancer survivors. We'll talk with a renowned surgical oncologist about where we are in the fight against breast cancer. We'll also talk with a breast cancer survivor about Grow for Life and their festive fundraiser called Lilyfest. Guests: Dr. Monica Morrow & Barbara Ekey
With Congressman John E. Peterson leaving his seat in Pennsylvania's 5th district, there's a wide-open race: 12 candidates in all. Here on WPSU, we're committed to letting you hear where each one of them stands on the issues. Our series of "Conversations with the Candidates" continues this morning as WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Republican Lou Radkowski.
If you want to learn more about the issues at stake in the race for Pennsylvania's 5th district Congressional Seat, come on over to our house! There's a public forum, tonight, at 7 o'clock, right here in the lobby of the Outreach Building. We'll even give you a chance to test-drive our online Choose-A-Candidate Quiz. WPSU's Cynthia Berger has more details.
Should we lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike to a private operator? Governor Ed Rendell says yes. But earlier this week, Pennsylvania House Democrats released a study blasting the plan. Ellen Dannin is a professor at Penn State Dickinson's School of Law, and an expert on privatization issues. WPSU's Patty Satalia spoke with her earlier this week about other states' experiences with privatization. Hear "Take Note," WPSU's community affairs program Sunday morning at 7:30 and Sunday evening at 9:00 on WPSU-FM, and Sunday afternoon at 2:00 on WPSU-2
Here's a book for children from kindergarten to second grade that sneaks in a lesson about accepting diversity while at the same time being wildly amusing. The day the Robobots move in next door is the day the neighborhood goes downhill. They look and act different, so they get snubbed. Then the neighbor kids discover the robokids' cool toys, and the dynamic shifts...
Muslim students at Penn State have a brand new place to eat. WPSU News Intern Heather Adamic had dinner there this week, and she has this restaurant review.
We talk with the executive director of Centre Peace about the concept of restorative justice and we talk with a researcher about a new that looks at poverty in rural areas---including central Pennsylvania. Growing up poor in the country is very different from growing up poor in the city. Yet most studies on childhood poverty have been carried out in urban areas. Guests: Thom Brewster & Mark Greenberg
Last week was Pennsylvania "Rural Health Week". As WPSU continues to take an occasional look at rural health issues over the course of the summer, here the topic is teeth. Much of the state's low-income population is underserved by dental providers. WPSU's Cynthia Berger visits a clinic that's trying to fill the gap.
One of the world's greatest science fiction writers was a native of Central Pennsylvania! H. Beam Piper, the author of Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen, spent his early years in Altoona and his old age in Williamsport. Another Pennsylvanian, John F. Carr, has sorted through the false stories Piper told of his own background to reveal the true man behind the stories of aggressively self-reliant heroes.
Pennsylvania's budget deadline is just a few days away-on June 30. With that in mind, WPSU has been taking a look at those brightly colored budget pie charts. Where does the money go? Today, we focus on Governor Ed Rendell's comprehensive energy package. WPSU's Cynthia Berger talked with Pennsylvania's deputy secretary for energy, Dan Desmond.
June 30th is fast approaching: the deadline for Pennsylvania legislators to approve next year's budget. WPSU takes a look at some of the segments on those brightly - colored budget pie charts -- where's the money going, and what are the issues? Our focus today: spending on infrastructure and economic development. WPSU's Cynthia Berger has more.
Eric Leven is a visual effects supervisor for Tippett Visual Effects Studio, one of the biggest names in Hollywood. We'll talk with Leven about the role of special effects in films today and about his most recent film, Cloverfield. He created the giant monster-and it's scary dog-size offspring-that attack New York City. We'll also continue our series on alternative energy with a look at wind power. Guests: Eric Leven & Greg Bock
June 30th is fast approaching - the deadline for Pennsylvania legislators to approve next year's budget. This week and next, WPSU takes a look at some of the segments on those brightly colored budget pie charts - where's the money going, and what are the issues? Our focus today: spending on infrastructure and economic development.
The title of the book refers to a proverb from a region in Pakistan. The first time you share a cup of tea with a villager, you are a stranger; the second time, you are an honored guest; the third time you become family. Mortensen, an experienced climber, failed on his attempt to summit K-2; sheltered for seven weeks in a Pakistani village, he went to return their kindness by building the town's first school-and ultimately launching a project that built more than 50 schools across the region.
Pennsylvania's budget deadline is coming up on June 30. Before that deadline, WPSU will take a look at those brightly colored pie charts that represent budget spending. Where does the money go-and what are the issues ? Today, our focus is on health care. WPSU's Cynthia Berger has more.
The 56th Stryker Brigade of the Pennsylvania National Guard is expected to deploy to Iraq by the end of this year. Many of these soldiers will leave behind spouses, children, jobs, and lives they' look forward to returning to. In our continuing Impact of War series, WHYY's Susan Phillips profiles one Guard member who says signing up to go to war is his best option for coming back to a better life.
This Saturday night, June 14th, Music at Penn's Woods, the summer classical music festival, returns to the Penn State University Park campus after a 6 year absence. WPSU's Kristine Allen has the story.
Memory Boy by Will Weaver (HarperTeen, 2003) Under a War-Torn Sky by L,M Elliott (Hyperion, 2003) Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix (Aladdin, 2006) Under the Persimmon Tree by Suzanne Fisher Staples (Square Fish, 2008) Blood Trail by Nancy Springer (Holiday House, 2006) Middle school students have the attention spans of the proverbial gnat. School librarian Dotty Delafield grabs their attention and gets them interested in books with quick, concise pitches she called "Sound Bite Book Talks." Try these on your teenagers to get them reading this summer.
In 1951, radio pioneer Edward R. Murrow launched "This I Believe," a unique radio program where Americans from all walks of life shared the values and beliefs that guided their daily lives. In 2005, the show was revived on National Public Radio and this year, WPSU launched a local version. We'll talk with the series producer. We'll also continue our series on alternative energy with a look at biodiesel. Guests: Dan Gediman & Tom Richard
This spring, WPSU launched a local version of "This I Believe," the national media project, where radio listeners talk about the core values that guide their daily lives. "This I Believe" has been airing on National Public Radio since 2005, but its roots go back half a century -- to right here in Pennsylvania. WPSU's Cynthia Berger got the details from series producer Dan Gediman.
Do you think of blogs as web pages where teenagers vent their private lives? Nowadays they're more likely to be essential business tools, and in Naked Conversations, you can learn how to make one work for you.
From the late 1970s to the early 1990s, Pennsylvania naturalist Charles Fergus wrote a monthly column for the Pennsylvania Game News. The columns about such topics as the delights of topo maps and the pastime of stump-sitting were collected into an appealing book by PA publisher Stackpole Books; it was out of print but has just been reissued by Penn State Press.
Nearly 4000 members of the Pennsylvania National Guard are preparing to go to Iraq. The 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team has received its mobilization order, and is expected to deploy this winter on what's likely to be a year-long mission. Members of the 56th come from cities and towns all across Pennsylvania. We plan to follow members of the brigade, as well as their families and communities, throughout this deployment, in a series called "Impacts of War." Our first report in this occasional series is from WITF's Scott Detrow.
Long before there was television, movies, or even radio; entertainment in small-town America came from the town band. Today, the town of Franklin, Pennsylvania, preserves that tradition, in the form of the Franklin Silver Cornet Band, one of the nation's oldest traditional town bands. Take Note's Cynthia Berger traveled to Pennsylvania's Oil Region to talk with the band's historian and sit in on a rehearsal as the band prepared for the 2008 summer concert season. Guest: Peter Greene
Reviewers have called the works of State College science fiction writer James Morrow, "Wild Vonnegutian satires full of fantastical . . . events." Buckle your seat belt when you settle into an armchair with his newest book, because you're headed for a fantasy island populated by clones who have beauty, brains, money . . . everything except a conscience.
Powwowing has been practiced in Pennsylvania since the first German-speaking settlements were established here in the early eighteenth century. Some say the healing art draws on the power of God; others say it's the work of Satan, but who knew it was still practiced today? We'll also talk about the futuristic house designed by Penn State students for the "Solar Decathlon." Guests: David Kriebel & Andy Lau and Kyle Macht
Acclaimed local author Steven Sherrill is known for his quirky works: The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break and Visits from the Drowned Girl. His newest novel has a Pennsylvania setting, an abandoned locktender's house along an old canal. But despite the bucolic setting it's more of a horror novel, as the protagonist undergoes an agonizing mental breakdown as she involuntarily revisits her family's painful past.
The term "Power Walking" has a whole new meaning, thanks to a knee-mounted device that can covert the kinetic energy of walking into useable electricity. We'll talk with one of the inventors about how the knee-brace works and about its potential. We'll also talk about a previously untapped source of energy in Pennsylvania and the innovative methods being used to capture it. Guests: Dr. Doug Weber & Dr. Terry Engelder
If you were asked to name famous Pennsylvanians, you might list William Penn, and Ben Franklin. You probably wouldn't think of John Nicholson. The life of the Commonwealth's colonial Comptroller General makes for fascinating reading, though, with implications in today's economic climate. Nicholson was a notorious land speculator, with shady dealings so vast, it took forty years after his death to unravel the mess.
Gypsy moth caterpillar populations were high in central Pennsylvania last summer and are projected to be higher this year. We'll talk with a spokesperson from Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources about the situation. We'll also continue our look at alternative energy. Experts say coal is plentiful and cheap, but is there still a place for coal in America's energy future? Guests: Donald A. Eggen, Ph.D. & Dr. Harold Schobert
"Breast Cancer: Are We Making Any Progress?" Monica Morrow, M.D., is the G. Willing Pepper Chair in Cancer Research and the Chairman of the Department of Surgical Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center; and Professor of Surgery, Temple University School of Medicine. From 1993 to June 2004, she was Professor of Surgery at Northwestern University Medical School, and director of the Lynn Sage Comprehensive Breast Program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. From 1999 - 2001 she also served as Director of the Cancer Department of the American College of Surgeons and Executive Director of the American Joint Committee on Cancer. A native of Bucks County Pennsylvania, Dr. Morrow received her BS degree Magna Cum Laude from the Pennsylvania State University in 1974 and her MD in 1976 from Jefferson Medical College. She did her surgical residency at the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont from 1976-1981, followed by 2 years of surgical oncology training at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Dr. Morrow has received many awards, including National Merit Scholar; Clinical Fellow of the American Cancer Society; Outstanding Professional Woman from the State of Illinois Federation of Business and Professional Women; the Alpha Omega Alpha Outstanding Clinical Faculty Award from the University of Chicago, Distinguished Alumni of the Pennsylvania State University, The Women Making a Difference Award for Medical Innovations from the State of Illinois, the Speaking of Women's Health Foundation Award and Distinguished Alumni of Jefferson Medical College. She was also named an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Glasgow). Dr. Morrow was the first surgeon to be a member of the National Cancer Policy Board of the Institute of Medicine, and has served on the Board of Directors of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Society of Surgical Oncology. She is currently the Secretary of the Society of Surgical Oncology.
Dough. It means bread, the stuff you eat . . . but also moolah, green stuff, money. It's the perfect title for this tough and tender memoir by Mort Zachter. Zachter grows up in a family of workaholics, consumed by the family business, a "bakery" that sells day-old bread. Everyone scrimps and saves. Then, at the age of 36, Mort discovers: they've actually been rich all along. How would YOU deal with that news?
For National Poetry Month. here's a selection by a Pennsylvania poet, from a Pennsylvania press. Award-winning poet Gregory Djanikian confronts the horror of the Armenian genocide of 1915; his poems also relate his boyhood in Egypt and his eventual emigration to the United States, where he grew up in Williamsport, PA.
As you've heard, voter turnout was high for Tuesday's presidential primary here in Pennsylvania. WPSU brings you these audio snapshots from polling places in our listening area.
For the past three weeks WPSU has been taking you on virtual road trips across our listening area, to talk to voters about the election. Today is Primary Day, and our series concludes as we finish our very last trip along Route 322 in Centre County. WPSU news intern Heather Adamic is your tour guide.
Republican John Peterson, of Pleasantville, in Venango County, was elected to Congress representing Pennsylvania's 5th District in 1996. He was re-elected to a sixth term last year, but unexpectedly announced in January that he would retire at the end of the current term. Last week, WPSU/Capitol Hill Correspondent Sara Sciammacco sat down with John Peterson to take a look back over his time in Congress, and to get his thoughts on what lies ahead.
Listen to the complete speech given by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Sunday, April 20th in Rec Hall on the Penn State University Park campus.
With one day left before Pennsylvanians head for the polls, Senator Hillary Clinton stopped at Penn State's University Park campus on Sunday night. WPSU News Intern David Klatt was there to get voters' reactions. Tune in to WPSU Tuesday night at 8 for special primary election coverage.
For the past few weeks WPSU has been taking you on "virtual road trips." by phone, to talk to voters in our listening area. This week we travel along Route 322 to find out what voters in Centre County are thinking about the upcoming primary. WPSU news intern Heather Adamic is your tour guide.
As recently as the 1970s, the U.S. Justice Department declared that Pennsylvania was the most corrupt of the 50 states! Are we returning to the bad old days of Pennsylvania politics. We'll talk about the current rash of alleged misdeeds. We also take a look at the crowded congressional race for Pennsylvania's 5th district! Guests: Russ Eshelman & Mike Joseph
Pennsylvania's 5th district is the second-largest Congressional district East of the Mississippi. And t his primary season, there's a huge field of candidates vying to represent it: 12 in all. WPSU is committed to letting you hear where each one of them stands on the issues. Our series of "Conversations with the Candidates" concludes this morning as WPSU's Patty Sattalia talks with Republican Derek Walker. (This interview was recorded 3 weeks ago).
In this presidential primary, many states had record voter turnout. 52 percent turnout in New Hampshire! 58 percent in California, the biggest turnout since 1980! New Jersey hasn't had such a big turnout in half a century. On it's OUR turn. Are Pennsylvania's electronic voting machines up to the job?
With Congressman John E Peterson leaving his seat in Pennsylvania's 5th district, there's a wide-open race: 12 candidates in all. Here on WPSU, we're committed to letting you hear where each one of them stands on the issues. Our series of "Conversations with the Candidates" continues this morning as WPSU's Patty Sattalia talks with Democrat Rick Vilello.
Here in Central Pennsylvania we have lots of farms, lots of fresh produce . . . and lots of owner-operated eateries that make the most of the abundance. Boalsburg artist Ken Hull has put together an offbeat guide to his favorite places to get a really great meal, made from fresh, local ingredients, and served in an atmosphere you won't mistake for a national chain.
Over 30 Penn State students staged a sit-in at the University's administration building to pressure the institution to sign-on to a designated suppliers program. WPSU News intern David Klatt reports.
Pennsylvania's 5th district is the second-largest Congressional district East of the Mississippi. And t his primary season, there's a huge field of candidates vying to represent it: 12 in all. WPSU is committed to letting you hear where each one of them stands on the issues. Our series of "Conversations with the Candidates" continues this morning as WPSU's Patty Sattalia talks with Republican Glenn Thompson.
Our series "Conversations with the Candidates continues as we talk with all the candidates for Pennsylvania's 5th Congressional district. Today WPSU's Patty Sattalia talks with Republican Jeff Stroehmann.
Republican presidential hopeful Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) made a campaign stop at Penn State University Park on April 11. WPSU news intern Heather Adamic attended the event.
Republican presidential hopeful Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) made a campaign stop at Penn State University Park on April 11. WPSU news intern Heather Adamic attended the event.
"Out in the Newsroom: How Gay Journalists are Bringing Fairness and Accuracy to Coverage of LGBT issues" Eric Hegedus is the National Lesbian & Gay Journalist Association's (NLBJA's) National President. He is a page designer for the NewYork Post, a position he has held since August 2005. Before that, Eric was a page designer for The Philadelphia Inquirer for three years. Previously, he was a photo editor at The Inquirer, working for the sports, news and features departments, as well as the Sunday Inquirer Magazine. Prior to coming to Philadelphia, he was a photo editor and award-winning staff photographer at several Gannett Co. newspapers in Upstate New York, including The Ithaca Journal and the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin. A 1984 graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, where he was a photo editor and staff photographer for the university's Daily Collegian newspaper, Hegedus began his photojournalism career as a photographer for the former Bethlehem, PA, Globe-Times. Over the years, he has also shot assignments for various news organizations, including The New York Times, The Associated Press and USA Today. Hegedus would like NLGJA to become increasingly more effective as an organization that helps journalists with issues, peer-to-peer, before stories are published or broadcast. He also aspires for NLGJA to be recognized in the journalism industry as
Mario Vargas Llosa is one of the most prolific and celebrated Latin-American writers of our time - novelist, essayist journalist and political activist, his words have transcended from the page to the screen and have influenced and inspired not only a new generation of writers but the world around him. We'll talk with Vargas Llosa about his life and career. We'll also talk with writer Lynn Hoffman about his debut novel, "Bang Bang," a sharp, contemporary satire that addresses the issue of gun control. Guests: Mario Vargas Llosa & Lynn Hoffman
Country singer Tim McGraw tells us to "live like we were dying." For the teen protagonist of this book, high school senior Ben Wolfe, it's an all-too-real challenge; he's been diagnosed with incurable leukemia. Ben decides not to tell his parents or friends, and to go for everything he wants out of life: a spot on the football team, love with a beautiful girl, and the secret to the ultimate meaning of life. Then reality intrudes.
Pundits are calling this year's primaries invigorating, unprecedented, unforgettable. Pennsylvania holds its primary on April 22nd. Not since Jimmy Carter in 1976 has Pennsylvania had a real voice in the nomination process. What makes this race so unique? We talk with two presidential scholars about the 2008 presidential race. Guests: Dr. Greg Ferro & Dr. Meena Bose
The race for Pennsylvania's 5th Congressional district his hotly contested, with 12 candidates in all. You'll hear where each one of them stands on the issues as we interview all 9 Republicans and all 3 Democrats. Our series continues as WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Republican John Krupa.
In the contest for John Peterson's 5th district congressional seat, there are a lot of candidates -and a lot of issues. What do voters think about all this? Today's the second day of our road trip by phone, as we talk with some folks who live along historic Route 6, the highway that runs across the northern part of the district. WPSU news intern Heather Adamic is your guide.
A new book by local poet Marjorie Maddox, just released by Pennsylvania publisher Wordsong, is all about the whimsical names for groups of animals. You know that a bunch of birds is a flock and an aggregation of fish is a school . . . but did you know that when reptiles slither together, it's a "rumba of rattlesnakes?" Maddox explains it all in amusing rhymes, accompanied by lively scratchboard drawings by local illustrator Philip Huber.
Illinois Senator and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama visited Penn State on Sunday March 30. He spoke before a crowed of approximately 22, 000. This is his entire speech.
Voters have had plenty of time to compare Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, yet many Pennsylvania voters are still undecided. WPSU spoke with many of them after President Bill Clinton's University Park campaign stop last Thursday. This morning we do the same after Barack Obama's Sunday visit. WPSU News Intern David Klatt has more.
Sociologist Donald Kraybill and photographer Bill Coleman have had more access to the Amish than most outsiders. Kraybill is nationally recognized for his scholarly writing on the Amish of Lancaster County and Coleman has earned a reputation as the world's foremost photographer of Amish culture. On this program, we explore the Pennsylvania's Amish. Guests: Don Kraybill & Bill Coleman
Former President Bill Clinton spoke to a packed house at Rec Hall on Penn State's University Park campus last night. It was a campaign stop on behalf of his wife Hillary Clinton. For already committed voters, the speech was a rally. But there were also a number of undecided voters in the audience and WPSU News Intern David Klatt spoke to some of them.
Four weeks till our Presidential Primary. So far, voters have turned out in record numbers in about half the other states where primaries have been held. Are we ready for the onslaught? WPSU's Cynthia Berger put the question to directors of elections in Blair and Center counties.
At age 12 and in the throes of her first alcohol-induced blackout, Jennifer Storm was raped. That launched her on a downward spiral into drug and alcohol addiction. Today, she is alive and ten years sober! We'll talk with her about turning her life around and about her provocative first book, "Blackout Girl: Growing Up and Drying Out in America". Guest: Jennifer Storm
Winter's not over till tomorrow. So there's still time to take a look at a winter sport for our occasional series, "Sports That Are Not Football." It's a sport that's growing in popularity in our state. Just grab a jig, an auger, and a couple of tip-ups, and join WPSU's Cynthia Berger out on the ice.
In his autobiography, Senator Barack Obama writes that he found inspiration in the life of the activist Malcolm X. Last month, as part of a lecture series sponsored by the African and African American Studies Student Council at University Park, a Penn State historian conducted a thought experiment: What would Malcolm X say about the candidacy of Barack Obama?
Title: Beating the Odds / Cataract Surgery A diving accident in 1992 left Bill Cawley a quadriplegic. The accident changed his life, but not what he wanted out of life. We'll talk with him about living life on his terms. Then, no stitch, no patch, no injection. We'll talk with an ophthalmologist about the latest advances in cataract surgery. Guests: Bill Cawley & Dr. Adam Marcovitch
You're invited on one of our occasional "Pennsylvania Radio Expeditions." Zip up your parka, because your destination is cold and windy. But it's the best place to see some really big birds: golden eagles. You'll also meet a scientist whose work could help protect them.
