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  • As Martin Luther King Day approaches, a conversation with one who knew him well: civil rights activist and organizer, scholar and minister, Bernard Lafayette. Dr. Lafayette is Gerald Smith's guest for this latest edition in our series on racial justice and equality. | Our series on Kentucky literature continues as Tom Eblen interviews Randolph Runyon about his account of one man's pursuit of justice over violence and racism in the nineteenth century | Listen to the story of a remarkable Kentucky woman. Tom Martin talks with Terry Birdwhistell and Donald Ritchie, co-authors of "Washington's Iron Butterfly: Bess Clements Abell, an Oral History."
  • “The ship of education is on fire and sinking.” The words of Georgia high school teacher Jordan Kohanim. You’ll hear her ten recommendations to prevent teacher burnout | If Kentucky was a nation it would be #7 in the world for incarceration of its people. A new report offers alternatives | Our Future Tense series returns with a view on pandemic damage to society | Tyler Childers manager Ian Thornton, guest on our Depth of Field series, on an up and coming Appalachian music scene.
  • Election integrity, access to the ballot, a free and independent press - all fundamentals of democracy. Are they endangered? We get the perspectives of UK election and voting law professor Joshua Douglas, and John Greenman, veteran reporter, editor, news executive and journalism professor emeritus at the University of Georgia who once called Morehead home.An offer to help sustain civility on the local level is coming to Kentucky in February. NYTimes columnist David Brooks details “Weave”, his mission to support people on the grass roots level who are working to heal our divisions and rebuild trust in our communities.
  • Coal's long tail: Environmental reporter James Bruggers on his investigation of the long-term consequences to human health and property of mining and burning coal. WEKU's Corinne Boyer looks into the mental health aftermaths of flooding in Eastern Kentucky, tornadoes in the Western end of the state. Psychologist Melinda Moore tells us what she's seeing and hearing in her practice as more and more people seek out help to cope with the pandemic. Dr. Lavoria Williams is guest of Gerald Smith for his series on racial justice and equality, discussing efforts to encourage more African Americans to get the Covid vaccination. And for the latest in his series on Kentucky theater production and performance, Bill McCann gets details from Joseph Wrightson about "Story Cycle," a class on writing music for the stage offered by the Lexington Theater Company.
  • On this week’s edition of Eastern Standard: Just-retired WKYT anchor Sam Dick on his years as a television journalist in Lexington and why he went public about his bout with cancer | Linguist Jennifer Cramer on dialect discrimination and “Appalachian Englishes” - that’s right. Plural, y’all. | A life-altering opportunity lands in Clay County: Thompson scholarships | Writer, poet Marianne Worthington in conversation with Tom Eblen about “The Girl Singer,” her lyrical poems celebrating the women who performed country and folk music.
  • On this week’s edition of Eastern Standard: A UK doctoral researcher develops a material that extracts from the environment dangerous PFAS compounds used to waterproof, stain proof and make non-stick all kinds of consumer items. Turns out these compounds also weaken vaccines. | A look at water quality issues in central and eastern Kentucky | The controversial book-ban in McMinn County, Tennessee | LexPhil auditions Julia Tai, a candidate to become its next music director and conductor.
  • On this week’s edition of Eastern Standard: Kentucky cities with zoning laws and planning units are required by the state to develop a five year Comprehensive Plan. 2022 is Lexington’s “refresh” year and in partnership with CivicLex we begin a series on all of the issues. Plus: a call for serious support for the music of Eastern Kentucky, some artists who have broken out on the national scene, others who are working their way up and a new festival to showcase the talents of the region. And, a Lexington band makes the big time: opening on New York and Philadelphia stages for the 50th anniversary tour of powerhouse funk & soul band Tower of Power.
  • On this week’s edition of Eastern Standard: Why “The Great Retirement” is a misnomer, how the pandemic has impacted Kentucky’s economy and why the Kentucky workforce is changing. A look at who benefits when a local bank writes a $10 million gift check. Harnessing darkness and a canopy of stars to attract tourism. Kentucky’s Poet Laureate wins national recognition. And, an ode to life’s ending and renewal.
  • On the next edition of Eastern Standard: Ukraine fights for democracy as it is weakened in the United States. And what does it mean to be American, anyway? A song poses the question. We'll hear about a big logjam in proposed renewable energy projects, mostly solar, and solar scams to watch out for in Kentucky. Plus, details of the Kentucky Crafted Market, returning after a two-year pandemic hiatus.
  • On this week’s edition of Eastern Standard: A Lexington waste management software firm takes on space junk | Kentucky’s poor national ranking for animal protection | An inductee into the Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame | The Augmented Reality of a Lexington art project honoring the African American family
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