Born On Third Base

Listen Here Now Originally broadcast 11/11/2016
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People who are Born on Third Base Don't Need to Hit a Triple--but They CAN Work for their Communities. An interview with Chuck Collins, author of Born on Third Base, and many other books on economic justice. Chuck is a researcher and social justice campaigner as well as a prolific writer.

He's also a member of the wealthiest one percent of people in this country, the great-grandson of the meat-packer Oscar Meyer. But Chuck believes in the estate tax, and in progressive taxation generally, with wealthy people paying their fair share of taxes. He calls on the one percent to bring their wealth home to invest in their own communities, and in a more fulfilled and meaningful life for themselves and others. In the process Chuck explodes various myths about wealth creation and the privatization of security for ourselves and our families.

And Chuck Collins knows many other wealthy people who believe as he does, and he's convinced that many more can be converted to his way of thinking if they are approached the right way. He has founded or co-founded organizations such as Patriotic Millionaires, United for a Fair Economy, and Divest-Invest.

Kay Puttock interviews Chuck Collins about his latest book and his ideas on economic justice, including solutions to our growing inequality.

2016 Lyrical Iowa

Listen Here Now Originally broadcast 11/14/2016
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Local Talk welcomed some of the Ames poets to be featured in the 2016 Lyrical Iowa, including 3 young poets from Mark Royer's class at Edwards School. Mary Richards led the discussion by fellow members of the poetry group Third Stanza Jean Hagert Dow, Deb Lewis, Maggie Westvold, Ann Hudilaninen, along with Edwards students Chantal Eulenstein, Madelaine Wade and Alysa Grawe. Also featured was Dennis Maulsby’s award winning Haiku.

The Morning After

Originally broadcast 11/09/2016
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Election results focus on the flip of the Iowa Senate, the flip of the U.S. Senate, and what it will mean for Obamacare and the Supreme Court. Lauris Olson wins the full-term Supervisor seat, with Republican Martin Chitty winning the partial-term seat. Two KHOI youth producers, Lydia Lavrova and Lucas Bleyle, offer perspectives and hope for a stronger future together.

Special guest Laura Belin, blogger at Bleeding Heartland, provides perspectives, especially on what the Republican "trifecta" will mean for Iowa law. She also contemplates the uphill struggle Iowa Democratics face with traditional working-class strongholds like Burlington and Council Bluffs flipping to the Republican column. And she poses the possibility of Bruce Rastetter, President of Iowa's Board of Regents, becoming Trump's Secretary of Agriculture.

Finally, Pacifica network reporter Evan Davis interviews Sandy Theiss, executive director of the citizen lobby group Progress Ohio, which works on voting rights issues. With Republicans in control, Iowa may become very much like Ohio in terms of onerous voting restrictions.

Last Chance to Vote Smart

Listen Here Now Originally broadcast 11/07/2016
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Guy Cook, member of the Iowa State Bar Association and chair of its Fair and Impartial Courts committee, explains the judicial retention vote. Iowa has among the highest-rated court systems in the country. Justices Cady, Appel and Hecht were part of the 7-0 Varnum vs. Brien decision (2009) that opened the door to same-sex marriage, and a campaign for their removal is being conducted by religious conservatives.

David Armiak, researcher for Center for Media and Democracy, explains that Charles and David Koch have spent $30,000 on Iowa House and Senate candidates. The Koch brothers have numerous extractive industries around the state and are associated with ALEC.

Story County Auditor Lucy Martin provides last-minute information for voters. Poll watchers must be credentialed by their party; they cannot just show up. Absentee ballots must be postmarked by November 7. Same-day registration is available Tuesday for those new to the county and those who have moved within the county.

Finally, Emergency Management coordinator Keith Morgan describes how the county is preparing for "active shooter" scenarios, and how volunteer firefighters may be the first on the scene.

City of Ames Updates, Voting at Nursing Facility

Originally broadcast 11/04/2016
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Host Gale Seiler spoke with Susan Gwiasda, the Public Relations Officer for the City of Ames, and Rudy Koester, a civil engineer with the City. They provided their monthly updates on events, opportunities for input into future planning, and road construction.

Greta Anderson had a report on voting at the Accura Skilled Nursing Facility in North Ames. And we aired a segment of the recent debate between Senator Chuck Grassley and his opponent, Patty Judge.

Three County Tour

Listen Here Now Originally broadcast 11/02/2016
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Today's show was a central Iowa tour for our Danish volunteer, Amalie Soronsen, who is living in Nevada for three months to learn about American culture. Our first stop was South Story Bank and Trust in Huxley where Bob Anders, retired banker and co-host for today's Local Talk, interviewed bank president Kevin Brooks. We also discussed the extensive art collection displayed throughout the bank, especially "Big Bluestem," a 20' sculpture outside the bank. Then we drove to Boone where the new executive director, Mara Mackay, gave us a tour of the newly restored Boone County Historical Center, focusing on the plans to make the Kate Shelley room more interactive. We also told Amalie about the legend of Kate Shelley - in story and song. Then we introduced Amalie to the geology of central Iowa as explained by Conrad Kramer, executive director of the Whiterock Conservancy in Carroll County. One final political note was a surprise visit from Michael Luick-Thrams, non-partisan candidate for U.S. Senate telling us why he's running, with a historical perspective on the major parties.

The Spirit of Standing Rock, Halloween in Hot Springs

Listen Here Now Originally broadcast 10/31/2016
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Jessica Fears of Ames and Patti Edwardson of Churdan, Iowa, describe their trip to Cannonball, North Dakota, to witness the struggle of Native Americans opposing the pipeline and provide assistance at their camp. In Iowa, Dakota Access is laying pipe on the land of farmers who have not yet had their day in court contesting "eminent domain" seizure; those arrested on this farmland are pleading "not guilty" to trespassing charges.

Allyson Walter of Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau outlines some of the many happenings planned for November. Trick-or-treat in Ames, Boone, and Nevada goes from 5:30 to 7:30 PM tonight. ISU basketball starts on November 11th. And, Nevada's S.C.O.R.E. complex will host a multi-state quidditch--yes, quidditch--tournament.

Finally, we check in with Aaron Buckley, who lives in a neighborhood of Hot Springs, Arkansas that routinely attracts 2000 visitors on Halloween night. He describes the various mini-theme-parks constructed by his neighbors, as well as his own 1977 Star Wars-themed display.

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