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»10/1/09 Fall Gardening and Saving the Hood
Yes, it's that time of the year again. It's actually below 100 degrees and now's a great time to get ready for next spring. Norm Schilling and Linn Mills of the Springs Preserve join us to answer your questions. Then whimisical cartoonist Andy Slocum joins us in the studio.

In our second hour, we look this week at what some neighborhoods are doing to prevent blight and decay as "For Sale" and "Foreclosure" signs proliferate in many areas of the valley.

»10/2/09 Social Reconstruction and LV Phil Goes to the Movies
How does a community whose economy is devastated climb back from the brink? We ask that question of people who have faced the problems that Southern Nevada is looking at today.

Then we talk movie music with Maestro David Itkin of the Las Vegas Philharmonic. Saturday kicks off the orchestra's pops season with themes from such favorites as Star Wars and James Bond. And today the New York Times reports that Senator John Ensign flouted lobbying laws to find Doug Hampton a job and hush up his affair with Hampton's wife. We talk with the reporter who investigated and wrote the story.

»10/3/09 KNPR's State of Nevada Weekend Select
How does a community whose economy is devastated climb back from the brink? We ask that question of people who have faced the problems that Southern Nevada is looking at today. This segment represents the best from the past week's broadcasts.

»10/5/09 Desert Dumping, Architecture, Chazz Palminteri and Spyplanes
First, all manner of construction waste is being dumped in the desert around Las Vegas. We talk about what's being done to clean it up. Then Architecture critic Alan Hess joins us to give his view on the past and future of Las Vegas architecture.

In our second hour, actor Actor Chazz Palminteri joins us to tell us about his classic one-man show at playing at the Venetian. Then we get the details on the formerly top-secret Groom Lake spyplane projects.

»10/6/09 Taxes, Black Holes, Cristina Garcia and Morrie
It's not quite April 15, but there are tax benefits in the stimulus package, one of which will last only two more months. IRS spokesman Raphael Tulino joins us. Then we talk with UNR scientist Roberto Mancini about what happens to matter near black holes and its significance.

In our second hour, novelist Cristina Garcia reads from her latest novel, A Handbook to Luck, which takes place in Las Vegas. And we talk about the Utah Shakespearean Festival's Fall season.

»10/7/09 Dementia and Markets and Regulation
Aging baby boomers could create an epidemic of dementia. But few of us really understand the disease but there's a way to experience the stress of dementia. We meet the psychologist who developed that test and ask what can be done about treating dementia. Then Washington Watchdog Melanie Sloan tells us about the additional complaint her group has filed against Nevada Sen. John Ensign. It's related to his extramarital affair.

And we look at the history of financial regulation and what it tells us should be done to avoid a repeat of 2008's near meltdown. And we speak with the Founder and President of the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization, Steven Saunders about why the national parks are a good test of climate disruption.

»10/8/09 Airports, Medical Records, NACA, Novelists
Traffic is down nearly 20% in two years at McCarran but a new report from the Brookings Institution sees big problems ahead and some big opportunities and we hear about both.

Electronic medical records seem like a great panacea but only 20% of the state's doctors have made the big switch. Las Vegas Sun Medical Reporter Marshall Allen investigates the problems.

Then in our weekly series Hope at Home: Facing the Foreclosure Crisis, we look at mortgage modification. Is it difficult or do you just have to know the right people.

And we meet three novelists who are coming to Clark County Library - they all write about nice girls who have bad dreams and make real bad choices.

»10/9/09 Food Talk, Madrigal Singers, Laramie Project and African Dance
They're back. Las Vegas favorite foodies Max Jacobson and John Curtas take a look at the demise of Gourmet magazine and give us their pick of the best burgers in town.

And from the performance studio, we hear the sounds of a madrigal choir that will be singing at Guardian Angel Cathedral this weekend.

We are also joined by Green Valley High School students who are performing the Laramie Project. They tell us about the play, which memorializes the murder of Mathew Shepherd.

Cleo Robinson Parker and Victoria Dale of the Cleo Robinson Parker Dance Company talk about modern African American dance as the universal language of movement that celebrates performance, individual expression, healing, and peace.

