Eight Forty-Eight—August 31, 2005 |

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Chicagoans Help with Katrina Recovery
Jennifer Shutt, a volunteer with the Chicago chapter of the American Red Cross, joins us by cell phone from Montgomery, Alabama.
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The History of the Great Migration
Originally broadcast September 8, 1999
Isabel Wilkerson—Journalist
We explore the historic ties that bind Mississippi and Chicago. In the years leading up to World War I, thousands of African Americans journeyed north in search of jobs, freedom, and a better way of life.
Guest Isabel Wilkerson is a Pulitzer Prize winner and former New York Times reporter. She's author of the book, The Great Migration.
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Nicarico Murder Case Continues
Thomas Frisbie—Former Staff Reporter, Chicago Sun-Times
A grand jury in west suburban DuPage County has ended its service without indicting Brian Dugan for the 1993 murder of ten-year-old Jeanine Nicarico. What's next as prosecutors move forward?
Guest Thomas Frisbie and Randy Garrett have released an updated edition of their book, Victims of Justice Revisited (Northwestern University Press, 2005).
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Jazz Fest Preview
Chicago Public Radio's Dan Bindert stops by with some picks for the 2005 Chicago Jazz Festival.
It runs Thursday–Sunday, September 1–4, 2005, mostly in Grant Park downtown.
Related Links
Schedule—Jazz Institute of Chicago
Chicago Public Radio Jazz
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Eight Forty-Eight—August 30, 2005 |

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Business Update
Contributor David Greising discusses rising gas prices, prospects for a ComEd rate hike, and the possibility of a Boeing machinists' strike.
Greising is chief business correspondent for the Chicago Tribune.
Music Button: James Brown, “Evil,” Soul Pride: The Instrumentals (1960–69) (Polydor, 1993)
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Poverty Data
Susan Mayer—Dean and Associate Professor, Harris School of Public Policy, University of Chicago
The U.S. census bureau has released its latest numbers on poverty, income, and health care. But do they paint an accurate portrait of poverty in America?
Music Button: Tristeza, “Cinematography,” Spine and Sensory (Better Looking, 2004)
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V. I. Warshawski Returns
Sara Paretsky—Author
Al Gini—Resident Philosopher
One of fiction's most beloved sleuths is back. Chicago author Sara Paretsky tells us about her twelfth V. I. Warshawki novel, Fire Sale.
Gini is a professor of philosophy and business ethics at Loyola University Chicago. He's also cofounder and associate editor of Business Ethics Quarterly, the journal of the Society for Business Ethics.
Book Details
Fire Sale (Putnam Adult, 2005)
Music Button: Whiskey Biscuit, “A Shot in the Dark,” Shots in the Dark (Del-Fi, 1996)
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Kanye and Common's Moms
Mahalia Hynes—Mother of Common
Dr. Donda West—Mother of Kanye West
Monique Carradine—Contributor
The mothers of Chicago rappers Kanye West and Common tell us about their sons' ascent to hip-hop stardom.
Music Button: Kanye West, “I'll Fly Away,” The College Dropout (Roc-A-Fella, 2004)
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Teen Moms
In this piece from the Curie High School youth radio program, teenaged mothers speak candidly about the challenges they face.
Their stories were brought to us by Curie graduate DeNashatae Horton and senior Carlos Maeda. The school is located on Chicago's southwest side.
Music Button: Fantasia, “Baby Mama,” Free Yourself (J-Records, 2004)
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StoryCorps: Finding Balance
Twenty-three-year-old Chris Jeckel lost sight in one eye when he was eleven and was blind by age sixteen. He talks with StoryCorps facilitator Rani Shankar about dating as a teenager and the challenges he still faces in finding meaningful intimacy.
Hear more excerpts, including Web-exclusive audio, in Chicago Public Radio's StoryCorps Audio Library >>
Music Button: Madvillain, “Accordion,” Four Tet and Koushik Remixes (Stones Throw, 2005)
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Music Lover Dave Williams
Writer and contributor Simon Smith brings us this profile of Chicagoan Dave Williams. |
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Eight Forty-Eight—August 29, 2005 |

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Daley Meets with Feds
What did federal investigators ask Chicago mayor Richard Daley, and what did he say? We're joined by Chicago Public Radio's Carlos Hernandez Gomez.
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The Devil's Highway
Originally broadcast April 28, 2004
Luis Alberto Urrea—Associate Professor of English, University of Illinois, Chicago
Ray Salazar—Writer and Contributor
In 2001, a group of fourteen Mexican men died in the Arizona desert. It's one of the deadliest illegal immigration incidents in U.S. history, and the story is recounted in a book by Chicago professor Luis Alberto Urrea.
Book Information
The Devil's Highway: A True Story (Little, Brown, 2004)
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Never a City So Real
Originally broadcast July 7, 2004
Alex Kotlowitz—Journalist
Jason DeRose—Correspondent, Chicago Public Radio News
You won't find posh restaurants and trendy nightclubs in Alex Kotlowitz's travel guide to Chicago, Never a City So Real. But you'll find stories about the lifeblood of the Windy City—its people.
Kotlowitz is also author of the award-winning book, There Are No Children Here. And he's a producer for Chicago Public Radio's Chicago Matters series >>
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The Theatre of Western Springs
Originally broadcast June 9, 2004
Bryon Abramowitz—Sound Designer, Theatre of Western Springs
Tony Vezner—Artistic Director, Theatre of Western Springs
We visit the western suburbs to take a peek behind the curtain of the largest volunteer-run community theater in the Chicago area.
The Theatre of Western Springs is located at 4384 Hampton Avenue in Western Springs. Its 2005–06 season opens on September 8 with Peter Colley's thriller, I'll Be Back Before Midnight.
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Route 61
Originally broadcast September 15, 2004
Tim Steil—Author
Gianofer Fields—Producer and Correspondent, Eight Forty-Eight
It's a counterpart to Route 66, and Chicagoan Tim Steil says his yearlong journey along U.S. Highway 61 changed his life. He's written a book about his experiences.
Book Information
Highway 61: 1,699 Miles from New Orleans to Pigeon River (MBI Publishing, 2003)
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Jazz Bassist Eldee Young
Originally broadcast February 6, 2004
An original member of the Ramsey Lewis Trio, Eldee Young's career has taken him from Chicago's west side all over the world.
Young appears on a jazz cruise, along with Marshall Vente and others, on Friday, September 2, 2005, aboard the tall ship Windy. |
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Eight Forty-Eight—August 26, 2005 |

