(Undated) -- High gas prices may not have as much of a negative impact on Memorial Day weekend travel as analysts previously thought.  AAA is projecting a slight increase in travel for Pennsylvanians, since gas prices are nearly 25 cents lower this year than last.  Spokeswoman Jenny Robinson says the organizaton is seeing mixed messages about how gas prices have affected vacation plans.  "A little over half say no, it hasn't impacted their plans, and a little under half say that yes, they have been affected by gas prices in terms of their travel plans," she says.  Robinson says 55 percent of people responding to AAA's survey say they're traveling to see family or friends.  Forty-four percent plan to go shopping this weekend, 42 percent will dine out and 35 percent plan to visit historic sites.

(Harrisburg) -- State regulators worry the growing popularity of so-called "crowd funding" could open up Pennsylvanians to excess risk and fraud. Crowd funding happens when large groups pool their money to invest in small businesses, arts projects, and other ventures. State Securities Commissioner Steve Irwin says new federal legislation makes crowd funding available to more people, and that worries him. "What's missing here is an investment advisor or a broker's advice to an investor on whether this type of investment is suitable to them based on what their investment objectives are and their ability to withstand the loss," he says. Irwin warns more than half of small businesses fail, and a great number of start ups don't become profitable. He says the new federal law keeps states from reviewing crowd funding offerings. The new crowd funding rules will not go into effect until the federal Securities and Exchange Commission signs off on regulations.

(Harrisburg) -- State Police are ramping up efforts to keep central Pennsylvania roads safe through the holiday weekend. Troopers will be on the lookout for aggressive driving and DUIs over the four-day Memorial Day holiday. State Police Spokesman Sergeant Anthony Manetta says motorists can do a couple of things to stay safe this holiday. "Apply some common sense. And anticipating that traffic will be heavier, we ask that they leave a little bit earlier so that they don't have to feel the stress of being late," he says. "Just a few minutes early will make for a much more pleasant trip." Manetta says additional sobriety checkpoints will be set up across the region over the next couple of days. He adds a new program called "Operation Maximum Effort" will kick off Monday to help curb tailgating and speeding in Pennsylvania. It joins PennDOT's "Click It or Ticket" program focusing on seatbelt safety, which is already in effect.

(Lancaster) -- Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Now that summer's around the corner, it's especially important to take care of the body's largest organ when venturing outside. But many people, including African-Americans and Latinos, don't protect their skin against the sun because they don't think they're at risk of getting skin cancer. As part of witf's multimedia Facing Cancer Together initiative, Megan Lello spoke with Dr. Jennifer Mueller, a dermatologist with Lancaster General Health, about how far-reaching the disease can be:

(Harrisburg) -- The commonwealth's overseer of Harrisburg's Act 47 fiscal plan isn't happy with some major players in the capital city's recovery process. The state Department of Community and Economic Development has one major message for Harrisburg's City Council and Controller: Do what the city's Act 47 plan tells you to do, or Commonwealth Court will make you. DCED has filed a so-called "notice of non-compliance" against the city, citing City Council's refusal to raise the earned income tax, among other things, as a violation of the court-ordered plan. But Councilman Brad Koplinski says he's not on board with the entire plan just yet. "It appears to sell assets before negotiating with creditors," he says. "Putting the cart before the horse in selling the assets before negotiating with creditors does not seem like the correct option for us." Koplinski says he's open to creating a county-wide sales tax or other measures that could help bring in revenue. The latest snag in Harrisburg's fiscal recovery process comes just as former city receiver David Unkovic appeared in Commonwealth Court to explain why he left his post so unexpectedly. Unkovic has said he felt "boxed in" by creditors overseeing the city's debt-riddled incinerator. He's also testified the state told him he'd be let go after a press conference in late March where he criticized many of the key players involved in the recovery. DCED Spokesman Steve Kratz says that's not true. "At no point in time did anyone from the administration say that he would be removed, nor was there any intention to remove him. We were as surprised as anyone else," Kratz says. He does concede that some of Unkovic's remarks were troubling. "Granted, there were some outbursts that he had had recently, in recent weeks, that were concerning, that we felt could be detrimental to the overall recovery process," Kratz says. He adds Governor Corbett and his administration had faith Unkovic could help turn Harrisburg's finances around up until the day he resigned. Now the Commonwealth Court has approved a new city receiver: retired Air Force Major General William Lynch. Attorney Neil Grover, with Debt Watch Harrisburg, says it's up to the court to see that Lynch doesn't become frustrated in his new position. "They shall make sure that the office of receiver and Mr. Lynch have the independence needed to do this job and the resources to do this job. That's not an insignificant thing." All parties involved say they ultimately want Harrisburg to emerge from the Act 47 plan as a financially stable city. But getting there may take some time.

