EIGHT FORTY-EIGHT Audio Library

Month in Review
Greg Hinz — Senior Reporter, Crain's Chicago Business
Linda Lutton — Education Writer, The Daily Southtown
Carlos Hernandez Gomez — Political Correspondent, Chicago Public Radio

War Experiences Captured in The 95th
The battle experiences of General George Patton's 95th Infantry Division during the liberation of Metz, France in 1944 is the subject of the film, The 95th. Chicago-based producer John Digles talks about the film and his special relationship to it.

A Tour of the Pritzker Military Library
Edward Tracy — Executive Director, Pritzker Military Library
Host Steve Edwards tours war memorabilia at Chicago's Pritzker Military Library with executive director Edward Tracy.

The True Meaning of Communion
Father Edward Foley — Professor of Liturgy and Music, Catholic Theological Union
Cardinal Francis George asks that all area pastors to deny Communion to gay Catholics wearing rainbow sashes symbolic of their importance to the Church. Against this backdrop, Father Edward Foley shares his thoughts on the sacrament of Communion.

Theatre Review
Jonathan Abarbanel — Theater Contributor
Contributor Jonathan Abarbanel reviews The Doctor's Dilemma at the Writers' Theatre, Inside My Mouth at the Neo-Futurists and How Whatever Happened to Baby Jane Happened at the Theatre Building. The Doctor's Dilemma plays at the Writers' Theatre in Glencoe May 11 through July 18, 2004; Inside My Mouth plays at the Neo-Futurists May 13 through June 19, 2004; and How Whatever Happened to Baby Jane Happened plays at the Theatre Building May 21 through June 26, 2004.

Dog-umentary Filmmaking
Jamie Ceasar — Filmmaker, Ceasar Salad Productions
Chicago-based television producer Jamie Ceasar has won nine Emmys for her work, but recently turned her talents to other tales—those that wag.

It’s a Good Dog's Life
Todd Bartelstein — Co-owner, Of Mutts and Men
Producer Sylvia Ewing visits Of Mutts and Men, a social club for dogs.

May 27, 2004

hosted by Steve Edwards

Chicago City Council Approves Zoning Reforms
Charlie Wheelan — Director of Policy and Communications, Metropolis 2020
The measure passed nearly four years after Chicago mayor Richard Daley launched an overhaul of the city's zoning laws. At the same time, the Illinois General Assembly approved legislation to cap property taxes. We talk with Metropolis 2020's Charlie Wheelan about the impact of these two moves on Chicago homeowners and how effective the measures are as instruments of public policy.
Wheelan is an Eight Forty-Eight contributor.

Ted Takes Flight
Sean Donohue — Vice President, Ted
David Greising — Business Contributor
United Airlines's low-cost carrier Ted has debuted at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Business contributor David Greising sits down with Ted vice-president Sean Donohue to talk about its endeavors and its competition.
Greising is chief business correspondent for the Chicago Tribune.

John Green Gets Gas
John Green — Contributor and Writer
High gas prices are hitting a lot of us in the pocketbook, but how much are they affecting road trips and our preference for alternate methods of transportation? Not much, says contributor and writer John Green.

Al Gini's Summer Book Bag
Al Gini — Resident Philosopher
Part of reading, especially on vacation, is to let go and slow down, to get out of one's self and get lost in something else. Enjoy these summer selections whether your getaway is on the beach, on the go, or just on the porch.
Gini is a professor of philosophy and business ethics at Loyola University Chicago. He's also co-founder and associate editor of Business Quarterly.

Chicago's Best Ribs
Robert Adams — Owner, Honey One Barbeque
Sam Smith — Owner, The Rib Joint
Steve Dolinsky — Food Contributor
Food contributor Steve Dolinsky goes in search of the perfect summer ribs.
Restaurants mentioned — Fat Willy's — 2416 West Schubert Avenue, Chicago; Honey One BBQ — 5135 West Division Street, Chicago; Rib Joint — 423 East 87th Street, Chicago; Smoke Daddy — 1804 West Division Street, Chicago
Dolinsky is a food and lifestyle reporter for ABC 7 TV in Chicago.

Illinois Youth Center in St. Charles Could Close, Part Two
In the second installment of a three-part report, Illinois Public Radio correspondent Simone Orendain talks with folks who would lament the loss of the west suburban juvenile corrections facility. The Illinois Youth Center could fall victim to governor Rod Blagojevich's proposal to cut $92 million from the state department of corrections budget.

A Veteran Priest Watches the Changing of the Guard
Fr. Dominic Grassi — Parish Priest, St. Josephat's Catholic Church, Chicago
Judy Valente — Religion Contributor
Father Dominic Grassi has been a priest for more than three decades. He writes about the joys he finds in his everyday duties in his short story collection, Still Called by Name: Why I Love Being a Priest. Religion contributor Judy Valente talks with Fr. Grassi about his life of service and sacrifice.

