Local Control in County Politics

Listen Here Now Originally broadcast 01/18/2017
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Professor Emeritus Cornelia Flora joined us this week to explore Political Capital in state and local elected policy makers and organizations. We started the show with a brief clip from Governor Branstad's Condition of the State Address revealing his plan to replace state employees' union-negotiated health insurance with a state imposed plan. Senator Herman Quirmbach(D) and Representative Beth Wessel-Kroschell(D) raised concerns about the effect of this plan on state employees who have often negotiated lower salaries in exchange for strong health insurance. Moving from the state level to the county level, we interviewed Bill Petersen, executive director of the Iowa State Association of Counties, telling us how that organization assists counties in cooperating to deal with common problems. Newly elected county supervisor, Lauris Olson(D), spoke with reporter Greta Anderson about the way the Story County Supervisors approach difficult problems in a cooperative bi-partisan fashion. She described some of the details of two issues in which local control is being undercut by actions at the state level. These issues are (1)the siting of Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) and the use of the MATRIX to determine whether to grant permits, and (2)the effects of the governor's plan to end collective bargaining for unionized workers' health insurance. Cornelia Flora explained the importance of local control as an organizing principle of county politics.

Eagle Season, Women Leaders, Remembering Charlie

Listen Here Now Originally broadcast 01/16/2017
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We start our MLK Day broadcast with a look at bald eagles. Iowa Bird of Mouth founder Jennifer Knox reads some segments from her crowd-sourced Internet poem on January's bird of the month and Pat Schlarbaum previews opportunities for kids to play "eaglet".

Next, we talk to two dynamic women leaders: Jamet Colton, who was recently named winner of the Ames Humanitarian Award for 2017, and Elizabeth Dinschel, state leader of Action Iowa, a group promoting women's activism and targeting six issues in state government.

We conclude with a remembrance of Charlie Vestal, a.k.a. "Flavor Basket," by KHOI engineer and producer Evan Taylor and Nova Labs owner, Bryon Dudley--with songs and discussion from Charlie's recent appearance on KHOI.

Planned Parentood, Outdoor Recreation

Originally broadcast 01/13/2016
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The show started with host, Gale Seiler, speaking with Erin Davison-Rippey, the Director of Public Affairs at Planned Parenthood of the Heartland about a law introduced in the Iowa Legislature this week that would block some funding for the healthcare provided by Planned Parenthood. Kay Puttock provided an interview with Josie Staylin from Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA)’s food pantry. Al Biela and his daughter, Naomi Biela, told about Music Underground Ames, an open-mic music event for youth on Saturday in Ames. Merry Rankin dropped by for her monthly sustainability segment. She brought Jerry Rupert, Director of the Outdoor Recreation Program at ISU, and they shared ideas for how we can keep a sustainability mindset when we are doing activities outdoors.

Community Capitals

Listen Here Now Originally broadcast 01/11/2017
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The show consisted of a discussion with Cornelia Flora, Charles F. Curtis Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University, about the way she uses the concept of "Community Capitals" in her book Rural Communities: Legacy and Change and in the accompanying video course. We drew on Sarah Thompson, executive director of Hamilton County Economic Development and Hamilton Hometowns, who supervises the Main Street Program in Hamilton County; and Dick Steffen, Railroad author, teacher and local historian, for insights into the history and development of Ellsworth and Jewell. Dick will also be a speaker at the James H. Andrew Museum at the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad.

Inventions, Human Trafficking, Design for Disasters

Listen Here Now Originally broadcast 01/09/2017
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After the weather forecast from Elwynn Taylor, and news of winter hikes and library presentations from the Outdoor Alliance of Story County, we hear from George Belitsos, board chair of the Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking, about lobbying and education going on at the state house during the first day of the new legislative session. Interview with award-winning scientist Iver Anderson, of the Ames Laboratory at ISU about his work in metallurgy that resulted in patents worth millions of dollars. Dr. Verena Paepcke-Hjeltness of the College of Design at ISU, together with three of her students, talk with Keith Morgan of the Emergency Response Agency of Story County about how a the design process has helped improve the way the EMA responds to disasters.