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Month in Review
Carlos Hernandez Gomez—Correspondent, Chicago Public Radio News
Christi Parsons—Staff Reporter, Chicago Tribune
Ron Rappaport—Columnist, Chicago Sun-Times
We take a look at the most significant stories from the month of August with Chicago Public Radio's Carlos Hernandez Gomez, the Chicago Tribune's Christi Parsons, and the Chicago Sun-Times' Ron Rappaport.
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Finding and Prosecuting Nazis
Eli M. Rosenbaum—Director, Office of Special Investigations, U.S. Department of Justice
The Office of Special Investigations (OSI) was estbalished in 1979 to find individuals living in the U.S. who participated in Nazi activities during World War II. We talk with Eli Rosenbaum, the OSI's director, about the work of his office.
Related Link
Office of Special Investigations
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The Zoppe Family Circus
Originally aired August 26, 2005, during our news broadcasts
Linda Paul—Contributor, Chicago Public Radio
An old-fashioned European tent pitched in Addison, Illinois, marks the site of the 163-year-old Zoppe Family Circus. Contributor Linda Paul talks with the family of performers who keep this classic circus alive.
The Zoppe Family Circus is performing through August 28, 2005, at Caputo's Fresh Market—510 West Lake Street in Addison, Illinois.
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Looking Forward to Fall
Cara Jepsen—Writer
While many lament the summer drawing to a close, Chicago writer Cara Jepson is happy to wish it good riddance.
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Restoring Crown Hall to its Glory
Edward Lifson—Editor, Arts, Architecture, and Culture Editor; Chicago Public Radio
The Illinois Institute of Technology's S.R. Crown Hall is one of architect Mies van der Rohe's most important buildings. It's received a 3.6 million dollar facelift and been named to the national register of historic places.
Related Link
Illinois Institute of Technology
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City Serenade
David Hernandez—Writer and Musician
We listen to poet and musician David Herandez's ode to Armitage Street.
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A Female Henry IV
Sylvia Ewing—Producer, Eight Forty-Eight
Katie Kerry Govier—Artistic Director, Stockyards Theatre Project
Elizabeth Stiles—Actress
The Stockyards Theatre Project, a company devoted to promoting women in the theatre, is battling gender issues in Shakespeare by presenting Henry IV, Part One with a mostly female ensemble.
Henry IV, Part One continues through September 4, 2005, at the Theatre Building Chicago.
Related Links
Stockyards Theater Project
Theatre Building Chicago
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West Indian Folk Dance
Alfred Baker—Founder and Artistic Director, West Indian Folk Dance
Madeleine Bair— Producer, Eight Forty-Eight
Afro-Caribbean traditions and culture are passed on through Alfred Baker's West Indian Folk Dance company.
The West Indian Folk Dance company performs August 26 and 27, 2005, at 7:30 pm and Sunday, August 28, 2005, at 3:00 pm at the South Shore Cultural Center in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood.
Related Links
West Indian Folk Dance
South Shore Cultural Center
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Eight Forty-Eight—August 25, 2005 |

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Blagojevich to Sign Medical Tort Reform Bill
Keith Hebeisen—President, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
The measure caps non-economic damages in certain medical malpractice lawsuits. Illinois trial lawyers are already planning to challenge the legislation.
Music Button: Ohn, “The Birth,” In the End, All Things Begin (Ill Dough Productions, 2005)
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Hollinger Update
Jeremy Mullman—Reporter, Crain's Chicago Business
A former lawyer for Chicago Sun-Times parent company Hollinger International has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of helping cheat shareholders out of $32 million.
Music Button: Blue States, “The Interceptors,” Man Mountain (XL, 2002)
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Streeterville Tour
Gail Spreen—Vice President, Streeterville Organization of Active Residents
The downtown Chicago area east of Michigan and north of Chicago Avenue has experienced explosive growth in recent years. So residents concerned about the pace and direction of the development have drafted a plan of their own.
Music Button: Couch, “12 Sind Nur 4,” Profane (Matador, 2001)
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StoryCorps: Fighting Battles
Millicent Gordon talks with her wife, Ann Johnson, about their shared past and possibilities for their future.
Hear more excerpts, including Web-exclusive audio, in Chicago Public Radio's StoryCorps Audio Library >>
Music Button: James Brown, “Blind Man Can See It,” An Instrumental Thing (Polygram)
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Crooked Characters
Von Kommanivanh—Artist
Julie Walsh—Owner and Curator, Walsh Gallery
We profile the powerful, colorful work of self-taught Chicago artist Von Kommanivahn.
The exhibition, Von Kommanivahn: Crooked Characters, continues through September 3, 2005, at Walsh Gallery—118 North Peoria Street in Chicago's West Loop.
Related Link
Samples of Kommanivahn's Work—Walsh Gallery
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No Booze
Food contributor Steve Dolinsky explores how to pair high-end food with non-alcoholic beverages. He visits the wine steward at the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago.
Dolinsky is a food reporter for ABC Channel 7 in Chicago.
Music Button: Tom Waits, “Drunk on the Moon,” The Heart of Saturday Night (Asylum, 1974)
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I.O. at Twenty-five
Charna Halpern—Founding Director, I.O. Theater
Mike Myers, Amy Poehler, and Andy Dick are among the famous alumni returning to Chicago to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the renowned comedic training ground, I.O. Theater, formerly Improv Olympic.
Music Button: Esquivel, “Lazy Bones,” Space Age Bachelor Pad Music (Bar/None, 1994)
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Related Audio
Remembering Improv Legend Del Close
Broadcast March 9, 2005 |
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Fire Engine Returns Home
Steven Botta—Firefighter; Calumet City, Indiana, Fire Department
Gianofer Fields—Producer and Correspondent, Eight Forty-Eight
From the garage of a Minnesota collector, newly-restored Engine 659 has returned home to Calumet City, Indiana, where it was purchased in 1914.
Music Button: Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, “Ants Invasion,” Dim the Lights, Chill the Ham (Cargo, 1991)
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Related Audio
Historic Firehouses Across America
Broadcast November 12, 2004 |
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Cemetery Serenity
Chicago writer Mary Cross shares her love for her favorite spot: historic Graceland Cemetery.
It's located at the corner of Irving Park Road and Clark Street in Chicago's Lake View.
Cross teaches creative writing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and at Northwestern University.
Music Button: Calexico, “Over Your Shoulder,” The Black Light (Quarterstick, 1998)
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Eight Forty-Eight—August 24, 2005 |