May 26, 2004

hosted by Steve Edwards

Metra Safety
Melba Lara — Chicago Public Radio News Correspondent
An 11-year-old boy has died, reportedly while trying to outrun a Metra train. It's another in a series of deaths caused by Metra accidents that has transportation officials worried. Chicago Public Radio's Melba Lara has the story.
This segment originally aired on our May 26, 2004, news broadcasts.

Execution Date Set for Indiana Death Row Inmate Darnell Williams
James Patterson — Editorial Writer, Indianapolis Star
The state supreme court rejected Williams's request for a new trial, setting an execution date of July 9, 2004. Williams has spent 17 years in jail for the 1986 murder of a Gary couple, and his case has attracted national attention. Due to DNA evidence and new testimony, the original prosecutor and a former juror have joined Williams's campaign for a retrial. We talk with James Patterson of the Indianapolis Star, who has been following the story.

Small Businesses Brace for a Big-Box Behemoth
The Chicago City Council may finally vote on zoning changes that would allow Wal-Mart to build its first two stores in the city, one on the south side and one on the west. Opponents of the measure say Wal-Mart would hurt small businesses. We visit small business owners near the proposed west side location to hear what they have to say.

Mad TV's Keegan—Michael Key
Keegan-Michael Key — Comedian
Jim Carrane — Contributor
Contributor Jim Carrane sits down with Key, a former Second City and Annoyance Theater performer who's back in town to star in The Second City's Romeo and Juliet Musical at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
The show co-stars Mad TV's Nicole Parker and runs through August 15, 2004.

Illinois Youth Center in St. Charles Could Close
Simone Orendain — Illinois Public Radio Correspondent
The west suburban juvenile correctional facility could fall victim to state budget cuts. Illinois Public Radio correspondent Simone Orendain brings us the first in a series of reports.

Ear to the Ground—Filipino Youth in Suburban Chicago
Ellyn Ong — Participant, Ear to the Ground Mentorship Program
As part of our companion collection to Chicago Matters: Our Next Generation, Ellyn Ong takes us to west suburban Glendale Heights.
Chicago Public Radio's Ear to the Ground mentorship program seeks to further engage diverse voices from the Chicago area and to foster community-wide discussion.
This segment originally aired on Worldview on March 17, 2004.

An Interracial Family in a Time of Segregation
David Douglas — Author
In the 1940s, David Douglas's parents-one white, one black-married and started a family in Chicago, enduring years of racism, ostracism, and discrimination. His mother dreamed of writing a book about it, but died before she finished. Douglas picked up where she left off, and the result is Marriage Beyond Black and White: An Interracial Family Portrait. He says the deeper story is not about his parents' race, but his parents' love.

May 25, 2004

hosted by Steve Edwards

More Wet Weather Ahead?
Tom Skilling — Chief Meteorologist, WGN TV Channel 9
Tom Skilling tells us what's causing our series of stormy skies and why wet weather may be here for a while.

Gurnee Residents Brace for Floods
Tony Sarabia — Chicago Public Radio News Correspondent
The Des Plaines River is expected to crest at almost 13 feet in far north suburban Gurnee. Chicago Public Radio's Tony Sarabia visited the town as residents from surrounding communities chipped in to help hold back the floodwaters.
This segment also aired during Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

Education Update
Alexander Russo — Education Contributor
Contributor Alexander Russo joins us to discuss job cuts, budget battles, and a union runoff in the Chicago Public Schools.
Russo is a contributor editor of Catalyst magazine and editor of the book, School Reform in Chicago .

AARP and Medicare Overhaul
Steve Carter — Manager of State Operations, AARP, Illinois
John Rother — President, AARP
Dr. Quentin Young - Medical Contributor
Two AARP representatives join us to discuss the organization's role in pushing Medicare reform through Congress and how the rollout of discounted medication cards has affected senior citizens.

The Symptoms and Causes of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Anne Coulter — Vice President, Obsessive Compulsive Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago
Susan Richman — Founder, Obsessive Compulsive Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago
The World Health Organization lists obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) as one of the 10 leading causes of disability in the world. In connection with National Mental Health Awareness Month, we talk with two advocates for those who suffer from OCD.
Related Link:
Obsessive Compulsive Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago

Making Movies in Cabrini Green
Durrell Dawson — Participant, Ear to the Ground Mentorship Program
We hear about a program that gives young people who live in and around Chicago's Cabrini Green public housing complex the chance to learn filmmaking.
This segment was produced as part of Chicago Public Radio's Ear to the Ground Mentorship Program, a project of our Chicago Matters series.

Chicago Matters: Report-Latch Key Lockout
Sylvia Ewing — Producer
Why are many Chicago youth unable to participate in after-school programs? As part of Chicago Matters: Our Next Generation , producer Sylvia Ewing takes a look at Chicago's big push to get them involved.

This report also aired during Morning Edition and All Things Considered.