Geraldine Ferraro stepped down from her post on the Clinton campaign yesterday over her comments that Barack Obama's success was due to his race. Shannon Sullivan is professor of African American Studies and Women's Studies at Penn State University Park. She joins WPSU's Cynthia Berger in our studio to examine this latest controversy in a primary where race and gender have been constantly in the spotlight.
Cool Women, the Thinking Girl's Guide to The Hippest Women in History, by Dawn Chipman, Mary Lawrence and Naomi Wax (Scholastic, Inc. 1998) Yours for Justice, Ida B. Wells, by Phillip Dray (Peachtree Publishers, 2008) Something Out of Nothing, Marie Curie and Radium, by Carla Killough McClafferty (Farrar, Straus, and Girous, 2006)
Title: Highway Privatization / Pyrite at I-99 near Skytop Is tolling Interstate 80 or leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike to a private company the best way to pay for repairs and upgrades of Pennsylvania's deteriorating roadways? What's behind these public-private partnerships and what's at stake? Plus, researchers trace the pyrite at I-99 near Skytop to a meteorite impact 35 million years ago! Guests: Ellen Dannin & Barry Scheetz
March is Women's History Month, a good time to take a look at the "More Than Petticoats" series. Each volume identifies a set of women who made a difference in one U.S. state. Remarkable Pennsylvania Women brings us the story of such notables as pioneering journalist Nellie Bly and Hannah Myers Longshore, the state's first female medical school professor.
In the contest for John Peterson's 5th district congressional seat, there are a lot of candidates--and a lot of issues. What do voters think about all this? This morning we take you on a road trip by phone, to talk with some folks who live along historic Route 6, the highway that runs across the northern part of the district. WPSU news intern Heather Adamic is your guide.
"Giving Back" Sue Paterno has not had a paying job since 1963. Yet despite leaving a teaching career to raise her family, she has not stopped working. A 1962 Arts & Letters graduate of Penn State, Sue has dedicated herself to her family, her University, and her community. At Penn State, Sue helped establish the Liberal Arts Alumni Society and the Summer Institute for Academic Achievement, a program that offers underrepresented students additional preparation for college-level work. She serves as a member of the University's National Development Council, chaired the Libraries Advisory Board, and was a volunteer for the Grand Destiny Campaign for both the College of the Liberal Arts and the University Libraries. In addition, she was the honorary co-chair of the Alumni Association's first-ever National Service Week, the largest community service effort ever undertaken by an alumni association. In 1995, the University recognized her service to Penn State by awarding her with the Lion's Paw; in 1996, she was named the Renaissance Woman of the Year and was named a Distinguished Alumna in 2004. She currently sits on the University's Leadership Gifts Committee, the National Council for Penn State Philanthropy, the Libraries Development Advisory Board, the Libraries and the Liberal Art Campaign Committees. Sue's commitment to public service extends beyond her alma mater. In 1989, she began working with the Pennsylvania Special Olympics, co-chairing the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the SOPA Summer Games and a SOPA Board member since 1991. She has served as honorary chair of the United Way Campaign and as honorary co-chair for its "Day of Caring" since its inception. In addition to her time, Sue has joined her husband Joe in committing their resources to the University. In 1998, they pledged $3.5 million to endow faculty positions and scholarships as well as to support two building projects - a new interfaith spiritual center and the All-Sports Hall of Fame. She and her husband have raised five children, all Penn State graduates, and they have fifteen grandchildren.
In theory, most Americans support the death penalty, but the possibility of mistakes and recent discoveries of innocence have led to historic shifts in public opinion and to a sharp decline in executions. Last fall, the American Bar Association released a study criticizing Pennsylvania's death penalty system. Is capital punishment on its deathbed? Guests: Frank Baumgartner, Amber Boydstun, & Andrew F. Susko
This spring, the Center for American Literary Studies sponsors a Community Read of "A Farewell to Arms" by Ernest Hemingway for the Penn State University Park campus. This semi-autobiographical novel about the love between an ambulance driver and a nurse in World War I is still timely today.
Penn State's annual Dance Marathon starts today on the University Park campus. Thousands of students will gather in the Bryce Jordan Center to help fight childhood cancer. But students' relationships with kids affected by cancer last longer than this one weekend--as WPSU news intern, Heather Adamic reports.
Penn State's Student Dance Marathon--or THON--is big, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world! The students start dancing this weekend. As the clock ticks down to that first dance tune, WPSU's Kevin Conaway takes you behind the scenes, to meet Jim Powell, a former dancer who was inspired by the experience.
Best-selling Philadelphia author Omar Tyree's books have been a hit with black women. His latest book is aimed at the "urban male." It's not the typical "gangsta" book where the protagonist dies, goes to jail, or wises up; this book's hero is a romance writer who switches genres to write a gritty street novel.
Penn State's Dance Marathon--or THON--is BIG. 700 students on the dance floor. Dancing for two days straight. Raising millions of dollars. What's it all about? Well, the slogan is: "For the Kids. Now, meet one of the kids. WPSU's Kevin Conaway visited her recently at Penn State Hershey.
Title: Negro Baseball League When the entire white culture was telling them, 'You will not play baseball,' they went ahead and formed a league. Until Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947, African Americans were systematically excluded from playing in the Major Leagues. We talk with an oral historian and with two former Negro League players, about the game, the times, and what we can learn from both. Guests: Bob Allen, Jim Weedon, and Willie Fordham
It's a little known chapter in colonial history-between 1558 and 1603, the British government sent tens of thousands of Irish citizens to the new world, technically as indentured servants but in practice as slaves. This novel tells the story of Cot Daley, kidnapped from Galway at the age of ten, sent to Barbados to work side by side with African slaves on a plantation, and now, jailed for her part in an uprising against brutal plantation owners.
The underground mine fire in Centralia, Pennsylvania, is widely regarded as the nation's worst. It's been burning for 45 years. We speak with the author of "The Day the Earth Caved In: An American Mining Tragedy". We'll also talk with the author of "Fit to be Crazy: Living with Lithium and Manic Depression," which provides a personal glimpse of what it's like for those with biochemical clinical depression. Guests: Joan Quigley & Jean Siphron
If a year in Iraq is tough on the troops, it's also hard on those left behind. To understand how deployment affects family members and employers, Pamela Talbot from member station WVIA in Wilkes-Barre interviewed Kathy Moakler, director of the National Military Family Association.
Valentine's Day is coming up, the second busiest mailing day of the year. You take it for granted that our valentines will get to their destinations within a few days . . . thanks to air mail. A new book by local author Kathleen Wunderly documents the key role played by the central Pennsylvania town of Bellefonte when the U.S. Postal Service first launched "Aerial Mail Service" in 1918-back in the days of Curtis Jenny biplanes!
College and university students across the state are packing up to leave campus for the summer. A significant number of them will be away for much longer. One in every four members of the Pennsylvania National Guard is a student . . . and later this year, the Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade is expected to deploy to Iraq. Cynthia Berger reports.
All Things Considered. Last year, gypsy moth caterpillars chewed up a lot of leaves in Central Pennsylvania . . . and they're expected to be back in force this spring. Spraying to control the very hungry caterpillars starts this month. WPSU's Cynthia Berger talked with the DCNR's Don Eggen to get more details.
Research shows that if you read aloud to your young children, they'll learn to read more easily. But not all parents know this trick . . . and not all homes are full of books. A Pennsylvania program aims to spread the joy of books to every young child. WPSU's Cynthia Berger has more.
Hip-hop star and political activist Sister Souljah made a splash with this story of drugs and violence in the inner city. It's the coming-of-age story of 17-year-old Winter Santiago, daughter of a drug dealer, who must deal with challenges ranging from an absent father to the local drug culture to a teen pregnancy.
A world-famous weather forecaster was at Penn State University Park today. He came to hobnob with members of the meteorology department . . . but first he stopped at the WPSU studios.
Pennsylvania hasn't influenced a presidential nomination in three decades. This year, could the Keystone State make a difference? That's the question WPSU's Cynthia Berger asked Penn State political science professor Michael Berkman.
In any presidential primary season, there are those who make promises, those who make gaffes, and those who make hay of all of the above! WPSU's Kristine Allen spoke by phone with a political observer who has an unusual perspective.
Wars are being fought worldwide, and aid agencies estimate that as many as 300,000 of the soldiers involved are children. Long Way Gone is a memoir by one of them. The deeply upsetting story of Ishmael Beah is a depressing account of man's inhumanity to man-and a hopeful example of the amazing resilience of the human spirit.
Tonight, public television stations nationwide wrap up a series on Jewish history in American. The focus is the 20th century. To complement the TV documentary, WPSU radio brings you a related, LOCAL story: Temple Beth Israel in Altoona and its thoroughly modern women.
"The Vicious Circle of Poverty" Dr. Gates is a 1985 graduate of Bishop Guilfoyle High School and a 1991 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 1995 and did his residency at Allegheny University Hospital. He is the founder of the Gloria Gates Memorial Foundation, which is an after-school program for disadvantaged youth in the projects where Dr. Gates grew up. The program is in memory of his mother. The program is for at risk children ages 4-12 and includes an after school program to enhance their education and teach them to "Dream Again." He is also the founder of Operation Safety Net at Bon Secours Hospital, which is a free health care clinic for adults with no access to health insurance. Dr. Gates has received the LaRoche College Award, the NAACP Award (community service), the Chester E. Smith Scholarship (medical school), the Cohen Scholarship Award (pharmacy school) and the Deborah Grand Scholarship (high school). He resides in Altoona, PA and is the father of three children.
Today America remembers Dr. Martin Luther King. If you want to know more about the civil rights era and you live in Central Pennsylvania, you're in luck. Today, on Penn State's University Park Campus, The Special Collections Library unveils a unique set of photographs and recordings from Alabama.
As gasoline prices rise, so do battle cries to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil. Energy independence may be possible in rough technical terms, but what would it cost? How quickly could it happen? And what kind of political and economic sacrifices are necessary. We'll talk about that and talk with a Penn State researcher about biomass energy and potential sources of future fuels. Guests: Andrew Kleit & Tom Richard
Centre County Reads is a community organization that each year selects a worthwhile book for the community to read together. The group talks, discussion groups, and other literary events related to the book. This year's book is When the Emperor Was Divine, the story of a Japanese family forcibly interned during World War II, and how the confinement affects each member of the family.
This month WPSU-TV airs a 3-part series on Jewish history in America. To complement the TV documentary, WPSU-radio brings you related, LOCAL stories. This week WPSU's Cynthia Berger visits the oldest Jewish congregation in Central Pennsylvania.
When the late Tom Larson took the helm of PennDOT in 1979, he inherited a highway system mired in scandal. He did much more than turn the agency around. We'll talk about Tom Larson's legacy in the world of transportation. We'll also talk with Steve Sheetz about the convenience store chain's knack for reinventing convenience. Guests: Brad Mallory and Dan Hawbacker & Steve Sheetz
Ayn Rand's first novel was her first denouncement of communism . . . and the book she said comes closest to an autobiography. Set in post-revolutionary Russia, it's the heart-wrenching story of a woman who sacrifices everything for the man she loves-and a detailed portrait of socialized Russia, with its ration cards, long lines, and dismal living conditions.
Chelsea Clinton stopped in State College yesterday to speak with mostly young voters about why they should vote "Hillary" in the Democratic Primary this month. So far, rival Barack Obama has been more effective attracting the youth vote. WPSU News Intern David Klatt was at the Clinton event to ask young voters how they choose a candidate.
This week's selection is a novel ripped from the headlines . . . of your local paper. This fall, Pennsylvania's Governor and General Assembly have been fighting over gun control legislation. What better time for a darkly comic novel, by a Pennsylvania author and set in Philadelphia, about a gun-violence victim-turned-vigilante who strikes a blow for peace . . . with a gun?
To ring in the new year, WPSU presents our annual "New Year's News Round-Up." Newspaper editors across Central Pennsylvania talk about the biggest stories of the year just past . . . and what the new year might bring. This morning, the Altoona Mirror's Neil Rudel.
By STEVE KOCHERSPERGER AT THE PUNXY POST OFFICE•
December 31, 2007
All your questions about this wacky holiday are answered in one concise volume. Author Don Yoder is a pioneer in the study of American regional and ethnic cultures; he was cofounder of the Pennsylvania Folklife Society, longtime editor of the journal Pennsylvania Folklife, and professor of Folklife Studies at the University of Pennsylvania for four decades.
So the holidays are coming. And you dread a day spent with your mother, mother-in-law or sister. What to do? Dr. Cheryl Dellsega has some tips. A professor of Humanities and Women's Studies at Penn State Hershey, Dellasega is an expert on relational aggression and the author of a new book: Forced to Be Family: A Guide for Living with Sinister Sisters, Drama Mamas and Infuriating In-Laws (Wiley, 2007).
It's gift-shopping season, and this week BookMark has gift suggestions for avid readers of all ages. Golden Legacy: How Golden Books Won Children's Hearts, Changed Publishing Forever, and Became an American Icon Along the Way by Leonard Marcus (Golden Books, 2007)
They married across plantation lines, strived to get right with God, and fashioned neighborhoods as the focus for their struggles to overthrow slave owners. We'll talk with the author of a new book that provides an entirely new view of American slavery. We'll also talk with a Penn State astronomer and astrophysicist about the discovery of new planets outside our solar system. Guests: Anthony Kaye & Dr. Alex Wolszczan
Last month, the Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade was told it could be Iraq this time next year. The reason is in their name. Pennsylvania has one of just six unit in the country who fight with a new vehicle called the Stryker. WPSU News Intern David Klatt climbed aboard a Stryker during a recent training session at Fort Indiantown Gap to find out the Stryker is helping American troops hunt down insurgents. He has this report.
When legislators ban smoking in public places or transfats on restaurant menus, are they looking out for your well-being, or acting like facists? That's the question posed by libertarian Denver Post columnist David Harsanyi, and his answer is clear: he thinks the government intrudes way too much into our private lives.
A baroque orchestra from Cleveland will perform on the Penn State University Park Campus on Tuesday. The concert by Apollo's Fire celebrates the premiere of the first great opera. WPSU's Kristine Allen has more...
Pennsylvania is one of the most rural states in the nation, which means unique challenges in all aspects of social services. The 15th Annual Pennsylvania Rural Health Conference takes place this week at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel in State College; WPSU brings you a series of conversations with the key conference speakers. Today, Alan Morgan, President and CEO of the National Rural Health Association, talks about health care for veterans in rural areas and why small rural hospitals deserve more respect.
By CYNTHIA BERGER'S ROAD TRIP TOOK HER TO THE BIG FISH SUPPER CLUB IN BENA, MINNESOTA•
December 5, 2007
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the granddaddy of American road-trip books: Jack Kerouac's On the Road. 25 years ago, William Least Heat Moon wrote a less frenetic road-trip book a trip through small towns with funny names, talking to guys in gimme caps, and eating at four-calendar cafes. The book inspired WPSU producer Cynthia Berger to take a similar road trip back then . . . and she spent the last 8 weeks repeating the experience with Blue Highways as company.
On May 15, voters across Pennsylvania will go to the polls for a primary election. The races are for municipal posts such as school board, county commissioner, and township supervisor. This week, WPSU brings you a series of conversations with the editors of local papers, about the races to watch. Today, Cynthia Berger talks with Sandy Rhodes and Mike Schreiber of the Bradford Era.
"Strive to Put Yourself Out of Business" Stephen G. (Steve) Sheetz is a native of Altoona, PA, also home to the family owned and operated Sheetz, Inc. convenience store chain. Sheetz currently operates 337 stores in six states
High speed internet access is no longer a luxury, but a necessity for economic development. So says Fifth District Republican Congressman John Peterson. He wants to make sure rural areas of Pennsylvania are not left behind. WPSU Washington correspondent Benjaman Shaw reports from Capitol Hill...
Over the last 15 years, the number of people killed in traffic accidents related to alcohol dropped by a third nationwide, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That statistic is hard to believe in State College, where drunk driving incidents made headlines this past year. Today, WPSU looks at why drunk driving is on the rise
Carnegie Mellon creative writing professor Hilary Masters writes about Sam Emerson, a Penn State alumnus and Pittsburg restaurant owner with an unconventional past and complicated present. Foodies will love the restaurant ambiance and kitchen info. Details of Pennsylvania shine in this vibrant and touching work of fiction.
On Wednesday night, November 28th WPSU hosts a Common Ground Lobby Talk where the subject is "Islam in Europe." Penn State professor Dr. Bettina Mathes is one of the experts on the panel; she gives a preview of the issues. WPSU's Lobby Talk series is made possible by the Public Service Media Initiative, a collaborative project of the Science, Technology and Society Program in the Colleges of the Liberal Arts and Engineering, and WPSU-TV/FM. Tonight's Lobby Talk is part of the Muslim Dialogues series support by Penn State's Institute for the Arts and Humanities Team Teaching across the Disciplines Grant.
On November 25th, the Centre Daily Times launched a week-long series about the growing number of people in our region who have full-time jobs yet have trouble making ends meet. We talk with one of the lead reporters for the series, Ann Danahy.
Native American names grace many of the cities, counties, rivers, mountains, and lakes in Pennsylvania. In fact, according to historian George P. Donehoo, No state in the entire nation is richer in Indian names or Indian history than Pennsylvania. This book tells you the native roots of many familiar names, like Loyalhanna and Lehigh.
A book called Weird Pennsylvania chronicles the legends, ghosts, and roadside oddities of our state. Well! When you live somewhere, you appreciate weirdness elsewhere. WPSU's Cynthia Berger send us this audio postcard from Austin, Texas, where the slogan is "Keep Austin Weird.
Rarely does a week go by that we're not reading about student athletes in trouble with the law. Who hasn't heard about the Duke lacrosse case or the criminal run-ins of former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett? But are student-athletes really as bad as we think they are or are they getting a bad rap from the media? We'll talk with the author of a new study about athletes in trouble. We'll also talk with State Senator Jake Corman, who represents the 34th district, about some of the hot legislative issues. Guests: Marie Hardin & PA State Senator Jake Corman
Civil unrest in a small kingdom in the Middle East. Diplomats and journalists hunker down in a grand hotel as the bullets fly and world leaders quibble. This novel by journalist Scott Anderson is about an invented country, but if you read the morning paper the plot sounds all too familiar.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Jack Kerouac's "On The Road," a book about the great American road trip. WPSU producer Cynthia Berger is on a cross-country road-trip of her own right now, and sending us occasional audio postcards. This one introduces her virtual co-pilot, who's not exactly Dean Moriarty.
"Drug Issues" Following her nomination by President GeorgeW. Bush, on July 31, 2003, Karen Tandy was confirmed by unanimous consent of the U.S. Senate as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), a $2.2 billion agency with approximately 11,000 employees across the U.S. and in 85 foreign offices. Under Ms.Tandy's leadership, DEA investigations resulted in criminal charges against 87 percent of the most wanted drug trafficking leaders, an 82 percent increase in the number of dismantled priority drug trafficking organizations, and a 400 percent increase in the seizure of drug proceeds and related assets, with a recordbreaking $3.75 billion in seized drug assets and revenue denied to traffickers in a two year period from 2004-2006. In 2005, Ms.Tandy also developed and launched the first website designed for teens regarding the consequences of illegal drugs, www.justthinktwice.com, which received wide acclaim from teenagers, schools, drug prevention specialists, and community coalitions. Prior to becoming DEA Administrator, Ms.Tandy was Associate Deputy Attorney General, responsible for developing national drug enforcement policy and strategies, and Director of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). Between 1990 and 1999, Ms.Tandy served in a variety of positions in the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice, supervising the Department's drug and forfeiture litigation. From 1979 to 1990, Ms.Tandy was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia and in theWestern District ofWashington, handling the prosecution of violent crime and complex drug, money laundering and forfeiture cases. Ms.Tandy, a native of FortWorth,Texas, graduated from Texas Tech University undergraduate school and Law School. She is married with two daughters.
The PBS series "Independent Lens" calls itself "an independent film festival for your living room." Tonight PBS stations nationwide will showcase a new film by a director from here in Central Pennsylvania. The setting and the characters are local, too. But the issues have national resonance. WPSU's Cynthia Berger talks with filmmaker Aaron Matthews about putting out "The Paper." "The Paper" airs Tuesday night, Dec. 11.2007 at 10:00 PM on WPSU-TV
Pressures on our time seem greater than ever, with work encroaching more and more into family life. Why do most Americans lead unbalanced lives and what can we do to regain balance? We'll talk with an expert. We'll also hear about a new Emergency Radio System that's underway in Pennsylvania that promises better service delivery. Guests: Dr. Robert Drago & Charlie Brennan
This week marks the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the "Night of Broken Glass" when German stormtroopers smashed the windows of Jewish shops . . . an event often referred to as the start of the Holocaust. A recent book about the Holocaust is "The Lost", Daniel Mendelsohn's account of his search to find out exactly what happened to six family members about whom he was told simply "they were killed by the Nazis."
