Centre Focus: Public affairs reports
This special half hour public affairs report focuses on issues and events directly impacting the lives of Central Pennsylvanians. The show is hosted by Jillian Johnson and James Swanson and produced by Danielle Van Gheem, Carly Rice and James Swanson.
In a year when two-thirds of the nation suffered from severe drought and heat waves, reporter Danielle Van Gheem, Leslie Pinero, Fernando Calderon, and Derek Moreno focused on its economic impact on the region. Prices of food, and shortages of water in some communities, were a direct impact.
A second report by reporters Bill Hood and Kofi Appiah focuses on how area law enforcement uses social media to solve high profile and everyday crimes. After the 2011 firing of Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno, students and some outsiders rioted in downtown State College and caused thousands of dollars in damage. Area police used social networking and Internet images to make scores of arrests.
Reporters Aaron Dunlevy, Ryan Kudla and James Swanson examine how a new Pennsylvania law banning texting while driving is being enforced. The law took effect in March of 2012 as Pennsylvania joins a growing number of states making texting while driving a crime. But area police admit the law is hard to enforce and some outline their latest enforcement techniques.
Finally, if the home is where the heart is, then over 200 Centre County trailer park residents are heartsick over losing their homes. Reporters Carly Rice and Jillian Johnson take a closer look at affordable housing in the Centre region after several hundred Centre County Mobile Home park residents receive eviction notices that say their parks are closing for good.
Summer drought impacts region
As two-thirds of the nation suffered from severe drought and heat waves in the summer of 2012, the public affairs reporting team of Danielle Van Gheem, Leslie Pinero, Fernando Calderon, and Derek Moreno examine its economic impact on Central Pennsylvania. Prices of food, and shortages of water in some communities, have been a direct impact. The team traveled to various communities to find out how citizens and local businesses are coping.
Using social media to help solve crime
Pubic affairs reporters Bill Hood and Kofi Appiah focus on how area law enforcement uses social media to solve everyday and high profile crimes in the Centre Region. After the 2011 firing of Penn State Coach Joe Paterno, students and some outsiders rioted in downtown State College. It caused thousands of dollars in damage and area police used social networking and Internet images to help make scores of arrests.
New state law that bans texting and driving is tough to enforce
How is a new Pennsylvania law banning texting while driving being enforced? That’s what public affairs reporters Aaron Dunlevy, Ryan Kudla, and James Swanson wanted to know. The law took effect in March of 2012 as Pennsylvania joins a growing number of states making texting while driving a crime. But area police admit the law is hard to enforce and some local agencies as well as the Pennsylvania State Police at Hollidaysburg talk about their latest enforcement techniques.
