Dick Gordon

The Voting Rights Act Of 1965

Dick Gordon — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:46:21 +0000

The U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether to allow extending the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was intended to stop southern states from denying black Americans the right to vote. Many people, especially those who were at the center of civil rights fight, say the law is still needed.

South Boston And Whitey Bulger

Dick Gordon — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:04:15 +0000

Guest host Phoebe Judge speaks with Michael Patrick McDonald, who is covering the Whitey Bulger trial. He grew up in South Boston, where Bulger is a legend.

Also in this show: Haley Morris-Cafiero, an overweight photographer, has been taking photos of people who mock her body; and Kristen Ulmer, who became one of the best skiers in the world because she could not feel fear.

Listen at 1PM and 8PM on WUNC, or online here.

The Opera Couple

Dick Gordon — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:28:30 +0000

Ailyn Perez and Stephen Costello are husband-and-wife opera singers. They talk with Dick about the peculiarity of their relationship, which includes competing to see who can hold the longest notes, and trying to get cast in the same productions so that they can spend time together.

After Innocence: Exoneration in America, Day 4

Dick Gordon — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 14:43:12 +0000

Jennifer Thompson was a college student when she was brutally raped. During the attack, she tried to memorize what the man looked like so she could identify him later. She identified Ronald Cotton as the man who raped her, and he spent 11 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.

After Innocence: Exoneration In America, Day 3

Dick Gordon — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:39:29 +0000

Jason Puracal was working in Nicaragua when he was wrongfully convicted of drug trafficking, money laundering, and organized crime. He was sentenced to 22 years in one of the worst prisons in the country. His sister Janis led the charge for his release.

Also in this show, a forensic DNA expert who has devoted himself to using new DNA technology to free the innocent.

After Innocence, Exoneration In America, Day 2

Dick Gordon — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 14:49:01 +0000

Guests include Scott Hornoff, a Rhode Island police officer convicted of murder in 1996. Since his exoneration he has been unable to find work in this country so he has become a private security consultant in Afghanistan. Also: Julie Baumer, convicted of child abuse for what later was determined to be “shaken baby syndrome”. She was exonerated. And the man at the Innocence Project who receives thousands of letters from prisoners hoping to be freed. Listen at 1 p.m. and 8 p.m., or online here.

After Innocence: Exoneration in America

Dick Gordon — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 14:06:57 +0000

Gloria Killian was a a 35 year old law school student in the 1980’s when she was convicted of murder and sentenced to 32 years to life in prison. Gloria claimed her innocence from the outset. After 17 and a half years her conviction was overturned.

Also in this show, Ray Towler, exonerated by DNA evidence. Brian Banks, exonerated and signed with football’s Atlanta Falcons. John Thompson, freed after prosecutor’s deathbed admission of suppression of evidence.

Americans Spying On Americans

Dick Gordon — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 17:09:36 +0000

William Binney has been working in intelligence since the Cold War. As a cryptomathemetician, he helped create a new surveillance system called Thin Thread. When he discovered Thin Thread was being used to spy on American citizens, he spoke up and eventually left the agency.

Fighting For Workers' Rights in Bangladesh

Dick Gordon — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 16:00:55 +0000

In late April, more than 1,100 garment workers were killed when the eight-story Rana Plaza building collapsed. Labor activist Kalpona Akter has come from Bangladesh to attend tomorrow's Walmart shareholders meeting in Bentonville, Arkansas, where she'll try to convince shareholders that Walmart must protect the safety of factory workers.

The Preventive Mastectomy: Two Women, Two Choices

Dick Gordon — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 14:00:26 +0000

A Preventive Mastectomy at 31