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City Visions: What Does The COVID-19 Pandemic Mean For Our Mental Health?

Is COVID-19 impacting your mental health? You're not alone. Host Grace Won speaks to healthcare professionals about strategies to combat loneliness, anxiety and depression during this pandemic.




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New Tax Laws Effect Estate Planning

Your Legal Rights Host Jeffrey Hayden welcomes Janet Brewer and Alicia Gamez, specialists in estate planning, wills, trusts and probate law. We consider new tax laws' effects on planning and special issues to do with international assets and family minors. Questions for Janet and Alicia? Please call toll-free 866-798-8255.




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Torts 1, 2, 3 -- You've been injured? What's next?

You've been injured. What do you do? What happens next? Torts 1, 2, 3. How do you assert and affirm your rights in case of personal injury? Host Jeffrey Hayden welcomes Rolando Pasquali and James Thompson, both practicing personal injury litigation attorneys and members of the San Mateo County Bar Association. It's the last Wednesday of the month and it's Call A Lawyer Night . Call (800) 525-9917 to have tonight's guests answer your questions. You can also talk privately to a lawyer off the air from 7 to 8pm at the same phone number. On Thursday June 28th two attorneys are offering their time as a no-obligation public service out of their offices to those who wish to call during the times below. Janet Frankel, Certified Specialist in Family Law, 9 to 11am at (415) 362-9533 Leon Bayer, Certified Specialist in Bankruptcy Law, 9 am noon at (800) 477-3111




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What is right with this picture?

Brett Kavanaugh is nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court: What is the process next, and what differences will it make? Host Jeff Hayden welcomes Dean Johnson. Emmy-nominated commentator on processes legal and political, Mr. Johnson practices criminal defense and civil litigation. Questions/comments for Dean and Jeff? Please call toll-free 866-798-8255.




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Landlord-Tenant Updates Summer 2018

Landlord-Tenant laws, disputes, issues & updates: Summer 2018. Host Jeffrey Hayden welcomes Jessica Chylik and Sal Timpano. With offices in San Francisco, both represent Landlords and Tenants. Questions for Sal and Jessica? Please call toll-free 866-798-8255. Also, this is our once-a-month Call-A-Lawyer Night. So, while Your Legal Rights broadcasts on 91.7 FM (online kalw.org) 7 'til 8pm PDT, attorneys are available off-the-air as well -- 800-525-9917, for private no-fee consultation on a variety of legal questions. Lastly, Thursday, July 26th: 1] Janet Frankel, Certified Specialist, will take Family Law questions from 10:00-11:30 AM PDT, 415-362-9533; & Friday, July 27th: 2] Leon Bayer, Certified Specialist, will take calls on Bankruptcy Law, 9am-Noon PDT, 800-477-3111 -- Ms Frankel's & Mr Bayer's public service without obligation to KALW listeners.




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Workers' Compensation A to Z

Host Jeff Hayden welcomes Robert Wyman and Jason Marcus, Specialists in Workers' Compensation Law, certified by the California Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of California. Questions for Robert and Jason? Please call Your Legal Rights toll-free 866-798-8255.




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"Collaborative Courts 101"




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Patents 101

In a welcome return engagement with Your Legal Rights, host Jeff Hayden's guests are patent attorneys Ron Rohde and Myrna Schelling. We consider patents, copyrights, intellectual property, public domain, provenance -- In all, "Patents 101". Questions for Ron and Myrna? Please call toll-free 866-798-8255.




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Landlord/Tenant Laws, Issues, Initiatives

Landlord/Tenant -- Host Jeff Hayden welcomes Sal Timpano to consider issues, laws & initiatives as Elections loom, November 6th. Ballot propositions borrowed here from a round-up by Capital Public Radio's Emily Zentner: Allowing Local Authorities to Enact Rent Control measures, Prop 10 would give Cali localities freedom to enact rent controls. On this November's ballot, Proposition 10 would repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act and its ban on certain types of rent control [http://www.capradio.org/articles/2018/06/20/rent-control-is-coming-to-californias-november-ballot-heres-whats-at-stake/], including protections for tenants of single-family homes, condos and apartments built after 1995. Also check Liza Veale's KALW capsule on Prop 10 Other props pertinent to housing are 1, 2 & 5. Recently, San Franciscans voting in June 2018, enacted Prop F. As described in National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) report leads off: "During the California state primary election on




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Farmworkers & Meatpacking Workers Say They Aren't Being Protected From COVID-19

On this edition of Your Call, we’ll talk about farmworkers and meat processing plant workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis.




