The Commonwealth Beat with Laura LeBeau - Episode 2 - 9/17/20

The Commonwealth Beat with Laura LeBeau is the new, statewide Public Affairs program airing on all of the Seven Mountains Media Pennsylvania radio stations. On this week's Show, Laura is joined by members of the Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy, located at Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County, PA.  This is a new educational opportunity for PA students ages 14-18 who are having problems in school, are in peril of failing, or have already dropped out and wish to return to school to complete their education.  The KSCA is operated in conjunction with the National Guard, but is not a reform school.  All students attend on a voluntary basis and there is no requirement to join the military after the program.   There's also a conversation with Congressman Glenn "G.T." Thompson (R-PA15), the Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.  Thompson is the lead negotiator of the 2023 U.S. Farm Bill, a $8.6B piece of legislation with implications for all Pennsylvanians and all Americans.  In the P-Amazing segment, a conversation about Mini-Thon, the fundraising and dance event that takes place at secondary schools across Pennsylvania each year to benefit the Four Diamonds Fund, which raises money to fund pediatric cancer research, treatment and family care at the Penn State Childrens Hospital in Hershey.