	The late Hip Hop artist Biggie Smalls as painted by James “Casper” Jankowiak.

Personal Story-Graffiti Artist James "Casper" Jankowiak
James "Casper" Jankowiak — Graffiti Artist
Jankowiak was born in Back of the Yards on Chicago's south side, and his work has been displayed around the world.
Casper's personal story is part of our occasional look at interesting people who help weave the fabric of life in the Chicago area.

Read more extraordinary stories of the everyday people who weave Chicago's tapestry in our Personal Stories Series >>

May 24, 2004

hosted by Steve Edwards

Sarge: The Life and Times of Sargent Shriver
Scott Stossel — Senior Editor, Atlantic Monthly
Shriver led Chicago's board of education in the years immediately following Brown vs. Board of Education. Special contributor Richard Steele talks with Scott Stossel, author of Sarge: The Life and Times of Sargent Shriver.

Remembering Veteran Chicago Journalist Vernon Jarrett
Jarrett became the Chicago Tribune's first black columnist in 1970, and he later wrote for the Sun-Times. We revisit a September 29, 2000, interview with Jarrett in which he discusses his roots at the Chicago Defender.
Jarrett died on May 23, 2004, at the age of 82.

Business Update
David Greising — Business Contributor
As people prepare to take to the roads for Memorial Day weekend, contributor David Greising discusses high gas prices and updates us on other business happenings in the Chicago area.
Greising is chief business correspondent for the Chicago Tribune.

Chicago Matters: Documentary-Dream of Democracy
Barrett Golding — Independent Producer
Jonathan Menjivar — Independent Producer
"alt.youth.politics" asks college students to consider their democracy, politicians, activism, and the American Dream.
Click here to hear Harold Washington College students E-Baby and Kenneth Harris reflect on their relationship to the political process.

This report also aired during All Things Considered.

Monday Music Corner: Braid
This post-hardcore punk band broke up in 1999, but has reunited for a summer tour. We feature their song, "Lucky to Be Alive" from their album, Movie Music: Volume One (Polyvinyl Records).
Braid plays the Metro in Chicago on May 29, 2004.

May 21, 2004

hosted by Richard Steele

Springfield Update
Bill Wheelhouse — Statehouse Bureau Chief, Illinois Public Radio

Leopold and Loeb
John Russick — Curator of The Leopold and Loeb exhibition opening today at the Chicago Historical Society. It runs through the summer.
Steve Edwards — Host of Eight Forty-Eight on Chicago Public Radio

Studs on Studs
Studs Terkel — Special Contributor
How did Studs become Studs? Well, for the centennial of author's James T. Farrell, award-winning author Studs Terkel, formerly Louis Terkel, gives a little insight into the name he would adopt during his days in college.

James T. Farrell
Ron Offen — Editor of the poetry magazine Free Lunch
Steve Edwards — Host of Eight Forty-Eight on Chicago Public Radio
Offen is a retired librarian and the leader of a campaign to have the city of Chicago honor author James T. Farrell.

Copyright
Tony Sarabia — Reporter for Chicago Public Radio
Tony Sarabia reports on new public art in the Loop

Film Reviews
Jonathan Miller — Film Contributor, teaches film at IIT
Films Reviewed:
S21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine, directed by Rithy Panh, runs at the Gene Siskel Film Center May 21 -27. Coffee and Cigarettes, directed by Jim Jarmusch, opens Music Box May 28.

David Rudman aka Cookie Monster
David Rudman — The voice of Baby Bear and Cookie Monster for the Sesame Street Workshop; Founder, Spiffy Pictures

May 20, 2004

hosted by Tony Sarabia

Legal Challenges to Same-Sex Marriage in Illinois
Andrew Koppelman — Professor of Law and Political Science, Northwestern University
We talk with Northwestern University professor Andrew Koppelman about what laws stand in the way of same-sex marriage in Illinois.

West Nile Virus
Linn Haramis — Entomologist, Illinois Department of Public Health
A dead crow and two pools of mosquitoes carrying the virus have been found in DuPage County, west of Chicago. We get an update on the disease from the Illinois Department of Public Health's Linn Haramis.

Bill Would Legalize Organ Transplants for Some HIV-Positive Patients
Jay Field — Chicago Public Radio News Correspondent
The measure awaiting Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich's signature would legalize transplants between HIV-positive donors and HIV-positive recipients suffering from liver disease. Chicago Public Radio's Jay Field has more.

Recording Artist John McEntire
John McEntire — Recording Engineer, Producer, and Musician
We visit recording engineer, producer, and musician, John McEntire, at his studio in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood to talk about his band Tortoise's latest release, It's All Around You (Thrill Jockey Records).

Weekend Baseball Preview
Cheryl Raye-Stout — Sports Contributor
Both Chicago teams play out of town—the Cubs in St. Louis and the White Sox in Minneapolis. Sports contributor Cheryl Raye-Stout gives us a preview of both series.

