Coming up next on the exchange, we talk with AP Tureaud, a civil rights pioneer that will visit Siouxland this week. Tureaud says he will talk about the need to defeat hate, as we deal with disturbing images of racism at the highest levels of government in Virginia and North Carolina.
Also, the effort to create intellectual diversity at South Dakota public universities.
Moreover, a preview of a performance by the winner of the Van Cliburn Piano Competition.
That and more coming up on The Exchange, but first this news.
Also, Iowa Democrats announce some changes to make their caucuses more user-friendly. That and more coming up on The Exchange, Wednesday at noon and Friday at 9”00 on Siouxland Public Media.
Welcome to The Exchange, I am Mary Hartnett. Today we will hear from a civil rights pioneer who will visit Siouxland this week. However, first, an update on efforts to make the Iowa caucuses more accessible.
The Iowa Democratic Party this week announced the first significant changes to the Iowa caucuses since they began in 1972. Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Troy Price says they will now plan to offer six VIRTUAL caucuses to increase participation. He says the virtual caucuses will be done by phone or smart device.
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"They will have six opportunities to sign in on the virtual caucus. They have to register with the state party beforehand. However, once they do that they will be able to have their voice heard in the process."
The first virtual caucus will be held on January 29th next year. Price says he does NOT think these changes will prompt New Hampshire to move up its primary date. He says he has had QUOTE good and fruitful conversations with that New Hampshire's secretary of state. The Democratic National Committee will need to approve the proposal, and there is a 30-day-public comment period.
There would be six virtual caucuses in the week leading up to the traditional event on February third. Democrats would have to register the virtual caucuses in advance. The proposal needs to be approved by the Democratic National Committee.
You are listening to The Exchange on SPM; I'm MH. As American negotiators meet with Chinese officials this week to try and end the trade war between the US and China, Iowa soybean farmers are still feeling the pinch. The Iowa Soybean Association has their crop has been hit the hardest by the trade impasse, with prices dipping as low two dollars per bushel.
Lyndsay Greiner is the president of the Iowa Soybean Association. Greiner says farmers have not had much encouraging news.
That was Lyndsay Greiner, the president of the Iowa Soybean Association, talking the ongoing trade negotiations between the US and China to try and renew normal trade relations. Soybean farmers have also been struggling with oversupply and low prices.
You are listening to the Exchange; I'm Mary Hartnett. As a handful of bills wend their way through the Iowa House and Senate to that would amend the bottle deposit law, An Iowa State University economist says the law desperately needs to be updated.
Iowa state university professor of Economics Dr. Dermot J. Hayes says the bottle bill is falling apart and needs to be updated to make it financially relevant today.
That was Iowa state university professor of Economics Dr. Dermot J. Hayes, talking about different ways to update and improve Iowa’s bottle deposit law. Hayes made his comments ahead of a presentation to House and Senate committees considering updates to the bottle bill.
In the House, Rep. Andy McKean, R-Anamosa, has proposed a measure that would expand the 5-cent container deposit to non-carbonated and non-alcoholic beverages, like bottled water and sports drinks. It also would increase the redemption center handling fee from 1 cent per container to 2 cents. State Senator Mark Segabart, R-Vail, whom I spoke with last week, has sponsored a bill which would double the handling fee. It also does not mandate that retailers redeem cans and bottles.
Hayes told lawmakers that because the deposit and handling fee had not kept up with inflation, the redemption process has become distorted.
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The Executive Director of the South Dakota State Board of Regents Paul Behrens says he wants to promote diversity of thought and but the board disagrees with the need for new classes and tests. Behrens says the board weighed on a similar bill that failed in the statehouse last year and looked into the issue of intellectual diversity.
That was The Executive Director of the South Dakota State Board of Regents Paul Behrens talking about the bill in that would enforce intellectual diversity on campuses of state universities.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem says officials will work on changes to that Repbulcian backed bill. The GOP governor says she met Friday with Republican Rep. Sue Peterson, the sponsor, to discuss the proposal.
The wide-ranging bill would mandate requirements for students, including U.S. history and government courses and scoring at least 85 percent on the U.S. citizenship test. Noem says she is worried the measure could increase costs for students.
The bill would also designate outdoor university areas as public forums, prohibit officials from discriminating against student organizations based on their expression and require reporting to the governor, regents, and legislators.
You are listening to The Exchange on SPM; I'm MH. February is Black History Month, and the Sioux City Branch of the NAACP is hosting its annual Freedom Fund Dinner this Saturday. AP Turead is the keynote speaker. Turead is the first African American to attend a formerly segregated state university. He attended Louisiana State University in 1953. AP says he will talk about the reasons why people hate and how their mindsets are formed.
That was AP Turead, civil rights pioneer, who will be the keynote speaker this week at the Siouxland NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner Sunday at the Sioux City Convention Center. He will also hold a discussion Sunday afternoon at the Sioux City Public Museum beginning at 3:00 p.m. and he will meet with Sioux City High school students Friday afternoon.
Intro, TThe Morningside Piano Recital Series, will host a special concert on Valentine's Day featuring the 2017 goldmedal winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Yekwon Sunwoo (Yay-Kwon Sun-Woo). Professor James March, director of the series, joined Mark Munger to preview Sunwoo’s program.
Dr. James March speaking with Siouxland Public Media’s Mark Munger about tomorrow’s recital at Eppley Auditorium featuring Yekwon Sunwoo. The recital begins at 7:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public.
