Originally broadcast 12/16/2015
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Bald Eagles are discussed with photographer Ty Smedes, conservationist Bill Horine, Iowa Audubon Director Doug Harr, Kickapoo Nation elder Rudy Vallejo, birder extraordinaire Karen Disbrow, and retired legislator Ken Griffey. Locally eagle events are scheduled for February 12 and 13 in Des Moines and February 28 at Saylorville Reservoir. Contact Pat.Schlarbaum@ for further details.
Originally broadcast 12/14/2015
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Story County does not receive a penny of the $6 million pot of money the state sets aside to encourage development and preservation of low-income housing. Why not? Because we do not have a local housing trust. Host Greta Anderson talks with two members of the AMOS Affordable Housing advocacy group, retired ISU sociologist Jan Flora and Emergency Residence Project director, Vic Moss, together with Ames city council member Amber Corrieri, who with others are promoting this concept as one way to address our community's critical need for affordable housing. We also air clips of a recent talk AMOS hosted by Eric Burmeister, executive director of the Polk County Housing Trust, illuminating the nuts and bolts of housing trusts, as well as broader issues concerning "community character". In the show's second half, Story County Emergency Management director Keith Morgan, together with Sgt. Nicholas Lennie and Asst. Jail Administrator Micah Andersen of the Sheriff's office, address the prospect of an "active shooter" and describe how they have prepared Story County school children to "Run / Hide / Fight".
Originally broadcast 12/11/2015
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ISU students recently took action when their Syrian Arabic professor, Dr. Ghinwa Alameen, had to suspend her Arabic language classes at ISU due to failure of routine process to reissue her work permit. Peter Benzoni and others carried out a comprehensive campaign to bring this to public and official attention and succeeded in bringing about Dr. Alameen being reinstated to resume the Arabic language program at ISU. Benzoni discusses how and why he and others did this and the process of cross-cultural understanding among students. Susan Gwiasda, public relations officer for the City of Ames, gives updates on current municipal projects. She encourages you to visit the City of Ames' new mobile friendlyweb site.
Originally broadcast 12/09/2015
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We started with a visit to the Enchanted Valley Tree Farm, talking with Joe Reutter and Amber Ouellette. Then we spoke with Nick Jeulsgaard, producer of Barefoot in the Park at Boone Community Theatre , Stephanie Hill, director of Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells at the Webster City Community Theatre, and Michael Porche director of The ReGifters at the Ankeny Community Theatre.
Originally broadcast 12/07/2015
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Join us as we travel the ins and outs of the Highway 30 interchange debate as it affects Nevada and rural Story County. Guests include Nevada council member Ray Schwichtenberg, Story County supervisor Rick Sanders and farmer Randy Collings, with recorded comment from Iowa Department of Transportation District 1 engineer Scott Dockstader. We then travel down the road a ways with Caroline Isaacs, Arizona director of American Friends Service Committee. She is coming to Ames to present a lecture "Who Benefits from Immigrant Detention and Mass Incarceration" on Wednesday evening (details in link below). Finally, we hear three citizen voices opposed to Governor Branstad's Medicaid privatization plan and its hasty implementation, en route to address the Government Oversight Committee in Des Moines: Rhonda Shouse of Marion, who organized several busloads and vanloads of like-minded citizens from around Iowa, "Stacey", on the bus with Rhonda, and Tom Andre, driving his own carload from Ames.
Originally broadcast 12/04/2015
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Host Greta Anderson explores several ways central Iowans can direct their holiday dollars toward beauty and justice both locally and abroad. First, Trades of Hope "compassionate entrepreneur" Katie Darby of rural Boone describes the direct marketing methods of this fair trade company, and the kinds of impact it has been able to make on women in the Third World. Reporter Kay Puttock offers a look into Creative Artists' Studios of Ames (CASA) with an interview of artist Leanne Wilson. CASA is holding an open house with art for sale this Saturday (10:00 AM - 4:00 PM) and Sunday (12:00 noon - 4:00 PM) at 130 S. Sheldon Street. Finally, musician Bryon Dudley joins us to describe how his band Strong Like Bear teamed up with Electric Jury to learn Pink Floyd's Animals album in its entirety. These bands will be playing Animals along with original works on Saturday, December 12 at D.G.'s Taphouse.