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'Shelter In Place' Has Increased Domestic Violence Calls. What Support Is Available?

On this edition of Your Call, we’re hearing how people experiencing domestic violence are receiving support while sheltering at home during the COVID-19 crisis. Organizations around the globe are seeing an increase in domestic violence calls.




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One Planet: Tackling The Climate Crisis As We Mark The 50th Anniversary of Earth Day

On this edition of Your Call’s One Planet Series, we’ll mark the 50 th anniversary of Earth Day by discussing the Trump administration’s drastic changes to US environmental policies.




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One Planet: Lessons From The Deepwater Horizon Disaster & The Future Of The Fossil Fuel Industry

On this edition of Your Call’s One Planet Series, we're speaking with journalist and author Antonia Juhasz about the 10th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion, which spewed over 130 million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico, making it the worst oil spill in US history.




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The COVID-19 Crisis In Indian Country Exposes Broken Treaties & US Obligations

On this edition of Your Call, we're discussing how COVID-19 is affecting Indian Country. There are nearly 1,900 confirmed cases across the Navajo Nation and 60 reported deaths.




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Why Are Meat Processing Plants Reopening After Major COVID-19 Outbreaks?

On this edition of Your Call, we're getting an update on the COVID crisis in meatpacking plants. At least 31 meat processing plants owned by Smithfield, JBS and Tyson Foods have had coronavirus outbreaks.




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SF Has Filled Less Than 3,000 Hotel Rooms For The Unhoused. Advocates Say It's Not Enough.

On this edition of Your Call, we’ll get an update on how San Francisco is handling its unhoused population during #COVID19. Last week, advocates staged a protest outside of Mayor London Breed’s house to demand more hotel rooms for people without homes.




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What Systemic Changes Are Needed Now That Millions In The US Are Newly Uninsured?

On this edition of Your Call, we’re speaking with award-winning health journalist Trudy Lieberman about the current state of US health coverage since the Affordable Care Act passed 10 years ago.




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Matthew Knox on pressure of wonderkid status, Manchester United trials and training at Rangers and Spurs

He was Scottish football's next big prospect.




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In full: Partick Thistle criticise SPFL in scathing letter and hit out at 'agenda' accusations

Partick Thistle have released, in full, a letter sent by the club to SPFL chiefs following the news that league reconstruction has been scrapped - confirming the Jags' relegation.




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‘Testmatch’ @ A.C.T. - French Film Noir Series - Symphonia Caritas - SFSYO Conductor Daniel Stewart

This week on Open Air, KALW’s radio magazine for the Bay Area performing arts, host David Latulippe talks with actors Meera Rohit Kumbhani (pictured, left) and Avanthika Srinivasan (right), cast members of the world premiere of Testmatch , which runs at A.C.T.’s Strand Theater through December 8.




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The SpongeBob Musical - 'Chicago' in San Jose - Il Trovatore - MindTravel @ Aquarium of the Bay

This week on Open Air, KALW’s weekly radio magazine for the Bay Area performing arts, host David Latulippe talks with actors Lorenzo Pugliese and Daria Pilar Redus (pictured), who play the parts of SpongeBob SquarePants and his squirrel girlfriend Sandy Cheeks, in The SpongeBob Musical , which is in town through February 16.




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Open Air’s Corona Radio Theater presents: Word for Word & Tobias Wolff’s ‘Firelight’ – on Zoom

Regular contributor and critic at large Peter Robinson explores how My Fair Lady turned Shaw’s Pygmalion into a fine musical. ===================== his week on Open Air, KALW’s live radio magazine for the Bay Area Performing Arts in Times of Corona, we raise the virtual curtain for the first installment of Open Air’s Corona Radio Theater . Featuring this week is theater company Word for Word ; renowned for bringing short stories from the page to the stage, fully theatricalized; and their reading - on Zoom - of Tobias Wolff's story, Firelight .




