Dissension within the GOP growing as power players threaten to leave the party

Also on the program: Boating sales spiked during pandemic, now concerns for safety grow

• Scott LaMar
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.
• Merideth Bucher
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Producer of WITF's Smart Talk

 AP Photo/Alex Brandon

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, left, and her chief of staff Miles Taylor depart after the Republican Caucus luncheon on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, March 5, 2019, in Washington. Taylor who penned a scathing anti-Trump op-ed and book under the pen name “Anonymous” made his identify public Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020.

Airdate: Monday, May 24, 2021

The fallout from the 2020 General Election, the January 6 Capitol attack and the demotion of Congresswoman Liz Cheney from House Republican leadership continues to have repercussions.

A group of influential members of the GOP have officially called on their party to fall back on its founding principals and rise up against political extremism. The group consists of national, state and local Republican leaders who are breaking from the pack to organize what they say is a “Call for American Renewal.”

Miles Taylor is a co-founder of the initiative called REPAIR and a former Homeland Security Official in the Trump administration. He is best known now as the then anonymous author of a New York Times column and book critical of Trump while working in the administration. Taylor appears on Smart Talk Monday to layout the organization’s call for change.

Boat sales and permits spiked during the Pandemic raising concerns for boater safety

Boating safety on Pennsylvania waterways is under the microscope following an increase in sales and launch permits during the past year.

In 2020, there were 11 boating fatalities, and none of the victims were wearing life jackets. So far in 2021, there have been three boating fatalities, and none of the individuals were wearing life jackets.

The unofficial start of summer begins this Memorial Day weekend and appearing on Smart Talk Monday to discuss boating safety are Laurel Anders, Director of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Bureau of Boating, along with David Nihart, Chief of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Division of Fisheries Management. They will also offer a look at fishing prospects for anglers this season.