February Guests and Topics

February 1 Guest: Jim Brandt, Mary Beth LeVan Topic: Jim Brandt, president of the Public Affairs Research Council detailed the controversy surround Metairie Rep. Charles Lancaster, who is upset about a $100 limit on wining and dining of lawmakers by lobbyists; Mary Beth LeVan of Baton Rouge talked of the loss of her son, 21-year-old Cpl. Kyle Grimes, in a helicopter crash in Iraq last week. February 2 Guest: Rupert Richardson, Ernie Ladd Topic: Rupert Richardson, former national president of the NAACP, and Ernie Ladd, longtime friend and supporter of President Bush previewed the president's State of the Union address. February 3 Guest: Vonnie Brown, Daniel Moneypenny Topic: Vonnie Brown, internationally acclaimed folk dancer from Baton Rouge, talked about her career and her 46-year marriage to LSU basketball legend Dale Brown; Advertising guru Daniel Moneypenny analyzed the $2.4 million cost for a 30-second commercial in Sunday's Super Bowl. February 4 Guest: Stephen Moret, Jed Allan, Alex Sheffield Topic: Stephen Moret, the president of the Chamber of Greater Baton Rouge, talked of economic development initiatives in his first three months on the job; Jed Allan looked back on 40 years as a soap actor; Alex Sheffield previewed the 18th annual Mardi Gras frisbee tournament in Baton Rouge. February 7 Guest: William Daniel, Jodi Conachen Topic: Rep. William Daniel talked about monitoring road conditions in Baton Rouge in his new assignment as interim Director of Public Works; Jodi Conachen discussed the latest developments at Woman's Hospital including a new website, www.womans.org. February 8 Guest: Jim Bernhard (encore presentation of Jan. 26 interview) Topic: Jim Bernard's Jan. 26th appearance was replayed on Mardi Gras Day. February 9 Guest: John Hogue, Patrick Sullivan Topic: John Hogue, president of the Christian Coalition in Louisiana, assessed the impact of evangelicals on American elections; Patrick Sullivan of the Louisiana Department of Labor previewed a March job fair for veterans in Baton Rouge. February 10 Guest: Major Garrett, Gwen Kelly Topic: Fox News reporter Major Garrett previewed his book "The Enduring Revolution" about the GOP takeover of Congress in 1994; Gwen Kelly of Consumer Credit Counseling Services dispensed tips to avoid a post-holiday financial crisis. February 11 Guest: Robert Jensen, Julie Rainbow Topic: Professor Robert Jensen of the University of Texas analyzed the controversy surrounding University of Colorado Professor Ward Churchill, who is under fire for calling 9/11 victims "little Eichmanns;" Author Julie Rainbow talked of her study of 50 African-American couples married more than 30 years. February 14 Guest: Oscar Richard, Murphy Neal Jones Topic: WWII POW Oscar Richard talked of his association with German heavyweight champion Max Schmeling, who he met in April of 1945 while being held captive in Germany. Murphy Neal Jones recalled his nearly seven years as a Vietnam POW. February 15 Guest: Lewis Ungelsby, Eric Guirard Topic: Attorneys Eric Guirard and Lewis Unglesby sparred over the merits of lawyer advertising. Guirard promises the "E Guarantee" while Unglesby opposes advertising for legal services. February 16 Guest: Ladan Rastin, Barry Weinstein, Al Krotoski, Peter Grumbacher Topic: Ladan Rastin, director of Hope VI, discussed an $18 million project to rebuild sections of Old South Baton Rouge; Rabbi Barry Weinstein and Dr. Al Krotoski debated the issue of assisted suicide; Peter Grumbacher recalled his dad who escaped Nazi prison camps as a youth and fought for the United States in WWII. February 17 Guest: Amy Alexander, Garnett Slatton, Joe Cook Topic: Journalist Amy Alexander, the Rev. Garnett Slatton and Joe Cook of the Louisiana American Civil Liberties Union weighed the merits of teaching ethics in business schools and spirituality in the workplace. February 18 Guest: Burl Cain, Jari Claflin Topic: Angola warden Burl Cain talked about life at the nation's largest maximum security prison with more than five thousand inmates and a $100 million dollar annual budget. February 21 Guest: Joseph McCormick Topic: Joseph McCormick, co-founder of The Democracy in America Project, revealed why he has given up on partisan politics. McCormick became an Independent after running for the U.S. House in Georgia as a Republican. He believes the battle between Red States and Blue States is poisoning the American political system. February 22 Guest: Jim Brown, L.D. Sledge, Lew Carter Topic: Jim Brown and L.D. Sledge told listeners of their comebacks from adversity. Brown served six months in federal prison after winning five statewide races; Sledge was disbarred after 43 years as an attorney. Lew Carter previewed his address to the Art Deco Society about the life of musician Jelly Roll Morton. February 23 Guest: Ron Gomez, C.B. Forgotston, Michael Tick, Kirk Bloodsworth Topic: Former Louisiana lawmaker Ron Gomez and lawyer C.B. Forgotston celebrated LSU's reversal of a decision to scrap Boys and Girls State this year; Director Michael Tick discussed his play "The Exonerated," which is showing at LSU. Kirk Bloodsworth talked about being wrongly convicted and sentenced to death for the murder and rape of a nine-year-old girl. February 24 Guest: Renita Coleman, Charles Birnbaum Topic: LSU Mass Communications Professor Renita Coleman discussed ethical standards of journalists in light of a series of scandals involving high-profile media members; Landscape Architecture expert Charles Birnbaum reviewed plans to enhance City Park in Baton Rouge. February 25 Guest: Todd Bridges, John Cooksey, Eric Guirard Topic: Actor Todd Bridges talked of his recovery from substance abuse and his long career on television and film; Former Congressman John Cooksey spoke against the war in Iraq from a GOP position; Attorney Eric Guirard unveiled a song in salute of the top-ranked LSU Lady Tiger basketball team. February 28 Guest: Gus Weill, Ron Pritchard Topic: Political consultant Gus Weill discussed the current American political landscape with President Bush having a 53 percent disapproval rating, and a Zogby poll showing Bush would beat John Kerry again; Golf architect Ron Pritchard spoke in favor of saving City Park's golf course.

