News & Public Affairs

Host Lisa Morrison interviews Jim Butler, author of “Indiana Wine” and owner of Butler Winery in Bloomington, Indiana. Learn about the grape harvest this year, John James Dufour, the founder of Indiana wine and the Swiss Colony in Vevay, Indiana. Also, learn about the new state legislation for wine distribution in Indiana and how local growers are responding to the …

Host Mylo Roze speaks with Reverend Hal Taylor, PhD, President of Citizens for Effective Justice (CEJ) and Vid Beldavs, Executive Director of New Leaf, New Life, Inc. Both organizations advocate for citizens affected by or involved in the criminal justice system. CEJ, as a community forum, began as Citizens Investigating the Death of James Borden, the Bedford man who died …

Host John Brunicon spends an hour with locally-based State Senator Vi Simpson. Two of Vi’s favorite topics, health care and education, are discussed in detail. The conversation also includes a frank discussion of I-69 and the lease of the Northern Indiana Toll Road along with sweeping coverage of recent resolutions that Senator Simpson helped to become law.

Host Andy Mahler explores “permaculture” with guests Peter Bane and Rhonda Baird. Permaculture is about designing ecological human habitats and food production systems. It is a land use and community building movement which strives for the harmonious integration of human dwellings, microclimate, annual and perennial plants, animals, soils, and water into stable, productive communities. The focus is not on these …

Host Robert Shull interviews IU Professor Mike Gasser about his Machine Language Translation project, about the Progressive Faculty Coalition (PFC), and about the World Social Forum. Mike explains that the language project is about a lot more than just translation. It involves, among other things, machines learning to evaluate texts for bias or point of view and involves many languages …

Host Mylo Roze speaks with Brandon Pitcher, an Indiana native & representative of Zero Emissions Research & Initiatives (ZERI) about ecologically oriented systems design which strive to improve efficiency & eliminate waste in manufacturing & societal activities. Ethically & scientifically instructive fables are read aloud by Mylo & Brandon. Calls are taken from local residents & upcoming events are highlighted. …

What will Bloomington look like in ten, twenty, or fifty years? How does smart planning keep Bloomington a beautiful place to live? Host John Brunicon talks with city planning director Tom Micuda about building a collective vision to maintain and enhance our quality of life. Topics include the new unified zoning ordinance for the city, specific challenges to local planning …

Explore our local independent youth symphony with its director and key staff. Host Lisa Morrison welcomes Thomas Loewenheim, conductor of the Bloomington-based Musical Arts Youth Orchestra along with board members Catherine Marchese and Richard Jenness, both of whom are also parents of participants. Topics include the history of the organization, the challenges and triumphs of youth symphony performance, and the …

Host Andy Mahler interviews legendary forest activist and Earth First! co-founder Mike Roselle. A Louisville, Kentucky native, Roselle has travelled to the farthest reaches of the planet to defend wild places and the indigenous communities that depend on the forests for their survival. He is also the founder of the Ruckus Society (www.ruckus.org), co-founder of the Rainforest Action Network (www.ran.org), …

Host Lisa Morrison interviews Danielle Bachant-Bell from Bloomington Restorations Incorporated, a private not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Bloomington and Monroe County’s historic architecture and old neighborhoods. Our discussion focuses on the organization’s unique headquarters, the historical Hinkle-Garton farmstead. Plans for the Hinkle-Garton farmstead focus on making the property an educational resource for the local community and the region, …