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Up Next in Open Air’s Corona Radio Theater: San Francisco Playhouse & ‘Sorry, Wrong Number’

This week on Open Air, KALW’s live radio magazine for the Bay Area Performing Arts in Times of Corona, the virtual stage of Open Air’s Corona Radio Theater features San Francisco Playhouse , and their production of one of the most celebrated plays in the history of American radio, Lucille Fletcher’s Noir thriller Sorry Wrong Number .




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Of Note: Philip Glass' Composition Metamophosis is 'Like Color Coating a Glacier'

When violinist Anne Akiko Meyers embarked on a new interpretation of Philip Glass' "Metamorphosis ," the composer directed her to his longtime collaborator Michael Reisman. Turns out Reisman was already collaborating with Meyers in her new release in an arrangement of Arvo Pärt's "Fratres." These two meditative pieces on Meyers' album Mirror in Mirror (itself a reference to Pärt) contribute to a whole characterized by haunting beauty—featuring lullabies and sunken ships. "You have to create this beautiful sonic world full of color and movement and breath, and to make it sing, yet while sculpting these long, slow notes," says Meyers of Reisman's adaptation. "It felt to me like color coating a glacier." Listen to the full conversation between Of Note's Katy Henriksen and violinist Anne Akiko Meyers by clicking on the streaming link above.




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KUAF Arts Beat: Light, Sound and Boxes Blur the Line Between Artist and Audience

Inspired by a desire to make sound interactive, artist Craig Colorusso created “Sun Boxes ” and “CUBEMUSIC.” Both installations are up now at Fenix Gallery in Fayetteville as part of their new exihibit “Our Universe.” “I loved going on tour, but there’s always that barrier between the audience and the performer. So I’ve always wanted to create something that didn’t have that,” says Colorusso about the inspiration for the two pieces. “I wanted to make something that people could literally feel like they’re part of.” In addition to “Sun Boxes ” and “CUBEMUSIC," Colorusso also performs from his work "Butterfly Cathedral," written for bowed guitar this Friday, June 21, at the Trillium Salon Series Block Party in South Fayetteville. Listen to the full KUAF Arts Beat conversation in the streaming link above.




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Of Note: Classical Music & Cinematography Collide in 'The Moon,' Artosphere's Finale Concert

Musical and cinematic storytelling collide in "The Moon," Artosphere Festival Orchestra's finale concert this Saturday, June 29, at Walton Arts Center . The concert, featuring music from Richard Strauss, John Williams, Debussy and more, pairs live classical music and narration with the George Melies' 1902 silent film “A Trip to the Moon.” Artistic director Francesco Micheli’s vision for "The Moon" project was born from his passion to explain music in other ways. “We try to build a journey by means of the music. We can say that we are on the Artosphere airlines, able to make an incredible journey between the starts and on the moon,” he said. Click on the streaming link above to listen to hear Micheli's full interview with Of Note’s Katy Henriksen.




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Of Note: When Cello History Repeats Itself through Bach

For his latest effort, Amit Peled tackled "the Bible" of cello repertoire by recording the Bach cello suites using Pablo Casal's cello-- the very same cello he originally heard the suites performed on as a child. "I waited for this jewel for so long because I wanted to make sure that the cello allows me to bring out who I am, and not what I have in my mind or in my ear," Peled said. Despite history repeating itself with the same repertoire on the same instrument, Peled's own interpretation continues to embody who he is as a musician. As a world-renowned Israeli-American cellist and professor at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, Peled's recording of the Bach cello suites will go down in history along with his legacy. Hear the full conversation with Of Note's Katy Henriksen in the streaming link above.




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KUAF Arts Beat: Infringing on Peoples' Environments Through Sidewalk Concerts

Live music takes to the streets with “Live at the Five and Dime,” a series of intimate sidewalk concerts presented by the University of Arkansas Music Departmenton the downtown Bentonville Square. “It’s a really great opportunity to infringe on people’s environment. That’s honestly where [music] belongs,” upright bassist Garrett Jones says about incorporating passers-by. “Art’s all around you on a day-to-day basis. Music is up the same alley.” Spearheaded by Alan Gosman, the department's associate chair, this intimate outreach effort features a local musicians performing a wide array of sounds including jazz, classical, Latin, and more. The intimate concerts are a collaboration with The Walmart Museum and Downtown Bentonville Inc. “Live at the Five and Dime” performances continue throughout the summer on Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m. in front of the Walmart Museum in Bentonville, with the Jake Hertzog Trio set to perform Aug. 21. Speaking of jazz, there's now a program to offically study it




