Thanks to Ron Smith, Kentucky Public Radio/WEKU, RichmondAs the Kentucky Board of Education continues follow-up work on the four finalists for education commissioner interviewed last week, one of those candidates is getting extra public scrutiny for some papers he wrote in the 1980s on Creationism, in which he questioned the concept of evolution.Dennis Cheek is now a senior fellow with the Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City.He told reporters during a break in the interview process this week that his views have moderated, and he doesn't believe that Intelligent Design should be taught in public schools. Cheek cited a court case on the issue."The judge ruled that ID was a concept with heavy religious overtones and not part of the science curriculum and I agree with him," Cheek said.The Kentucky Board of Education is expected to announce its choice for education commissioner next Friday.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.