world news

The Making of a Reputation: Flannery O'Connor

Today we’re going to continue our look back at some of our favorite shows from the first four years of Two Way Street. Southern culture has always been an important theme for us. One example of that is our program celebrating the life and career of the great South Georgia writer Flannery O’Connor – one of the most important American literary voices of the 20 th Century.




world news

Grammy-Winning Roots Duo Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn On Their New Album

Today we’re revisiting a conversation with the royal family of roots music. On this edition of “Two Way Street,” Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn speak about their new album, “ Echo in the Valley .” This is their second collaboration, following the success of their self-titled debut, “ Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn ,” which took home the Grammy for “Best Folk Album” in 2016.




world news

Astronaut Scott Kelly On His Year In Space

We’re revisiting our conversation with astronaut Scott Kelly — and other favorites — as part of Two Way Street’s birthday celebration. To mark our four years on the air, we’re listening back to the shows that have stuck with us the most. And it was an easy decision to include this one — because Kelly is one of only two people who can say they’ve spent a year in space.




world news

Two Way Street: Denene Millner's Blog Helps Black Mothers

On this edition of Two Way Street we feature a conversation with Denene Millner. She’s a best-selling author, blogger and television personality. Denene’s blog, "My Brown Baby," has become one of the most popular resources for black mothers because it‘s devoted to helping them navigate the tricky waters of raising a black child today.




world news

Brandon Bush: A Life in Music

Bill Nigut’s guest on this edition of Two Way Street is Georgia-based musician Brandon Bush. He was an original member of Sugarland, one of the hottest acts in country music until they went their separate ways six years ago to the dismay of their millions of fans.




world news

Two Way Street: Virginia Prescott on Being a Good Listener

In an age when we all seem to be talking at each other, Virginia Prescott thinks we need to do a better job listening.




world news

Two Way Street: Southern Authors Rick Bragg and Armistead Maupin on Family and Identity

On this episode of Two Way Street, we hear from two Southern writers from the Decatur Book Festival. In front of an audience at the festival, new host Virginia Prescott interviews authors Rick Bragg and Armistead Maupin on the way their Southern heritage shapes their writing.




world news

Two Way Street: Obituary Editor Kay Powell And Musician Adron On Beginnings And Endings

On this edition of "Two Way Street," Georgia musician Adron stops by to talk and play a few songs from her new album "Water Music" before setting sail for the west coast. We also hear from a woman who made a career of saying goodbye: Kay Powell.




world news

Two Way Street: GPB Celebrates Brenda Lee's Georgian Roots

In honor of the Ken Burns series Country Music , Bill Nigut is taking over the On Second Thought Sunday time slot with a special edition of Two Way Street. This episode features his conversation with the legendary Brenda Lee, an artist featured in sections of the documentary.




world news

These Scientists Are On A Quest To Understand How Prevalent Coronavirus Is

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.




world news

How The Approval Of The Birth Control Pill 60 Years Ago Helped Change Lives

Updated at 9:44 a.m. ET As a young woman growing up in a poor farming community in Virginia in the 1940 and '50s, with little information about sex or contraception, sexuality was a frightening thing for Carole Cato and her female friends. "We lived in constant fear, I mean all of us," she said. "It was like a tightrope. always wondering, is this going to be the time [I get pregnant]?" Cato, 78, now lives in Columbia, S.C. She grew up in the years before the birth control pill was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, on May 9, 1960. She said teenage girls in her community were told very little about how their bodies worked. "I was very fortunate; I did not get pregnant, but a lot of my friends did. And of course, they just got married and went into their little farmhouses," she said. "But I just felt I just had to get out." At 23, Cato married a widower who already had seven children. They decided seven was enough. By that time, Cato said, the pill allowed the couple to




world news

Want To Adopt A Dog? First Ask Yourself: Can You Still Commit Post-Pandemic?