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The Future of Chief Illiniwek
Ken Dobbs—Attorney; Member, Illinois Native American Bar Association
Bill Forsyth—Former Chief Illiniwek
Carol Spindel—Adjunct Lecturer, Department of English; University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Why has the University of Illinois mascot sparked so much controversy? And in light of decisions by the NCAA, what does the future hold for the Chief?
Guest Ken Dobbs is representing plaintiffs in a case against the University of Illinois's board of trustees arguing that Chief Illiniwek violates the Illinois Civil Rights Act. Bill Forsyth was Chief Illiniwek from 1984 to 1986. |
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The First Day of School
Thoughts from writer and contributor Daniel Ferri, who's a sixth grade teacher in the western suburbs |
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The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till
Originally broadcast January 14, 2005
On the fiftieth anniversary of Emmett Till's murder, we revisit an interview with filmmaker Keith Beauchamp. His groundbreaking documentary helped spur the U.S. justice department to reopen its investigation into the Till case. |
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Sketches from the Till Trial
Originally broadcast September 8, 2004
Lake Forest artist Frank McMahon recalls the Emmett Till murder trial and his courtroom sketches for Life magazine.
The sketches are part of the Chicago Historical Society's permanent collection.
Related Link
Chicago Historical Society |
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Lynching Exhibition
Originally broadcast June 13, 2005
Joy Bivins—Curator, Chicago Historical Society
A tour of a Chicago Historical Society exhibition featuring more than fifty black-and-white photographs of men, women, and children being lynched
Without Sanctuary: Lynching Photography in America continues through December 4, 2005.
Related Link
Chicago Historical Society |
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Status of the Till Investigation
We talk with the president of the Emmett Till Justice Campaign, Alvin Sykes. He's urging the U.S. justice department to create a cold case unit within its civil rights division to focus solely on cases such as Emmett Till's. |
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Eight Forty-Eight—August 23, 2005 |

