# the spark (blogs) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 3 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover the spark. Page: Feed: --- ## [The Spanish Town Doing Capitalism Better](https://reasonstobecheerful.world/mondragon-cooperatives-spain/) _2026-08-20 · Peter Yeung · Reasons to be Cheerful_ There are all kinds of enormous, impressive and, frankly, noisy machines at work across the 20,000 square meters of industrial warehouses at the headquarters of Fagor Arrasate, a manufacturing company in Spain’s northern Basque Country. Here, a team of engineers is constructing machines that can put together household appliances like... The post The Spanish Town Doing Capitalism Better appeared… ## [What We’re Reading: Should Short Flights Be Banned?](https://reasonstobecheerful.world/what-were-reading-trains-over-planes/) _2026-08-19 · RTBC Staff · Reasons to be Cheerful_ Welcome back to our weekly behind-the-scenes glimpse at what’s getting our team talking. Tell us what you’ve been reading at info@reasonstobecheerful.world and we just might feature it here. On track Do you really need to fly from Paris to Bordeaux? Not when there’s a train that can get you there... The post What We’re Reading: Should Short Flights Be Banned? appeared first on Reasons to be… ## [The ‘Sisterhood’ Protecting Indonesia’s Coral Reefs](https://reasonstobecheerful.world/saving-indonesias-coral-reefs-by-empowering-women/) _2026-08-18 · Geetanjali Krishna · Reasons to be Cheerful_ When she was 21, Gabriela Nathania H dove underwater with a cohort of four strangers off the coast of Gili Air. The tiny island is one of three that make up the Gili Islands, an archipelago that divers the world over admire for their incredible marine biodiversity. But on that... The post The ‘Sisterhood’ Protecting Indonesia’s Coral Reefs appeared first on Reasons to be Cheerful . ## [Traveling Doctors Are Filling the Gaps in Rural France](https://reasonstobecheerful.world/france-medical-deserts-traveling-doctors/) _2026-08-17 · Peter Yeung · Reasons to be Cheerful_ At the end of 2020, Dr. Jean-Luc Bernard, a family doctor who had been caring for the community in Ajain, France, for over 40 years, finally hung up his stethoscope and retired. It was not easy to convince a new general practitioner to settle down in the town of 1,000... The post Traveling Doctors Are Filling the Gaps in Rural France appeared first on Reasons to be Cheerful . ## [More American Dads Are Taking Parental Leave](https://reasonstobecheerful.world/american-dads-parental-leave/) _2026-08-14 · Bryce Covert · Reasons to be Cheerful_ This story first appeared at The 74, a nonprofit news site covering education. Sign up for free newsletters from The 74 to get more like this in your inbox. A.J. Johnson’s oldest son was born in 2019, the year before residents of his home state of Washington could receive benefits... The post More American Dads Are Taking Parental Leave appeared first on Reasons to be Cheerful . ## [These Wetlands Treat the Wastewater of a Megacity](https://reasonstobecheerful.world/east-kolkata-wetlands/) _2026-08-13 · Geetanjali Krishna · Reasons to be Cheerful_ On a humid summer afternoon, Gagan Das mixes groundnut and mustard meal in water in a large drum. On either side of him, large ponds reflect the sun. Mango trees laden with fruit, palms heavy with their payload of yellow dates and shady neem trees line the embankments. It is... The post These Wetlands Treat the Wastewater of a Megacity appeared first on Reasons to be Cheerful . ## [What We’re Reading: New York City’s Summer of Soundwalking](https://reasonstobecheerful.world/what-were-reading-new-york-city-soundwalk-summer/) _2026-08-12 · RTBC Staff · Reasons to be Cheerful_ Welcome back to our weekly behind-the-scenes glimpse at what’s getting our team talking. Tell us what you’ve been reading at info@reasonstobecheerful.world and we just might feature it here. Hearing things What does New York City sound like if you really, really listen? For a New York Times story story shared... The post What We’re Reading: New York City’s Summer of Soundwalking appeared first on… ## [Can This City Banish Single-Use Coffee Cups?](https://reasonstobecheerful.world/can-this-city-banish-single-use-coffee-cups/) _2026-08-10 · Aishwarya Jagani · Reasons to be Cheerful_ This story has been co-published by Reasons to be Cheerful and the Outrider Foundation. If you line up to get coffee at one of Aarhus University’s many cafeterias, you won’t see a stack of disposable cups as you do at most cafes. Instead, if you want your flat white to go, you’ll be... The post Can This City Banish Single-Use Coffee Cups? appeared first on Reasons to be Cheerful . ## [The Spark: How Neighbors Are Banding Together to Go Greener](https://reasonstobecheerful.world/the-spark-green-home-energy/) _2026-08-07 · Elizabeth Hewitt · Reasons to be Cheerful_ Welcome back to The Spark, our monthly celebration of how people just like you are creating positive change, one meaningful step at a time. The Spark is generously supported by Laura Rice. Sign up to Reasons to be Cheerful’s weekly newsletter here and you’ll get The Spark in your inbox at the... The post The Spark: How Neighbors Are Banding Together to Go Greener appeared first on Reasons to be… ## [The ‘Transplant Games’ Are About More Than Medals](https://reasonstobecheerful.world/the-transplant-games-are-about-more-than-medals/) _2026-08-06 · Anna Patton · Reasons to be Cheerful_ Robert Lindemann is a 32-year-old accountant from Germany. He’s also had a heart transplant, a life-changing experience shared by just a few hundred people each year in his country. But at the Transplant Games, he doesn’t stand out — and that’s something of a relief. “It sounds a bit weird... The post The ‘Transplant Games’ Are About More Than Medals appeared first on Reasons to be Cheerful . ## [Your 24/7 AI Media Buyer (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/aikcueSvBXIj) _2026-08-06 · **Sponsored**_ Finds placement, geo, and funnel leaks and proposes fixes you approve ## [Pennsylvania Experts Analyze President Trump’s Push for New Election Laws](https://www.witf.org/2026/07/24/pennsylvania-experts-analyze-president-trumps-push-for-new-election-laws/) _2026-07-24 · Asia Tabb · WITF_ aired; July 23, 2026 President Donald Trump is intensifying his campaign to persuade Republican lawmakers to pass sweeping new voting restrictions ahead of the November midterm elections. During a recent prime-time address, the president highlighted his administration’s immigration policies, tax cuts and military spending before turning his focus to election security. In his remarks, Trump… ## [Central Pennsylvania Gardening Tips for Beating Heat, Japanese Beetles and Summer Plant Diseases](https://www.witf.org/2026/07/24/central-pennsylvania-gardening-tips-for-beating-heat-japanese-beetles-and-summer-plant-diseases/) _2026-07-24 · Asia Tabb · WITF_ aired; July 23, 2026 Summer may be peak growing season, but it also brings some of the biggest challenges for gardeners across central Pennsylvania. During the latest edition of The Spark’s monthly gardening conversation, horticulturist Erica Jo Shaffer discussed the seasonal issues affecting gardens throughout the region and shared practical tips for keeping plants healthy through the hottest… ## [Why Has Central Pennsylvania’s Weather Been So Wild? Meteorologist Explains Heat, Smoke and Storms](https://www.witf.org/2026/07/24/why-has-central-pennsylvanias-weather-been-so-wild-meteorologist-explains-heat-smoke-and-storms/) _2026-07-24 · Asia Tabb · WITF_ aired; July 23, 2026 From smoky skies and dangerous heat to powerful thunderstorms and tropical humidity, this summer’s weather has left many central Pennsylvanians asking the same question: What is going on? On The Spark , ABC27 meteorologist Dan Tomaso helped explain the recent stretch of unusual weather and why so many different weather events have occurred in such a short period of time. The… ## [Northern Dauphin County municipalities consider regional EMS authority amid funding challenges](https://www.witf.org/2026/07/24/northern-dauphin-county-municipalities-consider-regional-ems-authority-amid-funding-challenges/) _2026-07-24 · Haley O'Brien · WITF_ A group of municipalities in n orthern Dauphin County is considering forming a joint authority to oversee emergency services as communities across the state struggle with rising costs and staffing shortages. Officials from five boroughs and four townships will hold a joint special meeting