Entire Program - May 01, 2009

At P.S. 75 on 96th street, a group of fifth graders ends national poetry month with a competition. Kathleen Brooks was there.

They came from Africa to the island of St. Vincent surviving a shipwreck. They revolted against the British in the 17th century and were exiled to Central America. Now, the largest group of them lives here in New York. For many years they have been unknown. The Garifunas (pronounced ga-RI-foo-nah) are trying to preserve their culture teaching it to the next generation. Luis Andres Henao went to a Garifuna language school in Brooklyn and has this report.

While some Brooklyn residents cheer the federal government designation of the Gowanus canal as a Superfund site, others worry that it will adversely affect waterfront development. Adi Narayan has the story.

Eleanor Boudreau takes a canoe ride along the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn. The Environmental Protection Agency is considering adding the Gowanus Canal to its Superfund list, a list of the dirtiest sites in America. Boudreau Gowanus For more about the canal, listen to Adi Narayan's documentary.

Jaime Jordan presents news updates from this afternoon.

Eleanor Boudreau reports on the suprise retirement of a surprising Supreme Court Justice.

Last year, Pope Benedict the 16th declared that the Catholic Church’s oldest religious orders are in “a difficult crisis” because of the lack of new recruits and aging membership. But Mathew Katz found one order that’s gaining members not by becoming progessive, but by staying true to its conservative roots.

Reporter Dan O'Donnell explores the consequences of a fight to preserve a bland building with an uproarious history.

James Walsh has today's latest headlines.

Whether you call it "swine" or "H1N1," a new flu virus is spreading. Samantha Fields has this report.

Host Jenny Shalant asks Dr. Marguerite Pappaioanou, DVM, why diseases like avian flu and SARS and hoof and mouth disease are on the rise.

Commentator James Walsh worries about coming to a grizzly end.

Host Marine Olivesi asks Ryan Fleck, Brooklyn-based director of baseball flick "Sugar" about his inspiration for the film and what he's learned about American training academies in the Dominican Republic.

Warm weather finally has arrived in New York, and with it comes short sleeves, short skirts and for many women, shorter hair. Commentator Maura Walz sheared her locks for the summer, but as she explains, a short haircut can be long on meaning.