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WYSO Weekend: January 25, 2015

WYSO Weekend

In this edition of WYSO Weekend: We’ll here about proposed changes by the US Food and Drug Administration to end the life-time ban on gay men donating blood. And later in the program our Veterans Voices series continues as we learn about Army veteran 93 year old Jim Martin who parachuted into Normandy this year to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. Jeremy Dobbins has that story. We’ll begin with a conversation with a Waynesville mom who’s son was brutally murdered almost a year ago, and find out how she’s coping. See full program details below.

  • A bill known as “Justin’s Law” is expected to be introduced to the Ohio legislature next month – It would allow for stiffer penalties for adults and juveniles convicted of aggravated murder. The “Justin” in Justin’s Law was 18-year-old Justin Back of Waynesville.  He was murdered a year ago January 28th.  At the time two 19-year-olds - Timothy Mosley and Austin Myers broke into Back’s Warren County, stole a gun, a small safe and some other family possessions, and brutally murdered Back. This week, I spoke with Sandy Cates – Justin’s mom – at her home in Waynesville where she lives with her husband Mark. They moved there when Justin and his older brother Jake were still young. We talked about the kind of young man Justin was and about the day he died.
  • Today our Veterans Voices series continues as we learn about Army veteran Jim Martin who - despite being 93 years old - parachuted into Normandy this year to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. Jim was in the now famous 506th parachute infantry regiment featured in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers. He was nicknamed “Pee Wee” because he was the lightest man in the unit. At the end of the war, Jim returned to Xenia to build a house, raise a family, and live a modest life. But when Jim got online and connected with social media, his popularity reached celebrity status. Marine Corps veteran, and Wright State University student, Jeremy Dobbins has the story.

  • The Dayton Community Blood Center says it supports removing a lifetime ban on gay men donating blood.  The US Food and Drug Administration is considering the change. To get the details on current law and the expected changes we spoke with CEO Dr. David Michael Smith Dayton CBC. Our conversation begins with a look at the agency and the world-wide service it provides. 

Jerry began volunteering at WYSO in 1991 and hosting Sunday night's Alpha Rhythms in 1992. He joined the YSO staff in 2007 as Morning Edition Host, then All Things Considered. He's hosted Sunday morning's WYSO Weekend since 2008 and produced several radio dramas and specials . In 2009 Jerry received the Best Feature award from Public Radio News Directors Inc., and was named the 2023 winner of the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors Best Anchor/News Host award. His current, heart-felt projects include the occasional series Bulletin Board Diaries, which focuses on local, old-school advertisers and small business owners. He has also returned as the co-host Alpha Rhythms.<br/>