Seasonal Menus
Steve Dolinsky — Food Contributor
John Caputo — Executive Chef, Bin 36
Allison Leavitt — Pastry Chef, Marche
Shawn McClain — Chef, Green Zebra
Food contributor Steve Dolinsky visits several Chicago restaurants to see what bounty spring has brought them.
Dolinsky is a food and lifestyle reporter for ABC 7 TV in Chicago.

Mexican Folk Band Sones de Mexico
Members of the Chicago-based ensemble join us live in Chicago Public Radio's Performance Studio. They play a genre of traditional Mexican music called son, characterized by improvisation and with roots in Mexico's mestizo culture.

May 19, 2004

preempted for live NPR coverage of the Senate Armed Services hearings on Iraq prisoner mistreatment

May 18, 2004

hosted by Peter Whorf

The Rapture Exposed
Barbara Rossing — Bible Studies Instructor, Chicago Lutheran School of Theology
Jason DeRose — Correspondent, Chicago Public Radio
Author and theologian Barbara Cumming challenges the phenomenon of the Rapture in her book, Exposing the Rapture: The Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation.

Call Your Mom
Christopher Piatt — Writer
Chicagoan Christopher Piatt reflects on the impact of Christianity on his mother. Piatt is the co-host of The Partly Dave Show at the No Exit Café in Rogers Park, Chicago.

Street Evangelist James Bonney
Alice Chang — Participant, Ear to the Ground Mentorship Program
While some street evangelists deliver bible-waving rants, Chicago-based James Bonney has a much different approach.
This piece was produced as a part of the Ear to the Ground Mentorship Program, a project of Chicago Public Radio's Chicago Matters series.

Chicago Matters: Documentary—Out Here on My Own
Linda Paul — Producer, Chicago Matters
Cate Cahan — Editor, Chicago Matters
How well are young people being prepared for a life on their own after release from the foster care system?

This report also aired during Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

It’s Not Easy Being Green
Lester Graham — Senior Editor and Correspondent, Great Lakes Radio Consortium
What dilemmas do we face when we attempt to do right by the environment?

Women Farmers
Shawn Johnson — Illinois Public Radio
While the number of women who run farms is growing, they still mainly play supporting roles

Weightless on the Moon
Ethel Hammer — Writer
Storyteller Ethel Hammer is battling with time

May 17, 2004

hosted by Richard Steele

Exploring the Legacy of Brown v. Board of Education
Rita Coburn-Whack — Contributor
Contributor Rita Coburn-Whack joins us to discuss the legacy of Brown v. Board on Chicago schools and also her documentary, Racism at Work: Educating the Workforce after Brown v. Board, produced for Chicago's WYCC Channel 20.
Coburn-Whack is a writer and producer for WYCC and also author of the novel, Meant to Be.

Pass/Fail: A Year in the Life of a Partnership School, Lesson VII
Linda Lutton — Education Writer, Daily Southtown
Daily Southtown education writer Linda Lutton delves into some personal stories in this installment in her series of essays about Bass Elementary, a public school in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood.
Lutton's stories air on Chicago Public Radio and appear in the Daily Southtown throughout the 2003-2004 school year.

National Catholic Lay Review Board Meets with U.S. Bishops Committee
Jason DeRose — Chicago Public Radio News Correspondent
The two sides are trying to reach an agreement that would re-authorize abuse prevention plan audits throughout the U.S. We talk with Chicago Public Radio's religion reporter Jason DeRose about the meeting and what it might hold.

Business Update
David Greising — Business Contributor
Illinois's 10th casino license still hangs in the balance, and governor Rod Blagojevich stands between Chicago and its plans for a land-based casino. Contributor David Greising joins us to discuss these and other Chicago-area business stories.
Greising is chief business correspondent for the Chicago Tribune.

Listener Comments

Chicago Matters: Report-Dealing with Conflict
Andrea Wenzel — Worldview Producer
How do youth deal with global and local conflict in their daily lives? Worldview producer Andrea Wenzel reports as part of Chicago Matters: Our Next Generation.
This report also aired during Morning Edition and All Things Considered.
Related Link:
Connecting Global Conflict on Worldview

Jazz Vocalist Dianne Reeves in studio. Photo by Melisa Goh.

Jazz Vocalist Dianne Reeves
Dianne Reeves — Musician
The Grammy Award winner stops by our studios to chat about her life in music, including her musical roots in Chicago.

May 14, 2004

hosted by Steve Edwards

A Rift Between Illinois Democrats
Eric Zorn — Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune's Eric Zorn talks about in-fighting among democrats in the state.

National GOP Committee Elections
Fran Eaton — Managing Editor, Illinois Leader
State Republicans are battling for control of the National GOP Committeman seat. The Illinois Leader's Fran Eaton joins us to discuss the contest and the larger rift it points to within the party.