Ames Update, Bollywood Music, Black Lives Matter

Listen Here Now Originally broadcast 01/06/2017
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Today’s host, Gale Seiler, welcomed Susan Gwiasda, the Public Relations Officer for the City of Ames. Susan shared information on Christmas tree recycling, snow ordinances, and opportunities for the public to have input into budget and policy decisions in Ames. Ursula Ruedenber brought us the sounds of Chai Tunes, a new Ames band that plays Bollywood music. And we spoke with Sean Carlton-Appleton, the organizer of the Black Lives Matter Iowa Facebook group, about the principles and goals of this movement, both nationally and locally.

Best of 2016

Listen Here Now Originally broadcast 01/02/2017
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The Local Talk production team summons up the best of last year's Local Talk programming. In addition to the voices of hosts Greta, Gale, Ursula, Kay and Susan, we hear from Madeline Albright, Ben of Ben & Jerry's, a Republican caucus vote-counter, Henry Corbin, Jennifer Knox, Tyler Harms, Dennis Maulsby, Mark Edwards, Edna Clinton, Devita Harden, Chuck Cychosz, Laura Belin, Lucas Bleyle, Mucky Duck Pub, and Vic Moss. Music by Prince, Strong Like Bear and Paul McCartney.

The Fate of Public Education; Inclusive Ames

Originally broadcast 12/30/2016
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Peter Hammer, a professor of civil rights law at Wayne State University and author of a journal article on the fate of the Detroit Public Schools, discusses the effects of charter school deregulation in Michigan, the agenda pushed by billionaire Betsy DeVos, Trump's pick for Secretary of Education.

Iowa Senator Herman Quirmbach, for six years the Chair of the Senate Education Committee, discusses charter schools, home schooling, and his fears for Iowa's public education now that Republicans control both houses of the Iowa legislature.

Finally, monthly guests Victoria Szopinski and Anne Kinzel of Ames Progressive Alliance discuss late November's Inclusive Ames event and where we go from here. Their guest is Jodi O'Donnell, a key organizer.

Ballroom Dancing on NYE

Listen Here Now Originally broadcast 12/28/2016
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The traditional Red Friars dance at the Moose Lodge in Ames and the turning of the year took us on a nostalgic trip back to the era of big dance bands. Kathy Cline of the High Society Big Band came in to tell us the history of the three bands that entertain regional residents with the music of the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. We also spoke with John Basart about The Dixie Slicks with a sample of their music he recorded. We noted the changes in the area's New Year's Eve entertainment, then visited with Lynn Wilkinson, owner and manager of Lake Robbins Ballroom in the middle about the the era of ballrooms and the future of ballroom dancing. Their band for New Year's Eve is The Hebrons with Crystal Blue.

Small Town Christmas

Listen Here Now Originally broadcast 12/21/2016
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Brian Town, the principal of Roland Middle School, told us about the traditional Christmas banquet offered by the school to all senior citizens of the Roland Story district - after being escorted to their tables over 200 enjoy a full dinner, served by students, and enjoyed an impressive musical program. Gary Thompson and host Paul Wierson reminisced about the Roland Rockets and their achievements in the 1950s when Gary played there with his outstanding team mates and life-long friends. They talked about Chuck Offenburger's biography Gary Thompson: All American, showing why families still move to small Iowa towns because they want their kids to grow up there.

Then we moved to Hamilton county where Mayor Greg Campbell of Ellsworth told us about his town of 500 and the impact of its new business on I-35, Love’s Truck Stop and Country Store. It had its ribbon cutting the week before Christmas. Our last stop was Pilot Mound (population 175) where we heard from Mayor Leda Burton and resident Jeff Lass about the attractions and challenges of a very small town, where residents can enjoy the sense of living in the country (see "reindeer" in picture with Santa) while enjoying the amenities of a well-run town, part of the "larger community" of Boone County. We closed with a report from Leanne Harter, Story County Outreach and Special Projects Manager.

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