From the "Sports that are not Football" series, it's competitive bird watching with training, sponsors, team uniforms and prizes that rival the Heisman Trophy! In Central Pa., the big tournament is the Shaver's Creek Birding Cup. Cynthia Berger rode along with team "Bad Optics" for the 24-hour event.
On Tuesday May 15, voters across Pennsylvania will go to the polls for municipal primary elections, This week, WPSU brings you a series of conversations with the editors of local papers, about the races to watch. Today, Cynthia Berger talks with Bob Heisse of the Centre Daily times.
When the first woman president moves into the White House-whenever that day might be-she will be indebted to at least five women who ran for president before her and helped pave the way. Are we ready for our first Madam President? We talk about the obstacles and opportunities for women as presidential contenders. Guest: Nichola Gutgold
Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White, illustrated by Megan Lloyd (Holiday House, 1997) The Little Old Lady who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda White, illustrated by Megan Lloyd (HarperTrophy, 2002) No Place for a Pig by Suzanne Bloom (Boyds Mills Press, October 2003) We Keep a Pig in the Parlor, by Suzanne Bloom (Weekly Reader Books, 1988) An Amish Christmas by Richard Ammon (Aladdin Picture Books, 2000) An Amish Wedding by Richard Ammon (Atheneum, 1998) This week: children's books with distinctive illustrations that create a sense of place. Many of featured selections have a Pennsylvania connection: illustrator Megan Lloyd and author Richard Ammon portray their home state.
The U.S. Sudoku Championship last weekend in Philadelphia was the largest live puzzle tournament ever, with nearly a thousand contestants and hundreds of spectators. Sounds like a sport that's not football! WPSU producer Cynthia Berger is on a cross-country road trip, and she just happened to be in Palo Alto, California - home of the newly crowned champion ... so she paid him a visit.
Does affirmative action hurt or help black law students? Despite a US Supreme Court ruling that upheld the University of Michigan's law school affirmative action plan, the debate continues. We speak with the law professor who drafted the school's policy. Also, we learn about a documentary that explores the life and legacy of Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson. Guest: Richard Lempert & Lisa Gensheimer
As part of WPSU's Shared Stores of WWII project, Penn State Student Sarah Drumheiser interviewed Thomas Rousch of State College. He related a chilling story of a hospital confinement he had while recovering from wounds.
Penn State University is looking pretty green these days, but don't worry, the school's blue and white colors have nothing to do with it. Last week, the university and a campus environmental group were both honored with a prestigious environmental award. WPSU news intern David Klatt set out to shed some light on this story.
Explorers in the 1800s were the astronauts of their day, and the race was, not to the moon, but to find the fabled "Northwest Passage" that would speed the shipping of precious cargo from East to West. This thrilling new historical account tells the story of H.M.S. Resolute and its heroic Captain John Franklin, who tried and failed to discover the fabled route to the Pacific.
Title: Horseshoe Curve & Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease A new book released on the history of the Horseshoe Curve tells the story of three little-known events in American history, including the Nazi plot to destroy the Horseshoe Curve, a mission Adolf Hitler himself conceived. Had the Nazis succeeded, they could have crippled the American war machine and changed the course of history. Meet the author of "The Horseshoe Curve: Sabotage and Subversion in the Railroad City." We will also discuss an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease, or EHD, among Pennsylvania's deer population. Guest: Dennis McIlnay & Dr. Walt Cotrell
This summer the headlines were all about a mine disaster in Utah. Meanwhile a Pennsylvania mine disaster that got its start in the 1960s is still unresolved today. An underground fire in an abandoned mine ultimately forced the evacuation and abandonment of Centralia, a working class town south of Bloomsburg. This new book from journalist Joan Quigley, whose grandmother lived in the town, tells a story of bureaucratic ineptitude and indecision and of townspeople who stayed despite the dangers.
Is there public support for a smoking ban in restaurants, bars and casinos? There's a coalition that's pushing for a comprehensive smoke-free workplace law that protects all Pennsylvanians. Also, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! We talk with the executive director of the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition about the most common cancer for women in Pennsylvania. Guests: Dr. Mark Piasio & Heather Hibshman
A long-time favorite of the Kerrville Folk Festival, Texas singer and multi-instrumentalist Ruthie Foster performs her original mixture of blues, gospel, roots, and soul, Friday night October 19th at the State Theatre in downtown State College. WPSU Folk Show Host Mel DeYoung spoke with her about her music and her upcoming State College concert.
"LeaderSpeak: Debunking the Myths that Keep Leaders Playing Small" Dr. Lucia Rohrer Murphy, aka "Doctor Murph," is a leading authority in team development and sustainable leadership practices who has inspired organizations and individuals to leverage their unique strengths and talents to create Success that Sticks. Doctor Murph has developed her expertise from over 20 years of corporate and academic experience, using an integrated approach to draw out the genius already in her clients. On the corporate side, Lucia, a Penn State grad, has made significant contributions to marketing, strategy, and human performance technology for Fortune 500 companies, including Xerox, Frito-Lay and Campbell Soup. She has inspired and developed leaders in major corporations, worldclass academic institutions and innovative business interests of all sizes. Through her leadership of DoctorMurph.com and Doctor Murph Events she offers presentations, seminars, retreat facilitation and individual executive development. Lucia is renowned for her intelligent wit and enthusiasm, which engages and delights her audiences everywhere. Lucia is the author of the new book, "LeaderSpeak: 7 Conversations that Create Sustainable Success." An avid runner and accomplished woman of laughter and energy, Lucia lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with her husband and children, along with various and sundry pets.
Today, a report on research at Susquehanna University. A word to the arachnophobic: it involves spiders. But don't flip that dial! Spiders COULD be surprisingly helpful, down on the farm.
On Tuesday May 15, voters across Pennsylvania will go to the polls for a primary election. The races are for municipal posts: school board, town supervisor, city or town council. This week, WPSU brings you a series of conversations with the editors of local papers, about the races to watch. Today, Cynthia Berger interviews Nick Hoffman of the Dubois Courier Express.
The River by Gary Paulsen The Ear, the Eye and the Arm by Nancy Farmer The Smugglers by Iain Lawrence Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James L. Patterson How do you get a teenaged boy to read? Reviewer Martha Freeman posed that question for us a few months back and tried out some strategies on her own teenaged son. This week she reports back on what said son read over his summer vacation.
The trial of Saddam Hussein to the conviction of Jose Padilla has sparked heated global debate about national security law and international criminal law. We'll talk with a legal expert about the war on terrorism. We'll also talk with State College resident Thomas Day who served with the U.S. Army's legendary 101st Airborne Division, better known as the "Screaming Eagles." Guests: Greg McNeal & Thomas Day
Pennsylvania has threatened species . . . like the Allegheny woodrat and the timber rattlesnake. Then there's threatened habitat, like bogs and tidal marshes. Today, as part of our occasional series "Pennsylvania Radio Expeditions," experience one of the state's rarest habitats - a truly DARK sky-at the Black Forest Star Party.
When Mata Hari's mummified head was discovered missing from the Museum of Anatomy in Paris, biographer Pat Shipman was intrigued. In her rigorously researched new book, Shipman says the exotic dancer who was convicted of spying for the Germans in 1917, and executed by a French firing squad, may not have been pure, but she was likely innocent. The life and times of Mata Hari on this edition of "Take Note". Guest: Pat Shipman
All this week, WPSU has brought you stories from World War II, told by Central Pennsylvania residents. Our series concludes with as George Logue of Trout Run talks about his brother, who served on a famous attack submarine--and about the ultimate nature of brotherly love. This interview was reported and produced by Cynthia Berger.
Early critics of the Ken Burns documentary charged that it short-changed the experiences of minorities, especially Hispanics. As our "local voices" series continues on WPSU, State College resident Jack Seidner reflects on integration and discrimination in the Army Air Corps, where he helped train America's first black pilots. This profile was produced by WPSU's Cynthia Berger.
You've heard of the best little whorehouse in Texas? The most famous whorehouse in American history was the high-class establishment run by the notorious Everleigh sisters (pun perhaps intended) in turn-of-the-century Chicago... until a campaign to shut down low-rent bordellos closed its doors too. Author Karen Abbott was born in Philly.
Our series of stories from World War II continues with some reminiscences from Kenneth Eisenhower of Mill Hall. He's no relation to the FAMOUS Eisenhower, but he DID take advantage of the name. Eisenhower also remembers being on the scene for an historic moment of surrender. This audio profile of World War II veteran Kenneth Eisenhower was reported and produced by WPSU intern Vilma Shu.
Pennsylvania is recognizing "We Don't Serve Teens" week this week. The number of alcohol overdoses and underage citations over the last year suggest the underage drinking problem at Penn State's University Park campus and in State College is particularly bad. WPSU news intern David Klatt took a closer look at the problem and at what some local people are doing to solve it.
This week on WPSU, we bring you some "War Stories" -- World War Two stories that is. As you've heard, the latest documentary from filmmaker Ken Burns is coming soon to WPSU-TV, and here on the radio side, we're adding some Central Pennsylvania voices to the mix. Today, State College resident Norma Condee. During the war, she was a cryptanalyst, working with secret codes.
The Ken Burns documentary "The War" tells the history of World War Two through the personal stories of those who served. Of course there are many more stories to tell, and all this week, WPSU radio brings some from Central Pennsylvania. Today, State College resident Harlan Hoffa, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Hoffa was captured by the Germans and escaped--not once, but three times.
From 1951 until 1974, hundreds of Philadelphia prisoners were used as human guinea pigs in an array of unethical and often dangerous medical experiments. Most were African-Americans. We'll talk with the author of "Sentenced to Science." a disturbing account of one man's days as a Holmesburg Prison test subject. Guest: Allen Hornblum
Most communities honor our nation's veterans with speeches, parades, and salutes. Here in Central Pennsylvania, one small town has a unique way to remember veterans -- with soup! WPSU's Cynthia Berger checked it out for our occasional series, Pennsylvania Potluck.
This summer BookMark featured a series of books that reflect, in different ways, on the phenomenon of the "local food" movement. As farmer's markets reach their glory, the show takes a look at one more, novelist Kingsolver's engaging non-fiction account of a year spent eating home-grown and locally produced foods.
What do Columbian drug-smuggling enterprises and terrorist networks, including al Qaeda, have in common? We talk with a Penn State professor of political science and public policy about his new book, which explores how drug cartels and terrorist groups remain one step ahead of us, despite our military and technical advantages. Guest: Michael Kenney, Ph.D.
Students! If you think going back to school is hard, consider this: What if your school were like the grueling, sadistic space-based military academy attended by Ender Wiggin, the hero of the legendary work of science fiction, "Ender's Game?"
Just in time for Labor Day, a new report from the Keystone Research Center looks at workforce trends in Pennsylvania. The author of the report is Mark Price, a labor economist at the Center. WPSU's Cynthia Berger reached him by phone at his Harrisburg office, to get the high points.
Our occasional WPSU series "Sports That Are Not Bowling" shines a little light on under-appreciated sports. Today, our subject is the nation's fastest-growing high school sport. Central Pennsylvania has a team that's a contender for the state championship. WPSU's Cynthia Berger watched them in action last and she has this report.
Are you in the dark about mushrooms? Picking edible mushrooms in the wild can be risky business-and a practice not to be undertaken by amateurs. On this edition of Take Note, we talk with the author of the new "Field Guide to Wild Mushrooms of Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic" and speak with a biologist about a little-known rodent, the Allegheny woodrat. It's a threatened species in Pennsylvania. Guests: Bill Russell & Dr. Janet Wright [Encore]
Tonight on WPSU-TV and PBS stations around the country, you can see the first installment of a 3-part documentary, "The Jewish Americans." WPSU radio launches its own series, about Jewish history in Central Pennsylvania. Today, the Aaronsburg Story: about the first town in Pennsylvania-and possibly America-to be founded by a Jew. A generous gift across religious traditions has resonated across the centuries.
We associate the hearing of voices with madness - yet research shows, the phenomenon is not so rare and not necessarily pathological. This book is a multifaceted review of the phenomenon; author Daniel Smith got interested in the subject because his father and grandfather both heard voices.
The riverfront town of Franklin hosted a "Battle of the Titans" this past weekend: A National Champion versus the guy who made the Guinness Book of World Records. The sporting event? Professional Stone-Skipping.
From the Middle Ages to the Industrial Revolution, many great cities of Europe were best known for their cathedrals. In 21st century America, cities are best known for their sports stadiums. What does this say about our values and priorities? We talk with the author of "The New Cathedrals." Also, if you've strolled across a stone bridge in a state park, or picnicked in a pavilion, chances are you've enjoyed the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps. A new book from Penn State Press tells the story of the CCC in our state. Guests: Bob Trumpbour & Joseph Speakman
By STEVE KOCHERSPERGER LOVES MAPS!•
August 22, 2007
If you love maps, you'll love this compendium of maps that tell you practically everything you could want to know about the Keystone State. Far more than a how-to-get-there collection of roadmaps, this atlas informs about everything from ancient Indian cultures to the incidence of divorce in modern society to where radon is most prevalent.
Children's author Bill Wallace is known for books that address tough issues in a tender way. This one deals with love and loss. The heroine, Kristine, is coping with the death of her beloved horse Dandy. So, when her grandfather gives her a puppy as a gift, she rejects it at first. Will she open her heart to the new pet?
Dr. Whitehouse's pioneering research led to the development of the first four medications approved to treat Alzheimer's disease. Now he says we need to give up on the fantasy of a single cure for dementia and focus, instead, on developing better ways to view and treat dementia. We'll also talk with a researcher who's exploring the possibility that music recognition is spared in dementia. Guests: Peter Whitehouse & Jackie Duffin
Do you know where your food comes from? In this ambitious book, New York Times columnist Michael Pollan lays it all out for you in great detail; reviewers say, "You'll never look at a Chicken McNugget in the same way again.
When cars became common, trolleys went out of fashion. Now trolleys are trendy again. They're quaint, quiet, and they don't pollute. On Saturday June 9 at 10 AM, the Rockhill Trolley Museum in Orbisonia will dedicate "Car 355"- a vintage 1920s trolley from Johnstown, freshly restored to mint condition.
There are more than 54 million Americans with disabilities. While their status has improved markedly since the Disabilities Rights Movement began in the late 1960s and early '70s, those with disabilities are still only half as likely as other Americans to be employed and more than twice as likely to live in poverty. We speak with one of the nation's most ardent advocates for disability rights and about his own experience raising a son with Down syndrome. Guest: Michael Berube
This book addresses a distressing fact of the modern workplace: you want to soar with the eagles, but sometimes you work with turkeys. The author, a Stanford management science professor, has the solution: get rid of those jerks!
Why do poor women put motherhood before marriage, despite the daunting challenges? We talk with a noted sociologist about what motherhood and marriage mean in the context of poverty. We also talk with a feminist economist who ask questions most economists don't even think about like how to measure unpaid labor predominately done by women. Guests: Kathryn Edin & Nancy Folbre
While the Tour de France made headlines this week, another major bike race was rolling along-right in our own back yard. The International Tour de Toona -- that's "toona" as in Altoona -- is a "stage" race, just like the famous Tour de France. It just happens to be the premiere "stage race" in America.
What is the recipe for a happy marriage? Psychologists have been cooking up answers for years, but Project Everlasting turns to the experts: that is, couples who have been married for more than 40 years! In this book, couples share their time-tested wisdom on relationship bliss. They talk candidly about respect, sex, and the problems they faced.
Hurricane Katrina hit hard in small towns along the Gulf Coast. After the storm, folks from Central Pennsylvania headed down to help out. One place where Pennsylvanians pitched in is Long Beach, Mississippi. Last week, WPSU's Cynthia Berger visited the town, and one place she checked out was . . . the library. Travis Larchuk helped report this story.
Pete Seeger's music-iconic songs such as "If I had a Hammer"--raised the consciousness of a generation. Dunaway's biography is the first inside look at the long life of a man who worked for social change through his songs.
Globalization and economic inequity are some of the themes in this novel from up-and-coming writer Kiran Desai, as each of the members of a makeshift family living in the foothills of the Himalayas struggles with questions of identity in a rapidly modernizing India.
It's easy to become confused about what to eat. With today's increasingly clever advertising, even a bag of chips can sound nutritious. But nutritionist Marion Nestle, in her new book, What to Eat, offers straightforward information in the often misleading world of food production. She decodes food labels and shows readers the health and environmental effects of what they eat in an entertaining and informative way.
Some say his life reads like a Greek tragedy. We talk with the author of "Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich," the basketball legend whose storied life begins in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, and ends at age 40 due to a heart attack suffered in a pick-up basketball game. There's also a new biography out about actor Jimmy Stewart and try as he might, celeb biographer Marc Eliot couldn't dig up a whiff of scandal Guests: Mark Kriegel & Marc Eliot
The WIYOs are reminiscent of the old days of live performances and vaudeville. They will bring their exuberant performance, which includes comedy, music, and a lot of energy, to the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts on Friday July 13th at 9:30 PM. WPSU's Mel DeYoung spoke with the WIYOs about their show.
So your teenaged son thinks reading is roughly as much fun as cleaning his room? Despair not. Today on BookMark, some books and some tips sure to entice the eyeballs of the most video-game obsessed teen.
Douglas MacArthur, George Marshall and Dwight Eisenhower paved the way to U.S. victory in World War II, the most significant war of the modern era. We talk with master historian Stanley Weintraub about his newest book, "15 Stars". We also talk with the author of "Jeb Stuart and the Confederate Defeat of Gettysburg", the greatest battle ever fought in our hemisphere. Guests: Stanley Weintraub & Warren C. Robinson
WPSU's Gun Control Series continues with a commentary from Dr. Alan Krug. He's a socioeconomist, a firearms legislation consultant for national and state sportsman's associations, and a former lobbyist with the National Rifle Association.
Every year, thousands of girls in Nepal and India are sold into prostitution. Patricia McCormick researched the trade of sexual slavery and interviewed women who have been through it. Her novel, "Sold", honors the women who have undergone the perils of the current sex market. In it, 13- year- old Lakshmi struggles against rape, starvation, and drugs in hopes of finding freedom.
Two gun control bills are pending in the State Assembly. One would limit gun purchases to one per month. Another would require that handguns be registered each year. This week, public radio listeners speak out on the issue of gun control legislation. Gene Farrelly of Lock Haven says the new laws will stop needless slaughter.
The Mid-Atlantic is home to many orchards with some very special trees -- American Chestnuts. Chestnuts were nearly wiped out in the 20th century by an exotic fungus. The new trees are being bred to resist the disease. So-called "citizen scientists" carry out the breeding program and Cynthia Berger visited a local orchard to find out how it works.
Magdalena Yoder has another mystery to solve in this Pennsylvania Dutch Series. Colonel George Custard has just come to the cozy town of Hernia to set up a glamorous hotel, when he suddenly gets murdered! Of course, Yoder gets on the case. Liven up those lazy summer days with this Nancy Drew-like tale, cooked up a la Mennonite.
Are we becoming a nation of burnouts? We talk with an executive coach who says employees are struggling to survive in today's fast-paced workplace. Then we answer the question: does the Nittany Lion live? Wildlife officials get hundreds of cougar sighting reports each year. But are they legitimate? We'll hear from a member of the Eastern Puma Research Network. Guests: Lisa Marshall & John Lutz
Pennsylvania is one of the most rural states in the nation, which means unique challenges in all aspects of social services. The 15th Annual Pennsylvania Rural Health Conference takes place this week at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel in State College. WPSU has been bringing you a series of conversations with the key conference speakers. Today, producer Cynthia Berger talks with Michael Huff, Deputy Secretary for Health Planning and Assessment.
Pennsylvania is one of the most rural states in the nation, which means unique challenges in all aspects of social services. The 15th Annual Pennsylvania Rural Health Conference takes place this week at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel in State College. WPSU has been bringing you a series of conversations with the key conference speakers. Today, producer Cynthia Berger talks with Cheryl Cook, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's Deputy Secretary for Marketing and Economic Development.
In his latest novel, Carnegie Mellon creative writing professor Hilary Masters writes about Sam Emerson, a Penn State alumnus and Pittsburg restaurant owner. He takes readers through the tumult of Sam's unconventional past, while drawing on familiar themes of love and death. Details of Pennsylvania shine in this vibrant and touching work of fiction.
Pennsylvania is one of the most rural states in the nation, which means unique challenges in all aspects of social services. The 15th Annual Pennsylvania Rural Health Conference takes place this week at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel in State College. WPSU brings you a series of conversations with the key conference speakers. Today, Greg Howe, senior policy manager for the Governor's Office of Health Care Reform.
