Franco Ordoñez is a White House Correspondent for NPR’s Washington Desk. In the past, he’s reported on foreign policy, and immigration, and has been a correspondent in Cuba, Colombia, Mexico, and Haiti. Ordoñez joined the Spark to speak with host Asia Tabb about his work as a correspondent, and his experience covering the 2024 Presidential election.

Franco Ordoñez is a White House Correspondent for NPR’s Washington Desk. In the past, he’s reported on foreign policy, and immigration, and has been a correspondent in Cuba, Colombia, Mexico, and Haiti. Ordoñez joined the Spark to speak with host Asia Tabb about his work as a correspondent, and his experience covering the 2024 Presidential election.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from <a href="https://www.witf.org">WITF</a>, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at <a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

The Spark

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, hosts Scott LaMar and Aniya Faulcon start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at <a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.

NPR's White House Correspondent Franco Ordoñez on His Experience Covering the Presidential Election

The Center for Rural Pennsylvania has been examining substance abuse and the opioid crisis for 10 years, holding a total of 20 public hearings. Dr. Kyle C. Kopko, Executive Director of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania says in rural areas, there’s less infrastructure, less healthcare providers, and transportation issues.

“We've seen that rural Pennsylvania for a period of time actually had higher overdose rates once you standardize for populations relative to urban areas. Now, it's hard to pinpoint why that is, but our best hunch is due to those access types of issues having fewer providers, it's harder to get to treatment centers. There are just fewer doctors, fewer nurses, and health care professionals in general in our rural communities versus our urban communities. So, we have to be really mindful of that, “said Kopko.

The last public hearing was at Kutztown University in Berks County. Senator Gene Yaw, Chairman of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania says there’s a lot of misconceptions about substance abuse disorder.

“And I think in simple terms, we need to make the point that a person that becomes addicted to heroin or opioids, that's not a moral short. I mean, for that person, as he said, it changes your body makeup. And those drugs do. For some people, it's just like diabetes. I mean, some of us processed sugar with no problem. Others don't. And you need to take medication in order to survive every day.”

The <a href="https://www.rural.pa.gov/home">Center for Rural Pennsylvania</a> has been examining substance abuse and the opioid crisis for <a href="https://www.rural.pa.gov/latest-news/news">10 years</a>, holding a total of 20 public hearings. Dr. Kyle C. Kopko, Executive Director of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania says in rural areas, there’s less infrastructure, less healthcare providers, and transportation issues.
“We've seen that rural Pennsylvania for a period of time actually had higher overdose rates once you standardize for populations relative to urban areas. Now, it's hard to pinpoint why that is, but our best hunch is due to those access types of issues having fewer providers, it's harder to get to treatment centers. There are just fewer doctors, fewer nurses, and health care professionals in general in our rural communities versus our urban communities. So, we have to be really mindful of that, “said Kopko.
The last public hearing was at Kutztown University in Berks County. Senator Gene Yaw, Chairman of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania says there’s a lot of misconceptions about substance abuse disorder.
“And I think in simple terms, we need to make the point that a person that becomes addicted to heroin or opioids, that's not a moral short. I mean, for that person, as he said, it changes your body makeup. And those drugs do. For some people, it's just like diabetes. I mean, some of us processed sugar with no problem. Others don't. And you need to take medication in order to survive every day.”

Center for Rural Pennsylvania reflect on 10 years addressing substance abuse and opioid crisis

The 51st edition of Historic Harrisburg Association’s Candlelight House Tour will be presented on Sunday, December 8. The tour includes more than 17 properties in Bellevue Park, Breeze Hill, and many historic homes in the Capitol View District. David Morrison, Executive Director of the Historic Harrisburg Association, says research plays a huge role about the stories of the historic homes.

“Very often we've got we've got a library at historic Harrisburg and a lot of books that the talk about what these houses were. We have old city directories which cross-reference the prior owners and so forth. People can research who builds it and when they build it and when it changed hands, that kind of thing, or the many other ways that you can research that you can research the architecture. Who was the architect that designed this, this particular house or this group of houses or whatever? A lot of that information does exist. And we love to help people find it.”

Each year, visitors have a chance to see different historic homes on the tour. The only two that is the same each year is the Governors residence and the John Harris Simon Cameron Mansion.

“Since 1980, the governor's residence has been on every year. And every first family has agreed that they would participate with our house tours and have their open house concurrent to that. So, it's a great way that they collaborate with us. But all the other properties are different every year, and it's a combination of, as I described, big houses, little houses, apartments in some cases. This year we must have two historic churches and occasionally there'll be a business in a historic building. That’s kind of interesting. So, you never know what you're going to see, but it's always a different array of great ideas of here's what's happening in the world of historic preservation.”