»10/10/09 KNPR's State of Nevada Weekend Select
Aging baby boomers could create an epidemic of dementia. But few of us really understand the disease but there's a way to experience the stress of dementia. We meet the psychologist who developed that test and ask what can be done about treating dementia. Then Washington Watchdog Melanie Sloan tells us about the additional complaint her group has filed against Nevada Sen. John Ensign. It's related to his extramarital affair. These segments represent the best from the past week's broadcasts.

»10/12/09 NACA, Health Reform, Shakespeare
This weekend tens of thousands of people lined up at the Convention Center seeking mortgage modification. We hear some of their stories and talk about the ongoing housing crisis with reporter Adam Burke and Review-Journal columnist John L. Smith.

Businessmen complain about soaring health care costs, but they are also reluctant to sign on to major reforms like the public option. We ask what reform could mean for Nevada casinos and other businesses.

The Utah Shakespearean Festival's fall season is drawing to a close but not before we meet the zany actors who perform "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)" come in to talk about the season.

»10/13/09 Higher Education Costs and Fresh Local Food
Since World War II, a college education has been considered a key component of the American Dream. But recent studies show that too many ill-prepared Americans are trying to get college degrees and are dropping out after taking on a great deal of debt. We talk with critics of the American higher education system.

Then, there's a highly publicized push for Americans to consume fresh local food. But what does that mean for Nevada, where few crops and animals are raised?

»10/14/09 Nevada Ballet, Antonia Juhasz and Sub Prime Lawsuit
We talk with dancers from the Nevada Ballet who will be presenting a program of three modern ballets.

Las Vegas Attorney Matt Callister has launched a class action lawsuit on behalf of people who claim they were defrauded by Indymac - the now defunct thrift that wrote a lot of subprime mortgages. Callister and two of his clients joins us to talk about the suit.

And policy-analyst and activist Antonia Juhasz joins us in the studio to give us some of provocative thinking about globalization and energy use.

»10/15/09 Joe Heck and Muslims in America
First he was heading to Carson City, now he's got his eyes set on Washington, D.C. Dr. Joe Heck is running for the Republican nomination for the third Congressional District and he explains why he wants Dina Titus's job.

Then Muslim activist Dr. Zuhdi Jasser will explain why American Muslims need to be more American.

And we hear from the actors who are starring in The Woman in Black at the fall season of the Utah Shakespearean Festival.

»10/16/09 Great Outdoors and Zombies
It's finally cooled down enough to start heading outside. We hit the slopes and trails with Along the Way contributor David Bert and other outdoor aficionados.

Brains anyone? Author Max Brooks tells us all we need to know about zombies.

And Ultramarathon Man Dean Karnazes describes what it's like to run a 26.2 mile marathon... at least seven times over. He will be speaking at the Henderson Pavilion on Saturday.

»10/17/09 KNPR's State of Nevada Weekend Select
Brains anyone? Dave Berns talks zombies and other stuff with writer Max Brooks.

Las Vegas Attorney >Matt Callister has launched a class action lawsuit on behalf of people who claim they were defrauded by Indymac - the now defunct thrift that wrote a lot of subprime mortgages. Callister and two of his clients joins us to talk about the suit. These selections represent the best segments from the past week's broadcasts.

»10/19/09 Schools, Cyberia, Pay News
The population of the Las Vegas Valley has shrunk by 20,000 people. That's a problem for Clark County School District that has long been geared to adding new schools every year. Nevada law is making it impossible for the state's schools to compete for federal funds designed to improve student performance. We ask CCSD Superintendent Walt Rulffes about those issues and more.

If your laptop has virus protection you might be safe or you might not. We talk about national cyber security with Los Alamos National Laboratory's info security expert Terry Hawkins.

UNLV Concert Singers and Chamber Chorale Choral Director David Weiller and four singers join us to talk about the season's opening concert and the music they're singing.

And we look at allegations that three Las Vegas television stations were promising favorable coverage to help sell ads.

»10/20/09 SON Incorrect
Four Las Vegans with radically different backgrounds are here to discuss politics, life, healthcare and anything else we throw at them. This we time talk with a comedian, ranch owner and a nightclub insider.

And we talk crime and religion with authors James Ellroy and Mitch Albom.