Schadenfreude—Sign the PATRIOT Act (II!)
Our friends at Chicago Public Radio's sketch comedy program Schadenfreude pose this question: if a folk singer looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck...isn't it a left-winged duck? The Schadenfreude ensemble stages a weekly revue May 14 through June 25, 2004, at the Lakeshore Theater in Chicago.

2004 Ruth Lilly Prize for Poetry—Kay Ryan
Kay Ryan — Poet
Award-winning author of five collections of poetry, Kay Ryan shares some of her work with us.

New Direction for the Lilly Prize
Judy Valente — Contributor
For years the Ruth Lilly Prize for Poetry has been criticized for not honoring women. With the 2004 Prize going to Kay Ryan, a poet earlier in her career than previous winners, the Poetry Foundation seems to be starting a new direction for the award.

Where Did Lewis and Clark Start?
Suzanne Lerch — Public Relations Specialist, Alton Convention and Visitors Bureau
The departure point of the Lewis and Clark expedition is contested by three towns all claiming to be the historic site. We'll learn how one Illinois town is preparing for the bicentennial celebration in an effort to maintain their spot in the history books

Theater Reviews
Jonathan Abarbanel — Theater contributor
Contributor Jonathan Abarbanel reviews The Shaggs at the the Lookingglass Theatre, The Pajama Game at the Marriott Theater and the Rocket Man at the House Theater. The Shaggs plays at the Lookingglass Theatre April 21 through June 13, 2004; The Pajama Game plays at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire April 29 through July 3, 2004; and the Rocket Man plays at the House Theatre May 8 through June 26, 2004.

Chicago Matters: Coming of Age Story—All My Stuff in Bags
"Daniel" — Chicago Teenager
A Chicago youth finds his way toward adulthood by having it thrust upon him when his father kicks him out of the house for being gay. On his own sooner than he expected, he has to figure out how to find a home, support himself, and finish high school.

Related links:
Center on Halsted

This report also aired during Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

Cool Spots: House of Kicks
Jerry Pohlen — Writer
Gianofer Fields — Producer and Correspondent
Our travelers get a chance to use their outdoor voices inside as they visit the House of Kicks.

May 13, 2004

hosted by Steve Edwards

Bill to Seal Some Illinois Criminal Records, Part One
Karen Clark — Ex-Offender; Member, Prostitution Alternatives Roundtable
Sharod Gordon — Member, Target Area Development Corporation and Developing Justice Coalition
Lymie Nargilenus — Manager, Government Relations and Training, Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police
Angelique Orr — Resident Leader, Target Area Development Corporation; Member, Developing Justice Coalition
David Vite — President and CEO, Illinois Retail Merchants Association
Host Steve Edwards reports on the proposed legislation, which would seal certain criminal records of ex-offenders in Illinois, and its possible effect on prospective employees and employers.

Bill to Seal Some Illinois Criminal Records, Part Two
Nick Fishman — Vice-President, Chicago Office, Background Information Services
Nick Fishman conducts employee background checks for large and small companies. We talk with him about the practical effects of the proposed legislation, which would seal certain criminal records of ex-offenders in Illinois.

Illinois Prisons Face Budget Cuts
Charlie Fasano — Director, Prisons and Jails Program, John Howard Association
We're joined by Charlie Fasano of the non-profit jail and prison watchdog group, the John Howard Association, to discuss proposed cuts to Illinois prisons and the larger challenges facing the state's correctional system.
Related Link:
John Howard Association

Al Gini's Guide to the Ultimate Vacation
Al Gini — Resident Philosopher
Our resident philosopher drops in to chat about the book, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, by Patricia Schultz.
Gini is a professor of philosophy and business ethics at Loyola University Chicago. He's also co-founder and associate editor of Business Quarterly.

Curb Your Enthusiasm's Jeff Garlin
Jeff Garlin — Comedian
Jim Carrane — Contributor
The Chicagoan plays Larry David's manager on the HBO hit, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and he's also the show's executive producer. Garlin sits down with contributor Jim Carrane to reminisce about his days in Chicago.
Garlin performs at Zanies Comedy Nite Club in Chicago through May 16, 2004.

Chicago Matters: Report—Like I'm in a Bubble
Hillary Frank — Independent Producer
As part of Chicago Matters: Our Next Generation, five Chicago teens talk about what it's like to be quiet in school.
This report also aired during Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

Screwball Press
Steve Walters — Owner and Operator, Screwball Press
Steve Walter's colorful and distinctive posters help promote bands all over Chicago. They were also featured in the 2000 John Cusack movie, High Fidelity. Walters tells us how he became the poster boy for Chicago's music scene.

Celebrating Tap Dance
Lane Alexander — Dancer, Choreographer, and Artistic Director, Chicago Human Rhythm Project
Jeremy Kahn — Pianist
Acclaimed tap dancer Lane Alexander and pianist Jeremy Kahn perform a duet for taps and piano in Chicago Public Radio's performance studio. The music is Chick Corea's "Children's Song No. 4."
The Chicago Human Rhythm Project celebrates National Tap Dance Day May 14 through May 16, 2004, with a series of concerts at the Vittum Theater in Chicago.