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Of Note: Pianist Navigates Piano's Evolution through Haydn

Pianist Roman Rabinovich's deep dive into the Haydn sonatas brought him revelations. Because Haydn's life bridged both the Baroque and Classical periods, his compositions reflect how the technology of the piano constantly progressed. "Instruments really changed like computers today, at that pace," Rabinovich said. Uzbeki-born, Israeli-trained Rabinovich continues to reflect Haydn's compositional invention since the Haydn project's debut at the Lincoln Center by performing the sonatas internationally. To listen to the full interview with Of Note's Katy Henriksen, click on the streaming link above.




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Of Note: A Musician’s Deep Dive into Vulnerability at the 'Edge of Youth'

On a journey of musical and personal self-discovery, violinist Janet Sung dove into vulnerability to produce her latest album “Edge of Youth,” which represents who she is as an artist through personal expression. “In order to really convey what all of the works were really offering, I would have to really look deeply and be utterly convinced of the thing that I was trying to communicate,” Sung explains about her individual interpretation. “It really starts to become something that comes from within yourself.” The album also features Missy Mazzoli’s Dissolve, O my Heart , which spins off of Bach’s Partita in D Minor to build and unravel, breaking with the recognized Bach tradition to further Sung’s unique expression. Listen to the full interview between Sung and Of Note’s Katy Henriksen with the streaming link above.




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KUAF Arts Beat: A Conversation with the U of A School of Art's First Ever Executive Director

The University of Arkansas recently welcomed Gerry Snyder as the School of Art's first ever executive director. He will play an instrumental role in cultivating the newly minted School of Art's role at the university and beyond following the $120 million gift from the the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation and $40 million gift from the Windgate Foundation to develop an art and design district. “The fact that [this gift] has been given to education, and specifically to art, is visionary in my mind,” Snyder says. “If you look at life, even in its most challenging circumstances, creativity is important. Art is central to almost any civilization or culture.” Snyder hopes to create a strategic plan in this upcoming year for how to use the gift to represent the UA and the local community, while foremost furthering art education. Listen to the full interview between Snyder and Of Note’s Katy Henriksen with the streaming link above.




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Here's how Glasgow Science Centre is catering for us online

GLASGOW Science Centre closed its doors to the public this week, but the team decided they couldn’t let science boffins miss out.




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Glasgow comedian Larry Dean on how to self-isolate in style

Even in self-isolation, we can learn something new every day.




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Music Venue Trust says lockdown impact could be 'catastrophic' to Glasgow music venues

Small music venues across the city could be among some of the hardest hit businesses due to the coronavirus crisis, a charity has said.




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8 Student-Made Podcasts That Made Us Smile

This year, NPR held its first Student Podcast Challenge — a podcast contest for students in grades 5 through 12. As we listened to the almost 6,000 entries , we smiled, laughed, and even cried. Students opened their lives to us with stories about their families, their schools and communities and their hopes for the future. We named our winners last month — the eighth graders of Bronx Prep Middle School in New York, and the eleventh graders of Elizabethton High School in Tennessee. But lots of other students blew us away. Here, for your listening pleasure, are just some of the many podcast entries that made us smile — and reminded us what it's like to be in middle and high school. A divisive subject: Tater tots How did tater tots come to rule the lunchroom? LA Johnson / NPR The title of this finalist was enough to get our judges' attention. In "Tater Tots and their Lasting Impact on Society," fifth-graders Jack Lazzarone and Kalvin Martinez interviewed their classmates in teacher Ryan




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Artist, Heiress And Designer Gloria Vanderbilt Dies At 95

This story ran on Morning Edition and All Things Considered. Gloria Vanderbilt was an artist, heiress, designer and philanthropist who, for many Americans, may be best remembered for her blue jeans . She died at the age of 95. Vanderbilt's son, Anderson Cooper, announced her death Monday, airing an obituary for her on CNN. Vanderbilt had cancer, he said. "Earlier this month, we had to take her to the hospital. That's where she learned she had very advanced cancer in her stomach, and that it had spread," Cooper said. "What an extraordinary life. What an extraordinary mom. And what an incredible woman," he said, his voice quavering a bit at the end of the remembrance. Vanderbilt had full lips, eyes that turned up at the corners and a patrician bearing. She was, in fact, descended from shipping and railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt, one of the richest men in American history. She was born in 1924, and her father died shortly thereafter. Vanderbilt was raised by a beloved nurse because




