News & Politics
Weekend America on News & Politics
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The Fall of Resurrection City
This weekend marks the 40th anniversary of the end of Resurrection City, the last campaign organized by the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., before his assassination. Dr. Maurice Isserman, now a history professor at Hamilton College, was a high school student at the time. He remembers being a part of the last stand.
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Life's Experiences and Entertainment
Summer movie season is in full swing and it's just a matter of picking out what you want to see -- or don't want to see. M. Night Shyamalan's thriller "The Happening" opened last weekend. This weekend features Mike Myers' comedy "The Love Guru." But Weekend America's John Moe won't be attending either one.
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Wild Kabul Nights for Civilian Security
There are an estimated 30,000 private security contractors providing security in Afghanistan. Aid workers and even U.S. Embassy personnel depend on the private guards for their safety. With tensions escalating and the Taliban on the offensive, how do these private contractors chill out? We sent reporter Gregory Warner to find out.
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Weekend Underground: Turncoat Narc
Congress is on the verge of approving a new round of grants to fund the nation's drug task forces, even though the actions of some of those task forces have sparked numerous civil rights scandals. Reporter Michael May brings us the story of one former drug task force cop who's staying on the front lines of the drug war -- but in his own peculiar way.
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A Missouri Town Braces for Floods
The National Weather Service lowered crest predictions for the Mississippi River -- good news for communities like Clarksville, Mo. (pop. 500). For a glimpse of the flood scene, we check in with Bud Garrison, who owns a pottery shop in Clarksville that's right next to the river.
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Recovering from the Chehalis Flood
Last winter, the Chehalis River in the Pacific Northwest swelled with rain and flooded communities in both Oregon and Washington state. One of the farms devastated by the flood was the Black Sheep Creamery, locally famous for its sheep's-milk cheese. Then came a swell of support from volunteers and fans of the farm, who pitched in to rebuild.
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Summer Travel: Authentic Pt. Reyes
Maintaining authenticity is hard once a place becomes a tourist destination. Weekend America's Krissy Clark recently visited Point Reyes Station, an old ranch town about an hour north of San Francisco where deciding what does and doesn't require preservation has raised some debate. This is our latest installment of a series of stories on summer travel.
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Take My Hummer -- Please
With gas at more than $4 a gallon nationwide, a lot of American families are feeling the pinch. Sales of the GM Hummer line are down 30 percent -- but that still means there's plenty of folks out there buying and enjoying their symbols of conspicuous consumption. Weekend America's John Moe sought out who's driving the modern Hummer economy.
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Gitmo Habeus, One Hard-Core Judge
Our panel of non-experts tackle the weighty issues of the week: Conservative commentator Tara Setmayer; comedian and writer Dana Gould; and author John Ridley, who writes the "Visible Man" blog for NPR.org.
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Leaving My Dad's Private War Private
Tamara Keith's father, a Vietnam veteran, has a hard time talking about the things he witnessed during the war. This Father's Day, she explains us why her family absolutely won't be discussing the war or his part in it -- because sometimes it's better to remember her dad as he is now, and not dredge up painful memories and emotions.
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Creative Ways to Save at the Pump
With the price of gas and diesel fuel going through the roof, many Americans are meeting the challenge with some innovative ways to save money. All it takes is a little extra time to plan a route, and sometimes a lot of creativity. Hint: golf carts aren't always just for golfing.
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This Weekend in 1968: RFK's Enduring Message of Hope
Coming just two months after the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., Robert F. Kennedy's death was too much to bear for many Americans. People talked about the end of hope. But Kennedy's life continues to inspire others, and his presidential campaign resonates today, perhaps more than any year since his death.
