Newscycle

Alicia revisits the topic of the World Cup with reporters Tom Passmore and Michael Leonard about their previous picks, the fascinating wins that have occurred during this tournament, and what Qatar has in store 4 years from now. 

While the issue of parents and children being separated at the border started to make news some time back, it was only in the past week that the issue hit a fever pitch with Americans across the country calling to end a practice of removing children from those crossing the southern border and housing them in various forms of tents and warehouses. Alicia talks with reporters who covered rallies, as well as spoken with Senators on this issue, in an effort to help clear up the confusion and understand what happens next.  Guests: Christopher Gavin - Milford Daily News, MA Kevin Andrade - The Providence Journal, RI

Even with the prospect of the World Cup coming to the US in 2026, fans of soccer in the US are at a loss of who to cheer for this year, without the US respresenting. Alicia talks with reporters from Ohio and New York about the World Cup, what their predictions are, and why the US ultimately didn't make it.  Guests: Tom Passmore - The Leader  - New York Michael Leonard - My NEO.com  - Ohio

Police body camera footage this week in Canton, Ohio shows a long and drawn out encounter with a man pulled over in a traffic stop. For those who watched the cut clip that ran across social media, one would only see a mans car window being smashed out a police canine latching on to his arm during a take down, and the shared claim that it was all over the driver not having a front license plate.  However, the police department in Ohio released the full body camera footage and a completely different image appeared and few, with open minds would disagree with the fact that the officers on the scene acted appropriately and did their jobs. Is it a benefit to have this footage? Alicia talks with reporters from Ohio and Florida on this topic.    Guests: Randy Ludlow - The Columbus Dispatch - Ohio Gary White - The Ledger - Florida

Host Alicia Preston talks with a local detective about the Felony Lane Gang, who they are, and why we should care. A victim of a stolen purse that was located in her car in a parking garage, Alicia learned of the gang while canceling her credit cards and debit card. 

9 states in America have fully legalized marijuana for recreational use. 14 others have decrminalized it, basicallly making it the same as a traffic ticket. 29 state have medical marijuana programs although what ailment or illness qualfiies a patient for use varies from state to state and in many, while legal, the programs are set up, there are no dispensaries and no legal way to actually obtain the medical marijuana that has been legalized. Alicia talks with a reporter from Massachusetts about how it's playing out for the state. Guests:  Eli Sherman - Wicked Local 

From preschool through college there are questions about how we, as a society, are raising children and young people through their school years and if it is in a manner that will help them function as adults.  Afterall, that is the jobs of educators--teach kids how to be grown ups through academics and other activities.  Alicia talks with reporters from Pennsylvania, Florida and North Carolina about particular situations that invite the bubble wrapping conversation.  Guests: Chris English - The Intelligencer - Pennsylvania Kim Doleatto - The Sarasota Herald Tribune - Florida Nancy McCleary - The Fayetteville Observer - North Carolina

Following the announcement of the First Lady's Be Best Campaign, Alicia talks with reporters in Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire about legislative action and local school surveys being conducted. What's being done? How are communities getting involved in the effort to put an end to bullying? These questions and more are discussed this week.    Guests: Howard Frank - The Pocono Record, PA Max Sullivan - Seacoast Media Group, NH

Alicia talks with reporters from The Fayettville Observer, and The Avalanche Journal, where the results of the NFL Draft had a great impact.  Guests: Sammy Batten, Sports Writer - Fayetteville Observer, North Caronlina Don Williams, Sports Writer - The Avalanche Journal, Texas

April is distracted driving awareness month. Host Alicia Preston talks with reporters from North Carolina and western Michigan, about what the legisltation in their states are doing about distracted driving.  Guests: Myron Pitts - Fayetteville Observer, North Carolina Audra Gamble - Holland Sentinel, Michigan

Following the passing of former First Lady Barbara Bush, Alicia talks with reporters from Texas and Kennebunk, Maine, where the Bush's resided over the years.  Guests: Donna Buttarazzi - Seacoast Media Group, New Hampshire Adam Young - Lubbock Avalanche Journal, Texas

This week Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified with the Senate and the house regarding the data that facebook collects and uses. How does it affect your personal data? Where is it going? How else is your personal data getting used? Alicia uncovers some interesting uses for personal data, that you may not have considered. Guests: Brad Petrishen - Worcester Telegram and Gazette, MA Marion Renault - Columbus Dispatch, OH

Alicia tackles the subject of bullying this week. How prevalent is it? Is social media to blame? Alicia speaks with Dr. Elizabeth Englander, the director of the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center and Professor of Psychology at Bridgewater State University about this subject.  

This week Alicia dives into a conversation with Columnists regarding two topics that were making headlines. Sanctuary cities and Stormy Daniels.  Guests: Columnists Rick Holmes Columnist John Crisp

March 2nd marked the beginning of multiple days of fear for the austion community as a packaged bomb went off. Alicia talks with a reporter from the Houston Chronicle who covered the bombings, and another community member who discusses what was happening at the community level while all of this was unfolding.  Guests: Andrea Zelinski - Houston Chronicle - Austin Bureau Tim Schmitt - Center for News and Design, Austin Texas

March 14th, one month to the day after the shooting massacre at a Parkland Florida High School left 17 dead, students across the country left their classrooms to walk out --some in protest of what they percieve as lax guns laws, others in quiet memorium of those who were killed just one month before. Alicia talks with reporters from Washington D.C. , Michigan, Illinois and Florida regarding the different experiences that occurred across the nation.    Guests: Gary White - Lakeland Ledger -  Florida Carla Jimenez - State Journal Register - Illinois Erin Dietzer - Holland Sentinel - Michigan Jessica Wehrman - Washington DC

President Trump recently signed into law tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. Alicia talks with editors and reporters from Jacksonville Florida, and Illinois to discuss both sides of the issue.    Guests: Mike Clark - Florida Times Union - Florida Kelsey Landis - Belleville News Democrat

The Opioid crisis is ramping up across America. Prescription drug use is turning to street drug use too often. Alicia asks the question, can states sue their way out of the crisis? Alicia talks with reporters from South Carolina and Ohio about this approach to tackling the crisis.  Guests: Bob Montgomery - Reporter, Spartanburg Herald Journal, South Carolina Marla Matzer Rose - Reporter, Columbus Dispatch, Ohio

In the wake of the Parkland, Florida shooting, there continues to be more shootings in schools, threats, and protests. Can we begin to address what's happening in America before the next tragedy? Alicia talks with reporters from Ohio, Florida, and New Hampshire about the reactions happening locally as a result of the event.  Guests: Samantha Ickes - Ohio Tony Holt - Florida Hadley Barndollar - New Hampshire

Alicia talks with Dr. Deborah Osgood, and expert in human behavior about the recent school shooting in Florida, and what steps could be taken to stop this from happening.