Hearsay With Cathy Lewis

We begin the week with the latest news headlines that have you talking. We open up our lines for you to let us know your thoughts by calling in live at 440-2665 or 1-800-940-2240. You can also e-mail the program at hearsay@whrv.org or join us on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/hearsaywithcathylewis.

Segment A: Local Impact of New Defense Strategy A new national defense strategy was outlined last week by the Obama administration. During our first segment, we'll talk with local military reporters about the strategy's local impact, which promises a growth for many Navy communities, but could also bring about a homeport change for a Norfolk-based air craft carrier. Segment B:China's Influence China's economic and military growth is a major factor in the shifting strategy of the US military. In this half of our program, we'll examine how Chinese military developments, including a number of new navy weapons and ships, are changing the priorities of the US Navy.

Every year, more than 10,000 Virginia prisoners complete their sentences and return to their communities, often without prospects for a job, housing or addiction help. National studies show that approximately two-thirds will be arrested again within three years of release. On today's show, we'll examine the challenges around re-entry from prison and some new programs that help those incarcerated gain the skills they need to build a new life.

Think about the last time you heard a song that gave you goosebumps, or that scene in that one movie that can always make you cry. Today on HearSay, we'll discuss the psychology of emotional entertainment, and why certain films impact people a certain way. Stuart Fischoff, Media Psychology Professor Emeritus at California State University in Los Angeles joins us, along with Tench Phillips from the Naro Expanded Cinema in Norfolk and president of Art Repertory Films, Incorporated, and also Dr. Dana Heller, Old Dominion University's Professor and Director of the Humanities Institute and Graduate Program. Tune in for this special HearSay encore presentation.

Philip Shucet, known as a "Mr. Fix-It" in the transportation industry, took over as head of the Hampton Roads Transit as the agency was facing both budgetary and public relations crises. After two years on the job, and a widely successful launch of Norfolk's light rail project, Mr. Shucet is set to leave his post this month. We'll talk with him about his work at HRT and the challenges that lie ahead for that agency.

Author and scholar, Dr. Edward L. Ayers, joins Cathy in the studio ahead of his appearance at the Norfolk Forum on January 10th. Dr. Ayers is currently the president of the University of Richmond and is widely regarded as one of the nation's leading Civil War scholars. His books include "The Promise of the New South: Life After Reconstruction" and "In the Presence of Mine Enemies: Civil War in the Heart of America." We'll talk with Dr. Ayers about the blending of his academic and administrative work, as well as his public radio program, "BackStory with the American History Guys."

The 2012 General Assembly convenes next week. On today's broadcast, we gather political experts and journalists to talk about the issues facing the state's legislature. Along with a number of hot-button social issues, legislators will also be tackling a new, leaner, budget; ongoing transportation issues; and the prospect of lifting the moratorium on uranium mining.

As the most prominent figure of the U.S. government, the President is under constant scrutiny from both his colleagues and the American people. Questions about the proper role of the President have been especially prevalent in the media during the current economic crisis. In his new book, The Presidency in the 21st Century, Dr. Charles Dunn explores the growth of presidential power, investigating its social, political, and economic impact on America's present and future. Dr. Dunn joins us Cathy to discuss his latest work. This show originally aired October 12, 2011.

Hampton Roads faces challenges again entering a new fiscal year, but it also celebrates success. From transportation to education, some of the regions issues are covered in the 12th Annual State of the Region report. Old Dominion University economics professor and former university President, Dr. James Koch, joins us on this edition of HearSay for a review the report's most significant findings. This year's report also features sections on local television media, including WHRO. Call in live at 440-2665 or 1-800-940-2240 to join the conversation. You can also e-mail the program at hearsay@whrv.org or chime in on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/hearsaywithcathylewis. This program first aired October 10, 2011.

In the Garden with Jim Orband On today's show, we'll visit the garden with Jim Orband. We'll talk with Jim about the best ways to bring natural accents - holly branches, pinecones, seasonal berries - into our homes for the holidays. We'll also get the latest on preparing our gardens of next year's plantings.

In the latest installment of our ongoing series, we'll talk with the author of a new book that brings the nature vs. nurture argument to the Baby Boomer generation. In her book, "A Long Bright Future," Dr. Laura Carstensen writes that Boomers are not a victim of their DNA - and by making specific decisions in lifestyle and environment, they can determine how they live out the next 30 years.

A report was released recently on the economic and environmental impact of lifting the state's uranium mining moratorium. Proponents of the moratorium, including the City of Virginia Beach, fear water contamination and other environmental dangers. Mining officials say their industry is safe when properly regulated and promise an economic boon for an area of the state in desperate need. On today's broadcast, we'll examine both sides of this issue.

We begin the week with the latest news headlines that have you talking. We open up our lines for you to let us know your thoughts by calling in live at 440-2665 or 1-800-940-2240. You can also e-mail the program at hearsay@whrv.org or join us on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/hearsaywithcathylewis.

Thousands of juveniles are held in correctional centers throughout the state, awaiting trial or serving their sentences. A new report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation argues that these types of detention centers are ineffective in rehabilitating youths - and costly to taxpayers. On today's broadcast, we'll talk with experts and advocates working in the juvenile jail system about the report and take a look at ways local communities can serve at-risk children.

Your personality is driven by many factors from your parents to your peers. One big influence is your birth order. Whether you're the oldest, youngest, middle or only child, research shows that a person's birth order has a direct link with his or her personality. Join us on today's HearSay as we take a closer look at the research on how birth order - or ordinal position - plays in your personality.

After years of debate and planning, Gov. Bob McDonnell annouced yesterday that the Midtown Tunnel, infamously known as the most heavily traveled road east of the Mississippi, will get an expansion - and new tolls - starting next year. We'll examine the plans and the tolls on today's program

We begin the week with the latest news headlines that have you talking. We'll also talk with the Daily Press's Hugh Lessig about this week's 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. We open up our lines for you to let us know your thoughts by calling in live at 440-2665 or 1-800-940-2240. You can also e-mail the program at hearsay@whrv.org or join us on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/hearsaywithcathylewis.

From its first documented appearances thousands of years ago, through the epic battles in the 20th century to control it, the story of cancer is a story of human ingenuity and resilience. On Thursday's program, we'll talk with the Pulitzer Prize winning author of "The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer. It is the amazing story of the people and tools, drugs and tumors, chemicals and experiments that have led us to modern day treatments and therapies.

On October 2, 1961, WHRO-TV broadcast its first 'tele-lesson' in Hampton Roads. On this special edition of HearSay, we celebrate WHRO's 50 years in broadcasting and educational programming with a one-hour retrospective. Many of the key players in WHRO's half-century history are interviewed. Hear the story of WHRO as it has become a Hampton Roads' institution for not only education, but for the community as well.

Comfort is a universal human need. But in our increasingly complex and overstressed world, we can overlook this important aspect of our lives - or employ artificial comfort substitutes that can have unintended consequences for our health. On today's broadcast we'll talk with the authors of two new books on modern day comfort - and the important lesson we learn when it is absent in our lives.