Co-hosts Greta Anderson and Gale Seiler explore the Des Moines Water Works lawsuit against Sac, Calhoun and Buena Vista county supervisors in their role as trustees of drainage districts in the watersheds of the Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers, the source of the utility's water. We talk to Story County drainage clerk and mapping technician Scott Wall, who explains "drainage districts," a key concept in the lawsuit (we have 119 of them in the county!).
Originally broadcast 03/06/2015
Listen here now
Co-hosts Greta Anderson and Gale Seiler explore the Des Moines Water Works lawsuit against Sac, Calhoun and Buena Vista county supervisors in their role as trustees of drainage districts in the watersheds of the Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers, the source of the utility's water. We talk to Story County drainage clerk and mapping technician Scott Wall, who explains "drainage districts," a key concept in the lawsuit (we have 119 of them in the county!). Then we speak with John Torbert, executive director of the Iowa Drainage District Association, who consults with legislators in Des Moines on behalf of county supervisors. After a lively interview with Des Moines Water Works CEO and General Manager Bill Stowe, who is a driving force in the lawsuit, we speak with Neil Hamilton, the Dwight D. Opperman Chair of Law and Director of the Agricultural Law Center at Drake University, who provides analysis of the lawsuit and its implications.
Originally broadcast 03/04/2015
Listen here now
This show was inspired by Iowa's Century Farms, the Iowa Public Television documentary, which Local Talk host Paul Wierson narrated. To represent century farmers we spoke with Ben Wise, who told us how his father, and farming partner, grows organic row crops to keep the soil productive and serve a niche market. Then Marsha Miller told us her memories of growing up on her grandparents' century farm (pictured at left, she holds the original 1848 deed for 160 acres to prove it) and to tell how farmers on that land have kept it productive enough to make a living through succeeding decades. Then we had a lively discussion of the role of folk music in the social life of farmers over that past hundred and fifty years by Marty Miller who is making arrangements for the Harmaleigs' concert on March 11 at the Pantorium, and by Lance Sumpter, who was there to tell us about the music he will feature on his Friday 10:00 PM to 12:00 midnight DJ show, The Blue-collar Philosopher. Only on KHOI.
This show was inspired by Iowa's Century Farms, the Iowa Public Television documentary, which Local Talk host Paul Wierson narrated. When the planned interview with the show's producer didn't materialize, the live guests in the studio came through in amazing ways. To represent century farmers we spoke with Ben Wise, who told us how his father, and farming partner, grows organic row crops (corn, beans, barley, and sorghum) to keep the soil productive and serve a niche market.
Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, spoke at ISU on January 29 as part of the 2015 Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Series. Her speech was re-broadcast on KHOI’s Heart of Iowa on Thursday, February 26.
Pat Schlarbaum, KHOI’s environmental reporter, explains that we are hearing coyotes because their mating season has started. He describes various wild canines returning to our area.
State Senator Steve Sodders explains several senate bills he is sponsoring, to reduce criminal punishment for small amounts of marijuana, He discusses factors including cost, the individual, recidivism, and racial disparities in incarceration.
Originally broadcast 03/02/2015
Listen here now
Pat Schlarbaum, KHOI’s environmental reporter, explains that we are hearing coyotes because their mating season has started. He describes various wild canines returning to our area.
State Senator Steve Sodders explains several senate bills he is sponsoring, to reduce criminal punishment for small amounts of marijuana, He discusses factors including cost, the individual, recidivism, and racial disparities in incarceration.
Yonus Michaels, Director of Alternative Learning Programs for the Ames Community School District,discussed dropout prevention and alternatives to traditional high school, in light of Bill 1138 being introduced by State Senator Herman Quirmbach, to raise the compulsory school age to 18.