Weekend America

Paying the Poor to Change

Do some people need to be paid in order to do things that would help their lives anyway? That's the question being asked in poor neighborhoods across New York City right now. Mayor Michael Bloomberg kicked off a privately-funded project called Opportunity NYC that will offer cash incentives to poor New Yorkers to do things like get a library card, go to the dentist and stay in school. Not surprisingly, there are a number of skeptics. One was East New York resident Christine Chemelis, who is part of the program. But Chemelis said she's changing her mind about the project. We'll ask her why she thinks it can work.

The Happiness of Women

Two new studies show that men spend more time relaxing and less time working than in the 1960s. Women meanwhile spend at least as much time doing things they don't enjoy, and they're not as happy as men. Weekend America host Desiree Cooper asks sociologist Arlie Hochschild and writer Rebecca Walker about the choices that young women make when it comes to work and family.

Immigration: One Thing

One Thing: From Burundi to Phoenix

Last year, some 41,000 refugees resettled in the United States, bringing with them hopes, fears, scars and painful memories. They also brought objects. Today, we bring you the first part of a new series, One Thing. It takes a look at newly arrived refugees in towns and cities across America. We'll ask them about their journey and that one thing they've brought from their old home to their new. Our first story takes place in Phoenix, Ariz., where a large number of Bunrundians are resettling.

Weekend Soundtrack

Weekend Soundtrack

Weekend America has been asking you for the soundtrack to your weekend. We want to know about the song you listen to and why it matters to you. Recently we heard from listener Stephan Frazier who picked Jack Johnson's track, "Better Together." He speaks to us from Boston, where he works as a courier.

Failure in the Badlands

The 42nd Annual Buffalo Round-up at Custer State Park in South Dakota is quite a spectacle. Over next three days, about 1,500 buffalo will be herded in from the park and tested for disease. Some will then be auctioned off to ranchers to thin the herd. Tourists come from all over to watch, as do locals, including Sam Hurst, who owns a buffalo ranch just up the road. Hurst, a former TV producer in Los Angeles, moved with his wife to the Badlands in 1993 with a dream to own a buffalo ranch. But last year, Sam gave up on his dream. He spoke about his failure with producers Dan Collison and Elizabeth Meister of Long Haul Productions.

Sustainability

Bill Radke's Environmental Impact

Of all the American Public Media hosts who took the "Consumer Consequences" test -- our online calculator that measures a person's environmental footprint -- Weekend America's Bill Radke scored the greenest. But he doesn't consider himself an environmentalist. Radke explores what does and does not motivate people to change the world.

The Clergy Fashionista

A minister in Norwell, Mass., leads something of a double-life. Most of the time she is Reverend Victoria Weinstein, beloved pastor at the First Parish Unitarian Church. But sometimes, alone in her parsonage, she transforms into PeaceBang, a beloved blogger who tells clergy what not to wear. Weinstein kept her true identity a secret at first. But now everyone knows who she really is, including Weekend America's Sean Cole.

Celebrating Richmond, Changing Richmond

Violent crime and murders are on the rise in Richmond, Calif. Richmond often ranks high on the list of America's most violent cities. Just this month, 12 people were shot. Local residents have been camping out in city parks near where the shootings have taken place. They call it the Tent City Peace Movement. A few miles away is the Homefront Festival at Rosie the Riveter National Park, which will commemorate the town's history as a contributor to the World War II war effort. Weekend America's Krissy Clark brings us a story of Richmond's past, and present.

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 Yale literature professor Amy Hungerford; writer and actor David Rakoff; and Gustavo Arellano, author of the "Ask a Mexican!" column.

Listener Letters: Arriving with a Roar

Two weeks ago, we went inside a maternity ward to check out the playlists of expecting mothers. One mom planned on giving birth to "Wildcat," a beat-driven instrumental song that features a roaring cat. We were overwhelmed by the number of listeners who responded to the idea of giving birth to that song. So we asked Ratatat, the two-man band behind that track, what other songs they would recommend expecting mothers listen to?

What's Playing at the National Cathedral

The National Cathedral in Washington, DC, is celebrating its 100th anniversary. It's the sixth largest cathedral in the world, and was originally built to be a house of prayer for all people. Because of this mandate, it has had to change with the times, including the music that's been played there. Weekend America host Desiree Cooper speaks with Michael McCarthy, the Director of Music at the National Cathedral, about what's in store this weekend.

America's Next Top Public Radio Hosts

Without further ado, the winners of The Public Radio Talent Quest are Al Letson of Jacksonville, Fla., Glynn Washington from Oakland, Calif., and Rebecca Watson from Brookline, Mass. Weekend America host Bill Radke speaks with all three about their next task: creating a compelling pilot program for public radio.

Van Halen: Diver Down

A reunited and slightly altered lineup of Van Halen is on tour right now, but the event could collapse at any time. Singer David Lee Roth has had a rocky relationship with Eddie Van Halen, who has been battling various addictions and health problems. It's a shaky reunion for a group that has been in a state of turmoil for decades now. Some fans are excited to see the guys back together, but Weekend America's John Moe is hoping for total collapse.