Every Friday afternoon, we provide a preview of the various Sunday morning political talk shows that are filmed and broadcast throughout the commonwealth.
Our hope is to alert readers to the important interviews and insights that each show in their region offers.
Face the State
CBS21-Harrisburg-11:30 a.m.
Host: Rob Hanrahan
Auditor General Eugene DePasquale is the guest this week. We’re talking about recent audits with various school districts and how they relate to the current budget. Also municipal pension reform. Tony and Charlie are here too.
Journalists Roundtable
PCN-Harrisburg-8:30 p.m. (Rerun from Thurs.)
Three state Supreme Court seats are up for election this year. In Tuesday’s primary, a field of 12 candidates was narrowed down to six. Three from each party will face off in the November 3 General Election. Also, a seven-person Philadelphia mayoral race was narrowed to two candidates, with former city councilman Jim Kenney winning the Democratic nod. The primary election, plus analysis of state budget-related issues – the House-passed property tax proposal, a Senate-approved state pension bill, a proposed Marcellus shale tax, and the medical marijuana bill – will be the topics of conversation. Guests this week will be: Brad Bumsted, with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, R. B. Swift, Bureau Chief with Times-Shamrock Communications, and Andrew Staub, Bureau Chief, with PA Independent. Our host this week is Larry Kaspar. Link here.
KD/PG Sunday Edition
CBS2-Pittsburgh-11:30 a.m.
This week’s show will be co-hosted by KDKA-TV News Anchor Ken Rice and David Shribman – Executive Editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – and is a special discussion, marking the 40th anniversary, last month, of the end of the Vietnam War. We’ll talk about how the Vietnam War changed America, and our guests:
Rocky Bleier – four-time Super Bowl winner for the Pittsburgh Steelers, as running back and on special teams – who was wounded in Vietnam, and is the recipient of both a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. His hugely popular autobiography – “Fighting Back” – which was also a television movie – details his struggle to recover from his combat wounds, and win a spot on the Steelers’ roster, in the early 1970’s. Bleier is now a motivational speaker, businessman, and advocate for veterans.
Also with us, is Tony Accamando – Vietnam veteran and Upper St.Clair businessman, who is responsible for co-founding an organization called “Friends of Danang” – which helps to build schools in Vietnam. Accamando is also working on a separate project, to purchase service dogs for disabled veterans.
The Sunday Business Page
CBS2-Pittsburgh-6:30 a.m.
This Sunday, KDKA-TV Morning News Co-Anchor Rick Dayton substitutes for Jon Delano, as host of “The Sunday Business Page”.
On this Sunday’s broadcast…Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC will be marking a significant milestone, this year: their 125th anniversary…They have never turned away a child from medical care, because of inability to pay…Our guests – Christopher Gessner – President of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC – and J. Gregory Barrett – President and Chief Development Officer of the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation – will talk about what’s being planned, to mark the occasion – including a major fundraising campaign – in which some of the proceeds will be used to search for cures for childhood diseases and illnesses.
Our second segment spotlights the Financial Planning Association of Pittsburgh – including more than 300-financial advisors – who assist families and businesses with their financial planning needs – for the FPAP’s “First-Class Patriot Award” – handed out , recently, to a 32-year veteran of the United States Navy – Howard D. Smith – now employed by UPMC. Smith was honored, at FPAP’s “Saluting Service” event, for his volunteer work with young people and hockey – including the disadvantaged and mentally challenged.
Our guests include Howard Smith and Ruth Forsyth, MS, CFP – founder and volunteer co-chair of the “Saluting Service” event, and Principal with the Advisers Group of Pittsburgh, based in Greentree, Pennsylvania.
Finally, we preview one of Pittsburgh’s most popular events – the 2015 Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival – 56-years old, and held, each summer, in the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh. As always, it is free to the public. Our guest is Veronica Corpuz – Director of Festival Management and Special Projects – for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust – which now runs the Arts Festival – an event that attracts 400,000 visitors, each year.
She’ll talk about what is planned – including a rare, joint appearance by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Opera – at Point State Park, on June 8th.