Weekend America

Finding Religious Meaning in Tragedy

Religious services across the country will try to make sense of the tragedy at Virginia Tech this weekend. Weekend America host Bill Radke and guest host Amy Scott speak with Wayne Bacus, pastor of Queen Anne Lutheran Church in Seattle, Wash.; Rev. Dr. Alan Ragland of Third Baptist Church of Chicago; and James C. Kim, pastor of the Korean Church of Atlanta in Duluth, Ga., as they prepare to address their congregations this weekend.

A Sweet, and Sometimes Bitter, One-Year Anniversary of a Kidney Transplant

When Jean Del Muto needed a kidney transplant, she went first to her sisters, but both didn't pass the rigorous health tests. Then five other friends and family members went in to be tested... and they were all matches. Her nephew, Jim Melwert, agreed to be the donor, but he wasn't everyone's first choice. On the one-year anniversary of Del Muto's transplanted kidney, we gathered with their family to celebrate, and also to learn what the hazards of giving and needing can be.

Listener Letters: Cadbury Eggs

We love hearing from listeners. This week, we revisit hanging out at the malls, the under-appreciated artist in advertising, and Weekend America host Bill Radke gets a lesson in pronunciation.

Paisley Rekdal Reads her Poem "Strawberry"

This month, Weekend America celebrates National Poetry Month by playing you poems all month. In this week's show we open up Weekend America's Sean Cole's poetry vault and bring you poems from Boston. Cole recorded Paisley Rekdal reading her poem "Strawberry."

The Art and Craft of Election Rhetoric

"The Al Sharpton Primary" comes to a close this weekend New York City. Technically, it's the annual convention for the National Action Network, the organization that Sharpton runs, but this week it has become the place to speechify if you're a Democratic and trying to court black voters. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Bill Richardson, John Edwards and Joe Biden each took a turn at the podium. Weekend America's Krissy Clark takes this opportunity to investigate the art of rhetoric.

A Final Skate at the Roller Rink

This is the last weekend to tie up your laces, put on your rainbow leg warmers and couples skate at the Empire Roller Skating Center in Brooklyn. The rink, with its rows of lockers and carpeted walls, has managed to stick around since it opened in the 1930's, across from the old Dodgers stadium. Empire proudly calls itself "the birthplace of the disco skate," and independent producer Dan Kramer caught up with Pierre Francillon to say a final goodbye to the beloved rink.

Looking at the Virginia Tech Shootings from Afar

The tragic shootings in Virginia were matched this week by a deadly week in Iraq. Service men and women watched the investigation here against a backdrop of car bomb attacks on markets, the discovery of tortured corpses in Ramadi, and hundreds of dead Iraqis this week alone. Weekend America guest host Amy Scott talks with Major Kirk Luedeke from Baghdad, Iraq, about how violence at home looks to him.

Bridging the Turkish Armenian Divide

Congress is considering a resolution officially recognizing the Armenian genocide, but some are afraid that a statement like this will damage relations with Turkey. In Boston, one Armenian-American has been working to foster dialogue between the Turkish and Armenian communities. Independent Producer Keith O'Brien has this story.

Good News, Bad News, No News

Good News, Bad News, No News

Our panel of non-experts review the week's events in a parlor game to gauge what kind of week America had. Weighing in is John Ridley, author of "The American Way," Harvard graduate student Fatina Abdrabboh and Yale University English professor Amy Hungerford.

Tino Villanueva's "Mas la Voz Que el Tiempo"

Weekend America continues to spotlight National Poetry Month with poet Tino Villanueva reads his poem "Mas la Voz Que el Tiempo," translated into English by Lisa Horowitz.

An Unaccredited Cowboy

If you've watched old Western movies, you were bound to see Dean Smith, lassoing his rope, riding horses, and taking some punches. Smith was a stunt double for over 50 years, and most of the time he never got on screen credit. This weekend, Dean is receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Okla. Weekend America Guest Host Amy Scott speaks with Smith about his days as a cowboy and finally getting his dues.

Tornado Escapers and Chasers

The deadliest tornado in the U.S. struck 40 years ago this Saturday in Oak Lawn, Ill. Diana Lund, who was seven years old at the time, was still out on the street. Lund eventually wrote an essay about the powerful twister and will be reading an excerpt at the Tom Skilling Fermilab / WGN Tornado and Severe Weather Seminar this weekend.

Public Radio Talent Quest Kicks Off

This week Public Radio Talent Quest started its search for America's next public radio host. It's a chance for listeners to pick a new host, as well as try out to be a host themselves. But what does it take to get behind the microphone? Weekend America host Bill Radke speaks with Jake Shapiro, executive director of Public Radio Exchange and Talent Quest judge, about "hostiness."