March Guests and Topics

March 1 Guest: Jeff Fortenberry, John Hill, Nancy Jo Craig Topic: Congressman Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska talked of his youth in Baton Rouge; Journalist John Hill updated the condition of Secretary of State Fox McKeithen; Nancy Jo Craig of the Capital Area Corporate Recycling Council encouraged listeners to recycle old computers, noting that 300 million outdated ones are stored in people's homes and offices. March 2 Guest: Ernest Gaines, Sean O'Keefe Topic: Novelist Ernest Gaines talked of his remarkable career and life in Louisiana; LSU Chancellor Sean O'Keefe discussed his first week on the job and his hopes for the university. March 3 Guest: Charles Zewe, Genny Nadler Thomas Topic: Genny Nadler Thomas of the Council for the Arts discussed the opening of the Shaw Center; Journalist Charles Zewe talked of his 12  years at CNN, saying the network is "left leaning." March 4 Guest: Donald Ensenat, Luke LaVergne, Hypolite Landry Topic: White House Chief of Protocol Donald Ensenat talked of his four decade long friendship with President Bush, his former classmate, roommate and fraternity brother at Yale; Judge Luke LaVerge gave reasons for his party switch to the GOP; Former Baton Rouge Coroner Hypolite Landry recalled his famous patient, Elvis Presley, and remembered his flight around the world in 1969. March 7 Guest: Al Ater, John Heffernan, Michelle Zerba, Richard Webb, Susan Weinstein Topic: Al Ater talked of his duties running the Secretary of State's office in the absence of Fox McKeithen, who was paralyzed in a fall at his home on February 17th; Physician John Heffernan discussed humanitarian efforts in the Sudan where more than 300,000 people have died from war and famine in the last year; Michelle Zerba and Susan Weinstein of LSU and Richard Webb of Southern previewed Samarkand, a musical performance jointly presented by the universities this week. March 8 Guest: Kira Orange-Jones, Mike Hasten, Karen Rowley Topic: Documentary filmmaker Kira Orange-Jones discussed opportunities for African-Americans in film and her project based in Baton Rouge, "Expecting Men." Journalists Mike Hasten and Karen Rowley talked about the 54th annual Gridiron Show in Baton Rouge. March 9 Guest: George Sells Topic: WAFB anchorman George Sells reviewed the career of CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather, who is closing his career as the successor to Walter Cronkite.  Sells reviewed his 17 years at Channel 9. March 10 Guest: Amy Alexander, Garnett Slatton, Joe Cook (encore of Feb. 17 program) Topic: Repeat of Feb. 17 program with Amy Alexander, Joe Cook and Garnett Slatton. March 11 Guest: Chris Gautreau (host) Zia Tammami, Kevin Mulcahy Topic: Chris Gautreau interviewed LSU political science professor Kevin Mulcahy and Zia Tammani, who is celebrating his 30th anniversary of hosting "Spontaneous Combustion" on LSU's campus station. March 14 Guest: Nachman Shai, Raanan Gissin, Nigist Mengesha Topic: Opening a week of programs from Jerusalem was Nachman Shai, an Israeli journalist, who was assigned to address his nation throughout the first Persion Gulf War as Israel absorbed scud missile attacks; Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's spokesman Raanan Gissin analyzed the disengagement plan pushed by the government of Israel; Nigist Mengesha, the director-general of the Ethiopian National Project talked of challenges for Ethiopian Jews in Israel. March 15 Guest: Asil Musa, Liav Hertzman, Eyal Ben-Ari, Gideon Meir, Maya Kohanov, Wasfi Kailani Topic: Palestinian Asil Musa and Israeli Liav Hertzman discussed their roles in the group Seeds of Peace on the second day of broadcasting from the JerusalemHebrew University to seek answers to the violence between Israel Post. Professors Eyal Ben Ari, Wasfi Kailani and Maya Kohanov talked of a cross cultural effort at and Palestinians. March 16 Guest: Eliahu Weinstein, Jon Medved, David Parsons, Yoram Weiss Topic: Eliahu Weinstein, brother of Rabbi Barry Weinstein of Baton Rouge, talked of life in a West Bank settlement targeted for evacuation. Weinstein attacked the move by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon; Dr. Yoram Weiss of Hadassah Hospital discussed his role as head of the trauma unit where many victims of suicide bombings are treated; David Parsons talked of his role as spokesman of the International Christian Embassy; Jon Medved detailed the emergence Israeli companies that have given the country the second largest representation on the NASDAQ. March 17 Guest: Eran Duvdevani, Khalid Abu Toameh, Mike