Family Life Noon Report – 2/23/24
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Capital Connection – Life, Activism, and School Choice – 2/16/24
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Each Friday, the Capital Connection Crew delve into the thorny issues impacting our listeners all over New York and Pennsylvania. Here’s what’s happening this week in Albany and Harrisburg
Abortion, by the numbers in Pennsylvania
Push to Legalize Doctor Assisted Suicide in New York
What Christian Activism looks like in 2024
School Choice runs into hurdles in Harrisburg
Why Sports Betting is a bad bet for New York
Jason McGuire is the executive director of the New Yorker’s Family Research Federation [NewYorkFamilies.org]
Michael Geer is president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Family Institute [PAFamily.org]
Issues in Education – Fewer students, Higher expenditures – 2/12/24
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Enrollments at public schools continues to drop, drastically in some districts. The causes are numerous: population declines, lower birth rates, and the move to charter, private and home schooling.
Dr. Ralph Kerr of the Teaching and Learning Institute discusses the weighty issues in the news as they pertain to public education in this ongoing Family Life series. This week on “Issues in Education”:
Rethinking Education Aid in NY- The 3 Greatest Challenges Facing PA Schools
- Why Run as a candidate for your local School Board
Capital Connection – 2/09/24
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New York’s lawyers’ group says doctors should assist in suicides.
A gun-rights rally in Pennsylvania draws media attention — and a prominent political candidate
How can parents opposed to the actions of the trans-gender movement stand up for their own families?
Each Friday, Family Life’s “Capital Connection” feature talks with leading pro-family advocates who lobby at the state capitols in Harrisburg and Albany. Listen for this 10-minute analysis from Jason McGuire (executive director of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms) and Michael Geer (president of the Pennsylvania Family Institute).
Both of these organizations have additional videos, podcasts, commentary and position papers. They are available through the tabs below.
NY: 
PA: 
Capital Connection – Life Issues (at the beginning & the end), Free to choose a better school? – 1/26/24
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“Capital Connection” on Family Life
Abortion Politics Reign in Albany and Harrisburg
Another Pro-Life Issue: Is this the year for Assisted Suicide?
School Choice Debate
Christian watchdogs and political activists Jason McGuire and Michael Geer take a deep dive into the issues you care about each Friday on “Capital Connection”. Listen to this analysis of this week’s biggest cultural and governmental issues in Pennsylvania and New York.
For follow-up on stories discussed in this edition:
- Pennsylvania Family Institute: PAFamily.org
- New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms: AlbanyUpdate.com
Faith Under Fire – A local take on pro-life/pro-abortion debates – 1/25/24
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As the abortion industry and many politicians look to put abortion into state constitutions, many in the pro-life movement seek to redefine the debate.
Christina Fadden is president of Syracuse Right to Life. The day after the National March for Life in DC, that group and its partners held a local rally and March for the Onandaga County region. The Syracuse March (held Saturday, January 20) is the longest-running march in New York State.
In this Family Life interview leading up to that event, Fadden talks about the “right” to have an abortion, and how that belief system has become embedded in many people’s thoughts and much of the media coverage. Local groups are working to clarify and correct the terms, so that people go beyond a “right to choose” and more toward “human rights” for everyone, including unborn children.
Additional information:
- Video of the 2024 Syracuse March
- Syracuse Right to Life on Facebook
Issues in Education – School’s spending, Students’ spending – 1/22/24
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Family Life’s “Issues in Education”
Dr. Ralph Kerr, a longtime school administrator and the founder of the Teaching and Learning Institute talks about key issues happening now among classrooms, school boards, and communities. These conversations are important for parents, extended families and taxpayers.
Among the topics this week:
- Education Spending In NY Budget
- Financial Literacy Course in PA
- Changes to Bus-Driver Training
Ralph Kerr and other public school administrators founded the Teaching and Learning Institute in 2005. It serves families and communities as an advocacy organization to encourage people of faith to be actively involved in their local schools and school boards.
Capital Connection – 01/12/24
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Family Life’s “Capital Connection”
Capital Connection offers you insiders’ insight on social, cultural and political issues which affect the people of Pennsylvania, New Work, and the entire nation.
Christian watchdogs Jason McGuire and Michael Geer “dig deep” on the issues that matter as the new year begins — and the new legislative seasons get underway. Among the topics covered on the first “Capital Connection” of 2024:
- What to expect from both governors
- With Democrat majorities in the NY legislature, what big issues will be pushed?
- As the PA House and Senate are split between the parties, what will move forward?
Jason McGuire leads New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms. Michael Geer is president of the Pennsylvania Family Institute.
This is our Friday news feature during the Family Life Noon Report. Previous interviews with these two veteran commentators and other NY and PA opinion leaders are available from the Family Life News Podcasts page. Search for “Capital Connection“.
2024, A Preview – Special Edition of the Noon Report – 01/02/24
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With the start of this new year, what can we expect for 2024?
What are some decisions we can make now — regarding our personal health, our pocketbooks, and our politics?
Bob Price, anchor of the Family Life Noon Report, hosts this special 2024 preview. Included in this half hour:
- MONEY: Grove City Economics Professor Shawn Ritenour analyzes trends for consumers and the overall economy expected for 2024 — dollars and cents for the new year
- CULTURE: Commentator John Stonestreet says problems with responsible free speech go beyond a few Ivy League presidents, but all of higher education needs to be watched
- POLITICS: Big issues coming up in this election year in Harrisburg, Albany and the entire USA, including analysis by retired Political Science Professor Steve Coleman
- HEALTH: Encouragement for your 2024 fitness, faith and fortitude for 2024 — from Christian fitness expert Tom Nicolla (who also tells us his inspirational personal story, fighting through a childhood disease and recovery from a delibitating mountain biking accident)
PA & NY – Capital Connection – Year in Review 2023
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The Year-End edition of Family Life’s “Capital Connection”
Family Life news anchor Bob Price brings together our primary political/cultural commentators for our annual year-end roundtable. The “Capital Connection” crew evaluates the top five news stories from 2023 in New York State and Pennsylvania.
Listen to their recap of the biggest news and the long-lasting issues which developed across the past 12 months.
Jason McGuire is executive director of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedom, a grassroots organization which is active in influencing the state’s elected leaders. [Online: AlbanyUpdate.com]
Michael Geer is president of the Pennsylvania Family Institute, which holds a strong presence at the state capitol in Harrisburg and sponsors local pro-family events. [Online: PAFamily.org]
