News
Lawmakers urge Pa. Senate to split up public, private high school school playoffs
5+ hour, 3+ min ago (666+ words) Rep. Scott Conklin (D-Centre)s bill would authorize the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association to split up playoffs for public and private high schools. Emily Scolnick is a 2026 Dow Jones News Fund intern at the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. House lawmakers are calling…...
How Are America's Kids Doing? A New Report Offers Answers
21+ hour, 18+ min ago (84+ words) WITF Group of happy kids programming electric toys and robots at robotics classroom aired; June 9, 2026 Listen to the podcas to hear the full conversation." On a recent episode of The Spark, we spoke with Lisa Lawson, president and CEO of…...
Central Pa. champ places in top third at National Spelling Bee, hopes to return
1+ week, 23+ hour ago (383+ words) Vedika Burman, 12, of Harrisburg, Pa. , competes during the first preliminary round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, in Washington. Vedika Burman, a 6th grader from Central Dauphin Middle School, tied for 79th place in the Scripps National Spelling Bee last…...
The Year That Shaped Harrisburg
1+ week, 1+ day ago (134+ words) The former William Penn High School in Harrisburg pictured on Thursday, July 13, 2023. Jeremy Long - WITF News aired; May 29, 2026 Listen to the podcast to hear the full conversation." David Morrison of the Historic Harrisburg Association joins The Spark to explore why…...
Pennsylvania PBS honors seven Champions of Lifelong Learning
1+ mon, 3+ day ago (283+ words) WITF Pennsylvania PBS honors seven Champions of Lifelong Learning Harrisburg, PA " Pennsylvania PBS and its seven member stations celebrated public media and seven Champions of Lifelong Learning award winners during "A Beautiful Day in the Capitol" in Harrisburg on Wednesday,…...
Skilled trades push grows in Pennsylvania workforce
1+ mon, 3+ day ago (148+ words) Anthony Orozco / WITF SACA recently opened a second Tec Centro location on High Street in Lancaster. aired; May 6, 2026 Listen to the podcast to hear the full conversation. As Skilled Trades Day approaches, there's a renewed focus on expanding workforce opportunities…...
Pennsylvania high school history instructor named nation's Teacher of the Year
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (264+ words) Tassanee Vejpongsa / Associated Press Leon Smith, named the 2026 National Teacher of the Year, talks to students inhis classroom at Haverford High School, in Havertown, Pa. on Monday, April 20, 2026. "An adult can tell you that they see something in you that…...
Downbeat Foundation Gives Harrisburg Students Access to music lessons & more
1+ mon, 3+ week ago (30+ words) WITF Steve Kurtz and Lisa Smith AIRED; April 13, 2026 Listen to the podast to hear the full conversation....
Central PA Students Create Keystone Curious Podcast
2+ mon, 2+ day ago (171+ words) AIRED; April 7, 2026 Listen to the podcast to hear the full conversation." A new student-led podcast project, Keystone Curious, is part of a collaboration between local educators and students focused on Pennsylvania history. The project is led by high school teacher…...
The Spark Features Braver Angels Workshop on Civil Discourse at Penn State Harrisburg
2+ mon, 4+ day ago (104+ words) AIRED; April 3, 2026 Listen to the podcast to hear the conversation." The Spark recently hosted a live taping at Penn State Harrisburg following a "Skills for Disagreeing Better" workshop facilitated by Braver Angels. The live taping featured two segments. The first…...