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Congressional Hearing On Slavery Reparations Set For Wednesday

For the first time in a decade Congress will hold a hearing Wednesday on the subject of reparations for the descendants of slaves in the United States, a topic that has gained traction in the run-up to the 2020 elections. The hearing is set for June 19, also known as "Juneteenth," the day when in 1865 former enslaved people in Texas first learned that they had been emancipated two years earlier. The House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties is holding the hearing on H.R. 40 , which calls for a commission to "study and develop reparation proposals for African-Americans," including a formal apology by the U.S. government "for the perpetration of gross human rights violations and crimes against humanity on African slaves and their descendants." The hearing is scheduled to feature testimony from author Ta-Nehisi Coates, whose article "The Case for Reparations," published by The Atlantic magazine in 2014, is widely credited with re-igniting the




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WATCH: Trump Announces Push For Citizenship Data Apart From Census

Updated at 6:40 p.m. ET President Trump announced an executive order on gathering citizenship information, a shift from an earlier effort to get a question about citizenship on the 2020 census. Trump spoke alongside Attorney General William Barr, who praised his decision. Their remarks come after the Supreme Court blocked, for now, the addition of the question " Is this person a citizen of the United States? " on the annual headcount. Critics feared the question would lead to undercounts of immigrant groups and communities of color. Despite the justices' rejection, Trump had vowed to continue pushing for the change — even as printing of the paper forms has begun. The administration's persistence includes an attempt to change the Justice Department's legal team on the issue. But Trump's remarks Thursday indicate the administration is dropping the question fight in favor for a different avenue for getting a count of noncitizens in the U.S. Still, it's not clear what impact the executive




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How The U.S. Compares With Other Countries In Deaths From Gun Violence

Editor's note: This is an updated version of a story that was published on Nov. 9, 2018. The United States has the 28th-highest rate of deaths from gun violence in the world: 4.43 deaths per 100,000 people in 2017 — far greater than what is seen in other wealthy countries. On a state-by-state calculation, the rates can be even higher. In the District of Columbia, the rate is 16.34 per 100,000 — the highest in the United States. In Louisiana, the rate is 10.68 per 100,000. In Texas and Ohio — the scene of two mass shootings at the beginning of August — the rates are close to the national average: 4.74 per 100,000 in Texas and 4.60 in Ohio. And the national rate of gun violence in the U.S. is higher than in many low-income countries. Those findings are part of the latest version of an annual report on gun violence from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation , which tracks lives lost in every country, in every year, by every possible cause of death. The




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March 15 Democratic Debate: Live Updates And Analysis

Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders have the stage to themselves for Sunday night's Democratic primary debate. The debate, hosted by CNN and Univision in Washington, D.C., will not have a live audience amid coronavirus concerns. Follow NPR's live coverage of the debate. Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit Loading...




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John Prine, Revered Nashville Songwriter, Dies At 73 From COVID-19 Complications

John Prine, a wry and perceptive writer whose country and folk songs often resembled vivid short stories, has died at age 73. His death, from complications caused by COVID-19, was confirmed by his family. Even as a young man, Prine — who famously worked as a mailman before turning to music full-time — wrote evocative songs that belied his age. With a conversational vocal approach, he quickly developed a reputation as a performer who empathized with his characters. His beloved 1971 self-titled debut features the aching "Hello In There," written from the perspective of a lonely elderly man who simply wants to be noticed, and the equally bittersweet "Angel From Montgomery." The latter song is narrated by a middle-aged woman with deep regrets over the way her life turned out, married to a man who's merely "another child that's grown old." Bestowing dignity on the overlooked and marginalized was a common theme throughout Prine's career; he became known for detailed vignettes about ordinary




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Chatting with Leala

This week's show begins with an interview with vocalist and trumpeter Leala Cyr. The episode concludes with vibes by Burton, including collaborations with Chick and others. In between are some great tracks by Roberta Flack, Bessie Smith, Mehldau, Ponty and others.