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Naperville Teachers May Strike, Part One
The president of the Naperville Unit Education Association, Dave Griffith, tells us why the school year in the west suburban district may begin with a walkout.
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Naperville Teachers May Strike, Part Two
For a view from the other side of the possible picket line, we turn to Naperville School Board vice president Debbie Shipley.
Music Button: Dr. Lonnie Smith and David “Fathead” Newman, “The New Pollution,” Boogaloo to Beck: A Tribute (Scufflin', 2003)
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Illinois DCFS Tries to Balance Caseloads
Originally aired August 23, 2005, during our news broadcasts
Linda Paul—Contributor, Chicago Public Radio
The number of children in state care has declined sharply in Cook County, but increased in some suburbs and downstate areas. As DCFS tries to adjust, Linda Paul examines what changes might mean for both kids and caseworkers.
Music Button: Bliss, “The Suns of Afterlife,” Quiet Letters (Quango Music Group, 2005)
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Related Audio
Linda Paul's documentary on how well young people are prepared for life after foster care
Originally broadcast May 12, 2004, as part of our series, Chicago Matters: Our Next Generation |
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Related Audio
Chicago Public Radio's Steve Edwards hosts this special program on “aging out” of foster care.
Broadcast May 22, 2005 |
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Father-Daughter Poem
Chicago teen Shanava Monson brings us a poem about sexual identity and her search for her father's acceptance.
She performed it as part of the 2005 Young Chicago Authors poetry slam, Louder than a Bomb.
Related Link
Young Chicago Authors
Music Button: Pimp Daddy Nash, “La Femme C'est Mysterie,” The New Jazz Science (Eighth Dimensions, 2004)
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StoryCorps: Founder David Isay
A sleek, silver trailer housing a customized recording booth has rolled into Chicago for two weeks. The mobile studio is part of award-winning producer David Isay's oral history project, StoryCorps.
Learn more about and hear excerpts from StoryCorps in Chicago >>
Related Link
Ghetto Life 101
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StoryCorps: A Daughter's Fear
We kick off our series of excerpts from StoryCorps's visit to Chicago with north suburban Wilmette resident Barbara Royal. She interviews her mother, Charlotte Royal, about her own mother and memories of growing up in Chicago's Hyde Park.
Hear more excerpts, including Web-exclusive audio, in Chicago Public Radio's StoryCorps Audio Library >>
Music Button: The Six Parts Seven, “This One or That One,” Everywhere and Right Here (Suicide Squeeze, 2004)
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Chicago Historical Society President Gary Johnson
Before assuming the CHS helm, Gary Johnson had a lengthy career in law. But he studied history both as an undergrad at Yale and as a Rhodes Scholar. He tells us about his vision for the Historical Society.
Related Link
Chicago Historical Society
Music Button: DJ Zeph, “Transmitter,” DJ Zeph (Wide Hive, 2001)
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Sing a Song of Tuna Fish
Originally broadcast January 19, 2005
As summer camps give way to school days, we revisit a conversation with author and former teacher Esmé Raji Codell. She taps into her memories of growing up on Chicago's north side for her essay collection, Sing a Song of Tuna Fish.
Book Details
Sing a Song of Tuna Fish: Hard-to-Swallow Stories from Fifth Grade (Hyperion, 2004)
Music Button: Sonic Lounge, “The Sabre Dance,” Exotic Guitars (Ranwood, 2000)
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Power Plants and Water Supplies
Battles over electricity generation usually concern air quality or how much fossil fuel is burned. But one community faces a fight over how much water a new power plant might consume. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium's Shawn Allee reports.
Allee is a weekend host for Chicago Public Radio.
Related Link
Great Lakes Radio Consortium
Music Button: Pimp Daddy Nash, “The Sixty-nine Affair,” The New Jazz Science (Eighth Dimension, 2004)
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Dutch Elm Disease Makes Comeback
Scott Jamieson—President and CEO, The Care of Trees
Gianofer Fields—Producer and Correspondent, Eight Forty-Eight
What's behind an uptick in cases of Dutch elm disease? We meet up with certified arborist Scott Jamieson in Chicago's Grant Park, near a spot where city officials have uprooted an infected tree.
Music Button: Belly, “Feed the Tree,” Star (Sire/Reprise, 1993)
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Cicadas
Chicago Tribune columnist Mary Schmich shares these thoughts on summer's waning days.
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Eight Forty-Eight—August 22, 2005
An encore presentation exploring some of Chicago's neighborhoods |

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Chicago in the Forties
Originally broadcast May 5, 2003
Neal Samors—Author
Michael Williams—Author
Essays by prominent Chicagoans, hundreds of personal stories, and perfectly preserved photographs are collected in the coffee table book, The Old Chicago Neighborhood.
Book Details
The Old Chicago Neighborhood: Remembering Life in the 1940s
By Neal Samors and Michael Williams (West Ridge Historical, 2003)
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Related Audio
Samors and Williams discuss their book, Chicago in the Fifties: Remembering Life in the Loop and the Neighborhoods.
Broadcast June 28, 2005 |
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Related Audio
An interview with Richard Cahan, Samors and Williams's coauthor of the book, Real Chicago: Photos from the Files of the Chicago Sun-Times
Originally broadcast October 8, 2004
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Senior Chicagoan Dorothy Dust
Originally broadcast September 1, 2004
We visit Avenue O on the South Side, where Dorothy Dust has lived in the same house for all of her nearly eighty years.
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Tank Garden
Originally broadcast September 14, 2004
Frank Ramos—Committee Member, East Side Pride
Kay Sabo—Committee Member, East Side Pride
Under a highway viaduct near 100th and Ewing Avenues on Chicago's south side, marigolds and hibiscus bloom near a Vietnam War monument and an old M60 tank.
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R and B Legend Jerry Butler
Originally broadcast June 15, 2000
Jerry Butler—Musician
Richard Steele—Special Contributor
A conversation with musician, author, and Cook County commissioner Jerry “The Ice Man” Butler
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Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center
Originally broadcast January 12, 2004
Mervin Mendez—Executive Director, Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center
Carlos Flores—Contributor
Housed in a little building in Chicago's Wicker Park neighboorhood, the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center has a big mission: to encourage Puerto Rican culture in a multi-cultural society.
Related Link
Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center
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Eight Forty-Eight—August 19, 2005 |