What do Columbian drug-smuggling enterprises and terrorist networks, including al Qaeda, have in common? We talk with a Penn State professor of political science and public policy about his new book, which explores how drug cartels and terrorist groups remain one step ahead of us, despite our military and technical advantages. Guest: Michael Kenney
WPSU student intern David Klatt is in Costa Rica this semester. Recently, he ventured into the rainforest in search of the red-eyed tree-frog . . .and sent back this audio postcard of his midnight adventure
Sugar maple trees are so named because of their sweet sap. Native Americans taught Pennsylvania's colonial settlers how to turn it into maple sugar and maple syrup. In this installment of our occasional series, Pennsylvania Potluck, travel up Brush Valley with WPSU's Cynthia Berger to see how maple syrup is made, at an old-style "sugar shack.
Are you unhappy with state government? Last November, Pennsylvanians voted for change. We talk about legislative reform with Damon Boughamer, bureau chief for Pennsylvania Public Radio Capitol News. We also hear from State Representative Scott Conklin, the freshman legislator from Pennsylvania's 77th Legislative District. He'll tell us about his first term in office and about his involvement in legislative reform. Guest: Damon Boughamer & Scott Conklin
The Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest award given for military bravery. The first recipient of this award since the Vietnam War was Corporal Jason Dunham, a marine serving in Iraq who sacrificed his life to save his men. Reporter Michael Phillips chronicles the fighting and confusion that led to Dunham's moment of valor, as well as his journey home.
The thirty-six day campaign to capture Iwo Jima was the bloodiest in the history of the U.S. Marines. We talk with a World War II Marine veteran, and the last living infantry battalion commander who had Navajo code talkers assigned to him. We also talk to the Pennsylvania sculptor who created the trio of Memorial Day ladies in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania. Guests: Col. Gerald Russell & Lorann Jacobs
On America observes Memorial Day. This holiday got its start here in Central Pennsylvania--in the town of Boalsburg. The observance of Memorial dates back to the Civil War. And if you go to Boalsburg on you'll see the Civil War come to life.
A Long Long Way, by Sebastian Barry (Viking Adult, 2005) My Detachment, by Tracy Kidder (Random House, 2005) May 28 is Memorial Day, a day to remember the nation's fallen soldiers. Here are two books to read for the holiday, one a work of fiction, the other nonfiction. "A Long, Long Way", by Irish novelist Sebastian Barry, tells the story of a 17-year-old Irish boy caught in the horror of World War I trench Warfare. Pulitzer-Prize-winner Tracy Kidder's newest work is "My Detachment", a memoir of his time in the radio corps during the Vietnam War.
Recently, the U.S. Census Bureau released its population estimates for July 2006. Pennsylvania shows some trends that may surprise you. To understand the Census Bureau's key findings, WPSU's Cynthia Berger talked with Penn State demographer Gordon De Young...
Wednesday morning on WPSU, we reported some of the results from Tuesday's primary elections. We focused on statewide races, and the results from Centre County. Now, for our Altoona listeners, a brief run-down of Altoona area results. WPSU's Cynthia Berger spoke with the Altoona Mirror's County Government Reporter, Kay Stephens.
In the 20th century, South American writers made famous the literary genre called magical realism, which blends real-world events with fantasy. Today's book applies magical realism to the author's hometown of Pittsburgh. Paolo Corso's debut collection of short stories bring a sense of wonder to the the run-down Rust Belt town of her youth.
Dr. Whitehouse's pioneering research led to the development of the first four medications approved to treat Alzheimer's disease. Now he says we need to give up on the fantasy of a single cure for dementia and focus, instead, on developing better ways to view and treat dementia. We'll also talk with a researcher who's exploring the possibility that music recognition is spared in dementia. Guests: Dr. Peter Whitehouse and Jackie Duffin
In the mood for a short little spine-tingle? James Patterson is known as an expert author of thrillers. In this volume, he's gathered 30 short stories by some of the best known names in the mystery-thriller field.
Reptiland, located between Williamsport and Lewisburg, is much more than a roadside attraction. We'll find out how one man's passion for the less-loved animals of the world has grown into a nationally accredited zoo. Also, agritourism is a growing part of Pennsylvania's economy-with everything from winery tours to farm-stay vacations to corn mazes. In the second part of the program, Cynthia Berger talks with Susan Ryan of California University of PA, who recently conducted a survey of agritourism in Pennsylvania. Then in part three of the program, we learn about the Annual River Sojourn. For the past five summers the Juniata Clean Water Partnership has invited local residents to celebrate this beautiful and free-flowing river by hopping in their canoes. Guests: Clyde & Chad Peeling, Susan Ryan, and Vanessa Dietrick
"Rain Man" was just a movie . . ."Born on a Blue Day" is the real-life memoir of Danel Tammet, a man with the rare form of Asperger's disease known as "Savant Syndrome." He can learn a new language in a week and perform extraodinary mathematical calculations in his head. Though he has the all the odd tics and quirks of someone with Aspergers, he is able to live an independent life--and tell his unique personal story.
The world famous King's Singers from England will perform in concert on the Penn State University Park campus on Tuesday night, February 6. WPSU's Kristine Allen has a preview.
This week, we're talking with the editors from the major papers in our listening region to reflect on the major stories in year just past--and what stories they expect to be following in the year ahead. Our New Year's News Roundup continues with Sandy Rhodes, City Editor for the Bradford Era.
Iowa songwriter and singer Greg Brown will perform at the State Theatre in State College on Friday May4th at 7:30. WPSU's Mel DeYoung spoke with Greg about his upcoming performance.
Her debut novel, "Back Roads", was an Oprah Book Club selection and a New York Times bestseller. Her latest book, "Sister Mine", reveals that same raw talent--her trademark blend of black humor, tenderness, and keen sense of place. We talk with Pennsylvania author Tawni O'Dell. Later in the program, we find out why kids in Huntingdon County schools are so enthusiastic about learning a foreign language. Guests: Tawni O'Dell & Dr. Deborah Roney
April is National Poetry Month, and BookMark brings listeners a month's worth of poetry book reviews. This week's selection is a collection of poems by the surprise winner of the 1996 Nobel prize for literature: an elderly Polish woman most scholars had never heard of.
Tens of thousands of people die in hospitals each year as a result of preventable medical errors, making it the eighth leading cause of death in the U.S. What's being done to make the system safer? Also, April is "Cancer Control Month"---a time to learn the early warning signs of cancer, and to be pro-active about your health. Pennsylvania takes this charge seriously, with a statewide Cancer Control Consortium that's working on a comprehensive Cancer Control Plan. Guests: Dr. Albert Wu & Kathy Stadler
Here on WPSU, the occasional series Sports That ARE Not Football covers the "lesser known" sports. Today, we bring you a sport that involves: kicking, passing, AND tackling, using an egg-shaped ball. You can see championship level play this weekend, at University Park. But we're NOT talking about the Nittany Lions' Blue-White game.
April is National Poetry Month, and BookMark brings listeners a month's worth of poetry book reviews. This week . three poetry books kids will actually enjoy! A collection of elegant haikus that are also guessing games about animals, an anthology of classics, and a collection of poems all about one exuberant, unforgettable character.
David Bromberg and the Angel Band will be performing at the State Theatre, downtown State College, on Thursday April 19th at 7:30. WPSU's Mel DeYoung spoke with Bromberg about this long hiatus from performing, and of his rediscovery of the joy of music.
Saturday April 14th marked the first day of trout season across Central Pennsylvania. Just how big is trout season? WPSU News Intern Travis Larchuk found out.
April 15th is Holocaust Remembrance Day, we talk with the producer/director of a new documentary "On the Side of Angels" about Polish Christians who risked their lives to save Jewish neighbors during World War II. Guests: Judy Maltz- Schejter, Barbara Bird and Richie Sherman
On Tuesday May 15, Pennsylvania voters will go to the polls for a primary election. The races are for municipal posts such as school board, county commissioner, and township supervisor. Our conversations with the editors of local papers about the races to watch continues as Cynthia Berger talks with Kay Stevens, County Government Reporter for the Altoona Mirror.
We continue our celebration of National Poetry Month with a collection of poems that share a common theme: The impacts of two devastating hurricanes, Katrina and Rita. These works had special resonance for reviewer Dana Washington.
From the Middle Ages to the Industrial Revolution, many great cities of Europe were best known for their cathedrals. In 21st century America, cities are best known for their sports stadiums. What does this say about our values and priorities? We talk with the author of "The New Cathedrals." Also, if you've strolled across a stone bridge in a state park, or picnicked in a pavilion, chances are you've enjoyed the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps. A new book from Penn State Press tells the story of the CCC in our state. Guests: Dr. Robert Trumpbour & Dr. Joseph Speakman
April is National Poetry Month, and BookMark brings listeners a month's worth of poetry book reviews, starting with Hometown for an Hour. It's a collection of short postcard-like poems about places and displacement. Speaking of sense of place: poet Jennifer Rose is also a city planner who specializes in downtown revitalization.
Time is not money, in fact time is more important than money! On this edition of Take Note, we talk with a feminist economist who says the Gross Domestic Product doesn't adequately measure unpaid labor predominantly performed by women, such as housework, childcare, and eldercare. We also talk about a new report that explores the economic issues facing rural communities, which includes much of Pennsylvania. Guests: Nancy Folbre, Al Luloff & Ted Alter
Folk-Rock singer/songwriter Roger McGuinn -- perhaps best known as the lead singer and guitarist for The Byrds during the 1960s -- spoke with WPSU's Mel DeYoung about his music and his visit to State College on April 1.
One hundred years ago, doctors recognized Alzheimer's Disease as a distinct diagnosis. A number of conferences mark this anniversary, including one that starts today (March 29th) at Penn State University Park. This evening at 7, four conference participants will be at WPSU for a "Lobby Talk" to discuss new approaches to the disease. One speaker is Ann Basting, director of the Center on Age and Community at the University of Wisconsin. She spoke by phone with Cynthia Berger.
Larry McMurty uses his novelists' chops in this nonfiction account of the lives of Buffalo Bill Cody and Annie Oakley, the two "demigods of western mythology." McMurtry, who remembers hearing his uncles tell of having seen the legendary Wild West Show, aims to separate the truth from the myth.
A Nobel laureate, the chemist Richard Schrock, visited the Penn State-University Park campus on March 28, to deliver a public lecture about his award-winning work. WPSU's Cynthia Berger reached Dr. Schrock by phone at his office at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, to get this sneak preview of his presentation.
The trio known as Red Molly performed on Saturday March 24, at the Centre for Well-Being in Lemont. It was a sold-out show, so if you weren't able to attend, WPSU's Mel DeYoung wants to make sure you get to hear these talented performers anyway. Here's Mel's conversation with Red Molly.
There are more than 54 million Americans with disabilities. While their status has improved markedly since the Disabilities Rights Movement began in the late 1960s and early '70s, those with disabilities are still only half as likely as other Americans to be employed and more than twice as likely to live in poverty. We speak with one of the nation's most ardent advocates for disability rights and about his own experience raising a son with Down syndrome. Guests: Dr. Michael Berube
During the spring semester, Penn State University Park's new Center for America Literary Studies is sponsoring a "community read." The novel you should pick up is The Intuitionist, a social allegory in a city of the future where the sprawl is up, not out, and two guilds of Elevator Inspectors, the Empiricists and the Intutionists, compete.
On Saturday evening March 17, the Cajun group Beausoleil, with Michael Doucet performed at the State Theatre in downtown State College. Prior to the show, WPSU Folk Show host Mel DeYoung spoke wth Doucet about Beausoleil's music.
After a deadly gas leak in Bhopal, India, Congress passed a law requiring local disaster response plans. It's called the "Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act." The name is significant: YOU have a right to know what the government plans to do. Earlier this year, journalists tested this premise with an "information audit." WPSU took part. . . and today, we bring you the results.
The protagonist in this thriller is a professor who asks, "Can one man change the course of history?" And in this book, which presents an alternate version of American history during World War II, the answer is "yes." A daring killer has been hired to assassinate President Roosevelt . . . and the chase is on.
Jennifer Weiner made a name for herself with her "chick-lit" bestsellers: Good in Bed, Little Earthquakes, and In Her Shoes . . . the latter famously made into a Hollywood blockbuster starring Cameron Diaz. Avid fans will delight in picking out details of her novels from this collection of 11 short stories written over 15 years.
The gypsy moth outbreak this spring was the worst in Central Pennsylvania in more than a decade. Very-hungry caterpillars chewed the leaves off trees on more than a million acres. The state DID spray . . . and recently, Bureau of Forestry biologists checked on the success of the spray program.
An American Muslim leader says American Muslims have a special duty to demythologize Islam to the American public and to stop violence committed by Muslims in the name of Islam. What does it mean to be Muslim in America? We speak with Dr. Ingrid Mattson, a Muslim convert from Catholicism, and the first woman president of the Islamic Society of North America. Guests: Dr. Ingrid Mattson
The Road is a grim, post-apocalyptic tale of a father and son who cross a burned landscape, pushing their meager belongings in a shopping cart, avoiding savage bands of marauders out to rape and enslave their fellow survivors. McCarthy's latest work is one of five finalists for the National Book Critic's Circle award. The winner will be revealed shortly after this review airs.
Gary Alt is best known as one of the nation's leading experts on the biology of the black bear. During the program, we'll learn about the growing number of black bears in Pennsylvania and how they're getting along with a growing human population. Later in the program, we meet Anne Sullivan. She began her career as a concert harpist at age 12 when she appeared twice as soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Gary Alt & Anne Sullivan
During Black History Month the spotlight focuses on important figures on history. This book, a collection of essays, celebrates another kind of hero: black men who are fathers. The powerful true-life stories challenge the prevailing stereotypes of African-American fathers as they celebrate fathers and father figures who were inspiring role models-often in the face of what seemed like overwhelming challenges.
You may know the Penn State Dance Marathon -- or THON -- raises money for the Four Diamonds Fund, a charity that helps children with cancer. You may also know that it culminates in a 46-hour event at the Bryce Jordan Center at University Park. But if you've never been to THON before, you may not know exactly what it's like. WPSU News Intern Travis Larchuk attended this year's THON, and now does know what it's like...
Loudon Wainwright III achieved pop stardom in 1972 at age 25 with the song Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road. He appeared in the now iconic TV show M*A*S*H as the "singing doctor" and more recently has appeared on TV and in movies, such as the soon-to-be-released film Knocked Up. Mel DeYoung talked with Loudon about his upcoming visit to State College to perform at the State Theatre on Saturday February 24.
For decades, Affirmative Action was how America tried to right the wrongs done to African-Americans under slavery and Jim Crow laws. Today, some advocate another approach. One is economist William Darity, who visits Penn State-University Park today (Monday February 19) to speak on the subject of "Reparations for Black America." Dr. Darity recorded this sneak preview of his lecture, with WPSU's Cynthia Berger late last week.
The world famous Ridgway Chainsaw Rendezvous is the world's largest gathering of chainsaw artists in the country and last year the event received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. This year's event takes place February 17th through 24th. We visit Ridgway to speak with the couple that started it all and hear about what people will see at this year's event. Guests: Rick & Liz Boni
A sheet of ice two miles deep covers the South Pole. Radar evidence suggests there may be LAKES under the ice! In those lakes could be microbes-life forms new to science. Sridhar Anandakrishnan is a Penn State geoscientist. This December, he was in Antarctica, trying to confirm the presence of sub-glacial lakes. His team drilled holes in the ice and set off small explosive charges. The idea was that water would reflect sound differently from earth or bedrock. Dr. Anandakrishnan brought back this audio diary from the field.
A woman-journalist goes missing in Paris, along with a man who may or may not be her lover. Left behind is her husband, a self-centered writer. Was the woman killed? Was she kidnapped? Or did she simply escape a rotten marriage? The Arabic word "zahir" means obsession, which plagues the husband/narrator throughout this haunting story about an attempt to recapture a lost love.
Usually, WPSU producer Cynthia Berger snacks her way across the state for our occasional series, PA Potluck. But right now, she's on a cross-country road trip. Just consider the snacking possibilities! This week she sent us an audio postcard from California's largest farmer's market.
Last week (Thursday the 22nd) the Senate passed expansive energy legislation. Pennsylvania lost out in billions of dollars in loans for coal to liquid producers. But, WPSU's Matt Laslo reports from Capitol Hill, that doesn't mean the technology will fade away.
What role does stress play on the quality of life among Black Americans? During the program, we'll talk with a Penn State researcher about his state-by-state "Living While Black" index. We'll also find out what communities across America, including some here in central Pennsylvania, are doing to make literacy a part of Black History Month. It's the 18th annual African American Read-In. Guests: Shaun Gabbidon & Elaine Richardson
Today is Groundhog Day, when--according to tradition--the groundhog predicts when spring will arrive. But the groundhog does more for humanity than predict the weather, as WPSU's Cynthia Berger reports.
Title: "A Historical Perspective on Voting in Pennsylvania" Cortes was nominated as secretary of the commonwealth by Gov. Edward G. Rendell on April 2, 2003, and was unanimously confirmed by the Senate, making him the first confirmed Latino cabinet member in Pennsylvania history. Previously Cortes was the executive director of the Pennsylvania Governor's Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs. As executive director, he made recommendations to the governor and the administration on policies, procedures and legislation that enhanced the status of the Latino community in Pennsylvania. As the governor's liaison to the Latino community, he ensured that state government was accessible, accountable and responsive to the needs of Latinos and that strategies and programs were developed to enhance the community's social and economic status. Cortes has been the recipient of numerous awards including: Hispanic Business Magazine's "100 Most Influential Hispanics in the United States"; Central Penn Business Journal's top "Forty Under 40" business leaders in Central Pennsylvania; American Lawyer Media "Lawyers on the Fast Track," a distinction bestowed upon Pennsylvania lawyers under 40 years of age; and Penn State's Alumni Fellow, award. Cortes earned his bachelor of science degree in hotel, restaurant and travel administration from the University of Massachusetts; a master in public administration from Penn State and a law degree from Penn State Dickinson School of Law. He also holds a certificate in public sector human resources management from Penn State.
Legendary investigative journalist Bob Woodward (of Watergate fame) takes a close look at how the Bush administration has conducted the war in Iraq. The message you'll walk away with is "Lies were told.
No more midnight votes. No more last-minute amendments. And no more clandestine committee meetings. Observers at the state Capitol heard those calls on Tuesday at the first meeting of a bipartisan reform panel, established by the new Speaker of the House Dennis O'Brien. As WPSU's Harrisburg Correspondent Damon Boughamer reports, the meeting hinted at some likely difficulties, but lawmakers are enthusiastic about carrying the process forward.
The award-winning movie, Dreamgirls had an unusual marketing campaign; it paid the licensing fees for community theatre groups to put on the stage version. About 50 theatre groups across the country snapped up the offer. Most were in big cities, but one is right here in Central Pennsylvania, as WPSU's Cynthia Berger reports.
January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. Cynthia Berger talks with Dr. George Olt at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center about the risk factors of cervical cancer, what are the symptoms and how to detect and prevent it. Later in the program, we speak to Dr. Craig Myers about a new vaccine for cervical cancer, which is manufactured here in Pennsylvania. Guests: Dr. George Olt & Dr. Craig Myers
On Sunday, an orchestra from Central Pennsylvania will give the very first classical concert at the new State Theatre in State College. WPSU's Kristine Allen gives us a preview.
January is National Cervical Cancer Screening Month. But cancer screening simply detects the disease. Now, there's a way to actually prevent it. WPSU's Cynthia Berger talks with experts from Penn State Hershey about a new anti-cancer vaccine.
Children's picture books have gotten glitzy, what with pop-ups, glitter, and doctored photographs. Tired of all the hype? Here are three new books that stick to old-fashioned ways of making an impression on kids. A version of this review previously appeared in the Dec. 31, 2006 edition of the Centre Daily Times.
Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education has a challenging job: to oversee all education initiatives in the state. Here in Pennsylvania, we have 500 school districts with almost two million students. Our new secretary of education knows education from the inside out. He's been a teacher, football coach, principal, school superintendent, and school board member. On this edition of the program, we'll talk with Dr. Jerry Zahorchak about education policy in the state. Guest: Dr. Jerry Zahorchak
Forty years ago, we Americans were more likely to all watch the same TV show, read the same best-seller, and eat the same breakfast cornflakes. Today, that, "common culture" is dead, says Wired editor Chris Anderson, and niche diversification is the hot market strategy.
In March, Red Molly played a sold-out concert in State College, and while they were in town, they sat down in the WPSU studio for a conversation with Folk Show host Mel DeYoung. The trio will be returning to Happy Valley on July 12, 2007 for a performance at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. Here is a longer version of the interview with Mel.
Among the most celebrated and versatile writers in the country, Frank Deford's work appears in virtually every medium-books, magazines, movies and television. He's Senior Contributing Editor at Sports Illustrated, a correspondent on the HBO show, "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel," and his commentaries are heard every Wednesday on NPR's "Morning Edition"
Native American names grace many of the cities, counties, rivers, mountains, and lakes in Pennsylvania. In fact, according to historian George P. Donehoo, no state in the entire nation is richer in Indian names or Indian history than Pennsylvania. This book tells you the native roots of many familiar names, like Loyalhanna and Lehigh.
