The Spark

In the heart of downtown Lancaster, a new museum is preparing to open its doors — one that highlights a powerful, and often overlooked, chapter of American history. The Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy is set to open next spring, led by LancasterHistory, the organization behind the museum's development.

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Mount Gretna may be a small Pennsylvania town, but it’s home to something historically unique: the only remaining Chautauqua in the state. For more than 130 years, the Mount Gretna Chautauqua has championed the same four foundational pillars—arts and culture, education, religion, and recreation—that began with the movement’s founding in 1874.

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Local educator, historian, and adventurer Adam Zurn has taken his passion for Pennsylvania’s hidden history from blog to bookshelf. In his debut children’s book Canassatego and His Six Arrows, Zurn tells the powerful story of unity shared by the Onondaga chief Canassatego during the 1744 Treaty of Lancaster—a message that helped shape America’s earliest ideas of governance...

As Congress considers what could be the most significant Medicaid cuts in U.S. history, experts are sounding the alarm about the far-reaching consequences—especially for small businesses and rural communities.

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For children affected by parental incarceration, the trauma can be deep, isolating, and difficult to express. But in Lancaster, a unique nonprofit is helping those children find their voice ...

With summer temperatures climbing and heat waves becoming more frequent, energy bills can quickly get out of hand. But there are simple, affordable ways to stay cool without breaking the bank.

Dan McCunney, Senior Communications Manager at NRG Energy, joined The Spark to share expert tips on how to lower energy usage while stayi...

Harrisburg’s own M. Travis Dinicola had his public radio dreams come true when he was selected as the winner of NPR’s Sunday Puzzle segment on Weekend Edition. A long-time listener, public media volunteer, and nonprofit fundraiser, Dinicola represented Central Pennsylvania on the national airwaves with enthusiasm and humility.

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As Pennsylvania's June 30 state budget deadline approaches, lawmakers in Harrisburg remain at odds—especially over the controversial issue of whether to tax so-called "skill games." On this week’s Journalist Roundtable, The Spark explored the state budget standoff with Spotlight PA reporters Katie Meyer and Stephen Caruso, who outlined the widening ...

As summer kicks off, much of the East Coast — including Pennsylvania — has already endured a punishing stretch of extreme temperatures, thanks to what meteorologists are calling a "heat dome." According to ABC 27 Meteorologist Dan Tomaso, the phenomenon is a classic — but intense — example of high-pressure systems trapping heat across large regions.

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As vacation season heats up, safety officials are reminding Pennsylvanians to travel smart, buckle up, and never drive impaired — especially with increased traffic expected around the July 4th holiday.

In a recent conversation on The Spark, Kelly Whitaker with the Pennsylvania Traffic Injury Prevention Project (PA TIPP) ou...

As conversations around mental health and social media continue to intensify, one expert says there’s growing evidence that screen time—especially among teens—is doing real harm. On The Spark, WITF’s Asia Tabb spoke with Dr. Yann Poncin, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, about what research is revealing and how families can respond.

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The Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts is celebrating a major milestone — 25 years of engaging the Central Pennsylvania community with its unique blend of science, art, and education. We spoke with President and CEO Mary Oliveira, who reflected on the center’s legacy and shared how it’s planning for the future.

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For children affected by parental incarceration, the trauma can be deep, isolating, and difficult to express. But in Lancaster, a unique nonprofit is helping those children find their voice — through music.

Scaling Walls a Note at a Time (SWAN) was founded in 2011 by violinist and educator Diana Vuolo to serve children impacted by the incarceration of a parent. The organization offers free music instruction, performance oppor...