Radio Smart Talk for Friday, May 25:

The last Radio Smart Talk before the Memorial Day weekend shines a spotlight on three separate topics.

Curt Ashenfelter, the Executive Director of the Keystone Trails Association and Jim Foster, the president of the Cumberland Valley Appalacian Trail Club will discuss Pennsylvania Hiking Week that runs May 26-June 3 and National Trails Day on June 2.  Two mid-state communities -- Duncannon and Boiling Springs -- will be designated as Appalachian Trail Communities by the end of the week. 

The unofficial start of the summer season will bring out many hikers.

In our second segment, author Judith Redline Coopey joins us to discuss her book -- Waterproof -- A Novel of the Johnstown Flood.  Waterproof is witf and the MidTown Scholar Bookstore's Pick-of-the-Month for June.  Waterproof is a historical novel set in the years after a dam broke and wiped out a good portion of the city of Johnstown on May 31, 1889.  Ms. Coopey will be appearing at Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 North Third Street in Harrisburg, on Saturday, May 26 2-4 p.m. to read and sign copies of the book.

Finally, we get the holiday weekend off to a great start with barbecue tips and ideas from Chef Donna Desfor.

(Harrisburg) -- An advocacy group is teaming up with lawmakers to push for changes to the state law that oversees financially distressed cities like Harrisburg and Reading.  The Coalition for Sustainable Communities says changing Act 47 would be a step toward improving the fiscal health of struggling municipalities.  Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Industry President Tom Baldridge is a member of the group.  He says numbers alone make the case for reforming the program.  "Forty-one percent of Pennsylvania residents now live in what is considered a distressed community by Pennsylvania standards.  That, I can assure you, is a number that is going up, not down.  It's a trend we simply have to stop for our economic prosperity in the future," Baldridge says.  The coalition wants a re-write of the law to allow it to trump previously negotiated deals with public worker unions.  It's a response to a state Supreme Court ruling last year that Act 47 recovery plans could not hold sway over a contract with Scranton's firefighters' union.

Radio Smart Talk for Thursday, May 24:

Uplifting Athletes is a non-profit organization that raises money for the research of rare diseases.  It all began in 2003 when former Penn State football player Scott Shirley learned that his father was diagnosed with kidney cancer, which is considered a rare disease since fewer than 200,000 Americans are afflicted by it.  At the encouragement of a teammate, Shirley and other Penn State players took a strength and conditioning competition amongst themselves to the public.  "Lifting for Life" became so successful that fundraisers spread to other college football teams across the country. 

Scott Shirley is now the Executive Director of Uplifting Athletes and he'll be our guest on Thursday's Radio Smart Talk program.

It's part of witf's Facing Cancer Together initiative.

Also, the Memorial Day weekend is designated as the unofficial beginning of summer so many Pennsylvanians will be heading outdoors.   That includes the thousands who will be looking to have a good time on the state's rivers and lakes in their boats.  Laurel Anders, the director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's Bureau of Boating and Outreach will join us to talk boating safety and fun.

(Ft. Indiantown Gap) -- Military helicpoters based at a York County airport will be flying late at night over the next few months to train crews using night vision goggles.  The Pennsylvania National Guard's "Lakota" choppers will take off from Capital City Airport in Fairview Township from approximately nine p.m. until midnight.  Guard spokesman Sgt. Matt Jones says flight crews in the one-of-a-kind training program are required to spend hours working with night vision goggles.  "When they're flying overseas, they have to fly at night.  Here at home, during domestic operations or looking for a missing person, for example, they could certainly be required to use these night-vision goggles," Jones says.  He adds later summer sunsets prompted the change in flight times to a schedule similar to one used last year that prompted complaints from neighborhoods near the airport.  He says while the training is expected to continue for the rest of the month, fewer flights will be scheduled in June and they will ramp up again in July.

Thank you for listening to WITF 89.5! witf is committed to serving our listeners and the community, and we value your support and opinions. Please take a moment to fill out this short survey.  Help us better serve radio listeners like you in Central PA!  At the end of the survey, you’ll have an opportunity to share your ideas and opinions about witf 89.5.  As always, we appreciate your feedback.

Click here to take the survey