Scott Simon Asks, "Is Oklahoma OK?"

Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon and producer Sarah Beyer Kelly were in the Oklahoma City area a few weeks ago, working on three reports that will air in future programs.

 

First, they wanted to discover why this state - and the city in particular - is considered to have such a stable economy. In the first report, scheduled for this Saturday, October 24, Scott talks with a retired economics professor who pokes holes in the rosy assessment.

 

Then on October 31, Scott profiles television meteorologist Gary England, meets a "storm chaser" out in the field, and talks to folks at the National Severe Weather Forecast Center in Norman. Also, Scott gets a lesson in how to prepare raw food Oklahoma style at a new restaurant and culinary institute in the heart of cattle country.

 

Tune in Saturdays starting at 7 a.m. for Weekend Edition.

Fall Membership Drive Still Short of Goal 

Donations are still coming in, but at last count, listeners have given or pledged nearly $152,000 in KGOU's fall membership drive. 

We're still a little short of the goal of $165,000, but listeners who have not yet pledged their support can still do so. Pledge notices are going in the mail this week; you can either send a check back to us, or use our online pledge form.

California's tough Three Strikes law turns 15 this year. The law was created in the aftermath of public outrage over a young girl's murder - she was killed by a purse snatcher, a small-time repeat offender - the kind of criminal who today can be locked up for life. But critics claim that too many petty crooks who pose no real threat to public safety are now doing 25 to life. NPR's Ina Jaffe has a series of reports on All Things Considered next week, October 28 - 30. 

On the day after Thanksgiving, November 27, 2009, StoryCorps founder Dave Isay is asking all Americans to start a new holiday tradition: Set aside one hour to interview a friend, a loved one, or someone in your community about his or her life.
 
The process is simple: select an interview partner, create a question list, and sit down to record a meaningful conversation. StoryCorps has created a Do-It-Yourself interview guide with step-by-step interview instructions, equipment recommendations, and sample questions available online at nationaldayoflistening.org, along with an instructional video on YouTube.
 

NPR will again be featuring the National Day of Listening across its news and information programs in the week leading up to Thanksgiving - hosts will be interviewing family members, and Will Shortz will be creating a puzzle about listening.

Kitchen Window: Cooking with Beer 

The mouth of a perfectly contented man is filled with beer, according to an ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic inscription - and many a modern human would agree.  This Kitchen Window Web exclusive has several recipes featuring a bit of brew for everything from the main course to dessert.