May 12, 2004

hosted by Steve Edwards

Update on Illinois Casinos
Carlos Hernandez Gomez — Chicago Public Radio News Correspondent
Illinois attorney general Lisa Madigan says all bets are off for a casino in northwest suburban Rosemont. And governor Rod Blagojevich says Chicago mayor Richard Daley's proposal to build a land-based casino in the city is out of the question. Chicago Public Radio's political reporter Carlos Hernandez Gomez updates us on Illinois's gambling landscape.

Gary Airport, Part One
Paul Karras — Administrator, Gary-Chicago International Airport
Gary-Chicago International Airport in northwest Indiana wants to be the third major airport serving the Chicago region, alongside O'Hare and Midway. We visit the Gary airport to get an inside look at its operations.

Gary Airport, Part Two
Joseph Schweiterman — Director, Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development, DePaul University
Some Illinois politicians are doing their best to stifle the Gary-Chicago International Airport's ambitions. They want to build a new regional airport in south suburban Peotone. But there are questions about the viability of such a project. DePaul University's Joseph Schweiterman helps us sort through some of the issues clouding Chicago's airport picture.

Actress Joan Allen
Joan Allen — Actress
We sit down with Allen to discuss her roots as a Midwesterner and as an original ensemble member of Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company. The actress was in Chicago to accept an award from the Theatre School at DePaul University.

Strawdog Theatre's The Merchant of Venice
Shannon Hoag — Actress
Sean Sinitski — Actor
Actors Shannon Hoag and Sean Sinitski, playing "Portia" and "Shylock," respectively, perform a scene from their production of William Shakespeare's classic.
The show runs through May 15, 2004, at the Strawdog Theatre Company in Chicago.

Chicago Matters: Coming of Age Story—The Ugliness
"Monique" — Chicago Teenager
Monique dreamed that when she and her friends grew up, they'd be as close as the women on Sex and the City. But when two of her friends started dating each other, everything changed.
This report also aired during Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

Hoosier Dunes
Christine Kirk — Assistant Director, Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning Center
The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore near Chesterton ranks among the country's top national parks in terms of species diversity. We take a tour and learn the history of a seldom-explored area of the park.
Related Link:
U.S. National Park Service

The Reputation
Elizabeth Elmore — Musician
Sean Hulet — Musician
Members of the Chicago indie-pop band, The Reputation, join host Steve Edwards in Chicago Public Radio's performance studio. They perform their song, "Lasting Effects," from their Lookout Records release To Force a Fate.
The Reputation perform a record-release show on May 14, 2004, at the Double Door in Chicago.

May 11, 2004

preempted for live NPR coverage of the Senate Armed Services hearings on Iraq prisoner mistreatment

May 10, 2004

hosted by Steve Edwards

Business Update
David Greising — Business Contributor
Contributor David Greising discusses why gas prices are rising and how high they're expected to climb, along with other energy-related stories.
Greising is chief business correspondent for the Chicago Tribune.

Chicago Matters: Coming of Age Story—Dead Man in the Way
"Antoine"
High school sophomore "Antoine" used to have the same name as his father. As part of Chicago Matters: Our Next Generation, he explains why he changed it.
This report also aired during Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

Protecting U.S. Borders from Exotic Animal Species
Janet Ginsburg — Journalist
We talk with Chicago-based science journalist Janet Ginsburg, who says the U.S. government is vastly underequipped to monitor the flow of exotic animals, along with the pathogens they carry, crossing the country's borders each day.
Ginsburg writes about wildlife importation and its risk to animals and humans in the April 12, 2004, issue of The Scientist magazine.

Chicago River Tour
Laurene Von Klan — Executive Director, Friends of the Chicago River
Gianofer Fields — Producer and Correspondent
Our Gianofer Fields meets up with Laurene Von Klan from Friends of the Chicago River for a conversation about the state of the river. Von Klan says the river's true health can be gauged from the plants and animals that call it home.

Saving Goldfish in Glenview
Kevin Pratt — 13-Year-Old Resident of Glenview, Illinois
At the end of every swim season in the northern Chicago suburb of Glenview, kids dive into a park district pool filled with goldfish, hoping to take them home as pets. 13-year-old Kevin Pratt tells us why he's trying to stop this tradition.

2004 Chicago Youth Media Festival
Ines Sommer — Curator, Chicago Youth Media Festival
The winners were selected from more than 200 entries ranging from documentaries to animation to experimental video—all produced by teenagers and young adults. Festival organizer Ines Sommer describes the entries and the architects behind them.
Screenings of selections from the festival take place on May 10, 2004, at the Chicago Cultural Center and on May 22, 2004, at the Evanston Public Library. Both events are free.