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.




world news

Opinion: Endangered Bird Couple Returns To Chicago's Shore

Monty and Rose met last year on a beach on the north side of Chicago. Their attraction was intense, immediate, and you might say, fruitful. Somewhere between the roll of lake waves and the shimmer of skyscrapers overlooking the beach, Monty and Rose fledged two chicks. They protected their offspring through formative times. But then, in fulfillment of nature's plan, they parted ways, and left the chicks to make their own ways in the world. Monty and Rose are piping plovers, an endangered species of bird of which there may only be 6,000 or 7,000 in the world, including Monty, Rose and their chicks. They were the first piping plovers to nest in Chicago in more than 60 years. After their chicks fledged, they drifted apart. Rose went off to Florida for the winter, and Monty made his way to the Texas coast. They'd always have the North Side, but were each on their own in a huge, fraught world. And then, just a few days ago, Monty and Rose were sighted again, on the same patch of sand on




world news

Week In Politics: U.S. Jobs Report, DOJ Drops Criminal Case Against Michael Flynn

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.




world news

Director Alice Wu On Her New Film 'The Half Of It'

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.




world news

Writer Caitlin Flanagan On Having Stage IV Cancer During The Pandemic

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.




world news

Pandemic Gardens Satisfy A Hunger For More Than Just Good Tomatoes

In this time of fear and uncertainty, people are going back to the land — more or less. Gardening might just be overtaking sourdough baking, TV binging and playing Animal Crossing as our favorite pandemic coping mechanism So here I am in my back yard, where I've got this lovely four foot by eight food raised garden bed — brand new this year, because yes, I'm one of those people who are trying their hand at gardening. I've got tomatoes, I've got cucumbers, I've got radishes, I've got beets sprouting up, I've got what I think might be a zucchini and a spaghetti squash, but the markers washed away in a storm. And I had some watermelon seedlings, but they died in the last cold snap. So that's why I'm out here today — driving in stakes and draping plastic wrap for the next cold snap. I have to be extra careful now, because I couldn't actually replace my watermelon seedlings — garden centers and hardware stores have been picked clean. Jennifer Atkinson is a senior lecturer in environmental




world news

Week In Sports: Competitive Cornhole To Air On ESPN, NASCAR Slated To Return

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.




world news

Women Bear The Brunt Of Coronavirus Job Losses

Very briefly, at the end of 2019 and the start of 2020, there were slightly more women on American nonfarm payrolls than men. That's no longer true. The historically disastrous April jobs report shows that the brunt of job losses fell on women. Women now account for around just under half — 49% — of American workers, and they accounted for 55% of the increase in job losses last month. One way of looking at why that matters that is to look at the gap that opened up between women's and men's unemployment last month. The below chart shows women's unemployment rate minus men's unemployment rate since 2007. Usually, the line bumps around near or just below zero — meaning men's unemployment is usually near or slightly higher than women's. But that spike on the far right shows how women's unemployment leapt to be 2.7 points higher than men's in April. Women had an unemployment rate of 16.2% to men's 13.5% last month. That's uncommon for a recession. The below chart is a longer view, and the




world news

So, You're Not Talking Much In Quarantine. Here's How To Keep Your Voice Healthy

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.




world news

Not My Job: We Quiz 'Full Frontal' Host Samantha Bee On Backsides

Samantha Bee is the host of the late night comedy show Full Frontal, so we've invited her to play a game called "Full Backtal." Three questions about the people who stand in for actors when a posterior shot is required, and the star is either unwilling or unqualified to do it. Click the audio link to find out how she does. Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.




world news

Predictions

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.




world news

Lightning Fill In The Blank

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.




world news

Limericks

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.




world news

Macon's Little Richard Dies at 87

One of Georgia’s most iconic musicians, Richard Wayne Penniman, better known as Little Richard, has died at age 87.




world news

Little Richard, The 'King And Queen' Of Rock And Roll, Dead At 87

Updated at 1:55 p.m. ET Little Richard, the self-described "king and queen" of rock and roll and an outsize influence on everyone from David Bowie to Prince, died Saturday. He was 87 years old. Wayne Chaney, his longtime bandleader and tour manager, tells NPR that Little Richard died at his brother's home in Tullahoma, Tenn., after a battle with cancer. Rolling Stone was the first to report of Little Richard's death. With his ferocious piano playing, growling and gospel-strong vocals, pancake makeup and outlandish costumes, Little Richard tore down barriers starting in the 1950s. That is no small feat for any artist — let alone a black, openly gay man who grew up in the South. He was a force of nature who outlived many of the musicians he inspired, from Otis Redding to the late Prince and Michael Jackson. His peers James Brown and Otis Redding idolized him. Jimi Hendrix, who once played in Little Richard's band, said he wanted his guitar to sound like Richard's voice. The late David