A few Christmases back, THE hottest gift was the board game "Worst Case Scenario." A new report--just out--says, Pennsylvania's NOT ready for our own worst-case scenario, a major health emergency Local experts disagree, as WPSU's Cynthia Berger reports.
By THAT'S NOT CLARENCE WITH JULIE BRINK•
December 20, 2006
What makes Jimmy Stewart so wholesome? America's favorite boy-next-door actor got his start in small-town Pennsylvania. Author Marc Elliot has written an exhaustive but error-dotted biography.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) HAS made life better for people with physical challenges. And both Penn State and State College do a pretty good job complying with the law, according to local resident Joel Solkoff, who uses a motorized scooter to get around. But there's still some room for improvement.
His name has been synonymous with music since his high school years in Tyrone, Pennsylvania. Known as "the man who taught America how to sing," the beloved choral leader and founder of The Pennsylvanians died suddenly in 1984 at the place where it all began-Penn State. We'll hear one of "Fred Waring's" favorite Christmas tunes and talk with the former archivist of Fred Waring's America Collection, which is housed at Penn State. Guest: Pete Kiefer
Many books have been written about World War II and Viet Nam, but almost no literary works document the Korean War. DC attorney John Nolan fills the gaps by detailing his experiences as a Marine rifle platoon leader in 1951, the pivotal year of the Korean War.
Researchers Get To The Bottom Of Diabetes ... Angioplasty Not Always Helpful ... Educators Leave Clarion For Cairo ... Science In The Classroom... WPSU science reporter Joe Anuta has all the details...
In his newest book, "11 Days in December", master historian Stanley Weintraub transports readers to the frontlines of what was one of the deadliest battles for American forces during WWII. We'll talk about the infamous Battle of the Bulge. We'll also talk about a battlefield of a different sort here in Pennsylvania. There's a growing population of feral pigs in Pennsylvania and mounting concerns over habitat destruction and disease. Guests:Stanley Weintraub & David Wolfgang
This best-selling fantasy tale of a twelve-year-old girl who lives in an alternate universe, where the bad guys do terrible things to children, is about to be released as a major motion picture. That's reason enough, says reviewer Steven Herb of the Pennsylvania Center for the Book, for fans to dust off their dog-eared copies and reacquaint themselves with "daemons," "armored bears" and the phenomenon called Dust.
People tend to be passionate about their local schools. That's especially true in State College these days. The State College School Board has a plan to tear down one high school building, and renovate another. Some residents oppose the plan, others support it, as Cynthia Berger reports. This Sunday, May 14, at 7:30 AM, on Take Note, WPSU talks with members of groups that support and oppose the proposed high school plan, as well as Centre Daily Times reporter Adam Smeltz, who's been following the story.
Here in Pennsylvania, we have TWO kinds of flying squirrel. The Southern flying squirrel is common - "found almost everywhere. Then there's the Northern flying squirrel-
Dragonflies Shed Light on Diabetes ... Kids Less Likely To Drink If Educated About Advertising ... Researchers Say Brain Hinders Motor Skills ... Scientists See Twin Supernovas ... Hershey Medical Center Home To Top Doctors. WPSU science reporter Joe Anuta explains it all...
Dragonflies Shed Light on Diabetes ... Kids Less Likely To Drink If Educated About Advertising ... Researchers Say Brain Hinders Motor Skills ... Scientists See Twin Supernovas ... Hershey Medical Center Home To Top Doctors. WPSU science reporter Joe Anuta explains it all...
A penny saved may be a penny earned, but today, many of us are reluctant to even take pennies as change. Are pennies more trouble than they're worth? During this edition of the program, we talk with a Penn State economist who says a bill to ban the penny doesn't make sense. We also talk with the author of "Now You See It". She was born and raised in a small Pennsylvania town much like the fictional place in her book. Guests: Ray Lombra & Bathsheba Monk
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has been a tradition in New York City for 80 years now. Each year, there's something new, and this year it's the "Tuba Titans," a marching band made up 300 tubas - with some drums thrown in for good measure. The tuba players are all high school students, from schools all over the country. One of them is Logan Beard, a junior at State College Area High School in Centre County.
By RREVIEWER NANCY MOONEY LIVES IN WARREN, PA. SHE IS PRESIDENT OF A GROUP THAT WANTS TO MAKE WARREN, PENNSYLVANIA, A MAJOR TOURIST DESTINATION BY CONSTRUCTING THE ALLEGHENY MUSARIUM.•
November 22, 2006
Arcardia Publishing specializes in titles about regional and local history. This week's book is part of the publishing company's "Postcard History Series." It tells the history of the Allegheny River's northern watershed through reprints of antique postcards, annotated by Charles E. Williams, professor of ecology at Clarion University.
Gypsy Moths Hitch a Ride ... Old Tires Make Clean Water ... Siblings Affected By Entire Family ... Contradictory Advertising Bad For Business ... Clarion U Goes Solar. WPSU's science reporter Joe Anuta explains it all.
Last Thursday was a rough day for Johnstown Democrat John Murtha. He was soundly defeated in his bid to be Majority Leader when Democrats take control of the House of Representatives in January. The campaign for the post was contentious -- even ugly -- right to the end. But as WPSU's Todd Zwillich reports from our Capitol Hill bureau, Murtha's defeat doesn't mean he'll be left out of big policy decisions.
Title: "It's worse and better than we thought: the meaning of global warming" Dr. Richard Alley is Evan Pugh Professor of Geosciences and Associate of the Earth System Science Center at The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, where he has worked since 1988. He was graduated with the Ph.D. in 1987 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and with M.Sc. (1983) and B.Sc. (1980) degrees from The Ohio State University-Columbus, all in Geology. Dr. Alley teaches, and conducts research on the climatic records, flow behavior, and sedimentary deposits of large ice sheets, to aid in prediction of future changes in climate and sea level. His experience includes three field seasons in Antarctica, eight in Greenland, and three in Alaska. He awards include a Packard Fellowship, a Presidential Young Investigator Award, the Horton Award of the American Geophysical Union Hydrology Section and Fellowship in the Union, the Wilson Teaching Award of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and the Faculty Scholar Medal in Science at Penn State, the first Agassiz Medal of the European Geosciences Union Cryospheric Section, and the Seligman Crystal of the International Glaciological Society. Dr. Alley has served on a variety of advisory panels and steering committees for the National Science Foundation, targeted research activities, and professional societies, including the congressionally mandated Antarctic External Review Panel and the Polar Research Board, and has provided advice to numerous government officials in multiple administrations including a US Vice President, the President's Science Advisor, and a Senate Committee. Dr. Alley is happily married with two children, two cats and a minivan, and resides in a ranch house in State College, PA, where he coaches recreational soccer and occasionally plays some.
Housing is considered "affordable" if a family pays no more than 30% of its monthly income for total housing costs. Nearly one-third of Centre County residents pay more than that--sometimes much more. On this edition of Take Note, we talk about the need for affordable housing. Also we learn about the Allegheny Chronicles, a brand-new, online archive at the Warren Library with hundreds of rare images that document the Allegheny River. Guests: Linda Marshall & Penny Wolboldt
As part of our on-going series called "Sports That are Not Football," we turn today to the sport called "Hashing." It's based on an English children's game, called "Hare and Hounds but, with beer! Pennsylvania has at least 15 "Hash Kennels." They sometimes call themselves "drinking clubs with a running problem." One local club is the Nittany Valley Hash House Harriers.
This romance-thriller is the seventh by St. Marys resident Lauren Nichols. Set in fictional Laurel Ridge, PA (an amalgam of St. Mary's and Kane) the book features such familiar Harlequin romance plot devices as the bad boy who makes good, high school sweethearts who reunite, and a killer who stalks the beautiful heroine but, in Nichols's capable hands, it all adds up to something special and with lots of northwestern Pennsylvania locale details to add to the fun.
On Wednesday night, November 15 at 7, in the Penn State Outreach Building lobby, WPSU and Penn State's Institute for the Arts and Humanities present a Lobby Talk titled "Muslims in America." The moderator is Penn State religious historian Jonathan Brokopp. In this report, WPSU's Cynthia Berger offers a sneak preview of that Lobby Talk.
Wild Hogs In Pennsylvania ... Rural Communities Get Up To Date ... Flu Shot Scheduling Affects Vaccination Rate ... Clouds Won't Phase Lasers... WPSU's science reporter Joe Anuta has all the details!
Hazleton, Pennsylvania made national news this summer as it tried to pass local laws concerning illegal immigrants living in the city. Over the weekend, an ordinance modeled after the Hazleton law went into effect in Altoona. Bill Kibler is a staff writer for the Altoona Mirror, who's been following the story. He spoke by phone with WPSU's Cynthia Berger about what the ordinance will mean for city residents.
This selection for Veteran's Day is the first-ever collection of poems by a veteran of the Iraq War. Brian Turner served a year as infantry team leader with the 3rd-Stryker Brigade Combat Team. These gripping narratives, which talk about the day-today world of bombings, body bags, and vultures, have been compared to the works of Hemingway and O'Brien.
New Orleans has Mardi Gras. Rio has Carnivale. In the Susquehannah Valley, the day before Lent is "Fastnacht Day," when you eat the deep-fried treats called fastnacht! In this installment of "Pennsylvania Potluck," we visit Holy Trinity Church in Lancaster County, which is famous for its fastnacht.
Researchers Debunk Migration Theory ... Forestry Professor Says Less is Better ... Scientists Get Basic Knowledge of Cutting Edge Materials ... St Francis University on Google Earth... WPSU Science Reporter Joe Anuta has the details
Are you in the dark about mushrooms? Picking edible mushrooms in the wild can be risky business-and a practice not to be undertaken by amateurs. On this edition of Take Note, we talk with the author of the new "Field Guide to Wild Mushrooms of Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic" and speak with a biologist about a little-known rodent, the Allegheny woodrat. It's a threatened species in Pennsylvania. Guests: Bill Russell & Dr. Janet Wright
Pennsylvania's 30th District stretches from Altoona to the Maryland border. The state Senate seat is up for grabs, since Longtime senator Bob Jubilier lost in the primary last May, in the wake of the pay raise scandal. This week WPSU brings you conversations with the NEW candidates. Today you'll hear from Democrat Greg Morris.
By REVIEWER MICHAEL SAVAGE IS A CAREER SENIOR FEDERAL EXECUTIVE . . . AND ALSO A VOLUNTEER ON-AIR HOST ON WPSU. HE LIVES IN RUSH TOWNSHIP.•
October 25, 2006
Anne Garrels is National Public Radio's senior foreign correspondent, which means she has reported from such war zones as Bosnia, Afghanistan, Chechnya, and Kosovo. Her experiences in Iraq are the subject of a compelling memoir.
In the run-up to the November election, WPSU brings you conversations with candidates in some of the hottest races. One is the state Senate seat in Pennsylvania's 30th District, which stretches from Altoona to the Maryland border. The seat is up for grabs, since longtime incumbent Bob Jubilier lost in the primary, in the wake of the pay raise scandal. Today, Cynthia Berger talks with the Republican candidate for state Senate, John Eichelberger, Jr. On you'll hear from Democratic candidate Greg Morris.
Scientists Discover Ancient Breathing Microbes ... Fractures in Rock Way to Find and Protect Tombs ... Bedford Township Discusses Wind Power... The details from WPSU Science reporter Joe Anuta.
Scientists Discover Ancient Breathing Microbes ... Fractures in Rock Way to Find and Protect Tombs ... Bedford Township Discusses Wind Power... The details from WPSU Science reporter Joe Anuta.
NPR Senior Correspondent Juan Williams has written several books on the history of race relations in America. But his newest book gives a more personal view. The book uses analysis and Williams' own insight to hold black civil rights leaders responsible for the problems facing African-Americans today. Williams visited State College earlier in the week to talk about the book at Penn State's Foster Conference of Distinguished Writers. WPSU's David Klatt has this story.
In the run up to the November election, WPSU brings you "conversations with the candidates." This week: Candidates for State Assembly in the 77th district
You know Zorro as the swashbuckling guy with the sword and the cape, skewering bad guys in the name of justice. But what's his back story? What was he like as a little kid? This novel tells the imagined story of the young Zorro: the events that shaped his personality and led to his fateful career.
In the run-up to the November election, WPSU brings you "Conversations with the Candidates." This week: candidates for the General Assembly in the 77th District, the seat formerly held by Lynn Herman, a 24-year incumbent. Democrat and Centre County Commissioner Scott Conklin is running against Republican Barbara Spencer, a teacher, farmer and Navy Reserve Commander. Today, you'll hear from Scott Conklin. The league of Women Voters of Centre County is sponsoring debates between these--and other
Cancer Research Receives Grant ... Plans for Future Fuel Cell Plant ... Millbrook Marsh Gets Facelift ... New Biomass Center Created. WPSU Science Reporter Joe Anuta has the details ---
For more than a billion Muslims around the world, this is the month of Ramadan--the month when the Koran was revealed to the prophet Mohammed. It's a month marked by prayer, fasting, and charitable giving. Muslim students from around the world attend classes at Penn State's University Park campus in State College. Like every student at any holiday, they miss their families during Ramadan, but they find support and community in each other's company... as WPSU'S Cynthia Berger reports.
If you liked the children's classic The Borrowers, you'll love a new book called The Doll People it the story of some real living dolls. They can move and talk and have adventures . . . and Annabelle Doll even solves a mystery.
Scientists Predict Hotter Summers .... Researchers Get First Glimpse of Quasar ... Pennsylvania Hay Brings Unwanted Guests .... Game Commission Saves Rats... WPSU's Science Reporter Joe Anuta has the report!
Researchers now say that climate change didn't happen gradually in the past, and it won't happen that way in the future. On the next Take Note, we'll talk with of the world's leading climate researchers. We'll also talk with a fuel scientist about proposed state regulations for lower emissions on 2008-model cars and what that could mean for you, your car, and for air quality in Pennsylvania. Guests: Richard Alley & Andre Boehman
Award-winning author Nihal de Silva's novel wraps its plot around real events the ongoing bloody civil war in Sri Lanka. The story of a fight against injustice has universal appeal but also gives readers intimate details of daily life in Sri Lanka.
As part of our ongoing series called Sports that are Not Football, here's a snow sport that's literally cooler than the Olympics: the annual "Race Around the World." Each year on Christmas Day, researchers at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station take a couple of laps around the geographic South Pole. Penn State physicist Doug Cowen was there for this year's big race, and has this report. For Doug Cowen's audio diary and more photos of the Race Around the World, click here
This week is Banned Books Week. The American Library Association launched the event 25 years ago to celebrate the freedom to read. In University Park, the Pennsylvania Center for the Book has installed an exhibit in Pattee Library featuring 101 of the most commonly banned books. The exhibit is also manned by volunteers who read their favorite banned books out loud, around the clock. WPSU's David Klatt reports
Civil unrest in a small kingdom in the Middle East. Diplomats and journalists hunker down in a grand hotel as the bullets fly and world leaders quibble. This new novel by journalist Scott Anderson is about an invented country but if you read the morning paper the plot sounds all too familiar.
Fall leaves are changing ... Practice bear safety ... It's National 5-A-Day Month ... New Vaccine offered at Penn State... WPSU's Science Correspondent Joe Anuta has the stories, in this edition of Central Pennsylvania Science News Roundup
In today's installment of our ongoing series, Pennsylvania Radio Expeditions, we bring you the story of a bird called the "Common Nighthawk." As the name suggests, it's common! Yet, not many people have seen one. And this bird may not be common much longer. The birdsound recordings of the Common Nighthawk used in this Radio Expedition were obtained by professional recordist Lang Elliot of NatureSound Studio. http://www.naturesound.com/corepage/core.html.
It's National Farm Health and Safety Week ... "Bugs Bite" at the annual Great Insect Fair ... Take Your Loved One For a Checkup Day ... The food in your stomach's fast lane... with your host Joe Anuta
The Help America Vote Act, which revised election standards and encouraged states to get ride of punch-card voting systems, came in response to the dimpled ballots fiasco that accompanied the 2000 presidential election. But are Pennsylvania's new electronic voting machines as safe, secure and easy to use as they've been touted? Join us for a lively discussion of the issue. Guests: Marybeth Kuznik, Chris Exarchos, & Mary Vollero
On Saturday December 9, a Penn State faculty member was one of the musicians on A Prairie Home Companion, hosted by Garrison Keillor. Earlier in the week, WPSU's Kristine Allen caught up with Velvet Brown, Penn State Professor of Tuba and Euphonium, during the intermission of a performance of the River City Brass in Pittsburgh, of which she is a member.
Today is the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass. It happened in Germany in 1938 -- a night of terrible violence against Jews. Stormtroopers, along with ordinary citizens, destroyed homes and synagogues. And 30,000 Jewish men were taken to concentration camps. Kristallnacht is often referred to as "the beginning of the Holocaust." On the anniversary of this turning point in history, Cynthia Berger brings you this story of Kristallnacht, from someone who was there.
This entertaining account of Bryson's marathon end-to-end hike along the famous Appalachian Trail is this year's selection for Centre County Reads, an annual initiative to get everyone in the community reading and talking about the same book.
Sometimes it seems that all culture has gone global. You can eat Thai food in Mexico, or watch Bollywood films in Germany. But here in Pennsylvania, our heritage is well preserved. Many traditional Pennsylvania foods are still on local menus, and we eat them with relish. WPSU celebrates these traditional foods through a new series called "Pennsylvania Potluck." Today, join Cynthia Berger to eat chicken and waffles at the Elk's Lodge in Boalsburg. Lenny Witt's Recipe for Chicken & Waffles (more or less . . . he doesn't measure!): 1 gallon chicken stock 4 stalks celery, minced fine 1 medium onion, diced 1 cup heavy cream 3 pounds pre-cooked diced chicken Butter and flour to make a roux Poultry seasoning Thyme Bay leaves Salt pepper Saute the celery in onion in butter (or butter substitute) till tender, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, melt 1 cup butter and whisk in 1 cup flour to make a roux. Cook slowly over medium heat about 20 minutes. Bring the chicken stock to a gentle boil. Slowly whisk the stock into the roux and cook till it thickens, along with 2 bay leaves, 2 tsp poultry seasoning, 2 tsp thyme, 1 tsp salt or to taste, and 1 tsp black pepper, and the vegetables. Let cool, then whisk in the cream and chicken. Let sit overnight so the chicken absorbs the flavors. Reheat gently and serve over waffles.
The historic Bush House in Bellefonte was destroyed by fire this morning. WPSU's Steve Biddle was there, and spoke with some of the people in whose lives the hotel had been a permanent fixture.
Members of new nonprofit group here in Central Pennsylvania are rolling up their sleeves and pitching in to repair the damage from Hurricane Katrina in the south. WPSU News intern David Klatt talked with workers in Alabama.
Award-winning local poet Marjorie Maddox (the director of Creative Writing and a professor of English at Lock Haven University) explores spirituality and religious practice in this new collection of poems.
One of the most closely watched races in this November's election is that for the U.S. Senate seat held by Pennsylvania's Rick Santorum. Here on WPSU, we've been talking with the candidates. Last week, you heard from the incumbent, Senator Rick Santorum. Yesterday, you heard from the Democratic challenger, state treasurer Bob Casey, Jr. We continue our coverage of the Senate race this morning by introducing the Green Party candidate, Carl Romanelli. WPSU's Cynthia Berger talked with him by phone this past Thursday; Mr. Romanelli spoke from his office in Wilkes-Barre.
One of the mostly closely watched races in this November's election is the U.S. Senate seat held by Pennsylvania's Rick Santorum. Recently, WPSU brought you an interview with Senator Santorum. We continue our coverage of the Senate race this morning, as Cynthia Berger speaks with Democratic challenger, Bob Casey, Jr. The interview was recorded by phone this past while Mr. Casey traveled between meetings on the Pennsylvania turnpike.
It is hard to find anyone writing today who doesn't owe a debt of influence to Ernest Hemingway, one of the greatest American authors of all time. We talk with Penn State's Hemingway Scholar and General Editor of the Hemingway Letters Project. We'll also talk with two members of the Pennsylvania-based folk group, "Simple Gifts" Guests: Sandra Spanier, Linda Littleton, and Karen Hirshon
Here in Pennsylvania one of the mostly closely watched races in this November's election is for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Rick Santorum. Senator Senatorum stopped by WPSU this week for an interview with David Price, host of WPSU-TV's Pennsylvania Inside Out. Tune in next week for interviews with Democratic candidate Bob Casey and Green Party Candidate Carl Romanelli.
Yesterday morning we brought you an audio postcard from Thailand, where WPSU's Cynthia Berger spent her summer vacation. She's got one more postcard for you this morning, about seeing the sights by way of "traditional" transportation: oxcart and elephant.
When you go on vacation, do you take your work with you? Cynthia Berger is just back from vacation in Thailand, and she took along her recording gear. She brought back this audio postcard of Bangkok's most famous Buddhas.
Penn State's annual Ag Progress Days is THE place to learn about the latest farming practices. But you can also take a look back in time. This year, there's a special exhibit and demonstration: "300 Years of Hay Making in Pennsylvania." WPSU's Cynthia Berger was in Rock Springs yesterday to check it out, and she brings you this sneak preview.
