On Monday’s Access Utah we’ll not only talk about key writers of the Beat Generation--such as Allen Ginsburg, Philip Whalen, and Kenneth Rexroth, but we’ll hear their voices as well. John Suiter, author of “Poets on the Peaks,” a book about Beat poets and their experiences as fire lookouts in the Northwest during the 1950s, discovered some historic photographs and audio tapes during his research. 

  On the show this week, I feature the haunting songs from Susan Cattaneo’s new release, and the 25th anniversary re-issue of Lucinda Williams’ self-titled album. I’ll also play songs from discs by Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen, The Hard Working Americans, and Adam Miller, among other talented artists. Tune in and listen this Saturday at 8pm to Fresh Folk on Utah Public Radio.

Held in the spring to celebrate the renewal of life, pow-wows have traditionally served as vehicles for sharing and preserving Native American culture.  The Native American Student Council at Utah State University will be hosting their annual pow-wow this weekend. Jason Brough, the president of this council, is Shoshone and part of the north-western band.  

“If you go to the pow-wow, there’s a lot of spirituality that’s out there. It’s very much a religious ceremony, so you can still get those same feelings. You start hearing the drum going and that, I find, inspires people to learn more about the culture,” Brough says.

Pow wows are rife with symbolism, from the traditional regalia or special dress, to the symbolism of the circle which the audience and drum group form. Regardless of your background, there is something there for everyone.  

NASA and a team of four aerospace companies are ready for two missions that will propel humans into outer space. The space shuttle launch and Orion rocket are ready for launch towards deep space starting in early fall this year. 

On Monday, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel proposed a plan to significantly cut army funding for the 2015 national budget. The plan directs where the cuts should take place, which includes shrinking the active-duty Army from 522,000 soldiers to between 440,000 and 450,000 soldiers.

Lt. Col. Hank McIntire, with the Utah National Guard, says some of the presented cuts, such as the moving of AH 64 Apache helicopters from National Guard use to entirely active-duty army control would be a mistake.

"It's a short-term type of response to a larger issue, so we feel like we need to stop and really examine this and make sure there's input from all the players in order that we make the appropriate cuts," McIntire said. "We are not opposed to cuts at all, we understand how things are going and what the realities are. We're not opposed to that. It's just the way the cuts are being made across the board, we think that's going to be a bad move in the long-run."

Protests in Venezuela turned violent on Feb. 1 when police attacked students who had gathered to bring attention to security concerns on a university campus.

Rioting has gone on for more than two weeks and has spread across the country with protesters decrying government corruption and police hostility, as well as economic practices that have led to high inflation and shortages of food and other necessities.

Gov. Gary Herbert announced today a plan to fill the gap in Utah’s health care system without expanding Medicaid.

“Healthy Utah” is the name of Herbert’s new plan to cover those living in poverty in the state.

Speaking to reporters Thursday afternoon, Herbert said he would seek a grant from the federal government and use the money to provide health insurance assistance to the poorest Utahns.

Living in the second-driest state in the U.S. most of us are closely attuned to water issues, especially as we face changes to our climate. Three experts at USU recently chose water as the topic of their TEDxUSU talks. 

How will California's drought affect Utah food prices? How will the December cold snap affect Utah's peaches, apricots and cherries? USU Extension Fruit Specialist Brent Black joins us.

USU Extension Publication-Pruning

60-year-old Royden Card, artist and poet, explores with his wife Sandee whether he chose art or art chose him.  Royden's art has been acquired by many museums including the Smithsonian Institute Library in Washington D.C. His portrayal of Zion National Park can be viewed on the 2011 UPR coffee mug.