More information may be sought at info@historicharrisburg.org .

The 51st edition of Historic Harrisburg Association’s <a href="https://historicharrisburg.org/candlelight-house-tour/">Candlelight House Tour</a> will be presented on Sunday, December 8. The tour includes more than 17 properties in Bellevue Park, Breeze Hill, and many historic homes in the Capitol View District. David Morrison, Executive Director of the Historic Harrisburg Association, says research plays a huge role about the stories of the historic homes.
“Very often we've got we've got a library at historic Harrisburg and a lot of books that the talk about what these houses were. We have old city directories which cross-reference the prior owners and so forth. People can research who builds it and when they build it and when it changed hands, that kind of thing, or the many other ways that you can research that you can research the architecture. Who was the architect that designed this, this particular house or this group of houses or whatever? A lot of that information does exist. And we love to help people find it.”
Each year, visitors have a chance to see different historic homes on the tour. The only two that is the same each year is the Governors residence and the John Harris Simon Cameron Mansion.
“Since 1980, the governor's residence has been on every year. And every first family has agreed that they would participate with our house tours and have their open house concurrent to that. So, it's a great way that they collaborate with us. But all the other properties are different every year, and it's a combination of, as I described, big houses, little houses, apartments in some cases. This year we must have two historic churches and occasionally there'll be a business in a historic building. That’s kind of interesting. So, you never know what you're going to see, but it's always a different array of great ideas of here's what's happening in the world of historic preservation.”
More information may be sought at info@historicharrisburg.org .

Historic Harrisburg Association Candlelight House Tour takes place December 8

The Christmas show will include 78 performances from November 5 through December 30. Brandon Martin, President and CEO of the American Music Theatre says the show is written, built, and produced entirely in house with a team of artists and creatives.

“This is a special show, and I think they all are, quite honestly. But we're so excited for this one. You know, each year is very different and is kind of redesigned and rebuilt and created from the ground up. This year is really kind of a nod to the nostalgia of Christmas and a lot of the traditions that so many families hold dear. It takes place in a town square, which is just cynically stunning with a lot of hustle and bustle, some last-minute shopping, some festivities, tree lighting transitions into a grand cathedral for some of the sacred aspects of our show. Of course, there's quite a bit of merriment with some elves and Santa as well for the for the kids of all ages, church choir. But a real kind of family. And community vibe around this one that focuses a lot on that tradition.”

The show features 55 singers, dancers, musicians, and youth performances from across the country. Auditions occur throughout the year with on-site rehearsals that begins as early as September.

“In fact, we've been working in earnest on this particular show since January of this year. So, yeah, and even a little bit before then really in terms of the design aspects of it. Casting begins typically in the spring with a cast finalized and selected going into the summer. Rehearsals begin in September. And yes, we've been well underway for the past month or so with our cast all here in Lancaster rehearsing together. And yeah, we're coming up on it. We've got about a week to go.”

The <a href="https://amtshows.com/shows/category/2024-christmas-show/photo/">Christmas show</a> will include 78 performances from November 5 through December 30. Brandon Martin, President and CEO of the American Music Theatre says the show is written, built, and produced entirely in house with a team of artists and creatives.
“This is a special show, and I think they all are, quite honestly. But we're so excited for this one. You know, each year is very different and is kind of redesigned and rebuilt and created from the ground up. This year is really kind of a nod to the nostalgia of Christmas and a lot of the traditions that so many families hold dear. It takes place in a town square, which is just cynically stunning with a lot of hustle and bustle, some last-minute shopping, some festivities, tree lighting transitions into a grand cathedral for some of the sacred aspects of our show. Of course, there's quite a bit of merriment with some elves and Santa as well for the for the kids of all ages, church choir. But a real kind of family. And community vibe around this one that focuses a lot on that tradition.”
The show features 55 singers, dancers, musicians, and youth performances from across the country. Auditions occur throughout the year with on-site rehearsals that begins as early as September.
“In fact, we've been working in earnest on this particular show since January of this year. So, yeah, and even a little bit before then really in terms of the design aspects of it. Casting begins typically in the spring with a cast finalized and selected going into the summer. Rehearsals begin in September. And yes, we've been well underway for the past month or so with our cast all here in Lancaster rehearsing together. And yeah, we're coming up on it. We've got about a week to go.”

NPR's White House Correspondent Franco Ordoñez on His Experience Covering the Presidential Election

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