Archive for July, 2005

Coble/BRAC & OLF/Quadzilla

Friday, July 22nd, 2005

Howard Coble: Host Melinda Penkava speaks with Congressman Howard Coble (R-N.C. 6th district). Congressman Coble recently announced he would opt out of the Congressional pension system because it is too burdensome for taxpayers. (12:00)

BRAC, OLF, and the Military: The recent news that the Navy may close the Oceana Naval Air Base in the Tidewater area of Virginia has some in North Carolina thinking about the future of the military in eastern North Carolina. Will the operations at Oceana move to bases in North Carolina? What effect will this have on the Navy’s proposed Outlying Landing Field in Washington County? Melinda Penkava hosts a discussion on the Base Reallignment and Closing Commission and how the state may be affected. (20:00)

Quadzilla Barbershop Quartet: Earnest harmonizing is not dead. The members of the Quadzilla Barbershop Quartet come together from the Triad and Charlotte areas to make acappella magic singing the old songs. They’ve won competitions and plan to win more. Host Melinda Penkava finds out the secret of their success. (17:30)

Howard Coble
BRAC/OLF
Quadzilla

Future of N.C. Schools/Walltown/Heat

Thursday, July 21st, 2005

The Future of North Carolina Schools: What will North Carolina’s public schools look like in five years? Or ten? With many school districts across the state seeing a decline in the number of schools meeting Adequate Yearly Progress — as defined by No Child Left Behind — we consider what forces are changing schools, and how much. Host Melinda Penkava speaks with Eddie Davis, executive director of the North Carolina Association of Educators; Bruce Buchanan, education reporter with the Greensboro News and Record; and Lindalyn Kakadelis, director of the North Carolina Education Alliance. (40:00)

Walltown Pair: Producer Alex Granados brings us an audio postcard from the New Hope Summer Camp in the Walltown neighborhood of Durham where young people learn about entreprenuership and planning for the future. And reporter Leoneda Inge has the story of an original play being produced by the Walltown Children’s Theatre that aims to combat North Carolina’s growing gang problem. (11:00)

The Heat: It’s been hot in North Carolina. So prodcuer Cori Princell took to the street to find out the cool places we’re all dreaming of… And one place to escape the heat is Linville Gorge in the mountains of western North Carolina. Host Melinda Penkava talks about the gorge’s trails and waterfalls with Gary Greer, district fire management officer for the Grandfather Ranger District in Pisgah National Forest. (7:00)

Future of Schools
Walltown
Heat

Kathy Reichs

Wednesday, July 20th, 2005

Cross Bones: Host Melinda Penkava talks with bestselling writer Kathy Reichs. Reichs crafts thrillers based on her real life as a forensic anthropologist for the state of North Carolina and Quebec, Canada. Her latest novel is “Cross Bones” (Simon and Schuster/2005). In it, heroine Tempe Brennan follows a mysterious set of bones to the Holy Land. Listener Call-In. (59:00)

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Leg. Update/Last Generation/Lipstick and Dynamite

Tuesday, July 19th, 2005

Legislative Update: Host Melinda Penkava checks in with Laura Leslie, North Carolina Public Radio — WUNC’s capitol reporter, as the North Carolina Legislature considers a bill that regulates lobbyists in Raleigh. (12:00)

The Last Generation: Host Melinda Penkava speaks with Peter Carmichael, an assistant professor of history at UNC-Greensboro and author of “The Last Generation: Young Virginians in Peace, War and Reunion,” (UNC Press/2005) about the last generation of white Virginians to grow up with slavery. (20:00)

Lipstick and Dynamite: Host Melinda Penkava speaks with documentary filmmaker Ruth Leitman. Her latest film is “Lipstick and Dynamite” and takes viewers inside the history of professional female wrestling. (17:30)

Legislative Update
Last Generation
Lipstick and Dynamite

Genetically Modified Crops

Monday, July 18th, 2005

GM Crops: In Eastern NC, a California company has planted 75 acres of genetically modified rice. The rice contains proteins that could eventually be used in infant formula and sports drinks. Some farmers fear the rice opens the door for other experimental GM crops that could cross-pollinate with organic crops. Opponents of genetically modified foods say the presence of the rice brings the international debate over GMOs right to our doorstep. Melinda Penkava hosts a discussion about the GM rice and the source of our anxieties over genetic engineering in agriculture. (59:00)

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