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Who Says It’s NEPA News - Do NEPA reporters make news when they report it? Is there really a difference between liberal and conservative coverage and how do YOU tell the difference? Meet and talk to 5 NEPA newspaper reporters as they tell you what’s important and how they decide.
Helpful Websites:The Daily Review, Citizens' Voice, The Times Leader, The Times-Tribune, and Williamsport Sun Gazette

Chiaroscuro Jazz @ wvia.org - Through the past year WVIA has learned how to operate and manage a jazz record company. Chiaroscuro Records was donated to the station by long-time WVIA Trustee, regional businessman and philanthropist Andrew Sordoni for the purposes of preservation, education and entertainment. Some of the world’s most venerated mainstream jazz artists, including half of all those in the American Jazz Hall of Fame, have recorded for Chiaroscuro Records. Sordoni explains how and why he became part of Chiaroscuro in a special WVIA State of Pennsylvania television interview. Joining him around WVIA’s Steinway are record company founder Hank O’Neal, chief engineer Jon Bates and internationally renowned pianist and composer Junior Mance. Mance captivates the theater audience with several spontaneous solos on original jazz classics. Once the station had set up its record company in the public media center near Pittston, staff began to imagine ways only WVIA could grow the business. Legal advisors cleared the way for creation of a new digital radio frequency devoted solely to the Chiaroscuro library, and all involved quickly realized the fan base for mainstream jazz, while modest in size, is international in scope. Research of other worldwide web music services led WVIA to realize how discriminating listeners around the world might be attracted to the format and purchase or download an album. The guests explain why this music, recorded by very remarkable artists over a half-century by Chiaroscuro, has been often underappreciated. Yet the founders labored on believing that someday future generations will appreciate the unique and imaginative interpretations unlikely to be captured again.
Helpful Website: Chiaroscuro Records

Why Are You Trading In Your Congressman? - Does it matter who your Congressman is? Thousands of you are about to trade in Tom Marino, Lou Barletta or Tim Holden and many others because of something called re-apportionment. Is it wrong, all about politics and not what’s best for you? Senator John Yudichak and Senator Jay Costa will fight it in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and they’re coming to WVIA to explain.

Senator Casey Scans Congress in 2012 - Moments after talking with MSNBC on December 22, Senator Robert Casey sat for an hour with WVIA President, Bill Kelly to discuss his feelings about a congress the American people think less of than during Watergate. It cost 18 million to win his senatorial seat last time and this year Senator Casey will run against some rich Republicans, but he’ll do it because he loves his job. He explains why during this all-new conversation.

NEPA Marines are Secret Santa’s - If you were a child of poor parents sixty years ago, a US Marine might have been your secret Santa. And those soldiers, known as “The Few… The Proud… The Marines,” have been collecting Toys for our Tots since 1948. See a big happy pile of toys and the meet the Northeast Pennsylvania Marines who want less fortunate little kids to someday be responsible, patriotic leaders.
Helpful Website: Marine Toys for Tots Foundation

The Commonwealth Medical College - Three Years and Almost Doctors - They came to Scranton 3 years ago to learn medicine and someday be doctors. Many of them could have gone to medical school anywhere, but they chose the new Commonwealth Medical College in Scranton. Are they glad they did it? Is the new curriculum to make doctors working and what does it mean for patients?
Helpful Websites: The Commonwealth Medical College

Bucknell Sings to the World - Originally broadcast on Nov. 11, 2010 - December and the holidays are almost here. State of Pennsylvania is giving you a sneak preview of “A Bucknell Candlelight Christmas”, a network quality high definition special produced by WVIA that will be seen across America. “A Bucknell Candlelight Christmas” highlights the uplifting power of music as performed by Bucknell University's internationally renowned undergraduate musical ensembles, the Rooke Chapel Choir and Rooke Chapel Ringers, under the direction of Dr. William Payn. Adapted from the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols of King's College, Cambridge, the service takes place in Rooke Chapel, a study in architectural grace, on Bucknell’s beautiful campus.

The Civil War at 150; Stories from the Homefront - The bloody Civil War claimed as its very first casualty an aide-de-camp from Pottsville; the first soldier ever to play "Taps" came from Susquehanna County; Women in Boalsburg began the holiday we know as Memorial Day. We mark the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War by discussing northeastern Pennsylvania's participation in the war that pitted brother against brother.
Helpful websites: Luzerne County Historical Society, Lackawanna Historical Society, Monroe County Historical Society, Susquehanna County Historical Society, Everhart Museum

The Faithkeeper comes to NEPA - Change Your Values Or You Won't Survive - As Faithkeeper of the turtle clan of the Onondaga and Seneca Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, Oren Lyons maintains the customs and traditions of his people. A recognized spiritual leader, Lyons has spoken in forums with Mother Theresa, the Dalai Lama and Michail Gorbachev on environmental issues. Now he comes to Northeast Pennsylvania to ask, Is it too late?

Is Tom Marino Listening to You - Washington's more partisan than ever; the economy's a mess; hundreds of thousands are protesting about the rich getting richer; should they be paying more taxes? And what about those Republicans, are the debates helping or hurting? 10th District Congressman Tom Marino votes his opinions, but is he listening to you?

A Presidential Candidate with Towanda Connections - Remember the candidate in the Orlando Republican Presidential debate last month who said his neighbor’s dog created more shovel-ready jobs than Barack Obama? He’s Gary Johnson, former two-term New Mexico governor serious about legalizing marijuana, but few know of his Towanda connections. He’s coming to town and he’ll be our guest on the next State of Pennsylvania.

Prohibition IN Northeast Pennsylvania - For three consecutive nights, beginning October 2 at 8 p.m., PBS will air one of the most compelling documentaries ever created about an embarrassing 13-year era of U.S. history. “Prohibition,” by award winning film maker Ken Burns, chronicles the crime, loose morality and violence that erupted from an unenforceable law that escalated alcohol’s status and made heroes out of the thugs who illegally supplied it. In Northeast Pennsylvania, moonshiner and bootlegger Prince David Farrington became a notorious character. His bootlegging operations impacted thousands made a legend of the man and the stills he left standing.

Terri's In Her NEPA Pajamas - Not many know the story of Terri Libenson, a talented artist, author and very funny cartoonist from Kingston, Pennsylvania. Right out of college in St. Louis, Terri was a writer/illustrator for American Greeting Cards, but became famous for her “Pajama Diaries” comic strip about stressed-out mommies, which is syndicated across America by King Features. Terri Libenson returns home and is our guest on State of Pennsylvania.

Are Dikes NEPA's Answer? - From the living room of one of the flood devastated homes along Susquehanna Avenue in West Pittston, WVIA President Bill Kelly talks to residents of West Pittston about what they endured when the flood waters came crashing in and how they’re moving forward. Joining Bill Kelly are West Pittston residents Ruth Scotti, Cliff Melberger, Bette Cefalo, Anne Becker, Charles Vargo, Paul Argenio, and Marion Carver, plus, Reverend James E. Thyren from the First United Presbyterian Church and Anne Bramblett-Barr, director of the West Pittston Library.

Live from Williamsport: The 65th World Series - For 65-years Williamsport has been the site of the Little League Baseball World Series. 11 and 12 year olds from around the world will someday tell their grandchildren what it was like in Williamsport when their lives were changed forever. Meet the uncles who play dad to the teams, and the leaders of International Little League, live from Williamsport.