Kate Lao Shaffner
Keystone Crossroads ReporterKate Lao Shaffner was the Keystone Crossroads Reporter for WPSU-FM from 2014-2015. She reports on infrastructure, economic, legal, and financial issues in Pennsylvania with reporters from WHYY (Philadelphia), WITF (Harrisburg), and WESA (Pittsburgh).
Kate began working in public radio as a public affairs intern at WPSU. She then took a position as an associate producer, contributing feature stories and interviews to Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Take Note. She has received awards for her work from the Pennsylvania Associated Press Broadcasters Association. Kate also worked with community contributors in the production of WPSU’s This I Believe and BookMark.
Kate earned her Master’s degree from Penn State’s School of International Affairs and her B.A. in English and Intercultural Studies from Houghton College.
Before moving to State College, she lived in rural Tanzania for two years, where she worked with a university study abroad program. She rode a zip-line across a river to get to work every day.
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On a recent weekend stroll at Point State Park, in Pittsburgh, visitors sunned themselves in the grass and along the low walls of the park. The park is a… -
The idea of volunteer fire departments originated in Pennsylvania and it's certainly a hallmark of the state: around 90 percent of Pa.'s fire departments… -
Underfunded pensions are a problem across the state, but Scranton is in particularly dire straits. As part of Keystone Crossroads' series on underfunded… -
Keystone Crossroads publishes a weekly roundup of links related to Pennsylvania cities. It's Friday, which means it's time for our roundup of recommended… -
Many Pennsylvania municipalities are already taking steps towards reforming their pension plans. Because municipalities cannot legally break pension… -
As we were reporting on the problem of unfunded pensions in Pennsylvania, it occurred to us to ask: How did pensions come about, anyway? Who ever thought… -
What does it take to turn a community around? Revitalization work is certainly more than just ribbon-cutting ceremonies. Every new bike path, main street… -
Keystone Crossroads publishes a weekly roundup of links related to Pennsylvania cities. Happy Friday! Here's this week's roundup of recommended… -
Meghan Ashlin Rich is a professor of sociology/social justice and women's studies at University of Scranton. Her research involves issues like race,… -
Keystone Crossroads publishes a weekly roundup of links related to Pennsylvania cities. It's Friday! Here's a roundup of recommended reading from this…
