The first episode of 2020 finds host Jill Spears and gardening guru Lance Swigart discussing mid-winter gardening topics and taking calls from listeners.

Host Jill Spears and garden guru Lance Swigart discuss mid-winter garden topics, and invite calls from listeners.

Host Jill Spears is joined by gardener Lance Swigart and Delta County Library staffer Sara Smith for a discussion about seed saving and the library's seed swap collection .

Host Jill Spears chats with gardener Lance Swigart and special guest Don Lareau of Zephyros Farm & Garden near Paonia. The episode's subject matter is GMOs - genetically modified organisms.

Fiat Chrysler Automobile announced Saturday that CEO Sergio Marchionne's health had suddenly deteriorated following surgery and that its board of directors had chosen Jeep executive Mike Manley to replace him. Marchionne, a 66-year-old Italian-Canadian, joined Fiat in 2004 and led the Turin-based company's merger with bankrupt U.S. carmaker Chrysler. Manley, 54, had been heading the Jeep brand since June 2009 and the Ram brand from October 2015. The announcement, at the end of an urgently convened board meeting, marked the end of the Marchionne era, which included the turnaround of failing Fiat, the takeover of bankrupt U.S. automaker Chrysler and the spinoffs of the heavy machinery and truck maker CNH and supercar maker Ferrari. Fiat Chrysler said in a statement that due to his deteriorating health Marchionne "will be unable to return to work." Marchionne, 66, had already announced he would step down in early 2019, so the board's decision, to be confirmed at an upcoming shareholders'

Tronc. Comedian John Oliver once said that was the sound of a stack of newspapers being thrown into a dumpster. Now, the Chicago Tribune reports its parent company, Tronc, is changing its name back to Tribune Publishing. The Chicago-based company made the announcement Thursday. That ends a two-year run for the often-mocked corporate moniker. The name change becomes official next Tuesday. The company didn’t say what was behind the name change, but recently, its second-largest shareholder said he hoped to convince others to change the name back because “Tronc was a silly name.” The Tribune also says the name change comes at a time when there are potential buyers showing interest in the storied media company. “tronc,” by the way, was intended to be written in all lower-case letters and stood for “Tribune Online Content.”

Pinnacle Logistics and the Chicago Rockford International Airport announced 500 new jobs to support additional cargo flights at the airport. According to a news release, Pinnacle Logistics provides scheduled surface transportation, supply chain management, cargo, aircraft handling and parking services. The release says more positions will be added in coming months. The jobs include entry level positions, leads, supervisors and managers on duty, as well as dockworkers, forklift drivers, and ramp and cargo warehouse handling agents. The available positions are seasonal and permanent. “We knew our cargo growth would produce more jobs in 2019 and this is just the beginning,” said Mike Dunn, executive director at RFD. “We are glad to partner with Pinnacle Logistics and proud that our job creation continues to put us on the map for our exceptional cargo operations.” In July, the airport announced its rank as the 22nd largest airport in the nation for air cargo volume, up from a ranking of 31

Last Thursday during XPN’s Non-COMMvention, the Tupelo, Mississippi brothers and sister trio, the Homemade Jamz Blues Band, performed in concert with Super Chikan for the final Mississippi Blues Porject concert series. The band performed songs from its new album, Mississippi […]

Listen to this special Mississippi Blues Project session with David Bromberg here. David Bromberg dropped by the studios at WXPN in Philadelphia in April to talk about, and play, Mississippi Blues. Bromberg cited the influences of players such as Muddy […]

Rory Block, who performed a concert for the Mississippi Blues Project, has released Avalon: A Tribute To Mississippi John Hurt on Stony Plain Records. The album is the fourth CD in her “Mentor Series.” Previous tribute have been to Rev. […]

Below, listen to a Spotify playlist of Mississippi Blues artists. Listen to the first volume of the Mississippi Blues Project playlist here.

We’re saddened to hear that James “T-Model” Ford has passed away. He was 94. Born James Lewis Carter Ford in Forest, Mississippi. T-Model was a hard hitting and raw sounding Delta bluesman. While he played music for most his life, […]

The legendary James Cotton is playing a free show at the TLA on South Street in Philadelphia on Friday, September 6. It’s the finale concert of the year long Mississippi Blues Project and will be hosted by Jonny Meister, host […]

The legendary James Cotton played the TLA on Friday, September 6th for the final concert of XPN’s Mississippi Blues Project. The 78 year old blues man performed with the energy of a twenty-something to a sold out crowd, playing songs […]

SUCCESS in athletics can often be a family affair. Scots such as Callum Hawkins and Eilish McColgan have thrived under the tutelage of their parents, while track star Jake Wightman is another who has preferred to turn to his family to coach him to success on the track.

Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis haven’t stopped Hurlford United from doing what they almost always do at this time of year… ready themselves to take part in a Macron Scottish Junior Cup quarter-final tie

Beith defensive mainstay Ryan Docherty has called today’s Macron Scottish Junior Cup clash against Kello Rovers “a great opportunity” as he and his team-mates prepare to go toe-to-toe with the rank outsiders for a place in this season’s semi-finals.

Neilston’s aspirations of making a first-ever Macron Scottish Junior Cup semi-final appearance were given a reality check in quite atrocious footballing conditions at Brig O’Lea on Saturday.

Not everyone will agree with Paul Maxwell’s Dream Team, however what is indisputable is there are few better than the Ashfield boss for coming up with a potent mix of current and bygone picks.

THEY are both strikers, share the same surname, and are expected to have key roles in the Macron Scottish Junior Cup quarter-finals, but that is where the similarities end for Darvel’s Allan Mackenzie and Hurlford United’s Marc McKenzie.

Former Rangers midfielder Ian Black has signed for junior outfit Dunbar United.