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Changes in Cabrini Green
Originally aired August 19, 2005, during our news broadcasts
Catrin Einhorn—Correspondent, Chicago Public Radio News
Chicago's efforts to tear down public housing have prompted escalating property values and affected the racial and economic make-up of communities such as Cabrini Green. Chicago Public Radio's Catrin Einhorn talks to residents about the changes in their neighborhood.
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The CHA and the Economy
Kimbriell Kelly—Reporter,The Chicago Reporter
We further explore the economic impact of the Chicago Housing Authority's public housing plan with Kimbriell Kelly, the reporter behind The Chicago Reporter's investigation.
Music Button: Gorodisch, “Moth to the Flame,” Thurn and Taxis (Leaf, 2001)
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Data Mining
Robert Grossman—Director, National Center for Data Mining and the Laboratory for Advanced Computing; University of Illinois, Chicago
The practice of using technology to find patterns among disparate pieces of electronic information is known as data mining. It's being used in everything from consumer marketing to the war on terrorism.
Music Button: LFO, “Track 4,” Warp 10+2 (Matador, 1999)
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Theater Reviews
Jonathan Abarbanel—Theater Contributor
This week theater contributor Jonathan Abarbanel previews the Bucktown Arts Festival and the Rhinoceros Theater Festival, and reviews the Drury Lane Water Tower Place production of Mornings at Seven.
The Bucktown Arts Festival is August 27-28, 2005—events take place at a variety of locations in the Bucktown neighborhood. The Rhinoceros Theater Festival begins September 7, 2005, and all performances are at the Prop Theater. Mornings at Seven runs through August 28, 2005 at the Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place.
Related Links
Bucktown Arts Festival
Rhinoceros Theater Festival
Prop Theater
Drury Lane Water Tower Place
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Box Office Blues
Bruce Ingram—Assistant Editor, Pioneer Press
Pioneer Press film critic Bruce Ingram joins us to discuss Hollywood's disappointing summer box office returns.
Music Button: John Williams, “Star Wars,” Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Sony, 2005)
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Moving to the Movies
Chicagoans sound off on what it takes to get them into the multiplex.
Music Button: Quincy Jones, “Mr. Tibbs,” They Call Me Mr. Tibbs (Soundtrack) (Beyond Records, 2002)
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Making Over TV Guide
Wally Podrazik—Media Contributor
TV Guide is revamping their publication to include more entertainment articles, and no local television listings.
Music Button: Television, “Marquee Moon,” Marquee Moon (Electra, 2003)
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A Spin through House History
Chip E.—DJ and Filmmaker
A pioneer of the House Music scene, DJ Chip E. has produced a documentary chronicling the history of the pulsing, melodic, dance music: The Unusual Suspects: Once Upon a Time in House Music.
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New Face of the Pritzker Prize
Martha Thorne—Executive Director, Pritzker Architecture Prize
Edward Lifson—Editor, Arts, Architecture, and Culture; Chicago Public Radio
Chicago Public Radio's Edward Lifson talks with new Pritzker Architecture Prize executive director Martha Thorne about her
plans for seeking out new talent and finding future Pritzker laureates.
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Detroit Junior
We remember blues pianist Detroit Junior. He died August 16, 2005 of heart failure.
Featured Music: Detroit Junior, “Ella” and “Stagger Lee,” 8 Hands on 88 Keys (The Sirens,
1997)
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Eight Forty-Eight—August 18, 2005 |

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Individual segments are available below. |
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The State of the Illinois GOP
Jeff Berkowitz—President, JB Consulting Group, Inc.
Paul Green—Director and Arthur Rubloff Professor, School of Policy Studies, Roosevelt University
Kathy Posner—Former Republican Political Consultant
Ideological and high-profile political scandals have decimated Illinois Republican ranks in recent years. But the party hopes to restore its image and power in the 2006 election cycle.
Panelist Jeff Berkowitz is host and executive producer of Public Affairs on cable channel CAN TV. Posner is host of Political Forum, also on CAN TV.
Music Button: The Jigsaw Seen, “Baby Elephant Walk,” Shots in the Dark (Del-Fi, 1996)
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What's Wrong with Nepotism?
As heads continue to roll at Chicago City Hall, resident philosopher Al Gini drops by to reflect on hiring practices both public and private.
Gini is a professor of philosophy and business ethics at Loyola University Chicago. He's also cofounder and associate editor of Business Ethics Quarterly, the journal of the Society for Business Ethics.
Music Button: Ray Charles, “That Lucky Old Sun,” Genius and Soul: The Fiftieth Anniversary Collection (Rhino, 1997)
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Late Breaking News
Ken Herzlich—Videographer
George Houde—Writer and Contributor
Ken Herzlich trolls the streets of Chicago from dusk to dawn, capturing video that appears on morning news programs. His life on the front lines is the subject of the documentary, Late Breaking News.
The film is featured in the 2005 Chicago Underground Film Festival, which runs August 18–25 at the Music Box Theatre—3733 North Southport Avenue in Chicago's Lake View. Late Breaking News screens on August 21 at 8 pm and August 25 at 6 pm.
Music Button: The Blue Hawaiians, “Savage Night,” Savage Night (Interscope, 1999)
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Opera Singer Nicole Cabell
Just twenty-seven years old, the Lyric Opera-trained soprano won the BBC's 2005 Cardiff Singer of the World competition, widely considered the most prestigious operatic singing award on the planet.
Cabell performs as part of the Ravinia Festival's daylong 101st birthday celebration on Sunday, August 21, 2005. She appears at 3:30 pm with pianist and Ravinia president Welz Kauffman.
Related Link
Ravinia Festival |
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Eight Forty-Eight—August 17, 2005 |

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The State of Illinois Dems
Eric Adelstein—Democratic Political Consultant
Dick Simpson—Professor of Political Science, University of Illinois, Chicago
Carlos Hernandez Gomez—Correspondent, Chicago Public Radio News
Democrats are enjoying unparalleled strength in Illinois. So what effect will corruption scandals and political infighting have on the 2006 election cycle?
Panelist Dick Simpson is a former Democratic alderman for Chicago's forty-fourth ward.
Music Button: Mr. Scruff, “Come On Grandad,” Trouser Jazz (Ninja Tune, 2002)
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Demolition Derby
Shelley Boelens—Driver
Casey Lipe—Driver
Nathan Meeker—Driver
Charlie Perrine—Co-owner, P & P Motorsports, Inc.
Ron Perrine—Co-owner, P & P Motorsports, Inc.
Gianofer Fields—Producer and Correspondent, Eight Forty-Eight
Southwest of Chicago, bright-eyed drivers perform a ballet of smashed-up cars at the Ogle County fair.
Music Button: The Police, “Demolition Man,” Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings (A&M, 1993)
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What Chicago Readers Want
Tom McNamee—Columnist, Chicago Sun-Times
Mark Miller—Publisher and Editorial Director, Satisfaction Magazine
Steve Rhodes—Senior Editor and Media Critic, Chicago Magazine
What are Chicagoans seeking at the newsstand, and are the Tribune and Sun-Times providing it? We take our microphones to the streets, and our panel of experts weighs in.
Tom McNamee is editor of the Sun-Times's “Controversy” section.
Music Button: Booker T. and the MGs, “Fuquawi,” Melting Pot (Stax, 1971) |
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Funkadesi Remembers Its Drummer
Carlos Antonio Cornier—Musician
Rahul Sharma—Musician
Critically acclaimed for its funky fusion of Indian, Carribean, and African music, Chicago-based Funkadesi lost drummer Meshach Silas in February.
Related Links
Meshach Silas Memorial Page
Chicago Public Radio's Passport
Featured Music: Funkadesi, “Irie,” Uncut Roots (I.A.C.A., 2000)
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Eight Forty-Eight—August 16, 2005 |