Pound for pound, what's the most valuable plant in Pennsylvania forests? If you said "walnut" or "cherry," guess again. It's the root of a small, green plant called ginseng. Hong Kong markets pay big bucks for wild Pennsylvania "sang," used in traditional medicine. In this installment of our series, Pennsylvania Radio Expeditions, WPSU's Cynthia Berger visits a patch of the uncommon and vulnerable plants with Penn State ginseng expert Eric Burkhart.
Colossal doughnuts in Beaver County. A supersized stocky Santa statue in Indiana. Kittanning's majestic "Cowboy Sam." Many businesses in Pennsylvania -- and across America -- rely on these wacky roadside advertisements-run-amok to attract business. Pennsylvania history buff Brian Butko and his wife Sarah have compiled some of their favorites in this generously illustrated book.
The Society for Creative Anachronism is an international organization whose members re-create life in the Renaissance and Middle Ages including martial arts. In this installment of 'Sports That Are Not Football,' WPSU's Cynthia Berger cheers for the Shire of Nithgard
From Yuengling to Iron City, Pennsylvania is known for its beer. Though venerable Rolling Rock just changed hands, there is some good news for beer drinkers:
Grade school students looking for a good summer book will enjoy this story of an ordinary boy named Brandon. He lives in the suburbs and is proud to be a member of UGA (Underacheiving Goof-offs of America). Then Brandon's grandfather leaves the reservation and moves into into Brandon's poster-lined bedroom. It's a tale of a boy who at first denies, then comes to appreciate his Navaho heritage.
It isn't every day that a history book rates a review in Entertainment Weekly . . . but then, history books are rarely as entertaining as this account of the hunt for Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth.
Researchers Teach a Computer to See ... Torture Causes Permanent Damage ... New Statewide Campaign Against Smokeless Tobacco ... Piping Plover Might Make Pennsylvania Home. WPSU's science reporter Joe Anuta has the scoop!
The simple little molecule we call H20 may not be so simple after all. Scientists say there is more to water than mere hydrogen and oxygen. We talk about the structure of water and its untapped potential for human health. We also talk with a Juniata College biology professor who teaches scientific principles using comic books he has created. Guests: Dr. Rustum Roy & Dr. Jay Hosler
Residents of Mifflin County celebrate a unique holiday: Goose Day. Based on the medieval feast called Michaelmas, Central Pennsylvania's modern Goose Day mostly involves stuffing yourself with roast goose, but there's also a day-long street festival called Goose Fest, highlighted by a goose bake-off and a goose-calling contest
As we celebrate the 4th of July, it's well to consider how ideas shared over a friendly beer played a role in the birth of our nation. Author Peter Thompson, an historian at Oxford, explores the role of Philadelphia taverns as a setting for political debate and as a place where citizens from all walks of life could interact as equals.
At the age of seven, he became the youngest student ever admitted to the acclaimed Juilliard School of Music. He has since won virtually every major award: 3 Oscars, 4 Grammys, 4 Emmys, 1 Tony, and 3 Golden Globe awards for his work. His groundbreaking show, "A Chorus Line", received a Pulitzer. We spoke with the Principal Pops Conductor for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. Guest: Marvin Hamlisch
As you walk through the woods, what you usually notice are the "mega-fauna" - animals that are fairly large, like squirrels or birds. Then there are the tiny creatures you don't notice - like Pennsylvania's 120 species of land snail. In the western part of the state, one man wants to make sure snails get their share of the limelight. WPSU's Cynthia Berger has this report. This piece was reported and produced with assistance from WPSU intern Joe Anuta.
The "electric Michaelangelo" of the title is a Coney Island tattoo artist, and his canvas is the human body. This critically praised book, nominated for a Booker in 2004, is like a tattoo, beautiful but painful -- a love story that is also an account of human suffering.
His lifelong love affair with radio began more than 50 years ago. He co-founded National Public Radio and created its flagship program, "All Things Considered". In 2000, NPR gave him the Lifetime Achievement Award for his "countless contributions to journalism and public radio." Today, Bill Siemering is helping to spread the power of independent radio to third world nations. Guest: Bill Siemering
In colonial times, Pennsylvania farmers planted lots of apple trees. They used the fruit to make cider. It was the beverage of choice at every meal. Today, apple cider is a seasonal treat, and the little local cider mill is mostly a thing of the past. But not entirely! As part of our new series, called "Pennsylvania Potluck," WPSU's Cynthia Berger looks at cider-making, from tree to jug.
Heading for a baby shower this summer? Looking for a gift that's educational yet sure to please? Frequent BookMark book reviewer Steven Herb has the lowdown on the season's best board books for babies
Fishing is one of summer's pleasures. And the Little Juniata River is one of the state's finest trout streams. But who gets to wade in the water? That was the topic of a courtroom battle last week. A judge will decide whether a 1.3-mile stretch belongs to a private fishing club or to the people of Pennsylvania. This story, by outdoors writer Deborah Weisberg, was a production of "The Allegheny Front," broadcast on NPR member station WYEP in Pittsburgh.
His newest book has been called utterly original, provocative and truly unforgettable. We'll talk with author James Morrow about his historical fiction novel, "The Last Witchfinder". We'll also hear from Andrew Jackson. By day, he's an academic advisor in Penn State's College of Education. But at night, he's a fixture on the local jazz scene. Guests: James Morrow & Andrew Jackson
The months of May and June are when most birds in Pennsylvania build their nests, lay their eggs and raise their young. May and June are also when thousands of bird watchers fan out across the state, to find and study those bird families. They're collecting data for the second edition of the Pennsylvania Breeding Bird Atlas. Altoona resident Roy Boyle is one of those volunteers. He's found three species of pretty unusual birds in a pretty unusual place. Here is report from WPSU's Cynthia Berger.
The first women to enroll at the Pennsylvania State University faced a host of challenges. They were shunted into less-than-challenging courses of study and barred from career-oriented extracurriculars such as the student newspaper. This volume documents changes in the way women have been able to study and learn here, from the institution's founding to today.
The Amish and the Mennonites are sometimes called the "Plain people," for their simple lifestyle. Monday night, November 6, at seven, in the Outreach Building, Research Unplugged and WPSU's Common Ground bring you a "Lobby Talk" about the "Plain People of Pennsylvania." One speaker will be Dr. Donald Kraybill of Elizabethtown University, a leading authority on the Amish and other Anabaptist groups. This morning, a "lobby talk sneak preview," as Dr. Kraybill talks about his work-- and his new book.
Pennsylvania's yearlong initiative, "One Book, Every Young Child," is dedicated to instilling in children a lifelong love of learning. We'll speak with two award-winning author illustrators. We'll also meet local jazz performer and composer Rick Hirsch. His large ensemble works are performed in Chicago, Seattle and Washington, D.C.. Guests: Lindsay Barrett George, Christopher Raschka, & Rick Hirsch
State College resident Claudia Mauner and her friend Elisa Smalley are the authors of Zoe Sophia's Scrapbook: Adventure in Venice the story of an adventurous 9-year-old in spectacles. Now Zoe Sophia--a pigtailed heroine based on Mawner's real-life daughter -- is back for another adventure.
Centre County residents who like a bargain look forward to the annual Trash to Treasure sale. It's more than just a good deal. It saves money on hauling costs and keeps tons of waste out of local landfills. Jennifer Szweda-Jordon of NPR member station WYEP in Pittsburg visited Penn State's University Park campus for the sale, and she had this report.
He once lamented "People are now much more interested in writers than in their writing." We'll talk with Salman Rushdie, arguably one of the most famous and controversial writers of our time. His fourth book, "The Satanic Versus", caused an international uproar that, for a time, forced him into hiding. He's since put that chapter behind him and would like others to do the same. Guest: Salman Rushdie
This week, WPSU brings you a series of essays from the first-ever "Youth Issue" of Town and Gown magazine. The authors of these essays are students at State College Area High School, and they reflect on what it's like to grow up in a small town -- State College -- that's also home to a big university -- Penn State. Today, we hear from senior Paloma Frumento. At State High, Paloma has been editor of the features section of the Lions Digest newspaper, and an ELS (English as a Second Language) tutor with the Mid-State Literacy Council. She talks about the interface between high school students and college students.
The monthly magazine Town and Gown covers life in a small town with a big university: State College and Penn State. May was Town and Gown's first ever "youth issue," and it was filled with thoughtful essays by students from State College Area High School. This week, WPSU brings you a selection of these essays. Today (May 30) we hear from Elizabeth Gibbons. Elizabeth, a junior, is news editor of the Lion's Digest, State High's newspaper, and a competitive figure skater. She muses about the struggle for academic excellence.
The Civil War Preservation Trust has preserved more than 22,000 acres of battlefield land in 19 states, including key parcels in Pennsylvania. We'll talk about the nation's most endangered battlefields and about efforts to save them. We'll also talk with two Civil War re-enactors. Guests: Jim Campi, Paul & Kathryn Mackes
Soldiers carry many things into war: their guns, back packs, ammunition, food. Then there are the intangibles: Fear. Fellowship. Memories. Just in time for Memorial Day, "The Things They Carried" is a collection of autobiographical stories about the Vitenam War.
England has "Rhodes Scholars," who get to study at Oxford. It's a chance for "intellectual contemplation and personal development." Here in Pennsylvania, we have ROAD Scholars. Road Scholars are new members of the Penn State faculty. They get on a bus, for a 3-day tour of our great Commonwealth. It's a chance for, well . . . intellectual contemplation and personal development! This year's Tour was May 8th through 10th. New professor Scott McDonald, a professor of science education on the Penn State University Park campus, was on the bus, and he sent us this audio postcard.
Resident mystery buff and Altoona librarian Debbie Weakland reviews this hot new thriller, set 35 years in the future, after terrorists conquer America and civil war divides the nation into a Muslim north and Bible Belt south. The heroine is a young historian who wants to find the truth about the past; her lover is a former fedayeen solider who only wants to live in peace.
On Tuesday May 16, voters across Pennsylvania will go to the polls for a primary election. One race to watch is the contest for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Rick Santorum. On we presented interviews with 2 of the Democratic challengers (candidate and State Treasurer Robert Casey Jr. did not respond to a request for an interview.) On we aired an interview with the incumbent, Republican Senator Rick Santorum. This is that conversation with WPSU's Cynthia Berger.
Punch-card ballots caused problems in the 200 presidential election. Remember hanging chads? Through the Help America Vote Act, many counties here in Central Pa are upgrading their voting systems. That includes Centre County, where today, you'll have the option to vote via optical scan or touch screen system. Just in case you're technophobic, here's what to expect.
On Tuesday May 16, voters across Pennsylvania will go to the polls for a primary election. One race to watch is the contest for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Rick Santorum. On May 15, WPSU aired excerpts from interviews with the two Democratic candidates who are less well-known: Chuck Pennachio and Alan Sandals. (The office of State treasurer Bob Casey, the third candidate, did not respond to our request for an interview.) On May 16, we bring you an interview with Senator Rick Santorum, who is running unopposed in the primary. Here, we present the complete interview with Alan Sandals.
On Tuesday May 16, voters across Pennsylvania will go to the polls for a primary election. One race to watch is the contest for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Rick Santorum. On May 15, WPSU aired excerpts from interviews with the two Democratic candidates who are less well-known: Chuck Pennachio and Alan Sandals. (The office of State treasurer Bob Casey, the third candidate, did not respond to our request for an interview.) On May 16, we bring you an interview with Senator Rick Santorum, who is running unopposed in the primary. Here, we present the complete interview with Chuck Pennachio
The State College Area School District is a district divided. The school board's decision to demolish one building and combine students from their North and South Buildings into one renovated larger school has sparked prolonged and heated debate. Two citizens' groups are at odds. We'll talk with members of both groups and with a reporter from the Centre Daily Times. Guests: Patty Kleban, Tobin Short, & Adam Smeltz
Department of Health Investigates PV ... PennDOT gives $25 million to PTI ... Hunters Should Stay Warm ... No Shortage of Flu Shots for Johnstown... Details from WPSU science reporter Joe Anuta
Storytelling is an ancient art, and even in the electronic age, stories still have the power to fascinate. If you've ever dreamed of being a storyteller, this week's book is a collection of 23 enduring tales from around the world, with how-to-tell-it tips for beginning story-tellers.
In the run-up to the November election, WPSU brings you Conversations with the Candidates." Earlier this week you heard from Lynn Swann, the Republican candidate for Pennsylvania Governor. Incumbent Governor Ed Rendell declined to be interviewed by WPSU, but his office arranged for Cynthia Berger to speak with his re-election campaign manager, Tony Podesta, on Tuesday. This is that interview.
Scientists may have found a less controversial way of getting special human cells capable of growing into nerves, organs or any other cell in the body. We'll talk about a potential breakthrough in stem cell research. We'll also talk with a MacArthur "Genius" award winner about what she's gleaned from preserved remains of ancient plants about long-ago civilizations. Guests: Kent Vrana & Lee Newsom
May 16th is primary election day . . . and after the pay-raise debacle last summer, many incumbents in the Pennsylvania legislature are running for their lives. WPSU's Cynthia Berger asked local political observers for the lowdown on a local contest, and she has this report.
If Jane Austen had lived in India in the 1950s, she would have written this richly detailed novel of love and marriage. And at 1500 pages, it's an entirely suitable book to take on a 24-hour plane ride.
Just in time for National Poetry Month, a collection of poems about ordinary experiences that are anything but ordinary in the way they connect to a young woman's inner world. Penn State Education grad student Lisa Hopkins is the reviewer.
With gas prices going up, up, up, alternative energy looks better by the day And speaking of alternative energy, Penn State's University Park campus recently hosted a competition for shoebox-sized cars that run on VERY VERY alternative fuels. WPSU's Cynthia Berger was at the Eastern Regional "Chem - E Car Competition," and she has this report.
In celebration of Earth Day 2006, we talk with two environmentalists about their work on a former Superfund site in Mifflin County. They're creating a distinctive type forest habitat called vernal pools. Later in the program, it's one of the last wild places in the East. We'll talk with the author of "Pennsylvania Wilds: Images from the Allegheny National Forest". Guests: Kathy Patnode & Bruce Pluta & Lisa Gensheimer
Last month, President George Bush visited Hyderabad to negotiate a nuclear deal. Last week, WPSU's Cynthia Berger also visited India's sixth largest city, where she negotiated with sari sellers and auto-rickshaw drivers. She's got some "audio snapshots" to show you.
Colossal doughnuts in Beaver County. A supersized stocky Santa statue in Indiana. Kittanning's majestic "Cowboy Sam." Many businesses in Pennsylvania--and across America--rely on these wacky roadside advertisements-run-amok to attract business. Pennsylvania history buff Brian Butko and his wife Sarah have compiled some of their favorites in this generously illustrated book.
Last month, President George Bush visited Hyderabad to negotiate a nuclear deal. Last week, WPSU's Cynthia Berger also visited India's sixth largest city, where she negotiated with sari sellers and auto-rickshaw drivers. She's got some "audio snapshots" to show you.
The federal minimum wage has been stuck at $5.15 per hour since 1997, the longest period without a congressionally mandated increase since the federal minimum wage was introduced in 1938. Recently, the Pennsylvania House passed an increase to the minimum wage and now it moves on to the PA Senate. Governor Rendell wants an increase; critics say it will hurt business. We'll talk about the pros and cons of a minimum wage increase with Steve Herzenberg. Despite the improving job market--the country's economy has seen 31 consecutive months of job growth--real wages haven't kept pace with inflation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, real wages fell 0.9 percent last year, while workers' overall compensation (including benefits) was essentially flat. What does that mean? And what's being done in Pennsylvania to encourage the creation of good jobs, especially in high growth and emerging industries? In the second half of our program we'll talk with Emily Stover De Rocco, a 1983 Penn State graduate. In 2001, she was nominated by President Bush to be Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training in the U.S. Department of Labor. Guests: Steve Herzenberg & Emily Stover DeRocco
Turn on the nightly news these days, and you'll see footage of flames, burning homes, and soot-blackened firefighters . . . . evidence that we're at the beginning of the 2006 wildfire season in west Texas. All the more reason, says reviewer John Sengle, to put "A Season of Fire", by Douglas Gantenbein, on your summer reading list.
Two years ago, humorist Carl Hiassen was a Newbery honor award winner for "Hoot", his eco-thriller for young adults set in Florida. Now Hiassen's got a new novel for younger readers, featuring a spunky brother-sister who out to bust a casino boat owner who's making some illegal discharges. Their adventures bring them in contact with Hiassens usual cast of hilariously warped characters. Middle schooler Jamie Glass has the review.
Governor Rendell won't have a property tax bill to sign before the primary election on May 16, and probably will not get one before his own bid for re-election in November. State House leaders left Harrisburg on Wednesday night without voting on the plan that had passed the Senate the day before. WPSU Harrisburg correspondent Damon Boughamer reports from the capitol.
The construction of Interstate 99 over Centre County's Skytop Mountain has been stalled for almost three years-ever since excavations turned up acid-bearing rocks that threaten area trout streams and groundwater. On the next Take Note, we talk with Centre Daily Times reporter Mike Joseph and state senator Jake Corman to bring you up to date on the clean-up controversy. Guests: Mike Joseph & PA Senator Jake Corman
This week, we're talking with the editors from the major papers in our listening region to reflect on the major stories in year just past--and what stories they expect to be following in the year ahead. Our New Year's News Roundup continues with Nick Hoffman, managing editor of the Dubois Courier-Express.
Whatever it may be labeled: spanking, paddling, cracking, smacking, whipping or hitting, corporal punishment is no longer allowed in Pennsylvania's public schools. Late last year Edith Isake, head of the Pennsylvania Council of Basic Education, succeeded in a four-year mission to end paddling in PA. WPSU intern Rose Semple attended a high school in the southwestern corner of the state where corporal punishment was used frequently. Two of her former classmates detail the paddling procedure at their school and talk about the new ban.
Time travel is a science fiction staple. But Henry De Tamble, the "chronologically challenged" protagonist of this inventive tale doesn't zip around in time to save the universe; instead he keeps unintentionally disappearing without warning, only to reappear at different times in his own life. This creates some challenges in his relationship with his artist wife, Clare, as humorist Pam Monk relates.
It's been three years since the US invaded Iraq, and there's no end in sight. President Bush announced just last week that the mission is likely to extend beyond his term in office. As troop levels remain steady, Staff Sergeant Mike Wenrick has already started planning his return home to central Pennsylvania in June. The Pleasant Gap resident is a member of the National Guard based in Bellefonte. He's spent the last ten months in Ramadi, a town about 100 kilometers west of Baghdad, repairing M1 tanks, and providing security on supply routes. Last week, he took a break from his duties to tell WPSU news intern David Klatt how everything is going.
Trivia question, sports fans: What sport did George Costanza learn to play in the Summer of George episode of Seinfeld? It was "FROLF"-- Frisbee golf. To be politically correct, we have to call it "Disc Golf," since the Wham-o company owns the Frisbee copyright. It may have been a joke on Seinfeld, but half a million players take disc golf very seriously including golfers right here in Central Pennsylvania, as WPSU's Cynthia Berger reports in this installment of our ongoing series, "Sports That Are Not Football.
Rising fuel costs and unpredictable weather made last year a difficult one for Pennsylvania farmers. President Bush's 2007 budget calls for major cuts in Agriculture Department programs that could further compromise farming. A proposed tax on milk also threatens the state's dairy industry, but two Congressmen from rural Pennsylvania say they are committed to protecting the family farmer. WPSU's Terry Gildea has a report from Capitol Hill.
February was Black History month. But the history of the African-American experience in Pennsylvania is too rich--and too important--to be confined to one month per year. So, this month, WPSU offers a special three-part series: An audio tour of some Pennsylvania stops on the Underground Railroad. Pennsylvania played an important role in the abolition movement. Quakers were at the forefront of the anti-slavery movement; our strong personal liberty laws protected fugitive slaves; and many towns were stops on the Underground Railroad. But before the 1820s there WERE some slaves in Pennsylvania. Not much is known about their lives, or their names. But to conclude our three part series that extends Black History Month beyond February, we remember them.
February was Black History month. But the history of the African-American experience in Pennsylvania is too rich--and too important--to be confined to one month per year. So, this month, WPSU offers a special three-part series: An audio tour of some Pennsylvania stops on the Underground Railroad. In Part two, we travel to Williamsport, where two stops on the railroad are gone, but the memory lives on. WPSU's Cynthia Berger reports.
When writer Robert Lewis Stevenson died in 1894, he left behind a wide-ranging literary legacy: story-teller, essayist, dramatist, children's author, poet, travel writer. A new biography will give readers new appreciation for his accomplishments.
