Today: we look at one facet of the opioid addiction crisis that is gripping the nation as well as the state of Indiana -- the enormous cost that it brings, in terms of families as well as communities. NPR News is reviewing the issue in Muncie, Indiana and interviewed Ball State University economist Michael Hicks for its Web story. Professor Hicks, the director of the Center for Business Economics and Research, compared the opioid epidemic to a war in economic terms. He discusses with us the personal economic impact, and his team's new report that compares how jobs as well as health issues are affected by opioids.
We have another edition of "Green Fleet Radio" with Carl Lisek of South Shore Clean Cities. Today, he talks with Leah Thill, environmental planner for the Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG). And "Lakeshore Focus" host Keith Kirkpatrick talks with retired Porter County judge William Alexa for his program on Lakeshore PBS.