Monday Music Corner: Los Shut Up
Billing itself as the world's only improv rock band, Los Shut Up performs as part of The Second City Chicago's Unhinged series through June 9, 2004. This segment features their song "Trolley" from their EP Bigote Edition.

May 7, 2004

hosted by Steve Edwards

Part of the program was pre-empted to bring you special coverage of testimony by U.S. defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld and U.S. Air Force general Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.

A Slim Future for McDonald's?
Dennis Lombardi — Executive Vice-President, Technomic
We discuss the economic outlook for McDonald's with fast food analyst Dennis Lombardi.
McDonald's is based in Oak Brook, a western suburb of Chicago.

Super Size Me
Morgan Spurlock — Film Director
Jonathan Miller — Film Contributor
Film contributor Jonathan Miller interviews director Morgan Spurlock, whose comic documentary Super Size Me examines the effects of eating nothing but McDonald's food for thirty days.
Miller teaches film at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Cooking One on One
John Ash — Chef and Culinary Educator
Steve Dolinsky — Food Contributor
Food contributor Steve Dolinsky tours the produce section with food guru Josh Ash as they talk about his book, Cooking One on One: Private Lessons in Simple, Contemporary Food from a Master Teacher.
Dolinsky is a food and lifestyle reporter for ABC 7 TV in Chicago.

In Vitro Fertilization
Dan Collison — Independent Producer
We hear the story of a single, middle-aged woman's quest to conceive a child using assisted reproductive technology.

Mother’s Memory
Anna West — Poet
Chicago poet Anna West shares the joys of childbirth.
West is an instructor for Young Chicago Authors.

May 6, 2004

hosted by Steve Edwards

Vote on Proposed Chicago Wal-Marts Delayed, Part One
Howard Brookins, Jr. — Alderman, 21st Ward, Chicago
The city council has delayed voting on controversial zoning changes that would allow Wal-Mart to build its first two stores in Chicago. We get reaction from alderman Howard Brookins, who says his south side ward would benefit from a Wal-Mart.

Vote on Proposed Chicago Wal-Marts Delayed, Part Two
Ellen Rosen — Resident Scholar, Women's Studies Research Center, Brandeis University
To get a broader perspective on Chicago's Wal-Mart controversy, we're joined by sociologist Ellen Rosen. She's studied what makes Wal-Mart both wildly successful and a target of intense criticism.

Congressional Democrats Introduce Immigration Reform Package, Part One
Luis Gutierrez — U.S. Representative, Fourth District, Illinois
We talk with Illinois congressman Luis Gutierrez of Chicago, one of the bill's main sponsors.

Congressional Democrats Introduce Immigration Reform Package, Part Two
Dave Gorak — Executive Director, Midwest Coalition to Reduce Immigration
Critics say the proposed legislation amounts to an amnesty bill. We hear from Dave Gorak, executive director of the Midwest Coalition to Reduce Immigration. The organization is based in Lombard, Illinois, just west of Chicago.

Chicago Matters: Report-Politics Ain't Beanbag
Jenny Lawton — Chicago Public Radio Producer
As part of Chicago Matters: Our Next Generation Chicago Public Radio's Jenny Lawton follows several high schoolers through months of political campaigns to see how the process changes their take on politics.
This report also aired during Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

Documenting the Aftermath of the Rwandan Genocide
Tracye Campbell — Associate Producer, WTTW-11 TV
Richard Steele — Special Contributor
WTTW producer Tracye Campbell traveled to Rwanda to document the aftermath of the 1994 genocide. She tells us about the challenges of making a documentary in a country where the wrong choice of words could lead to a confrontation.
Campbell works on the WTTW program, Artbeat.

Adventures with a Giant Rubber Ducky
Joe Tabet — Director, Navy Pier Walk
Michael Workman — Contributor
The 2004 Navy Pier Walk features large-scale sculptures in and around the pier area. Pierwalk director Joe Tabet takes us on a tour of the event.
Navy Pier Walk 2004 opens May 6, 2004.
Contributor Michael Workman is publisher and editor-in-chief of Bridge magazine.

Ducks Disappearing from the Great Lakes Region
The conservation group, Ducks Unlimited, is exploring why duck reproduction rates are falling in the Great Lakes region. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium's Lester Graham reports.

Improvisation Chicago-Style
Anne Libera — Resident Director, The Second City
Jim Carrane — Contributor
The book, The Second City Almanac of Improvisation chronicles the history of revue-style comedy and the differences between short- and long-form improv. We sit down with Second City resident director Anne Libera, who compiled the book.
Libera also teaches at Columbia College Chicago.

May 5, 2004

hosted by Steve Edwards

The Battle over the State Budget
Bill Wheelhouse — Statehouse Bureau Chief, Illinois Public Radio
The battle over Illinois's state budget is creating strange bedfellows as Democratic governor Rod Blagojevich takes stabs at his own party and Republican and Democratic lawmakers unite in their contempt toward the governor.

