Journalist Blake Naftel has been collecting video and other data on the tornado for more than a decade. The tornado served as the impetus for Naftel’s career aspirations and has resulted in a sprawling documentary project.

Naftel and fellow journalist Chris Killian stopped by the Nonchalant Café Hour to discuss the tragic events that took place 30-years ago on this day.

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(Photo: RaGardner4 /Flickr)

Lando, a former general manager at WIDR FM during his studies at Western Michigan University, is also regularly featured in The Wall Street Journal and TIME reporting on events in Iraq including a moving first hand account of the recent Baghdad hotel bombings which he discusses during the interview with NCH host Steven Davy.

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(Photo: Luodanli/Flickr)

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Also check out Jason’s NCH Web Extra.

Bemis spoke to the Nonchalant Café Hour Friday ahead of his show Sunday Jan. 24 at the Strutt for Bluegrass Brunch with Dave Boutette. Click on the media player below to listen to the conversation.

Kalamazoo-based acoutic roots musician Mark Duval emerged onto the Michigan music scene around 2006. While he still considers himself new at the game, his songwriting speaks of thoughfulness, maturity and a sense of adventure.

Duval stopped by the Nonchalant Café Hour this week to discuss is latest musicial journey ahead of his show with his five-piece band Two Track Mind Saturday at Bell’s Brewery.

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by Steven Davy |Michigan State University| School of Journalism

Science is at the heart of two major pieces of legislation moving through the U.S. Congress. All summer long the news media have placed health care reform above the fold. Endless reports of the vitriolic town hall meetings are evidence of passion felt by people on both sides of the isle.

Congress has also been working on a major climate bill that would curb U.S. carbon emissions. The bill, no less controversial, calls for a cap and trade system on emissions.

However, with all the coverage of the health care debate some environmental groups have raised concerns that the climate legislation was moving too slow. Now, after passing the House, Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.) are expected to release global warming legislation.

What do you think? I went out on the street to find out.

Have your say, see poll after the video.

On this week’s KalamaBrew podcast on the Nonchalant Café Hour, bloggers Josh Smith and Anne Holcomb broadcasted live from Arcadia Brewing Co. in Battle Creek, Mich.

The conversation features an interview with Arcadia brewmaster Josh Davies who discusses his Cereal Killer English-style barleywine.

The barrel aged beer recently was awarded a gold medal at the 2009 Great American Beer Festival in Madison, Wis.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

Or stream/share the interview with Davies here:

Grand Rapids-based musician Lynn Thompson is not shy about the sound he is going for with his band. The guitarist and singer says of his six-piece band, the Lynn Thompson Band, is going for a big sound like a Mack Truck.

Thompson stopped by the Nonchalant Café Hour Friday to discuss his music and what drew him to play his 12-string guitar and how from a very early age he new that writing and music were going to be in his future.

The Lynn Thompson band played Friday night at Bell’s Brewery in downtown Kalamazoo

Topping the list of interesting developments is a batch of beer using locally grown hops that has a flavor expected to “hit you in the face”.

Additionally the fine talent at Dark Horse is again dabbling in the darker side with a holiday stout series that pays tribute to the devil.

Click here to listen

Cheers!

On this week’s KalamaBrew podcast we discover local favorite and beer baron Bell’s Brewery is expanding its line of mini kegs to include its Best Brown and Two Hearted ales.

With much anticipated annual release of the Bell’s Oberon mini keg, the expanded mini keg selection is sure to please your beer palate.

Also on this week’s podcast tune it to find out the details on Bellaire, Mich.-based Short’s Brewery’s astounding growth figures. The tireless Joe Short, one of the region’s most creative brewers, has found his niche and is plowing ahead to get his beer in your refrigerator.

Click here to listen to the discussion.

Cheers!