With Pennsylvania’s primary election just weeks away, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt joined WITF’s The Spark to walk voters through the critical deadlines and options for casting their ballots. “The primary in Pennsylvania is May 20th,” Secretary Schmidt reminded listeners, noting that “the last day to register to vote is May 5th” and “the last day to apply to vote by mail … is May 13th.”

With <a href="https://www.pa.gov/agencies/vote/elections/upcoming-elections.html">Pennsylvania&rsquo;s primary election</a> just weeks away, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt joined WITF&rsquo;s The Spark to walk voters through the critical deadlines and options for casting their ballots. &ldquo;The primary in Pennsylvania is May 20th,&rdquo; Secretary Schmidt reminded listeners, noting that &ldquo;the last day to register to vote is May 5th&rdquo; and &ldquo;the last day to apply to vote by mail &hellip; is May 13th.&rdquo;

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>.

Pennsylvania’s May 20th Primary: Key Dates and What Voters Need to Know

On The Spark this week, we explored the fascinating intersection of art, memory, and environmental legacy with two leaders from the Susquehanna Art Museum. Executive Director Alice Anne Schwab and Rachel O’Connor, the museum’s new Director of Exhibitions, joined us in the studio to talk about Future Fossils, their latest exhibition that’s sparking big questions—and imaginations.

On The Spark this week, we explored the fascinating intersection of art, memory, and environmental legacy with two leaders from the <a href="https://susquehannaartmuseum.org/">Susquehanna Art Museum</a>. Executive Director Alice Anne Schwab and Rachel O&rsquo;Connor, the museum&rsquo;s new Director of Exhibitions, joined us in the studio to talk about Future Fossils, their latest exhibition that&rsquo;s sparking big questions&mdash;and imaginations.

Digging Into Future Fossils with the Susquehanna Art Museum

This week on The Spark’s Journalist Roundtable, we tackle a major shakeup in Pennsylvania higher education: the closure of seven Penn State campuses, a decision formally approved by the university’s Board of Trustees in a 25 to 8 vote. Joining us to unpack the story are Anne Danahy, reporter for WPSU, and Wyatt Massey, education reporter with Spotlight PA.

The closures, announced as part of a sweeping cost-cutting and restructuring effort, have stunned students, staff, and communities that have long relied on Penn State’s commonwealth campus system to provide accessible and affordable education across the state.

This week on The Spark&rsquo;s Journalist Roundtable, we tackle a major shakeup in Pennsylvania higher education: the closure of seven Penn State campuses, a decision formally approved by the university&rsquo;s Board of Trustees in a 25 to 8 vote. Joining us to unpack the story are Anne Danahy, reporter for <a href="https://radio.wpsu.org/2025-05-22/penn-state-trustees-approve-closing-7-campuses">WPSU</a>, and Wyatt Massey, education reporter with <a href="https://www.spotlightpa.org/statecollege/2025/05/penn-state-commonwealth-campus-closure-vote/">Spotlight PA.</a>
The closures, announced as part of a sweeping cost-cutting and restructuring effort, have stunned students, staff, and communities that have long relied on Penn State&rsquo;s commonwealth campus system to provide accessible and affordable education across the state.

Journalist Roundtable:  What’s Behind the Closure of 7 Penn State Campuses?

Nearly half of Americans are now breathing unhealthy air — and much of Pennsylvania is among the hardest-hit, according to the American Lung Association’s newly released 2025 State of the Air report. The annual analysis, now in its 26th year, found significant declines in air quality across the state, with Lancaster, Pittsburgh, and Dauphin counties receiving failing grades for both ozone and fine particle pollution.

Nearly half of Americans are now breathing unhealthy air &mdash; and much of Pennsylvania is among the hardest-hit, according to the American Lung Association&rsquo;s newly released <a href="https://www.lung.org/getmedia/5d8035e5-4e86-4205-b408-865550860783/State-of-the-Air-2025.pdf">2025 State of the Air report</a>. The annual analysis, now in its 26th year, found significant declines in air quality across the state, with Lancaster, Pittsburgh, and Dauphin counties receiving failing grades for both ozone and fine particle pollution.

Pennsylvania’s May 20th Primary: Key Dates and What Voters Need to Know

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