»10/21/09 OSHA Report and Renters' Rights
First we talk about a scathing review of Nevada's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued by the US Department of Labor.

There's no way of knowing how many, but renters throughout the Las Vegas Valley have been locked out of homes that are in the midst of foreclosure. We hear why no one's really taken up their cause. Reporter/producer Adam Burke details their plight. We also hear the voices of several players in the story.

»10/22/09 Reid, Renters and Quasars
First, gubernatorial candidate Rory Reid joins us. He'll take your calls.

Then, we talk with Speaker Barbara Buckley about what can be done to to enforce the rights of renters who are being pushed to vacate during a foreclosure.

And Stanford Astrophysicist Roger Blandford talks to us about black holes.

»10/23/09 Latino in America, Musical and Wearable Arts
First, nationally syndicated columnists Ruben Navarrette and Gustavo "Ask a Mexican" Arellano are here to discuss their latest writings and a new CNN documentary about being Latino in the United States.

And this weekend the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society will perform its Handel-Haydn-Mozart Celebration. We talk to the group's long-time musical director.

Next, we talk with The Contemporary Arts Collective co-chair Anne Mullford about the group, art in Las Vegas and her own sculpture.

»10/24/09 KNPR's State of Nevada Weekend Select
We talk crime and religion with authors James Ellroy and Mitch Albom.

These selections represent the best segments from the past week's broadcasts.

»10/26/09 Health Reform, U2 and Schools
So, could we end up with a public option? We check in with former health care executive Wendell Potter to find out where Senator Harry Reid's negotiations are going.

Then Sun Entertainment Writer John Katsilometes explains the U2 phenomenon.

And Las Vegas Sun Education Reporter Emily Richmond talks with two leaders of "Communities in Schools," the national organization that's trying to improve schools in Clark County and around the country.

»10/27/09 Swine Flu, Traffic, Census and UNLV Symphony
The swine flu is here but there may not be sufficient vaccine. So what should we do? We ask officials from the health district those questions and they tell us how they're dealing with the issue.

Then traffic reporter Tom Hawley and Road Warrior Andrienne Packer tell us what's going on out there on the valley's freeways and how to avoid the problems.

We also touch base with Deputy Director of the US Census Bureau. The big count is less than a year away and the Census Bureau is gearing up to ensure a full and accurate count.

And UNLV Symphony Orchestra Conductor Taras Krysas and oboist Stephen Caplan join us to talk about their concert "The Magic of Brahms." The orchestra is set to perform Tuesday night.

»10/28/09 Health Care Reform, Second-hand smoke and Steve March Torme
Some people are arguing that health care is a right. But is it God's will? Some Nevada preachers and rabbis say it is. They tell us why.

Then we meet Mel Torme's son Steve. He's set to perform a tribute concert to his father in Boulder City this Friday and Saturday.

And a dealer is suing a megaresort because of second-hand smoke. Can she win or will the courts say, if you can't stand the smoke get out of the casino.

»10/29/09 Politics, Water Ruling and Mortgage Crisis
Will Senator Harry Reid be able to push health reform through the United States Senate? Will that help or hurt him 2010? Our roundtable of political experts will tackle those issues and much more.

Then we hear why a Gardnerville judge has upended the Southern Nevada Water Authority's plans to pump water from northern Nevada.

And Ohio Congresswoman Marci Kaptur will join us to explain why she thinks there needs to a full inquiry into the bad behavior of the banking industry.

»10/30/09 The Wheel of Time
First, the president of the Southern Nevada Living History Association talks about this weekend's historical re-enactment at Spring Mountain State Park.

And if you've ever felt nervous about picking the wine, relax. Max and John will be here with a master sommelier who can take the embarrassment out of the wine list.

We also learn what the Day of the Dead means for families on both sides of the border. Then the author of the epic fantasy, The Wheel of Time joins us in the studio.

»10/31/09 KNPR's State of Nevada Weekend Select
So, could we end up with a public option? We check in with former health care executive Wendell Potter to find out where Senator Harry Reid's negotiations are going.

And, Sun Entertainment Writer John Katsilometes explains the U2 phenomenon. These selections represent the best segments from the past week's broadcasts.