Eastern Standard

Naomi Judd arriving at an event in Beverly Hills, CA (Photo: Shutterstock)

In his 50th year covering the Kentucky General Assembly, Al Cross discusses legislative business being carried out in Frankfort behind doors closed to the public and reporters. LISTEN 

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You may have sung the first verse of Stephen Foster’s “My Old Kentucky Home,” but are you aware of the story of slavery told in the remaining verses? Historian Emily Bingham has published a book about it. Tom…

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Interviews in order of appearance: 

UK biologist Bruce O'Hara  on switching to permanent Daylight Savings Time - LISTEN 

McClatchy Washington political correspondent David Catanese on partisan redistricting - LISTEN 

Nathan Salsburg on the 1930s Eastern Kentucky recordings of…

Scene from "Ezell: Ballad of a Land Man" (Photo: Erica Fladeland)

On this week's edition: Environment reporter James Bruggers on the rising number of violations at surface mines, and a failure of state regulators to bring a record number of…

On this week’s edition of Eastern Standard: A special edition featuring the works of WEKU staff members, plus a contribution from one among our many content partners. The lineup: Stan Ingold on a Nicholasville fundraiser for Ukrainian refugees; Tom Martin…

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The Eric Conn Social Security scam landed him in prison and left many in Eastern Kentucky holding the bag. Now there’s a documentary. We talk with Prestonsburg attorney Ned Pillersdorf | With a fresh infusion of funding, the…

Ending “spring forward, fall back.” But could Congress be on the verge of locking in the wrong time standard? |  A 2nd edition of personal accounts by students who want to fight cancer in Eastern Kentucky | Communicating in a…

Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen (Image: Cheap Trick)

All about the middleman in the prescription drug pricing process | The debacle that often results when properties are left to multiple heirs and there is no will | A warm weather destinations…

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On this week’s edition of Eastern Standard: A Lexington waste management software firm takes on space junk | Kentucky’s poor national ranking for animal protection | An inductee into the Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame | The Augmented…

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Ukraine fights for democracy as it is weakened in the United States. We're joined by UK election and voting law professor Joshua Douglas.  What does it mean to be an American, anyway? A Madeleine Peyroux song poses the…

View from Chimney Rock overlook in Red River Gorge showing the visibility of the stars but also the light pollution from the towns of Stanton, Campton and Frenchburg, as well as the lights along the Mountain Parkway exit points. (Photo…

On this week’s edition of Eastern Standard: Kentucky cities with zoning laws and planning units are required by the state to develop a five year Comprehensive Plan. 2022 is Lexington’s “refresh” year and in partnership with CivicLex we begin a…

Julia Tai (Photo credit: Jonathan Qualben Photography)

On this week’s edition of Eastern Standard: The controversial book-ban in McMinn County, Tennessee | A UK doctoral researcher develops a material that extracts from the environment dangerous PFAS compounds used to waterproof…

Former WKYT News Anchor Sam Dick (Photo: WKYT)

On this week’s edition of Eastern Standard: Just-retired WKYT anchor Sam Dick on his years as a television journalist in Lexington and why he went public about his bout with cancer |…

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Coal's long tail: Environmental reporter James Bruggers on his investigation of the long-term consequences to human health and property of mining and burning coal. WEKU's Corinne Boyer looks into the mental health aftermaths of flooding in Eastern Kentucky…

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Election integrity and unimpeded access to the ballot are fundamental tools of democracy. Are these fixtures of American democracy endangered? We get the perspective of UK election and voting law professor Joshua Douglas. LISTEN 

A free and independent…

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“The ship of education is on fire and sinking.” The words of Georgia high school teacher Jordan Kohanim. You’ll hear her ten recommendations to prevent teacher burnout | If Kentucky was a nation it would be #7 in…

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As Martin Luther King Day approaches, a conversation with one who knew him well: civil rights activist and organizer, scholar and minister, Bernard Lafayette. Dr. Lafayette, co-author  with Kathryn Lee Johnson of In Peace and…

In the "classroom" at the Red Oaks Forest School | photo credit: Tina Brouwer / Vrai Photography

“Science is not infallible.” The words of Donald Frazier, namesake of the Donald T. Frazier Outreach Center for Science and Health Career Opportunities…

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A special Christmas gift from WEKU and Eastern Standard: Tom Eblen joins Tom Martin in conversations with Kentucky Poet Laureate Crystal Wilkinson, acclaimed Kentucky novelist Silas House and former Kentucky Poet Laureate Richard Taylor about their contributions to…

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A look at the 600 mile Kentucky leg of the Trans America Bike Trail running west to east from Crittenden County to Pike County. | The Kentucky “Staycation” gets a pandemic boost | Former Cats coach…

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Apocalypse. As awful as it is to think about, in these times of Covid, international saber rattling and severe domestic political division the thought of a collapse of civilization may seem more plausible. It’s what motivated archeologist Chris…

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Finding quality, affordable, accessible child care was already challenging working parents in Kentucky and across the nation. Then came the pandemic. Day care centers were closed and many have struggled to recover. Finding people qualified and willing to…

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On this week’s edition of Eastern Standard: Wall Street Journal reporter Kris Maher on his book “Desperate: An Epic Battle for Clean Water and Justice in Appalachia.” | Outdated drinking water standards documented across the Ohio Valley |…