July 2015

Working Together... or Not?

Originally broadcast 07/31/2015
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Host Greta Anderson covers Tuesday's Ames city council vote in favor of the latest settlement with Breckenridge LLC, which will result in the sale of the "South Parcel" to Iowa State University, the "Middle Parcel" to the City of Ames for affordable owner-occupied homes, and will leave the "North Parcel" along Lincoln Way to the developer for the high-density student housing. A long and protracted negotiation with hundreds of hours of volunteer and staff hours of input has resulted in what most city council members describe as the best victory possible. In state government, "working together" was not this year's watchword, as Governor Branstad's veto of one-time education funding, says guest Herman Quirmbach (D-Ames), chair of the Senate Education Cmte., undermined the hard-won compromise of the split legislature. Reporter Kay Puttock leads off the show with American Legion guest Doug McRae as part of July's community service appreciation program.

County Attorney Debate

Ursula Ruedenberg hosts as guest moderator Linda Murken puts Story County Attorney candidates through their paces. Republican challenger Stephen Howell and Democratic incumbent Stephen Holmes respond to questions about prosecution, restorative justice, and other issues in Story County.

The Iowa Farm Crisis of the 1980s with Dr. Neil Harl

July 29, 2015 - 7:00am -- ron

A look back at the Iowa Farm crisis of the 1980's; what happened, why it happened and what it means in the context of today's economic landscape.

Joe Hayneck, a former ISU engineering student, was the son of a Southern Iowa farm family and grew up during the farm crisis of the 1980s. He tells his story here with fragments of music from a musical - Farmer Song - that he and his mother wrote about the farm crisis. It was eventually performed at the New York fringe festival. Today, Joe works in Des Moines as an engineer but his home in Murray, Iowa, out of which he also runs a radio station – KSOI community radio.

Dr. Neil Harl, explains why the farm crisis happened and shares general insights on the economics of farming, as well as lending and interest rate management and the consequences of government policies. Harl is a Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture at Iowa State University, Emeritus Professor of Economics, and Former Director of the Center for International Agricultural Finance. He is also a member of the Iowa Bar.

Fred Johnson, Georgie Tsushima, Emerald Ash Borer, and Shagstock

July 27, 2015 - 5:28pm -- ron

Originally broadcast 07/27/2015
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At the Unity Church's memorial service for former Ames resident and educator Fred Johnson, Fred's friends and family explain the meaning of the wooden radio displayed at the front of the room, which literally served as the urn for his ashes.

A gathering of more than 200 people at Brookside Park honored the memory of Georgie Tsushima, reknowned skateboarder and filmmaker from Ames, who died at the age of 26. Friend and skateboarder Derek Siedelmann describes Georgie and his life, the effect he had on many, and the moving gathering that culminated with a skateboard thumping salute and a rainbow in the sky. Derek tells us how skateboarding feels.

Ames Public Relations Officer Susan Gwiasda tells us that the Emerald Ash Borer epidemic is 10 miles from Ames and the proactive measures Ames is taking in anticipation of the destruction of Ash trees. Amy Yoakum, Natural Resource Specialist, and Erica Eaves, Outreach Coordinator at Story County Conservation, describe the innovative Wasp Watchers biosurveillance volunteer program to identify the presence of emerald ash borers. Amy also provides information on how to identify stricken trees.

Shagstock

Part mocumentary, part scathing investigative report, this program will take you inside the cultural phenomenon that is Shagstock. It's an enigma, wrapped in a riddle, and served on a hotdog bun.

Family Leadership Summit

KHOI reporters gathered audio from last weekend's Family Leadership Summit in Ames, an event put on by Bob Vander Plaats' social conservative group, the Family Leader. On today's show, hosts Kay Puttock and Greta Anderson shared some highlights from the event, and solicited responses, first from Story County GOP chairman, Brett Barker of Nevada, then from assistant professor David Anderson of Iowa State University's Political Science department.

Family Leadership Summit

KHOI reporters gathered audio from last weekend's Family Leadership Summit in Ames, an event put on by Bob Vander Plaats' social conservative group, the Family Leader. On today's show, hosts Kay Puttock and Greta Anderson shared some highlights from the event, and solicited responses, first from Story County GOP chairman, Brett Barker of Nevada, then from assistant professor David Anderson of Iowa State University's Political Science department.

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