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Individual segments are available below. |
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Emergency Contraception in Illinois
Michael Patton—Executive Director, Illinois Pharmacists Association
The head of the Illinois Pharmacists Association discusses a pharmacist's “right to conscience” as state lawmakers review a controversial rule requiring pharmacies to fill prescriptions for emergency contraceptives.
Music Button: Colette, “What's Wrong with Being Lonely,” Hypnotized (OM, 2005)
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State Troopers Take on Drug Traffickers
Diantha Parker—Correspondent, Chicago Public Radio News
The Chicago area is the hub of some of the nation's heaviest illegal drug trafficking. The Illinois State Police try to stem the flow by making carefully-chosen traffic stops, mostly at night. Chicago Public Radio's Diantha Parker rides along.
Music Button: Bruce Springsteen, “State Trooper,” Nebraska (Columbia, 1982)
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Meth Trafficking and Addiction
Dr. Abhin Singla—Addictionologist and Internist
For more on illegal drugs and their effect on both users and the larger community, we turn to Dr. Abhin Singla, former chief addictionologist for the Will County state's attorney.
Music Button: Rumah Sakit, “Hello Friend, This Is My End...the Beginning,” Obscured by Clowns (Temporary Residence, 2002)
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The Untold Story of a WWII Lynching
Jack Hamann—Journalist
Sylvia Ewing—Producer, Eight Forty-Eight
Forty-three African American soldiers, a quarter of them from Chicago, were accused of lynching an Italian prisoner of war in August 1944. But new evidence points to their innocence, as told in a book chronicling the case.
Book Information
On American Soil: How Justice Became a Casualty of World War II
By Jack Hamann (Algonquin Books, 2005)
Music Button: Memphis Slim and His Orchestra, “Train Is Comin',” Mercury Blues 'n' Rhythm Story: 1945–1955 (Polygram, 1996)
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The Logic of a Rose
Billy Lombardo—Author
Richard Steele—Special Contributor
Chicago's south-side Bridgeport neighborhood has a checkered reputation. Writer Billy Lombardo grew up there and recalls its softer side in his short story collection, The Logic of a Rose.
More from our summer reading series >>
Book Information
The Logic of a Rose: Chicago Stories (BkMk Press, 2005)
Music Button: James Brown, “Evil,” Soul Pride: The Instrumentals (1960–69) (Polydor, 1993)
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Torme Sings Torme
Singer Steve March Tormé is son of the late, great, Chicago native, Mel Tormé. He talks with us about his musical tribute to his father and his long and rocky road of musical and self-discovery.
Tormé Sings Tormé continues through September 4, 2005, at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre—111 West Campbell Street in northwest suburban Arlington Heights.
Featured Music: Steve March Tormé, “This Can't Be Love,” The Essence of Love (Rhombus, 2003)
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Eight Forty-Eight—August 15, 2005
An encore presentation |

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Individual segments are available below. |
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Nineteen Fifty-five Chicago
Originally broadcast February 22, 2005
Chicago Tribune columnist and WGN Radio host Rick Kogan explores the forces driving the Windy City back in 1955, when Fortune magazine declared Chicago “America's Most Exciting City.”
Kogan's article, “What an Amazing Year It's Been: 1955!” appeared in the February 20, 2005, edition of the Chicago Tribune magazine.
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The Streets and San Man's Guide to Chicago Eats
Originally broadcast January 27, 2005
Dennis Foley—Writer
Steve Dolinsky—Food Contributor
Dennis Foley drove for Chicago's streets and sanitation department for seven years. Along the way, he learned about little restaurants, taverns, and other culinary gems tucked away in all corners of the city.
Contributor Steve Dolinsky is a food reporter for ABC Channel 7 in Chicago.
Book Information
The Streets and San Man's Guide to Chicago Eats (Lake Claremont Press, 2004)
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Borinquen Restaurant
1720 North California Avenue
Chicago |
Tony's Beef
7007 South Pulaski Road
Chicago |
Chi Tung
9560 South Kedzie Avenue
Evergreen Park |
Top Notch
2116 West 95th Street
Chicago |
Frank and Mary's Tavern
2905 North Elston Avenue
Chicago |
Vito and Nick's
8535 South Pulaski Road
Chicago |
Sean's Rhino Bar
10330 South Western Avenue
Chicago |
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Adaptive Sailing
Originally broadcast May 25, 2005
Beth Finke—Writer and Contributor
The Chicago-based Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Foundation works with physically disabled people who want to learn to sail. We tag along as contributor Beth Finke gets her first lesson.
Finke is author of Long Time, No See, her account of losing her eyesight.
Related Link
Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Foundation
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The Art of Human Preservation
Originally broadcast February 8, 2005
Gunther von Hagens—Scientist
Gianofer Fields—Producer and Correspondent, Eight Forty-Eight
As the controversial Body Worlds exhibit continues at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry, we revisit an interview with German scientist Gunther von Hagens, who discovered the preservation method known as plastination.
Body Worlds: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies, runs through September 5, 2005.
Related Link
Museum of Science and Industry
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Glam-Rocker Bobby Conn
Originally broadcast February 25, 2004
Chicago musician Bobby Conn sits down with us about his 2004 album, The Homeland (Thrill Jockey Records). It's a collaboration with the Glass Gypsies.
Conn spins at Sonotheque on Tuesday, August 16, 2005, at 9:30 pm. Sonotheque is located at 1444 West Chicago Avenue on Chicago's near-west side. |
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Eight Forty-Eight—August 12, 2005 |

