Weekend America

A Fugitive Safe Haven

There are thousands of people on the streets of America who are constantly worried about being arrested. About 1.2 million people have outstanding warrants, and sheriffs have a hard time finding them all. In Memphis, Tenn., the U.S. Marshals are trying a new and direct approach: They are asking non-violent fugitives to turn themselves in at a local church. Reporter Mhari Saito reports from Ohio, where the plan had its first big success.

The Starvation Project

During World War II, Henry Scholberg and 35 others agreed to starve for six months as part of the Minnesota Starvation Experiment. It was an avenue for conscientious objectors to serve, but not engage in battle. The experiment lasted a year: 12 weeks of prep time; 24 weeks of near-death starvation; and another 12 weeks to bulk them back up. Their experience has been captured in an American Radio Works documentary called "Battles of Belief in WWII." We talk to reporter and host Stephen Smith about this bizarre deal with starvation.

Weekend Soundtrack

Weekend Soundtrack: "My Favorite Coat"

We've been asking the listeners what songs remind them of the weekend. This week, Beth Weigel from Juneau, Alaska, talks with Weekend America host Bill Radke about how the song "My Favorite Coat" by Deb Talan conjures up thoughts of the weekend.

Reflecting on the Days of Awe

Saturday is Yom Kippur, and for those who are Jewish it's a time to fast, pray and reflect. Derek Powazek lives in San Francisco. He's has been giving lots of thought about the days leading up to Yom Kippur - for those who are and aren't Jewish. It all started when he got an email from someone from his past. Listen to Derek's take on the High Holy Days.

Atoning With the Young and the Restless

Yom Kippur has been a holy observance for thousands of years, but for those who tune into daytime television, it's also become a plot twist. This week, the CBS daytime drama "The Young and the Restless" weaved the holy day into a storyline. The character Brad Carlton revealed that he was Jewish last year, and this week he's been atoning for the wrongs he's done. The actor who plays Carlton, Don Diamont, is also Jewish. Weekend America host Bill Radke spoke with Diamont about his character and life off-screen.

Rainforest in New York

New York City will be treated to the special sounds of the rainforest this weekend. The Kitchen performance space in Chelsea is reviving David Tudor's avant-garde performance piece "Rainforest IV."Weekend America listens in.

The Tribe of False Hope

Self-proclaimed tribal chief Malcolm Webber is in a federal prison in Wichita, Kan., this weekend. He's been charged with several things, including harboring illegal immigrants and attempting to defraud the U.S. government. His unrecognized Native American tribe, Kaweah, has been the hope of undocumented workers, who were told that joining could help them gain legal status in the United States. Reporter Avishay Artsy brings us the story.

Unlikely Allies

Today is a rare day. It's a day when two religions traditions will coincide. Muslims are fasting for Ramadan, and Jews for Yom Kippur. In St. Louis, Mo., the two faiths recently joined forces to defend a group of citizens. Weekend America's Kelly McEvers brings us the 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. This week, we have writer/director/producer Nora Ephron, New Yorker cartoon editor Bob Mankoff and columnist/author Dan Savage.

A Glamour Don't

Earlier this summer, a junior staffer at Glamour magazine gave a presentation to a room of female lawyers about professional appearance. The staffer suggested that certain hairstyles were not ideal for the workplace. During the talk she showed a picture of a woman with an afro, calling it "a real no-no." She moved on to dreadlocks, calling them "shocking" and claiming that those "political hairstyles really have to go." The news slowly trickled out to the public. Cindi Leive, editor-in-chief of Glamour, talks with Weekend America about the incident.

Lost Dad

As fall swings into gear, it can be the perfect time to connect with nature. A few years ago, reporter Liz Jones went camping with her parents on a real backcountry trip. However, not everything went according to plan--dad got lost. Jones and her dad never really talked about what happened on the trip until recently.

The Midnight Show

In San Francisco there's a sing-along "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" midnight movie on Saturday. In Huntington, W.Va., you can catch "Transformers" at midnight. In Chicago, "Revenge of the Nerds" is playing late. These days you can see pretty much any movie when you want, in your own house, pretty cheap. So midnight movies, a tradition that's now decades old, seem like they would have been a prime target for obsolescence. But that has clearly not happened. Weekend America's John Moe looks at the evolution of midnight movies and the people who watch them.