Andrew Yeager
WBHM Managing Editor
It was probably inevitable that Andrew Yeager would end up working in public radio. The son of two teachers, NPR News programs often formed the backdrop to car rides growing up. And it was probably inevitable that Andrew would end up in news after discovering the record button on his tape recorder. He still remembers his first attempted interview - his uncooperative 2-year-old sister.
Originally from east central Indiana, Andrew earned degrees in broadcasting and political science from Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio. While there he spent more than his fair share of time at WOBN, the student-run radio station. After college Andrew worked for an educational non-profit and volunteered at WMUB in Oxford, Ohio. He ventured into public radio full-time as a reporter for WNIN in Evansville, Ind. Besides covering an array of local stories, Andrew's work has been heard on many public radio programs.
Andrew lives with his wife and two children in Birmingham. When not consumed by public radio work, he's often picking up items strewn about the house by said children, reading or heading out on a bike ride when not enveloped by the Alabama heat.
Childcare in Birmingham
For families with young children in the Birmingham area, a report released Monday may present an already familiar reality. The survey by the non-profit Childcare Resources found the number of childcare programs in the area dropping while costs are on the rise. WBHM's Andrew Yeager spoke with Executive Director Joan Wright about this snapshot of childcare from 2003 to 2007. He began by asking what's behind that drop in the number of childcare programs.
Sister Helen Prejean
If you recognize the name Sister Helen Prejean, it's likely from the book or film "Dead Man Walking." This Roman Catholic nun's correspondence with a death row inmate inspired those works and also led her to become a leading advocate against capital punishment. Prejean is in Birmingham this evening, with a viewpoint she says has deepened through her more than two decades of advocacy. She spoke with WBHM's Andrew Yeager.
Sizwe’s Test
Federal officials announced a major overhaul Tuesday of the government's efforts to develop an AIDS vaccine. The move comes after a promising vaccine didn't work and may have put people at risk of infection. Despite the setback, AIDS research conducted across the county, including at UAB, has turned a disease of death into a chronic disease that's managed. But in sub-Saharan Africa where infection rates are highest, the image of the AIDS epidemic is much different. Journalist Jonny Steinberg traveled to a village in his native South Africa to gauge AIDS treatment away from western medical institutions. He followed Dr. Hermann Reuter of Doctors Without Borders, and Sizwe Magadla. He's a successful, healthy, charismatic young man, who despite risky behavior in his past, refuses to test for AIDS. WBHM's Andrew Yeager spoke with Jonny Steinberg.
ASO Bankruptcy Lessons
For many people, there's just something distinctive about taking in an orchestra concert. Maybe it's the feel of the auditorium or seeing the array of instruments on stage. For a time though, this orchestral thrill was not something Birmingham could offer. Fifteen years ago the Alabama Symphony Orchestra filed for bankruptcy and stayed silent for four years. While the ASO's rebirth represents hard work and dedication by many, it also contains lessons for any organization in turmoil. WBHM's Andrew Yeager continues our weeklong series on arts funding.
Kenyan Student Reaction
Talks in Kenya were temporarily suspended Thursday following the murder of Kenyan lawmaker David Too. It's just the latest act of violence in more than a month of civil unrest in that country. Demonstrations and fighting broke out following December's disputed election between President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga. For many Americans, the news is unfortunate, but not much more than a blip in a global landscape dotted with conflict. However, for Kenyans living in Birmingham the violence is very real. WBHM's Andrew Yeager spoke with several UAB students from Kenya. He found them deeply troubled but remaining hopeful.
SFS: Police Ride-along
Turn on the TV during primetime and it probably won't be long before a police officer pops up on the screen. From high tech forensic equipment on CSI to reports of shootings on the nightly news, police work seems populated with high speed car chases and "heat packing" confrontations. But is that the way it really is for someone on patrol in Birmingham? WBHM's Andrew Yeager rode along with a police officer and has this glimpse of the day-to-day routine.