February was Black History month. But the history of the African-American experience in Pennsylvania is too rich--and too important--to be confined to one month per year. So, this month, WPSU offers a special three-part series: An audio tour of some Pennsylvania stops on the Underground Railroad. Take a look at the National Park Service map titled "Routes on the Underground Railroad." You'll see that one route runs right through Central Pennsylvania. Bellefonte, a home for Quakers and free blacks, was an important stop. In Part one of this series, we visit the Samuel Harris home, located a stone's throw from the county courthouse in Victorian Bellefonte. Local historian Candace Danaker, the current resident of this stately stone Georgian, shows the way upstairs to a secret room under the eaves, and explains the evidence to suggest that this was a hiding place for runaway slaves.
She's been called one of the best satirists on the planet. Pam Monk is a writer and producer, ruler of the Pamelapolis, an independent producing company, and an advice columnist for a Web-based magazine that parodies women's magazines. When she isn't in constant negotiations with other people's realities, she's leading the Forbidden Valley Singers in song or teaching fiction and nonfiction writing at Penn State. We'll talk with the multitalented Pam Monk of State College. Later in the program, we speak with Nancy Mooney of Warren, Pennsylvania. She heads up a group that aims to make Warren, Pennsylvania, a major tourist destination by constructing something called the "Allegheny Musarium." Guests: Pam Monk & Nancy Mooney
In the run-up to the November elections, WPSU is committed to bringing you first-person conversations with all the key candidates on Central Pennsylvania issues. Today, Cynthia Berger talks with former Pittsburgh Steeler -- and current Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate -- Lynn Swann. Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell declined our request for an interview, but we will bring you an interview with someone from his office later in the week.
"Magical events happen to an orphan at a British boarding school." This plot synopsis sounds like a new installment in the Harry Potter series, but actually, the spunky heroine is named Gemma Doyle, and the book is Rebel Angels, second installment in a fantasy trilogy-for-teens by New York author Libba Bray.
To see the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, you have to travel to Washington, DC. But not everyone can do that. So there's a "Moving Wall" that travels around the country. It's a half-size replica, made of lightweight aluminum. And this summer, it visited Central Pennsylvania, specifically the small town of Smethport, in McKean County. WPSU's Cynthia Berger was at the opening ceremonies Thursday night, and she had this report.
To transform a chunk of wood into a sculpture is a human endeavor almost as old as humanity itself. Woodcarving got a modern twist in the 1950s, with the invention of the lightweight gas-powered chainsaw. You might think of chainsaw sculpture as a folksy roadside attraction, featuring bear cubs in various poses. But these days, chainsaw art has gone mainstream, as WPSU's Cynthia Berger reports.
Next Tuesday and Feb. 7 and 8, the nation's leading radio theatre company comes to State College to perform "The Great Tennessee Monkey Trial," based on transcripts of the famous Scopes Trial. In conjunction with this performance, WPSU hosts a lobby talk Friday evening, Feb. 3 at 7:00 PM, where Dr. Ron Numbers, a historian of science from the University of Wisconsin Madison will join Penn State professors Pat Shipman and Preston Green. This morning, a sneak preview from Dr. Numbers.
Black History Month is over, but it's always a good month to read worthwhile books about the Black experience in America. Today's selection looks like a kids picture book, but don't judge THIS book by its cover.
This week, we're talking with the editors from the major papers in our listening region to reflect on the major stories in year just past - and what stories they expect to be following in the year ahead. Neil Rudel, managing editor of the Altoona Mirror, talks about the hot stories in Blair County for 2006 and 2007.
Last month, Governor Ed Rendell asked lawmakers to raise the minimum wage in Pennsylvania. But talks have stalled in Harrisburg. Meanwhile, experts disagree on what the actual effect of a wage increase would be. WPSU News Intern David Klatt has this report.
It is estimated that nearly 2/3 of high school seniors consume alcohol, the drug of choice for teenagers. That same drug is also the leading cause of death for those under age 21. We talk with Steve Schmidt, the director of the Bureau of Alcohol Education at the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, about what's being done to combat underage drinking. In the second half of the program, we speak with Kathy and Larry Dansky about the Ulster Project. Through the Ulster Project, Protestant and Catholic kids come to places like Central PA--for a family homestay and to learn they can get along with each other. Guests: Steve Schmidt, Kathy and Larry Dansky
February is Black History Month, and history means more than grand events and famous people, it includes personal stories, too. Librarian Dotty Delafield recommends a story for Black History Month that families will enjoy reading together.
The famous Nuremberg Trials brought to justice Nazis who had committed crimes during the Holocaust of World War II. Most of those tried were military men, but there were also 23 doctors, accused of experimenting on human beings. 60 years after the Nuremberg Trials, society still grapples with issues related to medical experimentation. Tuesday evening, February 22nd, three experts visit WPSU for a live Lobby Talk on the ethics of medical experimentation. Here, WPSU's Cynthia Berger talks with one of the evening's guests, Dr. Susan Reverby. She is a professor of women's studies, and the author of Health Care in America: Essays in Social History among other books. She is an expert on medical ethics issues.
Nearly 700 dancers gathered at Rec Hall on the Penn State University Park Campus over the weekend for the 2006 Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, more popularly known as THON. Participants this year raised $4.2 million, 92% of which will go directly to young cancer patients and their families. WPSU News Intern Rose Semple was there, and has this report.
As their name indicates, tundra swans raise their young on the treeless Arctic tundra. But in winter, thousands of these majestic white waterbirds are right here, in Pennsylvania. Biologists don't know what paths swans take on their annual migrations, whether they return to the same places year after year, or how well they survive during their time here. Fly along with PA Game Commission biologists as they conduct an airborne swan survey along the Susquehanna.
This gentle coming-of-age novel, described by critics as "deliberately random" just won the writer's equivalent of an Academy Award. It's the The Newbery Medal, given for the best written children's book of the year. Local librarian Steven Herb, helped to select this winner.
"Philanthropy and America's Future" Berresford was elected president of the Ford Foundation effective April 3, 1996. At the time of her election as president, Berresford was executive vice president and chief operating officer of the foundation. Berresford joined the Ford Foundation in 1970 as a project assistant in the Division of National Affairs. Between 1972 and 1980 she served as a program officer in that division. In 1980 she was named officer in charge of the foundation's women's programs. She became vice president for the Foundation's U.S. and International Affairs program in 1981 and subsequently served as vice president of the program division in charge of worldwide programming for the foundation from 1989. Before joining the foundation, Berresford served as a program officer for the Neighborhood Youth Corps from 1965 to 1967. In 1967-68, she worked for the Manpower Career Development Agency, where she was responsible for the evaluation of training, education and work programs. Berresford attended Vassar College and then studied American history at Radcliffe College, where she graduated cum laude in 1965.
His lawsuits and press releases have Pennsylvania's top legislators in a tizzy. And well they should be. Activist Gene Stilp kept pressure on state lawmakers to repeal the pay hike they awarded themselves last July. And while the pay raises have since been repealed, fewer than half the legislators have repaid the money. We'll talk with Stilp about the situation, and about other battles he's waging on behalf of Pennsylvania taxpayers. Later in the program, we talk with Melvin Romig, president of the Central Pennsylvania World Hunger Association. Guests: Gene Stilp & Melvin Romig
This week, WPSU looks at the race for the State Senate Seat in Pennsylvania's 34thh District, which covers Centre, Mifflin, Perry, Juniata and parts of Union county. It's a four-way race. Today, the the Republican incumbent, Jake Corman.
The Nittany Valley Symphony opens its 40th anniversary season on Tuesday night, with a concert in Penn State's Eisenhower Auditorium. As it turns out, the group gave its first performance during the very first Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. At a recent rehearsal, WPSU's Kristine Allen learned more...
Several hundred people gathered on Thursday night in Smethport to honor the fallen and missing soldiers of the Vietnam War. WPSU news fellow Sharon Stringer attended the ceremony, and has this report.
A special state House-Senate conference committee on Monday unveiled property tax reforms, just under the wire considering that the General Assembly wanted to have a plan in place before the May 16th primary. Outside the Capitol, protesters said the whole process reminded them of the pay raise debacle. Our WPSU Harrisburg correspondent Damon Boughamer reports on what's in the plan.
According to the American Red Cross, only 5 percent of people who are eligible donate blood. This is happening as medical procedures are becoming more complex, as our society is aging, and as we are engaged in war. Many of our blood donor centers and hospitals are facing serious shortages. How do we encourage more people to become blood donors? We speak with with Lauren Larsen who now serves on the board of directors for the Foundation for America's Blood Centers. In the spring of 2000, her life took a dramatic turn when an emergency c-section triggered near-fatal medical complications. To recover, she was given roughly 200 units of blood. Later in the program, we speak with Wendi Keeler, from the Greater Alleghenies Region of the American Red Cross, about blood donation. Guests: Lauren Larsen & Wendi Keeler
Today is Groundhog Day, and while Punxsutawney Phil pretends to predict the weather, groundhogs elsewhere in the state are part of some REAL scientific research. WPSU's Cynthia Berger checked in with the guy who studies groundhogs, Dr. Stam M. Zervanos of Penn State Berks.
Author Robert Ludlum died in 2001, yet he's still churning out bestsellers . . . thanks to a succession of ghostwriters. The latest release has a plot that combines elements of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "The Fugitive".
Musicians around the world are celebrating Mozart's 250th birthday this month. On Tuesday night (January 31st) in State College, it's the Nittany Valley Symphony's turn to pay tribute. The orchestra will play music composed by and inpired by Mozart, on Penn State's University Park Campus. WPSU's Kristine Allen spoke with clarinetist Smith Toulson about the performance, and about the composer.
In one of the biggest courtroom clashes between faith and evolution since the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial, a federal judge ruled that it was unconstitutional for the Dover School district to present Intelligent Design in high school biology courses, saying the concept is creationism in disguise. We talk with two Penn State professors about the ruling and about the potential fall out. Guests: Pat Shipman & Preston Green
Children can be placed in foster care if a child welfare agency determines that the home is not safe. Here in Pennsylvania some child welfare agencies are trying a NEW approach --
Anne Garrels is National Public Radio's senior foreign correspondent, which means she has reported from such war zones as Bosnia, Afghanistan, Chechnya, and Kosovo. Her experiences in Iraq are the subject of a compelling memoir. Mike Savage reports.
On this edition of the program, we talk with Robert Shaler. He directed the largest and most groundbreaking forensic DNA investigation in US history, the relentless effort to identify the victims of the World Trade Center attacks. In the second part of the show, we speak with Bob McConnell, a private pilot from Edinboro, PA. He volunteers with Angel Flight, a group that offers free air transportation for medical patients in need. Guests: Robert Shaler & Bob McConnell
It's always thrilling to find an unexpected treasure, such as money on the sidewalk, or seashells at the beach. If your idea of treasure is books, keep your eyes peeled, because these days, you might find books in unlikely places... books that are free for the taking! What's going on? WPSU's Cynthia Berger has this report.
The Reverend Jesse Jackson spoke Wednesday night at Eisenhower Auditorium on Penn State's University Park campus, as part of the University's week-long commemoration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. WPSU's Cynthia Berger attended the speech, and filed this report.
The legend of Dracula is a constant source of inspiration for novelists. In the hands of Elizabeth Kostova it's fresh and enthralling. If you liked "The DaVinci Code" and "The Rule of Four" you'll enjoy this thriller, in which an ancient book and a stash of yellowed letters send a young woman on a quest in her father's footsteps.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, better known as PennDot, operates the fifth largest state-owned highway system in the nation. With 25,000 bridges and more than 40,000 miles of state highway, we're talking more miles of highway than New York and New England combined. The state's secretary of transportation oversees the organization's 12,000 employees and $5 billion budget, and also administers grant programs for mass transit, rail freight and aviation. What are PennDOT's current challenges and how can the department balance the demand for new projects with budget constraints and community interests? We speak with Allen Biehler, Pennsylvania's Transportation Secretary since 2003. He has 34 years of experience in transportation engineering, planning, construction administration and public transportation management. Later in the show, we'll hear from the author of "The Slate Roof Bible". Joe Jenkins is an authority on the restoration of historic slate roofs. Guests: Allen Biehler & Joe Jenkins
Orchestras around the world will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Mozart in 2006, and the Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra is no exception. WPSU's Kristine Allen had a conversation with the Penn State professor playing the featured solo during the PCO concert on Sunday January 15th.
Barn owls are the world's most widespread owls, found on every continent except Antarctica. In Pennsylvania, though, barn owls are in trouble. The population has shrunk drastically since 1989. A new Conservation Initiative could help bring barn owls back, as Cynthia Berger reports on this expedition to a Mennonite barnyard.
This week, WPSU looks at the race for the State Senate Seat in Pennsylvania's 34th District, which covers Centre, Mifflin, Perry, Juniata and parts of Union county. It's a four-way race. Today, the Democratic candidate, Jon Eich. Tomorrow, the Republican incumbent, Jake Corman
Pennsylvania is kind of like Lake Woebegon--ABOVE average, when it comes to pretzel consumption. Compared to the average Wegman's for exmple, stores in Pennsylvania sell 25 percent more pretzels. In this installment of our ongoing series, "Pennsylvania Potluck," WPSU's Cynthia Berger visits one source of all those pretzels . . . Benzel's Pretzel Bakery in Altoona.
We speak with Croatian-born writer Josip Novakovich, winner of a Guggenheim Fellowship and numerous other awards, about his newest work "Infidelities", another masterful collection of short stories. He teaches fiction writing at Penn State. Later in the program, we speak with Linda Littleton and Karen Hirshon. Both are members of the Pennsylvania-based folk group, Simple Gifts. Guests: Josip Novakovich, Linda Littleton & Karen Hirshon
This week, WPSU has presented a series of essays from Town & Gown magazine's first-ever Youth Issue. The essays were written by students at State College Area High School, and they chose issues close to their hearts. In this essay, we hear from senior Roland Jeon. Roland is concertmaster of the school orchestra and editor-in-chief of the Lion's Digest newspaper. He reflects on what it's like to be a first-generation American. Sharon Stringer assisted in producing this series. Sharon is a summer news fellow at WPSU and joins us through the Educator in the Newsroom program of the Radio and Television News Director Foundation.
By REVIEWER STEVE BIDDLE IS THE MORNING NEWS PRODUCER ON WPSU-FM.•
January 4, 2006
If you want to explore the Keystone State , there are plenty of conventional travel guides to choose from. Or you could try this unconventional NEW guide.
Earlier Pennsylvanians rarely passed up an opportunity to dam a river, creek or stream. Now, with thousands of dams across the state--including nearly 800 at risk of failing-Pennsylvania leads the nation in dam removal. It was the opportunity to make money grinding grain or making paper that gave rise to many dams. Now, it's liability and the risk of law suits that's bringing many of them down. We talk with Dennis Dickey about about dam safety and removal. In the second part of our program we speak with Kim Steiner, Director of the Arboretum at Penn State. He's part of a team working with the American Chestnut Foundation to restore this stately tree to its native range in the Eastern United States. Guests: Dennis Dickey & Kim Steiner
Before snowmobiles were invented, the people of the frozen North got around using sled dogs. Here in Pennsylvania, you can't really count on tons of snow every winter. So this might not seem like a great state for sled-dog racing. But in fact, a world champion sled-dog racer lives - and trains - right here in Central Pennsylvania. As part of our ongoing series called "Sports That Are Not Football," WPSU's Cynthia Berger talked with our champion musher.
Two years ago, humorist Carl Hiassen was a Newbery Award Honor winner for Hoot, his eco-thriller for young adults set in Florida. Now Hiassen's got a new novel for younger readers, featuring a spunky brother-sister who out to bust a casino boat owner who's making some illegal discharges. Their adventures bring them in contact with Hiassen's usual cast of hilariously warped characters.
"Rethinking the Social Compact" Harris became the ninth president of Widener University on July 1, 2002. Since then he has directed a highly inclusive, university-wide strategic planning process to determine the future direction of Widener University. As a national advocate and leader for civic engagement and service learning, Harris serves as the chief of Pennsylvania Campus Compact, an organization of 68 public and independent colleges and universities committed to civic engagement. Before going to Widener, Harris was president of Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio. During his eight-year tenure at Defiance, the college experienced record fund raising, enrollment and endowment growth. Harris served as vice president for advancement at both Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati. He also held administrative posts in corporate and foundation relations and financial aid at Penn State. Harris began his career in education as a social science teacher at Toledo's Central Catholic and Highland High School. A native of Fostoria, Ohio, he received his bachelor's degree in education from the University of Toledo in 1980. In 1983, he earned his master's degree in education from Edinboro University in Pennsylvania, and in 1988 was awarded a doctoral degree in education from Penn State. He also completed postdoctoral studies at Harvard University's Graduate School of Education.
We talked with Jim Lichtman, an ethics specialist, who says Martha Stewart may have paid her debt to society for lying to government investigators about a suspicious stock trade, but that doesn't make her a role model for how to run a successful business. Later in the show, it's Hollywood, film and politics with Ernest Giglio. We talk about celebrity involvement in political campaigns and elections and about the overt and covert political messages conveyed in many Hollywood films. Guests: Jim Lichtman & Ernest Giglio
If you're looking for holiday gift ideas for a youthful avid reader -- say, age 8 to 12 -- Steven Herb has a couple of books to recommend. Both are being considered for the John Newbery Medal, the oldest children's book prize in the world.
This week we observe the 10th anniversary of the peace accord after the war in Bosnia. Lee Peterson of Penn State Altoona has put a human face on the tragedy in her collection of poems titled "Rooms and Fields: Dramatic Monologues from the War in Bosnia". We talked with Lee Peterson about the war, her poems, and her recent trip to a country still recovering, 10 years after. Guest: Lee Peterson
Take a walk in the woods in late March and early April, and you'll notice that melting snow and spring rain have left some pretty big puddles on the forest floor. These puddles are called "vernal pools." And from the time they form, to the time they dry up, they're the scene of some pretty wild action . . as you'll hear on this Pennsylvania Radio Expedition.
Penn State Press has released a new poetry anthology that's a unique celebration of Pennsylvania. All of the poems are by writers with deep ties to the state . . . and all of poems evoke our Pennsylvania landscape and culture. The book is "Common Wealth" and the two Pennsylvania poets who put the collection together are our guests. Guests: Marjorie Maddox & Jerry Wemple
The newspaper humorist Dave Barry was famous for describing outrageous events, then saying, "I am not making this up." The author of today's book IS making it all up and proud of it. Reviewer Bill Carlsen talks about the power of lying.
The latest Harry Potter movie hit cineplexes last Friday. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is based on Book 4 in the series, which was published way-y-y back in 2002 . . . so, just in case you need a plot refresher before you plop down in the theatre with your popcorn.
November is "family literacy" month - a time to recognize that, when it comes to reading, parents are a child's first teachers. Nationwide, a federal program called "Even Start" promotes family literacy but it faces potentially large budget cuts. WPSU's Cynthia Berger visited a local Even Start program to find out how it works . . . and what would happen if Even Start came to an end.
For more than three decades, Andrew Vachss has sought to protect children from the devastating effects of child abuse both as a lawyer who represents children exclusively and as a writer whose dark fiction brings his battle before a wider audience. Most fans know him for his gritty mystery series featuring the enigmatic avenger Burke. He hopes his newest, and very different, novel will get us to take a hard look at what we accept as truth. We talked with Vachss about his life's work and about his newest novel, "Two Trains Running". Guest: Andrew Vachss
One year ago this weekend, the Swift satellite was lofted into orbit with "mission control" located, not in Houston, but right here in Central Pennsylvania. Swift's mission was to observe the phenomena called "gamma ray bursts," and it's been spectacularly successful. Mission Director John Nousek reflects on the discoveries of the past year.
By OUR REVIEWER, SARAH MAY CLARKSON, IS DIRECTOR OF ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES AT JUNIATA COLLEGE IN HUNTINGDON.•
November 16, 2005
Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks, published by Vintage (2003) A Month in the Country by J.L Carr, published by Saint Matthews Press (1983). Veteran's Day, which we celebrated last week, used to be called Armistice Day. Nov. 11 is day when, back in 1918, the Allies and the Germans signed the Armistice and the horrors of World War I finally came to an end. Sarah May Clarkson of Juniata College observed Veteran's Day this year by looking back to World War I and its aftermath, as portrayed in two different books.
In the modern middle school, kids' choices for gym class go way beyond the old standards, like dodge ball or volleyball. Some schools now offer yoga, kayaking, even rock climbing. As part of our ongoing series called "Sports That Are NOT Football," WPSU's Cynthia Berger takes aim at another hot new school sport . . . archery!
"What Do You Stand For? Getting Back America's Integrity" Lichtman has been writing and speaking on ethics to corporations and organizations for 10 years. His first book and talk, "The Lone Ranger's Code of the West, an Action-Packed Adventure in Ethics," not only made the process of examining ethics more approachable and clear, but fun as well. In the last several years, Lichtman has been drilling deeper into the subject of ethics by collecting stories for his new book, "What Do You Stand For? Stories About Principles that Matter." Using responses from Mario Cuomo to the Dalai Lama to a cross section of "ordinary" citizens, Lichtman talks about the principles that matter and encourages people to live up to their highest aspirations by using a practical, clear-cut code of ethical values.
