First hour: An update on bees and their impact on agriculture and the economy
Second hour: Poet Charlie Coté on his new collection, "I Play His Red Guitar"
Earlier this week, Senator Chuck Schumer expressed his concerns about the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to stop collecting data on bee populations in places like Rochester. WXXI reporter Noelle Evans covered this story, and the impact that a lack of research could have on New York’s agriculture and economy. Bee populations have been declining for decades due to climate change, changes in biodiversity, and pesticides. This hour, we talk about the USDA’s decision, the impact it could have, an update on pesticides, and what can be done to protect bee colonies in our area. In studio:
- Noelle Evans, reporter for WXXI News
- Matt Kelly, writer who specializes in bees, and the author of The Bee Report
Then in our second hour, we sit down with local poet Charlie Coté. His first full-length collection of poems, “I Play His Red Guitar,” laments and celebrates the loss of his 18-year-old son Charlie, who died from cancer in 2005. The poems are raw, emotional, and sensory – an examination of a father’s and a family’s grieving process. We talk with Coté about his collection, how writing helped him process his grief, the art of poetry, and more. In studio:
- Charlie Coté, author of “I Play His Red Guitar”
