World Views marks the 33rd anniversary of the end of the Iranian hostage crisis with an interview with Ambassador John W. Limbert, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iran. He was one of 52 Americans held captive at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran for 444 days. World Views host Suzette Grillot's interview with Limbert airs Jan. 17.

Tomorrow's program is the first World Views from China! Suzette and co-host Rebecca Cruise will share their experiences in China, plus an online photo slideshow, along with an interview with Erle Ellis, an ecologist studying how human activity has changed landscapes and ecosystems. Tune in Fridays at 4 or 6:30 p.m. for World Views, produced by the University of Oklahoma College of International Studies and KGOU.

 

Donations to KGOU increased slightly in the fiscal year ending last June 30, keeping pace with increased programming costs, and also helping to cover decreased direct funding from the University of Oklahoma and a smaller annual grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Operating income decreased by one percent, but private giving (memberships and underwriting) increased by nearly four percent.

Overall, KGOU is in strong financial shape, with healthy reserves to pay our bills and handle most emergency equipment needs. The FY13 audit statement is available for anyone who wants to see it. If you have questions or concerns, contact General Manager Karen Holp.

The innovators at NPR Labs are at it again -- "Nipper One" is here! It's a pilot project with FEMA/Department of Homeland Security, the Public Radio Satellite System, and 26 local stations along the Gulf coast, with the goal of delivering emergency alerts to the deaf and hearing impaired.

The FM receiver and tablet called "Nipper One" is featured this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The project has already been recognized by the Consumer Electronics Association, which named NPR Labs as an International CES Innovations 2014 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree. And Consumer Reports also gave it an approving nod in this video.

 

Once sleepy northern Great Plains towns sit on one of the world's largest oil deposits and a boom is well underway. North Dakota now has the nation's lowest unemployment rate, and is drawing more job seekers than local communities can house. NPR examines the effects of this boom, from tensions with local agriculture, to its effects on small town life and beyond. The series begins Wednesday, Jan. 22, airing across all NPR newsmagazines. NPR's Jeff Brady and Kirk Siegler report, with additional stories from local stations.

 

Questions persist about the Affordable Care Act, with the new law's complexities, rumors and even misinformation resulting in confusion for many. NPR has launched a new interactive FAQ that allows users to filter through nearly 80 questions about the law and get detailed answers written by NPR's resident expert, Julie Rovner. If you don't find the answers you seek, ask your question. The answer might be included online or on the air.