Archive for July, 2005

Truth and Reconciliation/CAFTA/Letters

Friday, July 15th, 2005

Host Melinda Penkava speaks with WUNC reporter Rusty Jacobs about the Greensboro TRC. The first-ever TRC hearing commences on Friday at 2 pm. Rusty elaborates on who is expected to testify and what they might say. He also discusses the history of the 1979 rally and shootings in Greensboro that led to the formation of the TRC. Also, Melinda checks in with Rusty on the other big NC story he’s been covering — whether or not witnesses called to the stand in court have the right to swear on the Koran rather than the Bible before they give their testimony.

On Friday, President George W. Bush will visit North Carolina to support CAFTA, the Central American Free Trade Agreement. Host Melinda Penkava discusses CAFTA’s potential impact on North Carolina’s economy with Mike Munger, chair of the political science department at Duke University; and Jim Schollaert, Director of Industry and Grass Roots Relations at the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition.

Host Melinda Penkava reads from an array of listener mail concerning recent programs.

Truth and Reconciliation
CAFTA
Letters

Rules Commission

Thursday, July 14th, 2005

Rules Review Commission: Before a North Carolina law is implemented via specific rules and regulations, it must first go before a group known as the Rules Review Commission. The ten-member board is selected by the state legislature, operates under the executive branch of government, and was given veto power in 1995. Some interests — environmental groups in particular — argue the board is dominated by business advocates and has too much influence in the lawmaking process. Host Melinda Penkava talks with Jennifer Strom, writer of a critical profile of the Rules Review Commission for The Independent Weekly, and Joe DeLuca, staff attorney for the Commission since 1989.

Rules Commission

Gay Christians

Wednesday, July 13th, 2005

Gay Christians: Host Melinda Penkava talks with southern church leaders and congregants about the role of homosexuals in the Christian Church. Guests include: Susan Acker Walsh, executive producer of a new documentary about gay christians called “Coming Out, Coming In: Faith, Identity and Belonging”; Reverend Laurie Hays Coffman, pastor of Calvary United Methodist Church in Durham; and Daniel Akin, president of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. (59:00)

“Coming Out, Coming In: Faith, Identity and Belonging” premieres in Durham on Friday, July 22 at the Durham Arts Council.

Listen Here

Journalist’s Roundtable/Hurricanes/Summer Series

Tuesday, July 12th, 2005

Journalists Roundtable: Recent news from the Supreme Court has had some impact in North Carolina. The decision on eminent domain has some North Carolinians worried about their property. Senator Elizabeth Dole has been mentioned as a possible candidate for a Supreme Court vacancy. Host Melinda Penkava talks with journalists about these and other issues, including the death penalty moratorium, journalist shield laws, and salt water fishing licenses. Guests include: Paul O’Connor, columnist at the Winston Salem-Journal; Sharif Durhams, reporter for the Charlotte Observer; and Mark Schreiner, capitol reporter for the Wilmington Star-News. Listener Call-In. (40:00)

Tropical Storm Emily: Host Melinda Penkava speaks with Thomas Kriehn the meteorologist-in-charge at the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Newport/Morehead City, about Tropical Storm Emily. (10:00)

Summer Series: Chuck and Laura Richardson are riding their bikes across the United States in order to raise awareness about hunger in South Asia. As part of our summer series that looks at what North Carolinans are doing with their summer vacation, host Melinda Penkava talks with Chuck Richardson about his cross country trek.

Journalist's Roundtable
Hurricanes
Summer Series

Summer Education/Dobbyns

Monday, July 11th, 2005

Summer Education: On the one-year anniversary of the passing of legislation that lengthened the summer break for North Carolina’s public school children, we look at the question: What’s best for kids’ summer education? Host Melinda Penkava speaks with Harris Cooper, professor of psychology at Duke University; Richard Louv, author of the book “Last Child In The Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder” (Algonquin/2005); and Rhonda Mickelson, executive director of the American Camp Association-Southeastern region. Listener Call-In. (40:00)

Frequent commentator and public school teacher Ken Dobbyns on being a role and an educator. (5:00)

Summer Education
Dobbyns