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The Senate Has Voted to Eliminate Public Media Funding

The Senate has passed the Recissions Act of 2025, which would completely defund public media. The amended bill now heads back to the House for consideration.

This vote threatens federal support for WITF — putting at risk the educational programs, trusted news and emergency communications our community relies on, both locally and from PBS and NPR.

Your voice is urgently needed. Call your Representative and donate today to help protect the future of local public media.

Smart Talk Tuesday: Federal justice system adapts to pandemic; Speaking grief

  • Scott LaMar/WITF

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Like everyone else, the federal court system has had to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the Middle District of Pennsylvania, that means jury selections and jury trials in both civil and criminal cases have been continued. The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the accused a speedy trial. Does continuing criminal cases jeopardize the right to a speedy trial?

Tuesday’s Smart Talk addresses the federal courts during the pandemic with Judge John Jones, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania; Middle District U.S. Attorney David Freed; and Chief Federal Public Defender for the Middle District Heidi Freese.

Also, it’s safe to say that more people than normal are grieving the death of a loved one in 2020 considering 160,000 people have died in the U.S. from the novel coronavirus since February.

However, grief is not a subject many people know how to discuss.

Smart Talk will have a conversation about grief on Tuesday’s program with Patti Anewalt, PhD, Director of the Pathways Center for Grief & Loss with Hospice & Community Care in Lancaster .

Watch the documentary Speaking Grief  that explores the transformative experience of losing a family member in a death- and grief-avoidant society, Thursday, August 13, at 8 p.m. on WITF-TV.

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