Local Features:
Pennsylvania's Congressman-elect Glenn Thompson
December 1, 2008
Freshmen Orientation
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.
Ready to shop at 3:30 AM!
November 28, 2008
Black Friday
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.
Links:
- Hear an NPR commentary about Black Friday shopping in Allentown, PA
- Early data show strong sales on Black Friday
StoryCorps founder David Isay launched the National Day of Listening
November 26, 2008
StoryCorps National Day of Listening
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.
Links:
- More information about StoryCorps
- The National Day of Listening and how to do an interview
- The StoryCorps book, Listening is an Act of Love
NPR political correspondent David Greene
November 19, 2008
The Press and the Presidential Election
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."
Links:
- The Pew Research Center study on the press and the presidential election
- Listen to Cynthia Berger's extended interview with NPR political correspondent David Greene
Penn State's Katherine Felt dreams of studying abroad.
November 14, 2008
Credit Crunch and Money for College
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.
Links:
- NPR's Claudio Sanchez reports on how the economic crisis has affected college students in Pennsylvania
- Meanwhile, tuition hikes are possible
Sgt. Mike Wenrick addresses the crowd.
November 11, 2008
Veteran's Day 2008
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.
Links:
Student vote was heavy at University Park. Credit: Penn State Public Information
November 5, 2008
Election Voices
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.
Links:
Pennsylvania's Congressman-elect Glenn Thompson
November 5, 2008
Thompson Takes 5th Congressional District
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.
Links:
November 4, 2008
Voting Integrity
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.
More information:
- To report any voting irregularities today, call toll-free 877-OUR-VOTE
November 3, 2008
Water Bond Referendum
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"?
Links:
- The Commonweatlh Foundation's position on the Water and Sewer Bond
- The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Group's position on the bond
- WPSU's Liquid Assets
Commentator and WPSU Vote '08 blogger Andrew Visnovsky
October 30, 2008
Commentary: The Fight for the 5th
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.
Tune in tonight for the LIVE 5th District debate at 7:00 p.m. on WPSU!
Links:
October 28, 2008
Impact of War: Land of Confusion
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.
Links:
Casey Miller, the "Iron Butterfly"
October 25, 2008
Getting Out the Vote
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.
Links:
Michael Berkman
October 24, 2008
Big Ten Poll
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.
Links:
NPR's Steve Inskeep and Michele Norris
October 23, 2008
Race and Politics in Pennsylvania
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.
Links:
Commentator Robert Speel
October 22, 2008
Commentary: Ignoring the Northwest
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.
Links:
October 10, 2008
Imapct of War: Divided Loyalties
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.
Links:
October 9, 2008
Veterans Healthcare
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.
Links:
October 8, 2008
Liquid Assets: Taming the Wildcat
"Liquid Assets" is a new PBS documentary about our nation's water infrastructure. It debuts tonight on WPSU-TV. The program, produced right here at WPSU, takes a look at America's aging water and sewer systems. In Pennsylvania alone, our water infrastructure needs 36 billion dollars worth of repair. This morning, WPSU's Kevin Conaway takes a look at one Pennylsvania problem ... a community where a "wildcat" water system was tamed.
Links:
October 3, 2008
Child Access Center
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.
Links:
September 25, 2008
Impact of War: Marching to the Train
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 longstanding tradition.
Links:
- Watch the audio slideshow
- The website of the 2nd 112th (Stryker) Charger Company
- Read more about the march to the train in the Centre Daily Times
September 19, 2008
Impact of War: The Real Hero
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.
Links:
Alpha Company shows how to extinguish a car fire.
September 17, 2008
Firefighter for (More Than) a Day
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. o learn more, WPSU's Cynthia Berger checked out the Alpha Fire Company's "Firefighter for a Day" program.
Links:
September 13, 2008
Soccer for Soldiers
This past Thursday, 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.
Links:
September 12, 2008
Election Update
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.
Links:
Greg Greenberg remembers 9/11
September 11, 2008
Remembering 9/11
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.
Links:
September 5, 2008
Election Update: 5th Congressional District
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.
August 29, 2008
Election Update: 76th District
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.
Links:
August 27, 2008
Rockview Land Transfer
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.
Links:
- Information about Spring Creek Canyon from the ClearWater Conservancy
- Penn State answers frequently asked questions
- The canyon Master Plan Project
August 26, 2008
Pennsylvania Gas Rush
Energy companies now have a way to tap the vast reserves of natural gas locked inside the rock formation called the Marcellus Shale. Does this new resource come at too great a price? Ilya Marritz of member station WNYC reports, as heard this past Thursday on NPR's "Day to Day"
Links:
- A documentary by WPSU-TV on the PA Gas Rush
- Penn State Cooperative Extension has information for landowners
August 22, 2008
Election Update: 76th District
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.
August 18, 2008
Ridge as VP?
Tom Ridge campaigned with John McCain last week, fueling speculation over whether Pennsylvania's former governor, who is pro-choice, is a viable vice-presidential pick for the Republican candidate. WPSU's Cynthia Berger asked Pennsylvania political pundit Steve Peterson.
Links:
July 31, 2008
Impact of War: Keeping the Faith
When soldiers head off to war, a chaplain goes with them. Another chaplain stays home, to help military families with everything from childcare to funeral arrangements.
Our ongoing series called "Impact of War" follows the members of the Pennsylvania National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade as they prepare to deploy to Iraq. Today, meet a man who's both a chaplain and a young soldier's father. From member station WHYY, Susan Phillips reports.
Links:
"Sawing a "cookie"
7/25/2008
Sports That Are Not Football: Cross-cut Saw
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.
Links:
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