As the muddy Mississippi winds its way past us in New Orleans, we’re reminded of the power and place of these waterways in American culture. First, we seek the source of the mighty river at the headwaters in Minnesota. Then listen to stories of steamboat captains, riverboats and rural fisherman. And learn about New Orleans own relation to the river with Tulane professor Richard Campanella. Plus river tales from Captain Doc Hawley, Aaron Neville and Al Green.

We start out on Monday 4/22 at 8 am with Nora Marks Dauenhauer, current Alaska Poet Laureate and her husband Richard, a former Alaska Poet Laureate.

Tuesday 4/23 at 8 am hear about the City of Palmer Projects Fair with a City of Palmer staffer.

Wednesday 4/24 Jeremiah Millen from Envision Mat Su will talk about the Wild and Scenic Film Festival this weekend and Envision Mat Su.

Thursday 4/25 the Citizen Lobbyist gives her thoughful weekly analysis of the city, the borough and the state.

Friday 4/25 Phyllis Kircher will entice us about the Mat Su Community Chorus concert on Sunday, April 28.

(image from http://www.mea.coop/index.php/my-co-op/management)

Here is the recording of that conversation:

MEA GM Joe Griffith interview 4.16.2013

Hear from all the candidates – even the ones without opposition.

Beth Fread moderated and we recorded the meeting.

Enjoy!

MEA 2013 Election Forum 4.11.13

Here is the full recording of that interview:

Beyond the Bear Interview

A 25-year-old backcountry wanderer, a man happiest exploring wild places with his dog, Dan Bigley woke up one midsummer morning to a day full of promise.

Before it was over, after a stellar day of salmon fishing along Alaska’s Kenai and Russian rivers, a grizzly came tearing around a corner in the trail. Dan barely had time for “bear charging” to register before it had him on the ground, altering his life forever. Rebroadcast at 5:3pm

We will post the podcast after the show airs on the radio.

Greg Gusse Interview 3.23.2013

(picture is from Greg’s blog, alaskatimes.blogspot.com )

The current Matanuska-Susitna Borough (MSB) All-Hazards Mitigation Plan is nearing the end of the 5-year planning cycle and we need your help to update the plan. Hazard mitigation is sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to people and their property from hazards. The planning team wants to ensure that this plan is comprehensive. The update process will require the review and revision of the following plan elements:
• Identification and description of hazards that may impact borough residents
• Vulnerability assessment
• Assessment of the MSB’s capability to mitigate hazards
• Hazard mitigation goals and objectives
• Hazard mitigation actions and projects
• Implementation strategy
• Plan maintenance strategy
The deadline to complete the update is August, 2013.
The Mat-Su Local Emergency Planning Committee will be working on issuing a survey and collecting comments and completed surveys through the end of April 2013.

We’re hauling out the vinyl and giving it a spin this week on American Routes. First, we’ll revisit our 2005 interview with the late Jerry Wexler, who produced many soul and R&B hits on Atlantic Records. Then we’ll go down into Maryland record connoisseur Joe Bussard’s basement to sample his wall-to-wall collection of rare blues and country 78s, and the massive sound system to play them. Also, a visit in Shreveport, Louisiana with record producer Stan Lewis to learn about his days producing pop, blues and R&B on the Jewel and Paula labels. Plus Bird Brain, the legendary Shreveport DJ who “broke” the records in the local black community… and nationally.

Repeats Tues. 3/5 at 7 pm