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Individual segments are available below. |
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Perspectives at the Pump
Chicagoans sound off on how record-high gasoline prices are affecting their everday lives.
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What's Behind Steep Prices
Douglas MacIntyre—Senior Oil Market Analyst, Petroleum Division; Energy Information Administration
With prices at gas stations hitting the three dollar per gallon mark, we discuss the factors that influence the cost of gasoline.
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How High is Too High?
Kenneth A. Small—Professor of Economics, University of California, Irvine
Will the gasoline price hikes cause people to change their driving habits?
Music Button: Clifford Brown and Max Roach, “Parisian Thoroughfare,” Alone Together (Verve, 1995)
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Conserving Your Resources
Eliot Silverman—Owner, Technical Tune-Up
If you have to drive, what can you do to cut down on fuel consumption? Mechanic Eliot Silverman offers some tips on how to get the most from your gas mileage.
Music Button: Nat King Cole, “Walkin' My Baby Back Home,” Penthouse Serenade (Capitol, 1998)
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Inside a Great Baseball Rivalry
Buzz Bissinger—Writer
Sylvia Ewing—Producer, Eight Forty-Eight
What happens inside the dugout during a Cubs/Cardinals game? Pulitzer Prize-winning author Buzz Bissinger takes us there in his book, Three Nights in August: Strategy, Heartbreak, and Joy Inside the Mind of a Manager (Houghton Mifflin, 2005).
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Sports Update
Cheryl Raye-Stout—Sports Contributor
The Cubs and Cardinals rivalry is in full swing in a four-game series at Wrigley, the White Sox are battling Boston, and the Bears have begun pre-season play.
Music Button: Mocean Worker, “Shamma Lamma Ding Dong,” Oliver Peoples Four (Quango, 2005)
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Chicago Boxing
J.J. Johnston—Writer
J.J. Johnston was a boxer in Chicago when it was the epicenter of the boxing world. Now he's coauthor of a book that explores Chicago's great fighting history from 1860-2005, Chicago Boxing.
Music Button: Charles Mingus, “Better Get Hit in Yo' Soul,” Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus (Impulse, 1963)
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Notebooks of an Apprentice Boxer
Originally broadcast on April 16, 2004
Loic Wacquant—Professor of Sociology, University of California, Berkeley
Sociology professor Loic Wacquant learned to box in Chicago's rings. We talk with him about his training and his book, Body and Soul: Notebooks of an Apprentice Boxer.
Music Button: Miles Davis, “Right Off,” A Tribute to Jack Johnson (Columbia/Sony, 1992)
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Film Reviews
Jonathan Miller—Film Contributor
This week Jonathan Miller reviews Jacques Demy's classic Donkey Skin and German director Werner Herzog's Grizzly Man.
Donkey Skin opens August 12, 2005 at the Music Box Theatre—3733 North Southport Avenue in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood. Grizzly Man opens August 12, 2005, at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema—2828 North Clark Street in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood and the CineArts 6—1715 Maple Avenue in Evanston.
Miller teaches film at Illinois Institute of Technology and the University of Illinois, Chicago.
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Eight Forty-Eight—August 11, 2005 |

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Individual segments are available below. |
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CPS Tutoring Report, Part One
Originally aired August 11, 2005, during our news broadcasts
Diantha Parker—Correspondent, Chicago Public Radio News
How effective are tutoring programs administered under the federal No Child Left Behind measure? Chicago Public Radio's Diantha Parker reports on a Chicago Public Schools analysis.
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CPS Tutoring Report, Part Two
For more on the Chicago Public Schools analysis, we're joined by education contributor Alexander Russo.
He's a contributing editor of Catalyst Chicago and also editor of the book, School Reform in Chicago: Lessons in Policy and Practice.
Related Link
Alexander Russo's Blog
Music Button: Miguel Migs, “Messages,” Reboot (Om, 2005)
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Where the Ink Sinks In, Part One
Chicago teens Jesus Alarcon and Jesus Carlin offer an education in writing graffiti.
They're part of the youth radio program at Curie High School on Chicago's southwest side.
Music Button: Space Safari, “Smoke,” Smooth Chill: The Radio Singles (Waveform, 2005)
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Disabilities Law Affects Special Education
Lorraine Forte—Consulting Editor, Catalyst Chicago
A key provision in the updated Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act is aimed at more quickly identifying special ed students.
Related Link
Catalyst Chicago
Music Button: Kaskade, “Back in My Life,” House of Om (Om, 2005)
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Arc of Justice
Originally broadcast June 15, 2005
Kevin Boyle—Author
Richard Steele—Special Contributor
We revisit a conversation with author Kevin Boyle, winner of the 2005 Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize for nonfiction.
Boyle teaches history at Ohio State University.
Book Information
Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age (Owl Books, 2005)
Music Button: Louis Armstrong, “West End Blues,” The Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Recordings (Columbia/Legacy, 2000)
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Spicy Food
Dave DeWitt—Author
John Manion—Executive Chef, Mas
Steve Dolinsky—Food Contributor
What's the difference among hot peppers, and how do you cook with them? Food contributor Steve Dolinsky heats things up in the kitchen with the coauthor of The Spicy Food Lover's Bible.
Dolinsky is a food reporter for ABC Channel 7 in Chicago.
Book Information
The Spicy Food Lover's Bible
By Dave DeWitt and Nancy Gerlach (Stewart, Tabori, and Chang, 2005)
Music Button: Red Hot Chili Peppers, “Behind the Sun,” The Uplift Mofo Party Plan (EMI, 1987)
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Hot Dog Poetry
Kate Seremek—Intern, Hello Beautiful!
We head to Millennium Park for some made-to-order verse.
The Poetry Hot Dog Cart is in the Park on Saturday and Sunday, August 13 and 14, 2005. It's open from 11 am to 5 pm both days.
Related Links
Millennium Park
Music Button: Led Zeppelin, “Hot Dog,” In through the Out Door (Swan Song, 1979)
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Rob Mazurek and the Exploding Star Orchestra
Assembled by Chicago native Rob Mazurek, the Exploding Star Orchestra brings together some of the city's finest avant garde musicians—including Ken Vandermark, Nicole Mitchell, Jeff Parker, and John McIntyre.
Featured Music
Orton Socket, “Heater,” 99 Explosions (Moikai, 2001)
Rob Mazurek, “Set One,” At the Hungry Brain, Chicago (Savage Sound Syndicate, 2005)
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Eight Forty-Eight—August 10, 2005 |

