Keystone Stories
Premiering on May 5 at 8:00pm, Keystone Stories is an original WPSU TV and digital series that takes viewers to the breathtaking, interesting, quirky, and sometimes hidden gems around central Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania’s beautiful landscape serves as the backdrop for an exploration of the people, places, and culture that make the region unique. Learn more about the first four episodes here.
Birthdays
5/4 - Mindy McMahon
5/9 - Kristin Bittner
WPSU Radio Highlights
In Case You Missed It . . .
Take Note: Jon Meacham On How History Informs Present Day Politics, Including The War In Ukraine Jenna Spinelle talks with Jon Meacham, author of multiple New York Times bestsellers, Pulitzer Prize winner, distinguished visiting professor at Vanderbilt University and co-chair of Vanderbilt's Project on Unity and American democracy, contributing writer for the New York Times Book Review and a fellow of the Society of American Historians. Today's interview is from the Democracy Works podcast, a collaboration between WPSU and the McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Penn State.
Pa.’S Gop Gubernatorial Frontrunners Want No Abortion, No Mail Voting, And Lots Of Fracking WHYY’s Katie Meyer reports on the primary race for governor in the Republican party. No matter who wins the primary, the candidate will probably be someone who supports essentially outlawing abortion, getting rid of mail voting, dramatically expanding fracking, and slashing regulations on drillers and other industries. Throughout an hour-long debate in Harrisburg on April 27 — the first debate in which all the frontrunners shared a stage — the four candidates had few real policy disagreements.
Pardon Project Of Centre County Will Help The Formerly Incarcerated Wipe The Slate Clean
WPSU’s Deitric Murphy reported on the Pardon Project of Centre County with the goal to train volunteers to help formerly incarcerated people fill out pardon applications, which, if approved, can wipe convictions off their records. Listen here.
WPSU Television Highlights
Ridley Road on Masterpiece - Sundays at 9:00 pm starting May 1
Based on Jo Bloom’s bestselling novel, this four-part drama centers on the struggles of British Jews fighting rising neo-Nazism in post-World War II Britain. Vivien, a young Jewish Hairdresser, moves to Manchester after the death of her father and finds herself searching for her lost love, Jack. In a shocking twist of fate, Vivien ends up undercover in a fascist group.
Keystone Stories (WPSU Original Production) - Thursdays at 8:00 pm starting May 5
Keystone Stories takes viewers to the breathtaking, interesting, quirky, and sometimes hidden gems around central Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania’s beautiful landscape serves as the backdrop for an exploration of the people, places, and culture that make the region unique.
Antiques Roadshow “Colonial Williamsburg Hour 1” - Monday, May 9 at 8:00 pm
Journey back in time through historical appraisals from the first hour at Colonial Williamsburg!
American Masters “Waterman - Duke: The Spirit of Aloha” - Tuesday, May 10 at 9:00 pm
Discover the inspiring story and considerable impact of five-time Olympic medalist Duke Kahanamoku. He shattered swimming records and globalized surfing while overcoming racism in a lifetime of personal challenges.
NOVA “Dinosaur Apocalypse” - Wednesday, May 11 at 9:00 pm
Sir David Attenborough explores how a North Dakota fossil dig site could hold clues to what happened the day an asteroid struck Earth and wiped out the dinosaurs.
Great Performances “Anything Goes” - Friday, May 13 at 9:00 pm
Enjoy this London production of Cole Porter's classic musical led by Tony winner Sutton Foster who reprises her Tony-winning role as Reno Sweeney directed by Kathleen Marshall with favorite songs like "I Get A Kick Out of You" and "You're the Top."
Industry News
Research: Consumers Aren't Interested in 8K TVs
Consumers are not gaining interest in 8K TV, Omdia reports, predicting that only 2.7 million households will have the technology by the end of 2026. The lack of native content and failed marketing is resulting in a loss of momentum for 8K TVs, says Senior Research Director Maria Rua Aguete. Full story here.
FCC Big-Ticket Items Stalled Without Fifth Commissioner
The Federal Communications Commission can't do much until Gigi Sohn, who has been nominated for the fifth commissioner spot, gets Senate confirmation. Broadcasters are seeking FCC action on issues such as media ownership regulations and the NextGen TV transition, but the agency is currently at a deadlock with a likely 2-2 vote on most major proceedings. Full story here.
Governmental Relations
Federal News – It’s the Senate’s turn!
Members of Congress are asking their colleagues to sign letters endorsing annual federal funding for public media. The letters are then delivered to the Appropriations subcommittees responsible for determining the amount of funding public media will receive. The subcommittees use these letters to measure support for public media when drafting their appropriations bills. The more signers, the more favorable for funding.
While the House “Dear Colleague” funding letters are now closed, the Senate letter in support of funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Interconnection and Ready to Learn in the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (Labor-HHS-Education) bill is now in circulation.
This 2-year forward funded request includes $565 million for CPB, level funding of $30.5 million for the Ready To Learn program and $60 million for Interconnection.
On the House side, Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson signed on in support of funding.
On the Senate side, Senator Bob Casey has traditionally signed on and is expected to do so again this year.
Federal investment in these programs is crucial to providing education, public safety, civic leadership, news, information, and community programming to all Americans.
How can you help? Let Senators Casey and Toomey know you want them to support public media funding.
Head to protectmypublicmedia.org and send an email. This grassroots organization has a template and all you need to do is fill in your name and address.
WPSU receives approximately 11% of our budget in funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) through a nationally designated funding formula for all public media stations.
State News
A favorable meeting with Rep. Rich Irvin (R-81) took place at his Huntingdon office on April 19 with WPSU Board chair Greg Petersen and Carolyn Donaldson presenting our case for state funding. Governor Wolf has allocated $1.5 million in his budget for the 7 PA public media stations.
Meetings are set with House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-171), Senator Cris Dush (R-25) and Rep. Scott Conklin (D-77) in the coming weeks.
A Wedding to Remember?
LONGWOOD, Fla. — A 42-year-old Florida bride and her 31-year-old caterer are accused of serving food laced with marijuana to unsuspecting guests at a wedding reception. The women were arrested Monday following an investigation by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, according to court records. Both women were charged with tampering, culpable negligence, and delivery of marijuana and later bonded out of jail. Investigators said in an arrest affidavit that guests began feeling ill during the Feb. 19 event at a clubhouse in Longwood, which is near Orlando. The report says 30 to 40 people attended the event. Several people who said they felt “stoned” were taken to the hospital for treatment. The arrest report says several tested positive for THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana. -- [AP 4/22/22]
Motherly Advice
“When your mother asks, ‘Do you want a piece of advice?’ it is a mere formality. It doesn’t matter if you answer yes or no. You’re going to get it anyway.” —Erma Bombeck
Resources and Tips
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