Chicago Matters: Report—The Push Out
Jesse Hardman — Independent Producer
Some schools are quietly directing low-achieving children to alternative schools to keep their own test scores up. Jesse Hardman reports as part of Chicago Matters: Our Next Generation.
This report also aired during Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

Assaults in the Chicago Public Schools—A Personal Experience
Jan Pena Davis — Teacher, Chicago Public Schools
According to the Chicago Tribune, nearly one thousand assaults against teachers were reported in the Chicago Public Schools between September and February of the 2003-04 school year. Teacher Jan Pena Davis knows such violence firsthand.

Chicago Teachers Union Election Preview
Alexander Russo — Education Contributor
Russo is a contributing editor for Catalyst magazine and editor of the book, School Reform in Chicago.

Budget Cuts for Grayslake Schools
Ursula Ahern — Member, Grayslake Elementary District 46 School Board
Elementary District 46 parent and school board member Ursula Ahern discusses the board's vote to shorten the school day to help close a $1.7 million budget gap. Grayslake is a far northern suburb of Chicago.

Banning the Color Pink in Merrillville, Indiana
John Green — Contributor and Writer
Contributor John Green has something to say about the ban on certain clothing at an Indiana school.

How Latinos Get Their News
Robert Suro — Director, Pew Hispanic Center
A growing number of Latinos are getting their news from both English- and Spanish-language media outlets, and it's changing their perception of social and political issues.

Sculptor Elliot Balter's Garden
Elliot Balter — Sculptor
Richard Steele — Special Contributor
The Skokie, Illinois, artist takes us on a tour of his backyard, which has long been part of his creative vision.

May 4, 2004

hosted by Steve Edwards

Ho-Chunk Nation Plans to Build Casino in South Suburbs, Part One
John Dall — Legislator, Area 5, Ho-Chunk Nation
The casino planned for Lynwood would be the largest in Illinois and a huge economic boost to the struggling Southland region. We talk with John Dall, the leader behind the Ho-Chunk proposal.

Ho-Chunk Nation Plans to Build Casino in South Suburbs, Part Two
Cory Aronovitz — Attorney
We turn to Cory Aronovitz, an attorney with the Chicago-based Casino Law Group, to discuss the legal issues facing the Ho-Chunk Nation as it moves forward with a proposal to build a casino in Lynwood.

Ho-Chunk Nation Plans to Build Casino in South Suburbs, Part Three
John Brokopp — Syndicated Gaming Columnist
A Ho-Chunk casino in Lynwood would face competition from at least nine other casinos in Illinois, plus those in northwest Indiana. Gaming expert John Brokopp joins us to assess the state's overall gambling landscape.
Brokopp is author of the books, Thrifty Gambling and The Insider's Guide to Gambling on the Internet.

What's Next for the National Lay Catholic Review Board?
Jason DeRose — Chicago Public Radio News Correspondent
Illinois appellate court judge Anne Burke says she's stepping down as head of the review board in June 2004. We talk with Chicago Public Radio's religion reporter Jason DeRose about what Burke's departure might mean.

Mad TV's Ike Barinholtz
Ike Barinholtz — Comedian
The Chicago native is back in town for the 7th annual Chicago Improv Festival, and he swings by the studio to talk with host Steve Edwards.
Barinholtz performs with the Mad TV cast at the Athenaeum Theater in Chicago on May 6, 2004.

Mad TV's Ike Barinholtz in studio. Photo by Melisa Goh.

Chicago Matters: Report - Welcome Back
Jay Field - Chicago Public Radio News Correspondent
As part of Chicago Matters: Our Next Generation, Chicago Public Radio's Jay Field reports on how young men relate to their fathers when dads try and re-establish contact.
This report also aired during Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

A Musical about People Who Can't Make Music
Joy Gregory — Ensemble Member, Lookingglass Theatre Company
Gunnar Madsen — Composer
The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World tells the bizarre story of the Wiggins sisters, whose father forced them to drop out of high school in the 1960s to form a rock band...even though they couldn't really play. We talk with two of the musical's creators.
The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World is at the Lookingglass Theatre Company in Chicago through June 13, 2004.

Stories on Stage: Twisted Tales of Love and Attraction
Judy Blue — Actress
Actress Judy Blue reads an excerpt from Heidi Jon Schmidt's short story, "Songbirds," as a preview of Twisted Hearts, a program in Stories on Stage's 2004 live performance season.
Twisted Hearts is at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago on May 4, 2004. The program also includes "Blood" by Sharon Solwitz, read by Martie Sanders, and "The Model" by Guy de Maupassant, read by Sean Fortunato.

May 3, 2004

hosted by Steve Edwards

Business Update
David Greising — Business Contributor
Contributor David Greising joins us to talk about the continuing showdown over Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich's proposed state budget and President Bush's visit to southwest Michigan to tout a turnaround in the nation's manufacturing sector.
Greising is chief business correspondent for the Chicago Tribune.