Danna, Adam Bronstone Topic: Colonel Eran Duvdevani spoke about counter-terrorism activities in Israel; Khalid Abu Toameh revealed his unique position as a Palestinian Muslim covering the Middle East for Jerusalem Post. Adam Bronstone of the Jewish Federation of New Orleans and Mike Danna of the Louisiana Farm Bureau talked of their week in Israel as part of the WRKF broadcasts from the Jerusalem Post. March 18 Guest: Danny Seaman, Motti Zaken, Lenny Ravich, Moshe Sinai Topic:  Guide Motti Zaken discussed the places the WRKF crew had visited over the past week including the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights and the locations where Jesus was crucified and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated; Government spokesman Danny Seaman contended that journalists covering news in Israel have more freedom to report than their counterparts in other parts of the Middle East; Humorist Lenny Ravich gave his reasons for the importance of laughter amid conflicts in the region; Mayor Moshe Sinai of Rosh Haayin talked of his blossoming city on the Palestinian border. March 21 Guest: Major Garrett, Melanie Couvillon, David Madden Topic: Major Garrett of Fox News discussed the Terri Schiavo case; Melanie Couvillon of the Community School for the Arts previewed the "Spring Explosion" program at the Shaw Center for the Arts; writer David Madden talked of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Robert Penn Warren. March 22 Guest: Masha Hamilton, Steve Zuckerman Topic: Journalist Masha Hamilton talked of journalistic ethics in covering stories in war zones; Neurologist Steve Zuckerman reviewed the Terri Schiavo case. March 23 Guest: Ed Friendly, Weam Namou Topic: Veteran Hollywood producer Ed Friendly discussed his role as creater of "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In" in the 1960s and his current project to return "Little House on the Prairie" to the small screen; Iraqi born Weam Namou contends Americans have misconceptions about the treatment of women in her native land. March 24 Guest: Marcia Gaudet, Lee Fletcher Topic: Professor Marcia Gaudet of the University of Louisiana talked of her book, "Carville." It details the 105 year history of the Hansen's Disease Center in South Louisiana; Former Congressional aide Lee Fletcher detailed the approval ratings for President Bush 20 weeks after his victory in November. March 25 Guest: Rodney Braxton, Kathryn Grigsby Topic: Former Assistant Chief of Staff to Gov. Mike Foster, Rodney Braxton, conveyed his reasons for remaining a Democrat while working for a Republican administration; Kathryn Grigsby of Hospice of Baton Rouge gave reasons for a living will with the country riveted to developments in the Terri Schiavo case. March 28 Guest: C.B. Forgotston, Ron Gomez, Tom Cornell, Jenka Soderberg Topic: Capitol watcher C.B. Forgotston and former Louisiana lawmaker Ron Gomez reviewed recent state stories, including the purchase of a luxury vehicle for Insurance Commisisoner Robert Wooley, a trip to Cuba and meal with Fidel Castro by Governor Blanco and Senator James David Cain planning to file legislation to make it illegal to remove a feeding tube in Louisiana; Tom Cornell and Jenka Soderberg of Wheels of Justice detailed their position against the Iraqi War and sympathy with Palestinians in the Middle East. March 29 Guest: Jere Longman Topic: New York Times sportswriter Jere Longman, a 1976 graduate of LSU, talked of stories he's covered from the baseball steroid scandal to the women's college basketball tournament. He previewed a book he's writing about Philadelphia Eagles fans and detailed his reasons for writing a book about Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania on 9/11. March 30 Guest: Buddy Roemer, James David Cain Topic: Former Governor Buddy Roemer recalled this day 24 years ago when President Reagan was the victim of an assassination attempt; Senator James David Cain previewed his proposed legislation to prevent the removal of feeding tubes in Louisiana unless there is patient consent. March 31 Guest: Clayton, John O'Neal, Eric Guirard Topic: Attorney Tony Clayton remembered his friend and colleague, Johnnie Cochran, who died this week of a brain tumor. Clayton also recounted his prosecution of Derrick Todd Lee; John O'Neal of Junebug Productions in New Orleans discussed the Color Line Project, which is designed to blend various cultural and ethnic groups; Eric Guirard discussed the popularity of his c-d "Tigers to the Top, the Return" in honor of the LSU Lady Tigers, who are playing in the Final Four this weekend.