world news

U.K. Airlines, Airports Fear 'Devastating Impact' Of Possible Quarantine Rules

Airlines and airport operators in the United Kingdom are not waiting for the British government to publicly confirm their fears. Already, the groups representing major players in the U.K.'s air travel industry are pushing back on a proposal that would require travelers to quarantine after arriving from outside the country. A spokesperson for Airlines UK — a trade body with British Airways, EasyJet and Ryanair as members — says the group understands from government officials that plans for a quarantine are in the works, but that details remain scarce at the moment. "We need to see the detail of what they are proposing. Public health must of course be the priority and we will continue to be guided by Sage advice," the group said in a statement emailed to NPR, noting that support measures will be necessary to ensure "that we still have a UK aviation sector once the quarantine period is lifted." "We will be asking for assurances that this decision has been led by the science and that




world news

Medical Minute: Better Therapies For Uterine Cancer

In this week’s Medical Minute, Dr. Joseph Hobbs, chairman of the Department of Family Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, discusses a push to study a group of genes that may hold the key to finding better therapies for women with a rare, aggressive uterine cancer. The Medical Minute airs at 8:18 a.m., 1:20 p.m. and 5:18 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday on the 17 GPB radio stations across Georgia. For more Medical Minute episodes, visit the Medical Minute 2020 SoundCloud page.




world news

Macon Remembers Hometown Music Icon Little Richard

"The Architect of Rock 'n' Roll" is being remembered in his hometown of Macon, Georgia, after he died Saturday at 87. "Little" Richard Penniman created music like no one had heard before. And, growing up in Macon’s historically Black Pleasant Hill neighborhood, he was a kid like no one had seen before.




world news

Kemp: All Georgians, Regardless Of Symptoms, Should Use COVID-19 Screening App

Gov. Brian Kemp is encouraging all Georgians to undergo screening for the coronavirus as the testing supply continues to rise and the federal government plans to send enough swabs to test 2% of the state’s population. Speaking at the Capitol Thursday, Kemp said the change in guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention means those without symptoms can contact their doctor, local health department or use a free app from Augusta University to start the process.




world news

GPB Evening Headlines For May 7, 2020

GDOL Has Distributed $1.7 Billion In Unemployment Benefits Over Past 7 Weeks Georgia Lawmakers Meet Virtually, Discuss Budget Cuts In Upcoming Fiscal Year Coalition of Acitivists, Legislators Petition Gov. Kemp To Discuss COVID-19 In Black Communities USDA Reports Georgia Leads Nation In Blueberry Production




world news

NAACP, Arbery's Mother Call For Ouster Of DA After Shooting

The family of an unarmed black man who was shot and killed near Brunswick in February is calling for the resignation of the local district attorney. A rally is planned for Friday morning.




world news

Father, Son Charged With Murder, Arrested In Shooting Death Of Ahmaud Arbery

Gregory McMichael and his son, Travis McMichael, have been arrested on murder charges in connection with the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed Thursday.




world news

Small Business Owners In Georgia Open Their Doors To A Great Unknown

In the week since Georgia’s shelter-in-place order ended for most, businesses have started to open back up. But with new rules and wary customers, many small businesses are still finding their feet. GPB News reporters fanned out across the state to ask small business owners how their reopening process changes the way they operate.




world news

OST Full Show: The Merits, Risks, Politics Of The Swedish Model; COVID Dreams; Sue Monk Kidd

Compared to the lockdowns and shuttered businesses in countries across the world, Sweden is an outlier. Swedish officials have advised citizens to work from home and avoid travel, but most schools and businesses have remained open. This relaxed approach aims to minimize impact on the economy, and slow the spread of the virus through what is known as “herd immunity.” Now, as the U.S. weighs further spreading the disease against the impact of a tanked economy, some Americans — particularly conservatives — are looking toward Sweden’s model as an option. On Second Thought unpacks the merits, risks and strategy behind Sweden’s approach, and what has become a political talking point here in the U.S.




world news

GBI: 'Sufficient Probable Cause' Led To Arrest Of 2 Men In Arbery Killing

The head of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a Friday briefing that after two days of investigating the two-month-old shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery there was “sufficient probable cause” to arrest two men on charges of aggravated assault and felony murder. And GBI Director Vic Reynolds didn't rule out more arrests in the future.




world news

Political Rewind: The 2-Month Timeline Behind Murder Charges

Friday on Political Rewind , a brief look at the two-month timeline that led up to murder charges this week in the case of Ahmaud Arbery. New developments draw into question decision-making at the local level.




