Monday, May 12, 2008    Free Speech Update Who has done the most in the past year to curtail free speech? There is a federal agency that is being ”honored“ for putting out fake news.  But that is just one of the stories behind the latest Muzzle Awards. We detail that particular case and several more on this Free Speech Update edition of Virginia Insight.   Listen to the program   Guest: Bob O'Neil - Former President of UVA, and current Director of The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression. Monday, May 5, 2008    Kid Pan Alley Amy Grant has done it. Kim Richey, too. As well as Beth Nielsen Chapman, Tommy Sims, and even the Nashville Bluegrass Band. They are among the professional musicians who have now recorded songs written by groups of children -- as part of the ongoing Virginia-based project “Kid Pan Alley.” On this edition, we talk with the man behind the project -- and listen to much of the kid-inspired results.   Listen to the program   Guest: Paul Reisler - Central Virginia based song writer and musician.  Founder and Artistic Director for Kid Pan Alley.  (http://www.kidpanalley.org/home.html) Monday, April 28, 2008    Race, Religion, and Politics Some people believe one of this year’s presidential contenders is doing as well as he is because of his race. Some think another contender failed in his bid for a nomination because of his religion. When you make a decision about politics, how much are religion or race factors? On this edition, a special focus on how race and religion intersect with public thought in American politics.   Listen to the program   Guests: Jennifer Byrne, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Political Science, James Madison University. Martin Cohen, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Political Science, James Madison University. Robert N. Roberts, J.D., Ph.D. - Professor of Political Science, James Madison University.  Author or co-author of numerous books on political ethics and public policy, including:     White House Ethics (Greenwood, 1988);     From Watergate to Whitewater: the Public Integrity Wars (Praeger 1997);     Public Journalism and Political Knowledge (Rowman & Littlefield, 2000);     Ethics in U.S. Government: An Encyclopedia of Investigations, Scandals, Reforms and         Legislation (Greenwood 2001);     Encyclopedia of Presidential Campaigns, Slogans, Issues and Platforms (Greenwood         2004). Monday, April 21, 2008    Jim Galloway and The Environment More than 30 years ago, while still a student, his research drew attention to the problems of acid rain. In the decades since, much of his work has been on a variety of environmental challenges in the Shenandoah Valley. Now one of his theories has won him what many consider to be the most prestigious international award in environmental science. On this edition, we talk with scientist Jim Galloway about his “Nitrogen Cascade” theory, and other issues that some believe hold a key to the future health of Mother Earth.   Listen to the program   Guest: Jim Galloway, Ph.D. - Professor of Environmental Science, University of Virginia.  Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science.  Fellow, The American Geophysical Union.  Co-winner of the 2008 Tyler Prize in Environmental Achievement. Monday, April 14, 2008    Where Now?  Transportation in Virginia When the economy goes sour, government suffers too. With fewer tax dollars coming in, Virginia’s budget for fixing roads and bridges is now running short by hundreds of millions of dollars. A recent decision by the Virginia Supreme Court has erased hundreds of millions more dollars that were supposed to be used to build new roads. How concerned should we be? On this edition, we put that question to Virginia’s Secretary of Transportation.     Listen to the program   Guest: Pierce R. Homer - Virginia Secretary of Transportation and Chairman of the Commonwealth Transportation Board, Virginia Transportation Office. Monday, April 7, 2008    Lessons From LBJ? During an unpopular war, the president's closest advisors counsel him, on tape, about his choices. We'll examine those conversations and much more, as we search for lessons that just may apply today. On this edition, two Virginia researchers take us deep into the secret recordings of Lyndon Johnson's White House.   Listen to the program   Guests: Guian McKee, Ph.D.  Assistant Professor and Research Historian in the Presidential Recordings Department of the University of Virginia’s Miller Center. David Shreve, Ph.D.   Former Researcher in the Presidential Recordings Department of the University of Virginia’s Miller Center.