RadioActive 6/7/12

Producer/Host: Meredith DeFrancesco
Issue: Environmental and Social Justice

Program Topic: The Maine legislature’s most recent cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services programs, including General Assistance and the Child Care Subsidy Program

Key Discussion Points (list at least 3):

a) The Maine legislature passes further budget cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). These include the elimination of 14,500 low income parents from MaineCare, who have income between 100-133% of the poverty level, and all 19 and 20 year olds under 150% of the poverty level. This effects an additional 7,000 Mainers. Both these measures and cuts to the Medicare Savings Program are currently in violation of the federal Affordable Care Act. The budget also includes cuts to the Drugs for the Elderly Program, and to the Fund for a Healthy Maine. Cuts to the latter include a $2 million reduction in state funding for Head Start, a $2 million cut to the Child Care Subsidy Program, $2.6 million to the Maine Families Home Visiting Program, and funding cuts for Family Planning and dental services.

b) Director of the City of Bangor Health and Community Services, Shawn Yardely discusses cuts to General Assistance. Yardley says 70-80% of recipients, who are not waiting for SSI application processing, are on the program for 3 months or less. The last round of cuts have reduced GA from $611 to $550. 80% of GA funds go towards housing. The cuts put a 9 month cap on GA housing aid.

c) Governor LePage’s press secretary says the administration plans to pursue further cuts.

Guests:
A)Adrienne Bennett, press secretary for Governor Paul LePage
B) Shawn Yardely, Director of the City of Bangor Health and Community Services
C) “Maureen”, from South Portland. Budget cuts will effect her enrollment in the Child Care Subsidy, and possibly the MaineCare coverage she and her husband receive.

Call In Program: no

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Notes from the Electronic Cottage 6/7/12

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell
The news of drone attacks that seem to occur weekly in places thousands of miles from our shores bring up questions about how technology is changing the definition of war, and even of what it means to be a warrior. An 1984 movie seemed to presage our current world of video game warfare – but the movie was fantasy, but these days people actually die. How should we think about the technology of war in our world today?

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Healthy Options 6/6/12

Producer/Host: Rhonda Feiman
Co-Producer: Petra Hall
Engineer: Amy Browne

Issue:
Program Name: Healthy Options

Broadcast Date: June 6, 2012

Broadcast Time: 10 a.m.-11 a.m.
Program Topic: “Those bloodsucking TICKS! Learn about Ticks and Lyme Disease

Key Discussion Points (list at least 3):
a) What is Lyme disease?

b) What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?

c) How can Lyme disease be detected and treated?

d) What can we do to prevent Lyme disease?

e) What is a tick check and why do we need to do them?

Guests by name and affiliation:
A) Dr. Beatrice M. Szantyr is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a member of the American College of Physicians, and is board certified in both internal medicine and pediatrics. She currently participates on the State of Maine Vector-borne Disease Work Group, and is a member of the Maine Medical Association and the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS). Dr. Szantyr has lectured on Lyme disease and related tick-borne disorders, to professional and community groups throughout New England, and has given testimony before the Maine Legislature concerning Lyme disease in the State of Maine.

B) Constance “Happy” Dickey, RN is a founding member and board member of MaineLyme, a newly formed non-profit dedicated to awareness and prevention through education and advocacy. She facilitates support groups for people with Lyme, both in-person in Maine, and online, and she is also an advocate for patients with Lyme disease. She has traveled extensively with Dr. Szantyr, educating medical personnel -and the public- about Lyme disease.

WEBSITES:
MaineLyme
www.mainelyme.org

Lyme Disease Association (includes great illustrations of ticks, rashes, how to pull out a tick, and much more)
www.lymediseaseassociation.org

ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society)
www.ilads.org

Lymedisease.org (Formerly CALDA)
www.lymedisease.org/

Tick Encounter Resource Center
www.tickencounter.org/

Call In Program: NO

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Common Ground Radio 6/1/12

Host: Cheryl Wixson MOFGA
Engineer: Joel Mann

Program Topic: Maine Spirits

Key Discussion Points (list at least 3):
1. difference between a wine & a spirit
2. history of spirits, how to make them
3. legal implications & licensing

Guests by name and affiliation:
A) Bruce Olsen Tree Spirits of maine
B) Keith Bodyne Sweet Grass Farm Winery & Distillery

Call In Program: Yes

Political Broadcast: NO

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