Archive for March, 2005

FCC/Nuclear Power/Baseball

Thursday, March 17th, 2005

Kevin Martin: On Wednesday, President Bush appointed Kevin Martin as the new chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. Martin grew up in Waxhaw, North Carolina and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University. Host Melinda Penkava talks to Tim Funk, reporter with the Charlotte Observer, about how Martin will lead the FCC, which oversees telecommunications and media standards, among other things. (12:00)

Nuclear Power: Duke Energy, one of North Carolina’s largest sources of electrical power, is considering building a new nuclear power plant in the Carolinas. If the plan goes through, it would be the first nuclear plant built by the company since the 1980s. Melinda Penkava hosts a conversation about North Carolina’s growing energy demands and the pros and cons of nuclear power. Guests include: Tom Williams, spokesman for Duke Energy; and Jim Warren, executive director of NC Waste Awareness & Reduction Network (NC WARN). Listener Call-in. (40:00)

Baseball, Past and Present: Commentator Carole Boston Weatherford weighs in on the current steroid controversy in baseball and the sport’s racist past. (4:00)

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NASCAR Hall of Fame/Photojournalism

Wednesday, March 16th, 2005

NASCAR Hall of Fame: Host Melinda Penkava speaks with Richard Rubin, reporter with the Charlotte Observer, about Charlotte’s bid to land a proposed NASCAR Hall Of Fame. (12:00)

Photojournalism: North Carolina photojournalists tell a wide variety of stories through pictures, from the 82nd Airborne’s experience in Iraq to an award-winning hog at a county fair. So what makes a good picture? And, for that matter, what makes an effective photojournalist? Melinda Penkava hosts a roundtable conversation on the art and science of photojournalism. Guests include: Robert Miller, director of photography for the Raleigh News and Observer; Marcus Castro, assistant photo editor at the Fayetteville Observer; and Judy Tell, deputy director of photography at the Charlotte Observer. Listener Call-In. (40:00)

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Politics/Shakespeare/Blind Boys

Tuesday, March 15th, 2005

Politics: Host Melinda Penkava talks with reporters Eric Dyer of the Greensboro News & Record, and Mark Johnson of the Charlotte Observer, about what’s going on in North Carolina state politics. The legislature has been considering bills; meanwhile one Council of State race, for NC Superintendent of Public Instruction, remains undecided. (20:00)

Shakespeare: Today, March 15, is the Ides of March, made famous by Shakespeare’s play, “Julius Caesar.” The play is being performed this week by the Royal Shakespeare Company at Davidson College. Melinda Penkava talks about the play with Randy Ingram, professor of English at Davidson College, and Hanna Berrigan, assistant director of “Julius Caesar.” Actors Laurence Mitchell and Gary Oliver perform the lines of the Soothsayer and Mark Antony. The play runs through Sunday, www.davidson.edu/tickets. (14:00)

Blind Boys of Alabama: Host Rusty Jacobs talks with a member of The Blind Boys of Alabama. The band just released a new album, “Atom Bomb.” (17:00)

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Confederate Flag

Monday, March 14th, 2005

Confederate Flag: Few symbols elicit instant emotional responses like the Confederate Battle Flag. The most recent controversy is taking place at city-operated cemeteries in Charlotte. Host Melinda Penkava speaks with John M. Coski, author of “The Confederate Battle Flag: America’s Most Embattled Symbol” (Harvard Press/2005). Coski, a Historian and Library Director at The Museum of the Confederacy, recounts the long history of the flag, from its use by the Confederate Army through its adoption by present-day groups for various causes. Listener Call-In. (59:00) (SD)

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Legislature/Rock en Espanol

Friday, March 11th, 2005

This Week at the State Legislature: Host Melinda Penkava wraps up the week at the North Carolina General Assembly and takes a look at what’s coming up with WUNC reporter Laura Leslie. (12:00)

Rock en Espanol: Richie Valens had what is considered the first cross-over hit with “La Bamba” in 1958 and Carlos Santana made “Oye Como Va” a household groove in 1970. By the 1990s most of America had heard of Tejano star Selena and pop stars like Ricky Martin and Shakira. But all over central and south America indigenious rock-n-roll music was flourishing and in the past few years has made its way into the hearts and headsets of Spanish-speaking Americans. Now that the Spanish-speaking population of North Carolina has increased nearly 400% since 1990, home grown rock en Espanol is plentiful. Host Melinda Penkava speaks with music journalist Mark Kemp and members of the Charlotte based band La Rua. (40:00)

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