Gene Demby is the lead blogger for NPR's Code Switch team.

Before coming to NPR, he served as the managing editor for Huffington Post's BlackVoices following its launch. He later covered politics.

Prior to that role he spent six years in various positions at The New York Times. While working for the Times in 2007, he started a blog about race, culture, politics and media called PostBourgie, which won the 2009 Black Weblog Award for Best News/Politics Site.

Demby is an avid runner, mainly because he wants to stay alive long enough to finally see the Sixers and Eagles win championships in their respective sports. You can follow him on Twitter at @GeeDee215.

The Jim Engster Show
12:53 pm
Tue May 14, 2013

WEDNESDAY: BRSO's Tim Muffett, A Discussion of Post Secondary Education, Author Jessica Wapner

Former Home Depot CEO Steve Odland and Patrick Callan, with the National Center for Public Policy & Higher Education, discuss the importance of post-secondary education.

Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra conductor Maestro Tim Muffett talks about the upcoming performance by Tony Award winning singer Audra McDonald and more.

Medical journalist and author Jessica Wapner on her book, "The Philadelphia Chromosome"


Second Amendment
11:29 am
Tue May 14, 2013

Firearms Manufacturing Bill Advances in Senate

A bill that would allow gun buyers and sellers to circumvent any federal firearm ban if a gun is manufactured in-state has advanced in the Senate.

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Capitol Access
8:15 am
Tue May 14, 2013

Hospital Privitization Costs Still Foggy After Auditor's Report

Lawmakers that have fought the Administration for more power in the process of privatizing the state’s charity hospitals may get their wish as they consider funding for the cost of laying off hospital workers.

According to a report by the state auditor’s office, the privatization will cost the state 42 million dollar in leave payouts and unemployment payments. 

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The Jim Engster Show
11:51 am
Mon May 13, 2013

TUESDAY: Political Consultant Roy Fletcher, LSU MOA's Fairleigh Cook Jackson

With three weeks remaining in the 2013 Legislative session, Jim looks at how things are going at the State Capitol, with veteran political consultant Roy Fletcher.

Fairleigh Cook Jackson, with the LSU Museum Of Art, talks about an exciting new exhibit.

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Rebecca Plevin is a reporter for Valley Public Radio. Before joining the station, she was the community health reporter for Vida en el Valle, the McClatchy Company's bilingual newspaper in California's San Joaquin Valley. She earned the George F. Gruner Award for Meritorious Public Service in Journalism and the McClatchy President's Award for her work at Vida, as well as honors from the National Association of Hispanic Publications and the California Newspaper Publishers Association. Plevin grew up in the Washington, D.C. area and is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. She is also a fluent Spanish speaker, a certified yoga teacher, and an avid rock-climber.

Conversations in Medicine
7:41 am
Sun May 12, 2013

Ochsner's Transplant Team Heralded

The Multi-Transplant Institute Team at the Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans was recognized as Number One in the U.S. for the year 2012 by CareChex, based on mortality and complication rates. Dr. Nigel Girgrah, Liver Transplant Director, says Ochsner's Living Donor Program helps prevent deaths of patients on the waiting list by reducing wait times. 


Bayou Garden
7:20 am
Sat May 11, 2013

Reliable Summer Color in the Shade

Credit Laura Anne Heller / Flickr
Caladium sprouting from its tuber.

Caladiums' colorful foliage emerges from the ground on arching stems. Their elegant beauty also makes the plant a staple in the most accomplished gardener's landscape.


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Breaking
5:28 pm
Fri May 10, 2013

House Overwhelmingly Backs Budget Compromise

With a 95-3 vote, a nearly $25 billion budget is heading to the Senate for approval after days of negotiations. But it’s not the plan Gov. Bobby Jindal wanted.

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The Jim Engster Show
12:51 pm
Fri May 10, 2013

MONDAY: Author and Professor J. Michael Desmond, Tim Young From The HIV Alliance of BR

Author and Professor J. Michael Desmond talks about his book, The Architecture Of LSU"

Tim Young, with the HIV Alliance of Baton Rouge, on why the Capital area has such an alarmingly high HIV rate.


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