THE indefinite lockdown of Scottish football is set to plunge the Junior game into a crisis like never before, according to Pollok manager Murdie MacKinnon.

IN normal circumstances, Auchinleck Talbot manager Tommy Sloan would be popping Champagne bottles and celebrating his second league title victory in a row.

Illinois elected officials have strong feelings about former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's early release from prison. He served eight years of his 14 year sentence because President Donald Trump commuted his sentence earlier this week. Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara doesn't agree with the president's move. "I really think it was a horrible decision and sends a really bad signal, not just to politicians, but to all citizens across the state." McNamara elaborated. "Look back at what he did. He literally tried to do one of the worst things you can do in politics, which is to enrich himself while selling a public seat." Rockford's Democratic mayor said Blagojevich bypassed the trust of the citizens. McNamara emphasized that this is not a partisan issue. "Republican, Democrat, Green Party, Independent -- what he did is despicable and I think he should serve his full sentence." John Beck identifies as a moderate Republican and is the alderman for Rockford's 12th ward. He said the

Rockford alderman and community activist John Beck has died. The 57-year-old Republican represented the city’s 12 th ward since 2001. He worked for the Rockford Park District as its Arts, Events, and Recreation Project Manager for the past 13 years. Beck also was known as a champion of accessibility and defender of the Americans With Disabilities Act. He served for 22 years as Development Director for RAMP, a Rockford-based organization offering services and advocacy for people with disabilities. He was a founding member of the Rockford Chariots wheelchair basketball association. And according to a news release from the Rockford Park District, Beck conducted assessments throughout the district “to insure the inclusion of people with disabilities in parks and recreation.” Rockford Park District Executive Director Jay Sandine said the “park district family” is heartbroken. “We will miss his quality service and we will miss his smile,” he wrote. “One thing we will not miss is his spirit

GLASGOW-BORN TV star John Barrowman has hit out at a fake account pretending to be him.

Sweden's very own modern-day Viking horde return with a truly epic masterpiece.

With Jomsviking, Amon Amarth deliver a pulverizing, yet highly enjoyable listening experience that will keep you coming back for more. A pure masterpiece for the masses.

No Folk?

A nice demonstration of Terji's capabilities from start to finish.

Five facts about...Bessie Johnston

BONFIRES so hot they cracked tenement windows. Jiving with the GIs in George Square. Singing and dancing with joy, knowing that finally, the war was over….

COMEDIAN Kerry Bridges has shown his support for the national Clap for Carers event.

TWO city theatres have suspended all shows until the end of June.

JOHN THAIN has been on quite a rollercoaster over the past year.

Josh Taylor has hit back at former trainer Shane McGuigan and insists he had been unhappy for a long time working under Cyclone Promotions.

SUPER-MIDDLEWEIGHT John Docherty cruised to another comfortable victory last night in Sheffield to improve his record to 8-0.

BEING on the same team as Carl Frampton did Josh Taylor no harm at all at the start of his boxing career.

ANY lingering frustration at seeing his last three fights postponed has now mostly dissipated for Andy Tham. The promising Cumbernauld super-featherweight has reconciled himself with the fact that his boxing career will need to remain on hold for the next few months at least.

CELTIC hero Chris Sutton has joked that Rangers' SPFL dossier has "shaken Scottish football to the core".

THE Standard Life Foundation (SLF) has published the results of its UK financial impact tracker.

CLAPPING the NHS each week is all well and good but surely we can think of a more permanent recognition?

MISSING beloved grandparents is something we can all relate to during coronavirus lockdown – now a Glasgow poet has made a 60-second film about it.

Lawrie Sanchez watched a young Steven Davis tear it up on a Northern Ireland training pitch and knew he had a serious leader on his hands.

Rangers vice-chairman John Bennett has criticised the SPFL for their 'cynical tactics' over their labelling of the club's dossier as a "smoking gun" - and insists the issue is not merely Gers vs the governing body.

PARTICK THISTLE have thanked their season ticket holders after just 3.5 per cent of supporters applied for refunds.

DOZENS of staff have been made redundant after home furnishing store Remnant Kings went into administration.

The Grow Feed Change Project is a community relief effort in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The project looks to provide starts of fruits and vegetable plants and seeds free of charge to rural residents in Pueblo and Huerfano counties, including the communities of Beulah, Cuchara, and La Veta.

How has the city of San Francisco changed in the last decade, and what will it look like in the future? Host Ethan Elkind sits down with retiring San Francisco Planning Director John Rahaim.

On tonight's show host Joseph Pace will examine the flaws in our legal system that have contributed to the mass incarceration of Americans, particularly impoverished Americans. The discussion will include San Mateo DA Steve Wagstaffe and lawyer Alec Karakatsanis, author of Usual Cruelty: The Complicity of Lawyers in the Criminal Injustice System, whose ideas often challenge our assumptions about justice, poverty, and opportunity in our country. Guests: Steve Wagstaffe, District Attorney of San Mateo County. Alec Karakatsanis, Lawyer and Author of Usual Cruelty, The Complicity of Lawyers in the Criminal Injustice System. You can join Alec for a lunch and talk about his book on Thursday, Dec 5 from 12:30-1:30 in the Google Community Space (188 Embarcadero). Sponsored by Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights . RSVP to Producer: Wendy Holcombe

Host Ethan Elkind sits down with sujatha baliga, director of the R estorative Justice Project at Oakland-based Impact Justice. sujatha is one of recipients of the 2019 MacArthur "genius" grants and joins us to discuss her work expanding access to survivor-centered restorative justice strategies.

Host Joseph Pace and guests explore the history of discrimination against Japanese Americans and immigrants in the first half of the 20th century. What parallels can be drawn between their experiences and today’s debate over immigration and national security?