world news

Nightmares And Viral Scares: How COVID-19 Manifests In Our Dreams

In addition to changing many aspects of our waking lives, coronavirus has also shifted how we dream. Institutions around the world have been collecting examples of dreams since the outset of the pandemic, and some researchers found a 35% increase in dream recall since lockdown. On Second Thought sat down with Harvard University Assistant Professor Deirdre Barrett to learn more about the impact of COVID-19 on our dreaming minds. Barrett has analyzed dreams of World War II soldiers, 9/11 first responders, and Kuwaitis under Iraqi occupation. Since March, she’s collected details on more than 7,000 dreams to study how people are responding to coronavirus in their dreams.




world news

Medical Dogs Could Be Used To Detect COVID-19 By Scent

You've most likely seen bomb-sniffing dogs at the airport when you've gone through the security line. In a post-coronavirus world, we could get used to seeing dogs in security checkpoints as we stand in line at stadiums, concert venues and even bars. These dogs wouldn't be sniffing for bombs, however. They would be tracking the scent of people who have COVID-19.




world news

LISTEN: 911 Dispatcher Doesn’t Understand What Arbery Is ‘Doing Wrong’

In the 911 call regarding the fatal incident involving Ahmaud Arbery and his assailants, Gregory and Travis McMichael, the 911 dispatcher said she didn't understand what Arbery was "doing wrong."




world news

GPB Evening Headlines For May 8, 2020

GBI Make 2 Arrests In The Shooting Death Of Ahmaud Arbery Georgia Tests 2% Of State Population For COVID-19, Expecting To Test Another 2% By End Of May Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Voices Displeasure With Gov. Kemp's Reopening Strategy Delta CEO Thinks Testing, Contact Tracing Critical Before Customers Become Confident Enough To Fly




world news

The Merits, Risks And Politics of Sweden's Herd Immunity Strategy

Compared to the lockdowns and shuttered businesses in countries across the world, Sweden is an outlier. Swedish officials have advised citizens to work from home and avoid travel, but most schools and businesses have remained open. This relaxed approach aims to minimize impact on the economy and slow the spread of the virus through what is known as “herd immunity.” But striving for herd immunity without a controlled vaccine in place can also prove risky.




world news

Brunswick Attorney Who Leaked Video Confirms He Is Not Representing Anyone In Arbery Shooting

Alan David Tucker of the Tucker & Browning law firm said Friday he is not representing anyone in the murder case against Travis McMichael and his father, Gregory McMichael.




world news

Sue Monk Kidd’s 'The Book Of Longings' Imagines The Story Of Jesus’ Wife

Author Sue Monk Kidd was raised in a conventionally Baptist family in Sylvester, Georgia. Her memoir, The Dance of the Dissident Daughter , follows her turn from fundamentalism into sacred feminine traditions. While best known for The Secret Life of Bees , Sue Monk Kidd has written three bestselling novels. Her newest novel, The Book of Longings , imagines the life of a first century woman named Ana, who becomes the wife of Jesus of Nazareth.




world news

What You Need To Know: Keeping Small Town Newspapers Alive

Georgia Public Broadcasting’s new series What You Need To Know: Coronavirus provides succinct, fact-based information to help you get through the coronavirus pandemic with your health and sanity intact. The news industry is being hit hard by the economic downturn triggered by the pandemic. One Georgia paper struggling is The Walton Tribune in Monroe. It’s been around since 1900, and prints twice a week. Since the start of the pandemic, the paper has had to cut salaries to avoid layoffs. Publisher and editor David Clemons tells GPB's Virginia Prescott he hopes to eventually return those salaries to normal.




world news

Despite 100K COVID-19 Tests in 10 Days, Georgia Lags In Mass Testing

The Georgia Department of Public Health reached its goal of testing 100,000 individuals in 10 days, but the state is still behind on mass testing.




world news

Ahmaud Arbery Family, Local Leaders Call For Brunswick DA To Resign

A huge crowd rallied in Brunswick Friday to celebrate the arrests made in the February shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery, and to call for further action.




world news

Macon's Little Richard Dies at 87

One of Georgia’s most iconic musicians, Richard Wayne Penniman, better known as Little Richard, has died at age 87.




world news

Macon Remembers Hometown Music Icon Little Richard

"The Architect of Rock 'n' Roll" is being remembered in his hometown of Macon, Georgia, after he died Saturday at 87. "Little" Richard Penniman created music like no one had heard before. And, growing up in Macon’s historically Black Pleasant Hill neighborhood, he was a kid like no one had seen before.