Archive for August, 2005

Higher Ed/The Great American Jobs Scam

Tuesday, August 9th, 2005

Funding Higher Ed: Last week’s budget negotiations were held up by a debate about tuition. N.C. lawmakers proposed allowing two state universities, N.C. State and U.N.C. Chapel Hill, to set their tuitions independently of the state university system. The proposal died, but the debate about how to fund higher education in North Carolina continues. Host Melinda Penkava talks with Hannah Gage, vice president of the budget and finance committee of the U.N.C. Board of Governors; George Leef, executive director of the John William Pope Center for Higher Education Policy; Karin Fischer, reporter for the Chronicle of Higher Education; and Zack Wynne, president of the U.N.C. Association of Student Governments. Listener Call-In.

The Great American Jobs Scam: State governments commonly use incentives and tax breaks to entice corporations to move to their state. The hope is that the corporations will bring jobs and vitality to local economies. But does that happen? Host Melinda Penkava talks with author Greg Leroy about his new book, ‘The Great American Jobs Scam: Corporate Tax Dodging and the Myth of Job Creation’ (Berrett-Koehler/2005).

Higher Ed Funding
The Great American Jobs Scam

N.C. Gangs/Blake Crouch

Monday, August 8th, 2005

Gangs in North Carolina: In a recent nationwide gang round-up, more arrests were made in North Carolina than in any other state. On the heels of this, legislation is being proposed to toughen penalties for gang members, and bring in more money for prevention. Host Melinda Penkava talks with Richard Hayes, Senior Research Analyst for the Governor’s Crime Commission; Alan Muriera, Executive Director of the non-profit organization Kid Gloves; and Federico van Gelderen, publisher of the spanish language newspaper Que Pasa.
Locked Doors: Host Melinda Penkava talks with author Blake Crouch about his new book, ‘Locked Doors’ (St. Martin’s Press/2005), his love for writing, and his youthful love of horror.

N.C. Gangs
Blake Crouch

Dick Gordon/Raise Your Glass

Friday, August 5th, 2005

Dis-Connection: Two weeks ago, WBUR in Boston announced it was cancelling the publice radio program The Connection. Heard on 66 stations nationwide (includeing North Carolina Public Radio — WUNC), the show’s last broadcast will come on Friday, Aug. 5. The former host, Dick Gordon, speaks with Rusty Jacobs about the cancellation, his long, distinguished career, and his future. (45:00)

Raise Your Glass: On Wednesday, the North Carolina Legislature passed a law permitting beer with up to 15% alcohol to be sold in the state. The law has been hailed by connoisuers and beer aficionados, and Host Rusty Jacobs will speak with two: Jon Connolly, brewer at the Carolina Brewery Restaurant in Chapel Hill; and Julie Bradford, editor of “All About Beer” magazine. (8:00)

Dick Gordon
Raise Your Glass

Legislative Update/Win Neagle/Black Theater Festival

Thursday, August 4th, 2005

Legislative Update: Already a month overdue, North Carolina’s state budget is snagged on a few issues: the cigarette tax, state pay raises, in-state tuition rates, and the lottery. Host Melinda Penkava talks with North Carolina Public Radio – WUNC’s capitol reporter Laura Leslie about the proposed compromises, and other legislative work at the General Assembly. (12:00)

Full Count: Host Melinda Penkava speaks with author Win Neagle. Neagle’s second book is “Full Count” (The Paper Journey Press/2005) and it tells the story of Billy Overby, a major league baseball player in pursuit of a .400 batting average. (25:00)

National Black Theater Festival: This week in Winston-Salem, playwrights and performers have gathered for the National Black Theater Festival. Arthur Reese is the festival’s longtime technical director, but this year he is making his debut as a writer and director. Melinda Penkava talks with Reese about his play, ‘By a Black Hand’, a hip-hop introduction to the contributions of African Americans throughout history. (8:00)

Leg Update
Win Neagle
Black Theater Festival

HIV-AIDS in North Carolina

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2005

A study examining the connection between unprotected sex and antiretroviral drug resistant HIV was recently presented at the 3rd International Aids Society Conference in Rio Di Janeiro. The study, conducted by Sonia Napravnik, an assistant professor at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine, noted the high relation between those who were afflicted with drug-resistant HIV and who practiced unprotected sex. Host Melinda Penkava speaks with Napravnik, as well as Taryn Strauss, women and youth education coordinator for the Western North Carolina Aids Project; Adolfo Aguilar,coordinator of Latino Outreach for the Chatham Social Health Council; and Dell Williams, manager of epidemiology and special studies for HIV/STD prevention and care for the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, about the new challenges in fighting the HIV-AIDS epidemic. Listener Call-In. (59:00)

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