Smart Talk Thursday: Lung Association questions EPA on pollution regs; Baseball will be played this summer

• Scott LaMar
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

Toned monchrome image with billowing smoke coming from two chimneys. Please note that limited film grain has been added during image processing.

Last April, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Andrew Wheeler announced the agency was going to retain a piece of legislation called the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Particulate Matter without changes. The move has been heavily criticized by environmental advocates.

Fine particulate pollutants or particulate matter are made up of particles (tiny pieces) of solids or liquids that are in the air. These particles may include dust, dirt, soot, smoke or drops of liquid. Particle pollution has been associated with heart attacks, asthma, and respiratory problems such as inflammation, coughing or difficulty breathing.

Historically, the Lancaster, Harrisburg, and Lebanon regions have had some of the highest levels of particle pollution in the country, although there has been improvements recently.

Kevin Stewart, Director of Environmental Health at the American Lung Association appears on Thursday’s Smart Talk to explain why he thinks not updating particulate matter regulations is a bad idea.

Also, there will be Major League baseball this summer after details were worked out between team owners and players this week. The season will include 60 games, many new rules to keep players safe from COVID-19 and no fans in the stands.

Journalist Andrew Linker, who has authored books on baseball and covered baseball for decades is on Smart Talk to discuss what it may look like.

Finally, Harrisburg Senators President Kevin Kulp joins us to address minor league baseball this season and in the future.