This unique collection of contemporary works evokes the essence of Pennsylvania. Poems explore the state's physical landscape: the hills and valleys, the farmland and forest, but also its cultural terrain: the coal towns and, steel factories, the Pennsylvania turnpike. The works of distinguished poets and newcomers are included in the more than 100 selections, including such poems as "Steelers, Steelers, Steelers!" by Anne Hayes, "Rowers on the Schuylkill" by Leonard Kress, and "Coal Train" by Jay Parini.
On Friday, October 28, 2005, Vice President Cheney's Chief of Staff, "Scooter" Libby, was indicted in the Valerie Plame spy case, prompting us to open our archives. In April 2005, we talked with Plame's husband, Ambassador Joseph Wilson. In 2002 he was sent to investigate claims that Saddam Hussein was purchasing nuclear material from Niger. We spoke with him about the series of events that forever changed his life. Guest: Ambassador Joseph Wilson
Halloween is coming, with all its scary symbols: skeletons and tombstones . . . ghosts and devils. Why do parents expose their children to the scary stuff? Many parents say,"Halloween helps children to face their fears." But one researcher says, "Not necessarily." WPSU's Cynthia Berger talks with Dr. Cindy Dell Clark of Penn State Delaware County.
In a previous book, eleven-year-old Alex and his next door neighbor Yasmin solved the mystery of Who is Stealing the 12 Days of Christmas. Now, in Martha Freeman's latest, the young sleuths track down a passle of missing cats.
It's apple harvest time in Pennsylvania right now. Migrant workers pick most of the crop. It's hard work, with a high risk of injury. Researchers are testing a device that could reduce the risk. WPSU's Cynthia Berger had this report.
"Policing Integrity in Key Institutions: Some Thoughts on World Com, The World Bank and CBS News" Thornburgh served as governor of Pennsylvania, attorney general of the United States under two presidents and was the highest-ranking American at the United Nations during a public career which spanned more than 25 years. He now is counsel in the Washington, D.C., office of the international law firm of Kirkpatrick and Lockhart Nicholson Graham LLP. Elected governor of Pennsylvania in 1978 and re-elected in 1982, Thornburgh was the first Republican ever to serve two successive terms in that office. After his unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate, Thornburgh served three years as attorney general of the United States (1988-1991) in the cabinets of Presidents Reagan and Bush. He mounted an unprecedented attack on white-collar crime as the Department of Justice obtained a record number of connections of savings and loan and security officials, defense contractors and corrupt public officials. A native of Pittsburgh, Thornburgh was educated at Yale University, where he obtained an engineering degree, and at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law where he served as an editor of the Law Review.
The only Republican to be elected to two successive terms of governor of Pennsylvania, Dick Thornburgh has been a key player in American political and legal life for more than three decades. In his 2003 autobiography, "Where the Evidence Leads", he reveals the joys, frustrations, mistakes and accomplishments of his career in public life. Guest: Dick Thornburgh
When the November issue of Popular Mechanics magazine hit newsstands this week, a feature story listed the winners of the publication's 2005 "Breakthrough Awards." Included among them: Penn State environmental engineering professor Bruce Logan. His innovative fuel cell is powered by bacteria; it has the potential to clean up wastewater while generating hydrogen. Cynthia Berger has a report.
A few years ago, children's author Sam Swope volunteered to teach writing to some third-graders in Queens. He liked it so much, he stuck around for three years and got a book out of the experience. It's called "I Am a Pencil".
This past August, Debbie Elliott was named host of the weekend edition of All Things Considered. Born and raised in the south, Elliott took over the anchor chair just as the Hurricane Katrina disaster was beginning to unfold. Later in the program, we speak with Michael Jinbo, conductor and music director of the Nittany Valley Symphony, about their 2005-2006 season. Guests" Debbie Elliott and Michael Jinbo
Outdoor mazes that used hedges as walls were a prominent feature of grand estates in 17th century rural England. The American version of this outdoor entertainment is the corn maze, invented in Pennsylvania in 1993, and now a ubiquitous feature of the rural autumn landscape. In this report, WPSU's Cynthia Berger gets lost in one of central Pennsylvania's most popular mazes.
Pennsylvania Inside Out, Penn State Public Broadcasting's exciting new public affairs program, provides in-depth information Monday through Friday at 7:00 p.m.
With more than 25 years of varied experience in the news business, Ray Saurez is not only a senior correspondent for the NewsHour on PBS, the former NPR host is also an author and essayist. A graduate from New York University, he also holds a master's degree in social sciences from the University of Chicago, where he studied urban affairs. Greg Petersen spoke with him when he visited State College for the dedication of Penn State's new outreach building. Guest: Ray Suarez
For more than 20 years, Dr. Paul Farmer has worked to improve health care in the desperately poor nation of Haiti. Tracy Kidder, known for his close-focus works of nonfiction, has put together a compelling biography of this hardworking humanitarian. Bill Dreschel, a longtime Tracy Kidder fan, has this appreciation.
In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, people in communities around the nation are asking, "Could something like that happen here?" and "Would we be prepared?" WPSU's Cynthia Berger put that question to some local emergency management experts.
Dotty Delafield "Centre County Reads" is a local effort to get all the folks in one community reading-- and talking about the same good book. This year's selection is "Riding the Bus With My Sister," Rachel Simon's acclaimed memoir about the year in which she comes to know her developmentally disabled sister by sharing her passion for riding on city buses.
As the school year gears up, parents and teachers are wrestling with the issue of "how do you get kids to read?" In Central Pennsylvania there's an institution dedicated to promoting reading -- for kids, and for readers of ALL ages. We speak with Steven Herb, the director of the Pennsylvania Center for the Book and an expert on children's literature. Guest: Steven Herb
Imagine running a marathon that's 24 miles without stopping. Now imagine a marathon that takes you up and down a mountain several times. That's the Bald Eagle Megatransect, an event for hikers and runners taking place this weekend in Lock Haven. As part of our ongoing series called "Sports That Are Not Football," WPSU's Cynthia Berger went out on the trail with race organizer Jeff Stover for a sneak preview of the toughest part of the course.
If you want to explore the Keystone State , there are plenty of conventional travel guides to choose from. Or you could try this unconventional NEW guide . . .
In the wake of the 2004 presidential election, career diplomat Joseph Wilson found himself working for an administration that "outed" his wife Valerie Plane, a CIA undercover operative allegedly in retaliation, after Wilson refuted President Bush's claims that Iraq had tried to by uranium from Niger . The account of these events is just one section in a fascinating account of a foreign service career that spanned almost three decades.
Are today's children an endangered species? Are they really worse off today than 20 years ago? And, how does youth development, as a philosophy and as practice, offer some hope for addressing the concerns?
After the tragedy that was 9-11, many people had stories about how " . . . There but for the grace of God go I" . . . people who decided at the last minute to work at home that day, or missed their train, or left the office for a meeting . . . and so, by luck, dodged a tragedy. There's plenty of tragedy after Hurricane Katrina . . . but also, a few stories about a little bit of good luck. WPSU's Cynthia Berger has this story about a guy who fell in love with a house and a large, close-knot family that has found a new home in Dubois. To help this family and other families affected by Hurricane Katrina, you may contact the DuBois chapter of the American Red Cross at 152 W. Long Ave., DuBois PA 15801 or call the chapter (814) 371-2750.
Rock star Bruce Springsteen dropped out of college. But he's about to be back on campus in a big way -- as the subject of "Glory Days: A Bruce Springsteen Symposium." College professors from around the world will converge at Monmouth University in New Jersey September 9-11, 2005 for a conference where they'll deconstruct his lyrics and his life's work. We talked with the conference organizer and Springsteen fan about the Boss's role in American culture and why it deserves academic scrutiny. Guest: Mark Bernhard
This year more than a million college students will take a class on popular culture. And as further evidence that pop culture is worthy of academic scrutiny . . . this weekend, distinguished professors from places like Yale and Sweden 's University of Goteborg are gathering at a symposium dedicated to rock-and-roll icon Bruce Springsteen. The symposium takes place in (where else?) New Jersey . . . but the guys BEHIND the event are from right here in Central Pennsylvania . WPSU's Cynthia Berger chatted with them recently, and she has this report.
10 years ago, at the age of 40, Lee Child was fired from his corporate job... so he bought 6 dollars worth of paper and pencils, and sat down to write his novel. The result, Killing Floor, turned out to be just the first in a whole series of thrillers with an unconventional detective, Jack Reacher. This summer fans were treated to the ninth Jack Reacher novel.
Norman Rockwell is one of the most beloved artists in America -- perhaps best known for his cover illustrations for the Saturday Evening Post , A special exhibition of his works is coming to the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford in September; UPB history professor Rick Frederick says, the 2001 biography of Rockwell, by Laura Claridge, is recommended reading before you go. Rick Frederick is director of the History/Political Science program at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. In connection with the display of Norman Rockwell's art on campus this fall, Dr. Frederick will give a talk on October 19 about one of the artist's most famous images, "The Four Freedoms.
WPSU's Cynthia Berger was on vacation last week, on an island in a lake in Massachusetts . The place has been in the family for years, and like every summer vacation spot, it's got a lot of traditions. She sent us this "audio postcard" from the wide front porch of Sunnyside cottage.
Love is all you need. That's the message in Jerry Engels, the story of a young Penn student in the 1950s, the latest novel by Penn State emeritus professor of English Tom Rogers.
In every county in Pennsylvania today, voters are turning out for municipal elections. . . . to vote for mayor, school board, city or town council. But when you look at your ballot today, you may find that you don't have as many choices as you'd expect. WPSU's Cynthia Berger asks why.
True love, a desperate battle, and a death are all in the latest installment in the Harry Potter series. Though the books are written for pre-teens and teens, they have universal appeal for avid readers, as reviewer Carla Lewis relates.
The Wiffle ball - that big, white plastic ball with the holes in the top - ,was invented in 1952, by a former semi-pro ballplayer who wanted his son to be able to play backyard ball without breaking so many windows. 53 years later, Wiffle ball is seeing a surge in popularity nationwide... but here in Central Pennsylvania, it never went out of fashion. As part of our ongoing series called "Sports That Are NOT Football," here's a report from the sidelines at the Milesburg Wiffleball Tournament
In the wake of the London subway bombings, there's a renewed interest in the events of 9/11. If you're interested in a look back at the attack on the Twin Towers here's a new book that's an in-depth account of the 102 minutes between the time the first plane struck and the time the second tower collapsed.
Despite those high gas prices, a cross-country road trip is still a popular option for Americans on their summer vacations. If you're the kind of person who can read in the car without getting carsick, here's the perfect summer reading to take along.
You can tell autumn has arrived in Central Pennsylvania by the flaming foliage on the trees . . . by the pumpkins at roadside stands . . . and--up in the North--by the SOUNDS you hear: the loud, trumpeting calls of male American elk. This is the time of year when elk are jousting for mates and when wildlife biologists try to get an elk head count. WPSU's Cynthia Berger rode along on the annual "elk survey". Hear her report.
As part of our occasional series called "Sports That are NOT Football," meet hard-core whitewater kayaker Dave Kurtz. He's the coach for Mach 1, a local kids' kayaking team that trains every day of the year, even when it's snowing.
They're feared, they're hated . . . but actually, timber rattlesnakes plan an important role in Pennsylvania 's forest ecosystems. Cynthia Berger dons snake-proof gaiters to tag along in the woods with biologists studying how snakes are affected by logging operations on this installment of Pennsylvania Radio Expeditions.
Football requires stamina, speed, agility, and especially, teamwork. But so does flyball, the wildly popular new team sport for dogs. In this installment of "Sports that are NOT Football," WPSU's Cynthia Berger talks to Harrisburg Jet Set "players" and their "coaches," along with other central Pennsylvania flyball stars.
The Pennsylvania Center for the Book has created an award-winning Literary Map of Pennsylvania -- and this map is about to feature Pioneer Church, a book by Carolyn Otto with illustrations by Pennsylvania illustrator Megan Lloyd. The book has also been selected to represent Pennsylvania on an eleven-city museum tour of children's book art.
Today just two percent of all Americans live on farms; that's compared to 90 percent of Americans a century ago. But the number of people who feel a connection to the land, and eat locally grown food, is growing thanks to a new trend in farming called Community Supported Agriculture. CSA growers market directly to families, who buy "shares" in their local farm. Central PA has a number of CSA farms, and-at the peak of the growing season-we'll visit some of them.
Much of Pennsylvania 's bedrock is limestone,and where there's limestone, there are caves. You might not realize it, but caves need special protection--for their striking rock formations, for the wildlife that relies on caves, and because protecting caves protects the water you drink. On this week's Pennsylvania Radio Expedition, WPSU's Cynthia Berger goes underground in one of the most beautiful caves in PA, to learn how local groups are protecting cave habitat.
Two weeks ago, American Indians flocked to central Pennsylvania to take part in third annual New Faces of an Ancient People powwow. The event's 90 dancers and six powwow drums attracted between six and seven thousand people this year. WPSU news intern David Klatt was there, and he has this story.
Election Day is Nov. 8, and one hot race in our region is for District Attorney in Centre County. We bring you interviews with the two candidates. On Thursday November 3, Cynthia Berger talked with Michael Madeira, the Republican candidate; on Friday November 4th, she spoke with Democratic candidate Karen Arnold.
He gave up beer. She's been lifting weights. They've been out paddling in the dark. Across Central Pennsylvania, canoeists and kayakers are getting ready for one of the most venerable (and beloved) downriver races in the state: the " Red Mo. " More than 100 watercraft will traverse the 7 miles of class 2 wildwater on Red Moshannon Creek this Saturday, March 26; Last weekend, WPSU's Cynthia Berger went down to the water to watch them train.
If you go for a winter hike in Canoe Creek State Park , east of Holidaysburg, you won't see any bats. But they're there . . . ! Deep inside an abandoned mine, tens of thousands of bats sleep away the Pennsylvania winter. Their beauty rest is mostly undisturbed. But every few years, biologists from the Game Commission venture inside to get a bat head count. This winter, WPSU's Cynthia Berger tagged along
Election Day is November 8, and one hot race in our region is for District Attorney in Centre County. We bring you interviews with the two candidates. On Thursday November 3, WPSU's Cynthia Berger talked with Michael Madeira, the Republican candidate, and on Friday November 4, with Karen Arnold, the Democratic candidate.
According to trendspotters, the number of women involved in "shooting sports" is on the rise. Here in Pennsylvania , with its rich tradition of hunting and outdoor sports, women find opportunities to learn wilderness skills at events like the recent "Wild West Winterfest Weekend," presented by the Ligonier Valley Women in the Outdoors and the National Wild Turkey Federation. Over the course of a long January weekend, women learned to steer a dogsled, shoot skeet, hunt coyotes and turkeys, and throw knives . . . among other skills. WPSU's Cynthia Berger was there to eavesdrop on the action.
In the late 1800s, orienteering was invented as a form of military training. Today, it's an international sport. Pennsylvania has ideal terrain for orienteering races. As part of the ongoing series called "Sports That Are Not Football," WPSU's Cynthia Berger reports on the annual running of the "Susquehanna Stumble.
At a county fair, there are always lots of contests . . . like the "Junior Market Swine Show," the "Lamb Fitting Contest," or the judging of jams, jellies and preserves. One of the most thrilling contests at the fair involves sleek machines with powerful engines . . . It's the tractor pull. WPSU's Cynthia Berger was in the grandstands at the Centre County Grange Fair this past weekend, and she has this report
From the Galloping Gourmet to Two Fat Ladies, television cooking shows are always a treat. Did you know that Penn State Public Broadcasting produces a cooking show right here in Central Pennsylvania? It's called "The Alphabet Cooking Show." A new installment airs March 5th on WPSX-TV-but with a twist in the format. WPSU's Cynthia Berger talks to cooking show host Charlie Gudeman and associate producer Eileen Aiken for a sneak peek at what's cookin'.
With Congressman John E Peterson leaving his seat in Pennsylvania's 5th district, there's a wide-open race: 12 candidates in all. Over the next three weeks on WPSU, you'll hear where each one of them stands on the issues as we interview all 9 Republicans and all 3 Democrats. We launch our series today as WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Chris Exarchos (R ).
It's "Buy Fresh, Buy Local Week" in Pennsylvania. Do you know where your food comes from? In this ambitious book, New York Times columnist Michael Pollan lays it out for you; reviewers say, "You'll never look at a Chicken McNugget in the same way again.
By OUR REVIEWER, CARLA LEWIS, IS A RETIRED ENGLISH TEACHER, COLUMNIST, AND COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER WHO LIVES IN SHEFFIELD, PA.•
December 31, 1969
Back in 1923, when the Allegheny National Forest was established, the trees were so sparse locals called it the Allegheny Brush Patch. Thanks to scientific management, the forest today is lush and mature. But the question of continued forest management is controversial. A new book documents the struggle in the Allegheny; Carla Lewis has a personal perspective.
State College resident Gabriel Welsch is a former landscaper and nurseryman, and his new collection of poems reflects his horticulturalist's eye for natural beauty.
Ten years ago this month, the war in Bosnia came to a formal end with the signing of a peace agreement in Paris. The 11 short stories that make up a new collection by local writer Josip Novakovich all have their roots in the troubled Balkans. For reviewer Pam Monk, this book brought back some memories.
Beginning in the late 1960s, the infamous "Black Mafia" terrorized predominantly African-American sections of Philadelphia and was linked to some of the most heinous crimes in Philadelphia history. The organized group, one of the bloodiest crime syndicates in modern US history, collapsed in the late 1980s after several successful prosecutions and internal conflict. Who were Philadelphia's "Black Mafia"? We speak to a former Philadelphia police officer turned Penn State faculty member about his latest book, "Black Brothers Inc.: The Violent Rise and Fall of Philadelphia's Black Mafia". Guest: Sean Patrick Griffin
This past July, Joseph Wilson and Valerie Plame filed a civil lawsuit against Vice President Dick Cheney, Lewis "Scooter" Libby and Karl Rove. The lawsuit alleges that the Wilson's "privacy" had been invaded and their "personal safety" put in jeopardy when Plame's identity as a CIA operative was leaked to the press. We speak with the former Ambassador about this and more. Guest: Former Ambassador Joseph Wilson
In her fascinating book, Skin: A Natural History, Penn State anthropologist Nina Jablonski traces the three-hundred-million-year evolution of our skin, revealing a host of essential functions most of us take for granted. Why do we have skin? And how did it come to be what it is? Guest: Nina Jablonksi
Our current model of criminal justice emphasizes punishment and retribution, which helps explain why the United States has the highest incarceration rates in the world. But does our established system deliver justice-and for whom? We'll talk with one of the pioneers of the growing restorative justice movements about the promise and challenges of both systems. Guest: Dr. Howard Zehr
This week, a congressional subcommittee considered the worst coal ash spill in U.S. history--last December, when a dam at a Tennessee power plant gave way, spilling a billion gallons of toxic sludge. Pennsylvania had a similar spill back in 2005. Could it happen here again? WPSU's Cynthia Berger takes a look at coal ash management in the commonwealth.
Throughout the history of intercollegiate sports, nothing has caused more trouble than maintaining the amateur status of student-athletes. Dr. Allen Sack, author of Counterfeit Amateurs, was a highly recruited high school athlete from a small town near Philadelphia and a member of Notre Dame's 1966 national championship football team. He says the NCAA's dictate of "amateurism" is a fraudulent myth. WPSU's Patty Satalia talks with Sack about what's gone wrong with intercollegiate athletics and what can be done about it.
The race for Pennsylvania's open Supreme Court seat has gotten contentious in recent weeks, with both candidates running partisan attack ads. From member station WITF in Harrisburg, Scott Detrow reports on this year's top statewide contest
In the 21st century's global economy, slave traders have rediscovered the profitability of selling and buying human beings. More than 27 million people are enslaved worldwide
Hear the full interview between WPSU's Emily Reddy and fantasy/sci-fi author Daryl Gregory. In addition to talking about his brand new book of short stories, they talk about his recent novel, Raising Stony Mayhall. The extended material starts about 6:30 into the interview.
Penn State Public Broadcasting and host Patty Satalia broadcast a special live one-hour radio program following Sunday's installment of This American Life, which is featuring Penn State in the episode, "Back to Penn State." This is a re-broadcast of the December, 2009 episode, "#1 Party School," with new interviews recorded this past week with Penn State fans and loyalists trying to make sense of the current crisis. Satalia, Michael B?rub?, Damon Sims and Penn State student Rowan Nasser discussed the reactions and responses to the events unfolding at Penn State during the past two weeks and the steps the University will take to move forward. (Please note, this is a short excerpt specifically for award consideration. The segment originally aired on 11/20/11.)
Penn State held a conference call for media yesterday afternoon to discuss Penn State's Wellness Program. Officials from Penn State and Highmark were on the call. WPSU's Kate Lao Shaffner reports.
Renowned futurist and New York Times Best-selling author Peter Diamandis joins us by telephone. He's on the road in Vancouver, Canada, where he just recorded his TED Talk for the 2014 series. We'll find out why he says today's philanthropists and entrepreneurs are more empowered than ever to solve humanity's greatest challenges.
