Kate Lao Shaffner, WPSU

Kate Lao Shaffner is WPSU's reporter for Keystone Crossroads, a statewide public media collaboration focusing on the problems and solutions facing Pennsylvania's communities. Kate previously worked as an associate producer for WPSU. She reported and produced feature stories and interviews. She also ran the day-to-day production of WPSU's This I Believe and BookMark. Her work has been recognized with awards from the Pennsylvania Associated Press Broadcasters Association. 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 spent two years in rural Tanzania, where she worked with a university study abroad program. Kate enjoys reading, traveling, and rearranging her furniture.

More from the Contributor

Keystone Crossroads

Q & A with Charles Montgomery, author of Happy City, on the connection between urban design and happiness

Charles Montgomery’s book Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design takes a look at the intersection of urban plan ...

6 years ago

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(Pa. home rule map)

Keystone Crossroads

What is home rule?

One in a series explaining key terms and concepts of Pennsylvania government. Today’s topic: home rule ...

6 years ago

Meagan Tuttle, a planner for the Borough of State College, said most of the feedback she’s heard from community members about crowdfunding has been positive. (Kelly Tunney/WPSU)

Keystone Crossroads

Not in the municipal budget? Try crowdfunding

You’ve likely heard about crowdfunding on web platforms like Kickstarter. It’s where peo ...

6 years ago

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Communities rally around the cause to preserve their historic theaters, but it's often an uphill battle. Philipsburg has seen success in its efforts to save and maintain its downtown theater, built in 1917. (Kelly Tunney/for WPSU)

Keystone Crossroads

Are historic theaters worth saving?

At its heyday, the Garman Opera House in Bellefonte featured such performers as Harry Houdini and comedians George Burns and Gracie Allen ...

6 years ago

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Pennsylvania Infrastructure Report Card: A sign warns traffic about a bridge under construction about a mile ahead; access to the area will be limited again when another bridge a few miles later is slated to be replaced next year. (Kelly Tunney/For WPSU)

Keystone Crossroads

Pa.’s infrastructure barely makes the grade

The American Society of Civil Engineers released its 2014 Report Card for Pennsylvania’s infrastructure today. The grades ar ...

6 years ago

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Dr. Michael Campbell, Director of Educational Programs of St. Joseph Institute for Addiction, says the rise of heroin is directly tied to the influx of prescription medication with opiates in them. ((AP file Photo/Toby Talbot, File)

Keystone Crossroads

Prescription pain medication: a gateway to heroin

Twenty-seven year old Emily first experimented with drugs at a party when she was nineteen. Soon, heroin became her drug of choice. ...

6 years ago

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In an open electricity market, Professor Seth Blumsack says companies make their own decisions about how they are or are not going to pass costs onto their customers. Then customers can decide whether they liked the things that their generators did. (Flickr user hubgoat)

Keystone Crossroads

Electric bill spikes–was it really just that cold?

Spring has finally arrived, but you might still be paying the price for the colder-than-usual winter. Some customers under variable rate ...

6 years ago

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(Kate Lao Shaffner for WPSU)

Keystone Crossroads

Centre county homeless get out of the cold

For many of our listeners, the worst thing a colder-than-usual winter can bring is a higher heating bill. But for the homeless, the frigi ...

6 years ago

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Keystone Crossroads

Who are the homeless in State College?

Whitney Hunsinger is sitting in the living room of Centre House, a homeless shelter in downtown State College. Her daughters, who are two ...

6 years ago

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