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.
(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Airdate: July 20th, 2023
Environmental disasters associated with climate change can have a big effect on teens’ well-being and academic performance. That’s according to new research from Penn State.
State Impact Pennsylvania reporter Rachel McDevitt’s beat is energy and the environment and was on The Spark Thursday.
The paper looks at data from a survey done over 15 years with more than 1,700 children in Peru.
Researchers looked at test scores, food security and health, and how much time kids spent studying and doing household chores. They also compared the types of trauma a teen went through like a parent’s job loss, death of a relative or natural disasters like a flood or drought.
McDevitt quoted a researcher as saying the types of shocks that had the strongest and significant negative effects on young people were environmental shocks.
