KANSAS COFFEE BAR

Program Summary 13 Oct. 2014

Hear Rep. Bill Otto and "the Lineball Sisters" discuss all manner of smalltown life in Kansas in the second hour after these news stories.

Counterspin (30 min.)

This week on CounterSpin: The new film Kill the Messenger tells the story of investigative journalist Gary Webb, whose 1996 "Dark Alliance" series exposed links the connection between drug trafficking by the CIA-backed Contras in Nicaragua and the rise of the crack epidemic in the United States. Prestige outlets like the New York Times devoted serious resources to going after Webb in an attempt to discredit his reporting. We'll go back to the CounterSpin archives to hear from Webb himself.

Also on the show: You might think you hear enough about abortion in the press. A new book says: We need to talk about abortion differently. PRO: Reclaiming Abortion Rights is the latest from author, poet and Nation columnist Katha Pollitt. We'll talk with her about reframing that conversation.

Free Speech Radio News (30 min.)

Police officer on private duty fatally shoots black teen in St. Louis ahead of Ferguson October
Mass graves uncovered in Mexico during search for abducted students
Volunteers help unaccompanied immigrant minors to adjust to life in New Haven
U.S. District court hears challenge to force-feeding method at GITMO
Lower Mekong dams continue to draw protest
Low income mothers and children in London end occupation of empty public housing