Tuesday, July 28 , to vote on incorporating an authority that would develop a long-term plan to administer… ## [Perry, Stelson 10th district race for Congress most expensive in Pa.](https://www.witf.org/2026/07/23/perry-stelson-10th-district-race-for-congress-most-expensive-in-pa/) _2026-07-23 · Jordan Wilkie · WITF_ More donors are giving more money to candidates for the10th-district than any other congressional seat in the state. Democratic challenger Janelle Stelson is outpacing incumbent Republican Scott Perry, especially with cash-on-hand. ## [ICE withdraws appeal of Pa. environmental directives tied to warehouse purchases](https://www.witf.org/2026/07/23/ice-withdraws-appeal-of-pa-environmental-directives-tied-to-warehouse-purchases/) _2026-07-23 · Emily Previti, The Pennsylvania Capital-Star · WITF_ This story was originally published in the Pennsylvania Capital-Star Immigration and Customs Enforcement has abandoned its fight to connect to local water and sewage systems serving two warehouses in Pennsylvania – another step back from the agency’s controversial plans to convert them to detention and processing facilities. Already, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and ICE’s backtracking… ## [What is SNHA?](https://www.witf.org/2026/07/23/what-is-snha/) _2026-07-23 · Karen Hendricks · WITF_ Susquehanna National Heritage Area Mark Platts Mark Platts, executive director of the Susquehanna National Heritage Area explains how this nationally recognized region is sparking new awareness of the rich history along the Susquehanna River in both York and Lancaster counties. SNHA is collecting and sharing stories, based upon the Susquehanna’s role as “the lifeblood” of Central Pennsylvania’s… ## [What is SNHA?](https://www.witf.org/2026/07/23/what-is-snha/) _2026-07-23 · Karen Hendricks · WITF_ Susquehanna National Heritage Area Mark Platts Mark Platts, executive director of the Susquehanna National Heritage Area explains how this nationally recognized region is sparking new awareness of the rich history along the Susquehanna River in both York and Lancaster counties. SNHA is collecting and sharing stories, based upon the Susquehanna’s role as “the lifeblood” of Central Pennsylvania’s… ## [Pennsylvania Adult Summer Camps Give Grown-Ups a Chance to Rediscover Camp](https://www.witf.org/2026/07/23/pennsylvania-adult-summer-camps-give-grown-ups-a-chance-to-rediscover-camp/) _2026-07-23 · Asia Tabb · WITF_ aired; July 22, 2026 Summer camp isn’t just for kids anymore. Across Pennsylvania, adults are finding opportunities to unplug, learn new skills and reconnect with the joy of camp through experiences designed specifically for grown-ups. On The Spark , Leigh Hurtz, camp director for the Band Camp for Adult Musicians (BCFAM) , and Bill Reifsnyder, executive director of Camp Runabout , shared how… ## [What You Need to Know About Allergies: Symptoms, Triggers and When to Seek Help](https://www.witf.org/2026/07/23/what-you-need-to-know-about-allergies-symptoms-triggers-and-when-to-seek-help/) _2026-07-23 · Asia Tabb · WITF_ aired; July 22, 2026 Sneezing, itchy eyes and a runny nose are common signs of allergies, but experts say allergic reactions can range from mild seasonal symptoms to life-threatening emergencies. On The Spark , Dr. Timothy Craig, an allergy and immunology specialist at Penn State Health and professor of medicine and pediatrics, discussed what allergies are, how they develop and why recognizing… ## [Snapshot Showdown on Google Play (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/5peZIjSzAcDS) _2026-07-23 · **Sponsored**_ Available on Google Play for Android devices. ## [Central Pennsylvania breweries release limited-edition ‘717 Collaboration’ beer](https://www.witf.org/2026/07/22/central-pennsylvania-breweries-release-limited-edition-717-collaboration-beer/) _2026-07-22 · Haley O'Brien · WITF_ A new beer on tap at several Central Pennsylvania breweries celebrates the camaraderie among the region’s craft brewers. The 717 Collaboration beer, released mid-July, is an annual tradition that took a bit of a break but was revived last year. This year’s creation is a New Zealand-style pilsner described as hoppy but light, with 4.7% ABV and notes of melon, grape and citrus. The beer is on tap…