Voter turnout in Madison County today is expected in the eight to nine percent range.  With 52-thousand registered voters, those are anemic numbers. They come as no surprise to County Clerk Kenny Barger, who is more concerned about cost.

Holy Ghost! wears its influences proudly: Look no further than the duo's video for "I Will Come Back," a shot-for-shot remake of the music video for New Order's 1983 single, "Confusion." The band's debut album could be labeled as unadulterated nostalgia, but the obsession with the past is a healthy one, as the crisp recording quality gives classic sounds a modern punch.

Tintin, like Babar, has suffered a bit in modern readings. I grew up with the books, oblivious as a child is to things like possible personal politics drawn into the storylines, and loved them.

President Obama's Upcoming Speech On The Middle East

Food prices are rising, but the impact is not being felt equally around the world, says environmentalist Lester Brown.

Brown, the founder and president of the Earth Policy Institute, argues that food has quickly become the hidden driver of world politics in a piece published in the May/June issue of Foreign Policy.

As summer approaches, parents are debating whether the vacation is for play or more learning. In this weekly parenting segment, host Michel Martin hears from Joan Almon, Alliance for Childhood executive director; Elena Silva, Education Sector senior policy director; Connie Schultz, mother and The Cleveland Plain Dealer columnist; and Dani Tucker, Tell Me More's regular parenting contributor.

The U.S. manufacturing industry has added over 140 thousand jobs since January, according to the Bureau of Labor statistics. Does this signal a lasting comeback or a fleeting moment of hope? Host Michel Martin speaks with Bloomberg Businessweek economics editor Peter Coy about whether there is a manufacturing "renaissance" in the U.S., and what that could mean for the economy.

President Obama will deliver a major speech this week on U.S. policy in the Arab world. With revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, protests in Yemen, Bahrain and Syria, and U.S. involvement in the conflict in Libya, the speech comes during dramatic change in the region. Host Michel Martin discusses the speech and implications with Rami Khouri, editor-at-large of the Daily Star in Beirut, and Hisham Melham, Washington bureau chief for Al-Arabiya.

Conductor Marin Alsop discusses how open kids are to new sounds — especially compared to adults — and what an important role humor plays.

We'd love to hear more of your thoughts about connecting kids with classical music — please share your ideas and experiences in the comments section below.

I've always been intensely curious about reaching out to children, to find the best method to expose them to classical music.

Rep. Paul Ryan, the Republican from Wisconsin most identified with the controversial GOP proposal to revamp Medicare, has decided against running for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Herb Kohl, according to news reports Tuesday morning.

It's also being reported that Tommy Thompson, 69, the Republican former Wisconsin governor and George W. Bush Administration cabinet member plans to run for the seat.