Playlist
Artist ~ Track ~ Album
Leala Cyr ~ The Secret ~ First Instinct
Leala Cyr ~ Canyon View ~ First Instinct
Roberta Flack ~ Compared To What ~ First Take
Jeff Fuller & Friends ~ Cry Me a River ~ Happenstance
Jen Allen ~ Blanket Statement ~ Blanket Statement
Jean-Luc Ponty ~ King Kong ~ King Kong: Jean-Luc Ponty Plays the music of Frank Zappa
Brad Mehldau ~ St. Mark is Howling in the City of Light ~ Finding Gabriel
Bessie Smith ~ Backwater Blues ~ Best of Bessie Smith
Chick Corea and Gary Burton ~ Eleanor Rigby ~ Hot House
Gary Burton ~ Question and Answer ~ Like Minds
Gary Burton ~ Gorgeous ~ Generations




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Alone Together with Stay At Home

We may be stuck at home ALONE, but TOGETHER through our common love of jazz music, we can will get through this. For many of us music sustains our spirit and enhances our lives. My hope is that this podcast will help to keep you "In The Groove", hip you to new music, and give you comfort with our great jazz standards.

Playlist
Artist ~ Track ~ Album 
McCoy Tyner ~ Alone Together ~ Illuminations
Jimmy Greene ~ Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most ~ Introducing Jimmy Greene
Ahmad Jamal ~ Stolen Moments ~ The Awakening
Bill Evans Trio ~ Milestones ~ Waltz for Debby
Billy Childs feat. Lisa Fischer ~ Map to the Treasure ~ Map to the Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro (2014)
Kenny Barron & Dave Holland Trio (feat. Johnathan Blake) ~ I Remeber When ~ Without Deception
Hudson (feat. Dejohnette, Grenadier, Medeski, Scofield) ~ Tony Then Jack ~ Hudson




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Hartford Cats 2020

This is part 2 of the last WWUH radio show before temporarily shuttering for COVID-19. I thought it appropriate to feature musicians that have contributed so much to the Hartford jazz scene. I didn't have time to get to everyone, but I hope this sampling of local music plays to the HARTstrings of In The Groove Listeners here and all over the world.

Playlist
Artist ~ Track ~ Album
Jen Allen ~ Begin Again ~ Sifting Grace
Jen Allen ~ Climbing Ivy ~ Sifting Grace
Kris Allen ~ Lowborn ~ Beloved
The Curtis Brothers ~ Staircase of Mount Meru ~ Algorithm
Orice Jenkins ~ Nature Boy ~ Centennial Cole
New England Jazz Ensemble ~ Wolves ~ Peter & The Wolf
Jimmy Greene- ~ So In Love ~ While Looking Up
The New Mosaic ~ Out of Body ~ single
Jonathan Barber ~ Carry On ~ Vision Ahead
Matt Dwonszyk ~ What A Wonderful World ~ Wonderful World
Mike Casey ~ Feel The Bern ~ single
Noah Preminger ~ Halfway To Hartford ~ Genuinity
Andrew Wilcox ~ The Peacocks ~ n/a
Steve Davis ~ Spirit Waltz ~ Live at Smalls




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Catholic Twitter debates Trump’s handling of coronavirus pandemic

President Donald Trump wants the Catholic vote. Recently, Trump was on a conference call with several hundred Catholic educators — and many prominent bishops. Trump reportedly described himself as the “best [president] in the history of the Catholic Church.”  In reality, though, there’s a growing rift within the church on support for the president. A number of prominent Catholics are criticizing Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic — and many have been vocal on Twitter. Related:  Coronavirus postponed Russia’s Victory Day. That could be a problem for Putin. Rev. Robert Ballecer, an American priest stationed in the Vatican, has been particularly outspoken. Before he moved to Rome, Ballecer had been living at St. Ignatius College Prep , a Jesuit high school in San Francisco. The Jesuits allowed Ballecer to pursue his Catholic ministry as a host at “ TWiT ,” a podcast network focused on technology . It seemed like a good fit, as Ballecer is a self-described mechanic, engineer and




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Seen 'Plandemic'? We Take A Close Look At The Viral Conspiracy Video's Claims

