Clean Up Your Act - George Dorman

Among the topics for Clean Up Your Act for the week of April 30 are "Crocs are removed from the endangered list" and "Simple ways to live green."

After three decades, the American crocodile is off the federal endangered species list. In 1975, the croc was close to extinction in the U.S., a victim of development, habitat loss and hunting. There were only about 200 of them left in south Florida -- just 10 to 20 breeding females. Scientists say there now may be as many as 2,000. Wildlife experts credit sanctuaries set up to protect the predators. The crocodile does remain a "threatened" species.

Greg Horn is the author of the book "Living Green: A Practical Guide to Simple Sustainability." He became interested in such matters while fighting a case of multiple chemical sensititives (MCS). In the book, Horn offers tips on how to live healthier through what we put into and onto our bodies, purchases for the home and energy use. Some simple steps include purchasing progammable thermostats, patching up leaks around doors and windows, putting carbon filters on shower heads, and reducing the use of chemicals on lawns.

Clean Up Your Act airs at 6:35 a.m. and 3:35 p.m. weekdays. Weekend editions are heard at 9:20 a.m. Saturday and Sunday and at 3:20 p.m. Saturdays.

George Dorman - News and Operations Director

Christian Rocks!

KCCK hosted superstar Bassist Christian McBride over the weekend, when he came to Cedar Rapids for a residency and performance at Kirkwood. Christian was delightful, chatting in-studio with Bob Stewart for nearly an hour. Listen to that interview here.

The concert was outstanding, as Christian led the Kirkwood Jazz Ensemble and CR Jazz through tunes by Dizzy Gillespie, Horace Silver and even an original chart by Cedar Rapids' own Denny Redmond. Christian also "walked the tightrope," as he called it, playing one duet with piano using his bow.

Another highlight was Coe Senior and Kirkwood jazz alum Rene Ybarra stepping out with CR Jazz and just ripping up "A Night in Tunisia" with a soaring lead and torrid solos.

Kirkwood Media Services recorded the concert. It will be broadcast several times on the Kirkwood Channel, the first being May 12 at 10pm. Ch. 11 in most of Eastern Iowa. Check the program schedule here. KCCK will also feature the concert in a future Wednesday Special.

Clean Up Your Act - George Dorman

Topics for Clean Up Your Act for the week of April 23 include "Burning fat for your car" and "The Iowa River makes a list of endangered waterways."

Tyson Foods plans to send fat from one of its plants in Texas to a nearby ConocoPhillips refinery where it will be mixed with diesel. It will be called "renewable diesel" and marketed for fuel. ConocoPhillips will produce 175-million gallons of renewable diesel per year and is experimenting with other sources like algae.

The Iowa River is on the list of Most Endangered Rivers in America for 2007 by the environmental group American Rivers. Growing loads of sewage from both humans and livestock are cited. Andrew Fahlund of American Rivers says the Iowa D.N.R. has neglected to write rules to help implement the Clean Water Act. The is the first time that an Iowa river has made the list.

Clean Up Your Act airs at 6:35 a.m. and 3:35 p.m. weekdays. Weekend editions are heard at 9:20 a.m. Saturday and Sunday and at 3:20 p.m. Saturdays.

George Dorman - News and Operations Director

Live Jazz Galore--Bob

It's a busy week for live jazz in the area, starting tonight in the Washington High Auditorium with the Cedar 6 Jazz Festival. The 7pm concert features the six area high school jazz bands strutting their stuff. Thursday night is the first night of KCCK's Jazz at the 'Brary: Caliente! program, with Jim Drier and the U of I Latin Jazz Ensemble providing the jazz at the Iowa City Public Library at 7 & 9pm (the 9pm program is in Spanish). The Cedar Rapids edition will be Friday 4/20 at 7 & 9pm. Also this Thursday night, the U.N.I. Jazz Band One performs at 7:30pm at the Gallagher Bluedorn Center in Cedar Falls. Tuscan Moon in Kalona is hosting the Chicago vocal/guitar duo of Typhanie Monique and Neal Alger on Friday night...they'll be stopping by the studios for a performance and interview around 1:30pm. You may know Alger's work with Patricia Barber's quartet. Also on Friday night the Coe College Gold Jazz Band plays Sinclair Auditorium on the Coe campus, and Kurt Elling is up in Decorah at Luther College.

Bob Stewart, Program Director bobs@kcck.org