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Individual segments are available below. |
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Bush Signs Transportation Bill in Far Southwest Suburb
Chicago Public Radio's Carlos Hernandez Gomez joins us live from Montgomery, Illinois.
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Brown Line Tour
Graham Garfield—Transit Historian
As the CTA begins its Brown Line renovation project, we explore the history of what some have called the best urban “theme park ride in the country.”
Related Link
Chicago-L.org
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Brown Line Project Bad for Some Businesses
Cynthia Castiglione—Employee, Beans and Bagels
Some stations will be closed for months during the rehabilitation, so many businesses are bracing for a hit. They include Beans and Bagels, which has shops near the Montrose and Rockwell stops.
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Einstein and Time
Sean Carroll—Assistant Professor of Physics, University of Chicago
In 1905, Albert Einstein wrote five seminal papers that radically changed our understanding of everything—including time and space.
Guest Sean Carroll takes part in a discussion about “Time's Arrow” on Thursday, August 11, 2005. It's part of the Illinois Humanities Council series, “Einstein's Revolutions.” The panel is sold-out, but a Web stream will be available on the Illinois Channel.
Related Links
“Einstein's Revolutions”
The Illinois Channel
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Related Audio
Einstein as Icon
Originally broadcast May 5, 2004, on Odyssey |
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Einstein's Cosmological Constant
Aaron Freeman—Writer and Contributor
One of Albert Einstein's long-lost theories may hold a clue to the mystery of the expansion of the universe. Contributor and physics whiz Aaron Freeman heads to Fermilab to learn more.
Freeman is a comedian and journalist in Chicago.
Related Link
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory |
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The Park at Lakeshore East
Fountains, green space, a brightly-colored play area—architecture contributor Ed Keegan reviews an urban park nestled in the massive Lakeshore East development in downtown Chicago.
Lakeshore East is located near Wacker and Lake Shore Drives.
Keegan is a contributing editor for Architecture magazine.
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African Diaspora Art
Daniel Parker—Art Collector
Richard Steele—Special Contributor
Daniel Parker's Hyde Park home is filled with more than 400 pieces of African artwork. Now he's cataloged his nationally-renowned collection in a coffee table book.
Parker's collection will be accessible on Sunday, August 14, 2005, during a tour organized by Gallery Guichard.
Book Information
African Art: The Diaspora and Beyond (Dtex Publishing, 2004)
Related Links
African Art: The Diaspora and Beyond
Gallery Guichard
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Fair Use
Anne Elizabeth Moore—Writer and Artist
The associate publisher of Punk Planet shares her thoughts on the fair use statute and a local artist who's challenging the boundaries of what's allowed and what isn't.
Anne Elizabeth Moore is author of Hey, Kidz! Buy This Book: A Radical Primer on Corporate and Governmental Propaganda and Artistic Activism for Short People. She teaches at Columbia College Chicago and at the University of Illinois, Chicago.
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Chicago Teen Debuts on Def Poetry Jam
Nineteen-year-old Kristiana Colon is joining the ranks of Kanye West, Common, and Eight Forty-Eight contributor Kevin Coval.
Colon appears on the show Friday, August 12, 2005. It airs at 10:30 pm on HBO. She's hosting a screening featuring local hip hop poets in the Marquette Room of the Chicago Hilton—720 South Michigan Avenue.
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Eight Forty-Eight—August 9, 2005 |

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Individual segments are available below. |
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Bush to Sign Transportation Bill in Aurora
Chicago Public Radio's Carlos Hernandez Gomez reports on the political collaborations that helped Illinois secure a slice of the long-awaited, $286 billion federal transportation funding bill.
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Federal Transportation Bill's Regional Impact
Frank Beal—Executive Director, Chicago Metropolis 2020
Jon Hilkevitch—Transportation Reporter, Chicago Tribune
James Reilly—Chair, Regional Transportation Authority Board
Facing its worst fiscal crisis in years, will Illinois be able to capitalize on the federal funding? And what will the measure mean for area commuters?
Music Button: Ursula 1000, “Tigerbeat,” Kinda' Kinky (ESL Music, 2002)
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