In Focus with Carolyn Hutcheson

Opelika astronomer and science educator Larry Krumenaker talks with In Focus host Carolyn Hutcheson about the December 21 Grand Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in the western sky. He also ties celestial conjunctions to the legendary Christmas Star. Dr. Krumenaker is credited with the discovery of the Milky Way's only known microquasar in 1973.

Federally licensed Master Bird Bander Fred Bassett is seeing a surge in wintering hummingbirds in the Southeast this year. He talks with In Focus host Carolyn Hutcheson about his research. Fred Bassett has named our radio listeners "citizen scientists" because of their participation in his winter bandings and subsequent ornithological reports.

The fallout from the pandemic is dealing a blow to renters, some of whom face pending evictions by Dec. 31st. Attorney Kimberly Hobbs, Executive Director of the Central Alabama Fair Housing Center, talks with In Focus host Carolyn Hutcheson about the issues and possible remedies - a Stimulus Package and use of Alabama's Cares funds.

This week when Alabama Public Television's Don Dailey shares the political forecast with Troy Public Radio's Carolyn Hutcheson, the spike in Alabama's Coronavirus numbers tops the list.

On this week's Newswrap from In Focus, Alabama Public Television's Don Dailey shares with Troy Public Radio's Carolyn Hutcheson headlines about the filing of a lawsuit by the U.S. Department of Justice over the issue of Alabama's prison violence. And the Wildcard is about some very rich cats!

Celebrated actor Greta Lambert talks with In Focus host Carolyn Hutcheson about the experience of performing all the roles in the Charles Dickens story, "A Christmas Carol." The Alabama Shakespeare Festival presents this one-person reading in a virtual format through Dec. 27th. Dickens himself did 128 readings to audiences of his famous story between 1849 and 1870.

This week when Alabama Public Television's Don Dailey shares the political forecast with Troy Public Radio's Carolyn Hutcheson, the question about whether Governor Ivey will extend the Mask mandate past the Dec 11 date tops the list. Another top concern is whether schools can continue to operate in person, as the governor prefers, during the pandemic.

On this week's Newswrap from In Focus, Alabama Public Television's Don Dailey shares with Troy Public Radio's Carolyn Hutcheson headlines about the state's surging Coronavirus cases. And the wildcard is about a bird who caught a ride on a Christmas tree.
 
More episodes of "In Focus" are on Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/troypublicradio

Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell talks with In Focus host Carolyn Hutcheson about the global influence of China and its Chinese Communist Party tactics. Assistant Secretary Stilwell addresses the Alabama World Affairs Council this evening at Troy University's Montgomery Campus.

The Alabama Dance Theatre launches a new era under the direction of Artistic Director Kate Seale Smith, daughter of the late Kitty Seale. Kate and Emily Flowers, Director of Development and Public Relations, talk with In Focus host Carolyn Hutcheson about "Mistletoe at Home," Dec. 2, in its new virtual format available to everyone. The production has new music from the Montgomery Symphony and will be filmed by Troy University for the Capital City Connection Montgomery television channel.