On Second Thought For Wednesday, November 16, 2016

According to a National Science Foundation report from 2014, Hispanic college students received only 12 percent of science and engineering bachelor’s degrees and African-American students less than 9 percent. To bolster diversity in STEM fields, the Peach State Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) funds and encourages students of color to enroll in science-related majors. The organization was recently awarded a $4 million grant by the NSF to continue the effort. LSAMP director Angela Birkes Stokes joins us to talk about the program's next steps. Also joining us are two seniors from the University of Georgia to talk about their experience. 

Also, a forthcoming documentary about a 30-year-old murder case in Georgia shows how the state’s decision to treat intellectually disabled people in court shaped modern-day public opinion about the death penalty. We speak with Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Alan Judd and psychologist Paula Caplan about “American Justice: The Jerome Bowden Story.” 

Georgia is set to have the most executions on record for 2016, but a death penalty case tried in the state 30 years ago was influential in modern public opinion about capital punishment. Plus, Deborah Norville of "Inside Edition" and comedian Trae Crowder celebrate their Southern-ness.

Georgia native Deborah Norville is now the longest serving female anchor on national television. She has hosted Inside Edition for more than 20 years and anchored for CBS News and NBC’s Today. Last month, she was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame. We ask her to reflect on the journalism business and growing up in Georgia. 

Then, sometimes the best way to deal with serious subjects like politics is to tell a few jokes. Comedian Trae Crowder calls himself "the Liberal Redneck" and uses humor to spread the message that not all Southerners are conservatives. His new book, written with fellow comics Corey Ryan Forrester and Drew Morgan,  is called "The Liberal Redneck Manifesto: Draggin' Dixie Outta the Dark." The trio will perform in Georgia this week. We talk with Crowder about politics, comedy, and what it's like to be a progressive in the Deep South.