A slickly produced 26-minute video called Plandemic has exploded on social media in recent days, claiming to present a view of COVID-19 that differs from the "official" narrative. The video has been viewed millions of times on YouTube via links that are replaced as quickly as the video-sharing service can remove them for violating its policy against "COVID-19 misinformation." In it, filmmaker Mikki Willis conducts an uncritical interview with Judy Mikovits, who he says has been called "one of the most accomplished scientists of her generation." Never heard of her? You're not alone. Two prominent scientists with backgrounds in AIDS research and infectious diseases, who asked not to be identified over concerns of facing a backlash on social media, told NPR that they did not know who she was. If you were aware of Mikovits before this week, it is probably for two books she published with co-author Kent Heckenlively, one in 2017 and another last month. Heckenlively has also written a book




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More Census Workers To Return To Rural Areas In 9 States To Leave Forms

The Census Bureau says it is continuing the gradual relaunch of limited field operations for the 2020 census next week in nine states where the coronavirus pandemic forced the hand-delivery of paper forms in rural areas to be suspended in mid-March. On May 13, some local census offices in Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington are scheduled to restart that fieldwork, according to an updated schedule the bureau published on its website Friday. All workers are expected to be trained in CDC guidance in preventing the spread of COVID-19, and besides a new reusable face mask for every 10 days worked and a pair of gloves for each work day, the bureau has ordered 2 ounces of hand sanitizer for each census worker conducting field operations, the bureau tells NPR in an email. The announcement means more households that receive their mail at post office boxes or drop points are expected to find paper questionnaires left outside their




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Coronavirus FAQs: Do Temperature Screenings Help? Can Mosquitoes Spread It?

This is part of a series looking at pressing coronavirus questions of the week. We'd like to hear what you're curious about. Email us at goatsandsoda@npr.org with the subject line: "Weekly Coronavirus Questions." More than 76,000 people in the U.S. have died because of COVID-19, and there have been 1.27 million confirmed cases across the country — and nearly 4 million worldwide. Though the virus continues to spread and sicken people, some states and countries are starting to reopen businesses and lift stay-at-home requirements. This week, we look at some of your questions as summer nears and restrictions are eased. Is it safe to swim in pools or lakes? Does the virus spread through the water? People are asking whether they should be concerned about being exposed to the coronavirus while swimming. Experts say water needn't be a cause for concern. The CDC says there is no evidence the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, spas or water




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Roy Horn Of Siegfried and Roy Dies of COVID-19 At Age 75

Magician and animal trainer Roy Horn, of the legendary Las Vegas duo Siegfied and Roy, died Friday from complications related to COVID-19. Horn tested positive last week. He was 75. "The world has lost one of the greats of magic, but I have lost my best friend," Siegfried Fischbacher said of his partner in a statement. "Roy was a fighter his whole life including during these final days. I give my heartfelt appreciation to the team of doctors, nurses and staff at Mountain View Hospital who worked heroically against this insidious virus that ultimately took Roy's life." Roy Horn was born in Germany in 1944. He and Siegfried began their act in Las Vegas in 1967. In 1989 they began a 14-year run at the Mirage Resort performing illusions with exotic animals, making tigers, lions, even elephants vanish and reappear. In October of 2003, Roy Horn was performing with a 400-pound white tiger named Mantecore when the great cat grabbed him by the throat before a stunned audience and dragged him




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Anti-Vaccination Activists Join Stay-At-Home Order Protesters

Protests over stay-at-home orders because of COVID-19 have become more common around the country. In California, a surprising group is behind some of them: those who oppose mandatory vaccinations. On Thursday, a mash-up of people mingled on the sidewalk in front of California's state Capitol in Sacramento. There were Trump supporters wearing MAGA hats and waving American flags. There were Christians, singing along to religious rock songs and raising their hands in prayer. The event's MC. urged Gov. Gavin Newsom to tune into their event. "Everybody up at the Capitol, tell Gavin Newsom [to tune in to] 107.9 FM, if he wants to hear what we have to say," the MC told the crowd over loudspeakers. "It could be kind of good for him!" There were also mothers with their children at the rally. Many people were not wearing face masks or observing social distancing protocols. They'd all come out to protest California's stay-at-home order, put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19. This week's