Transcript

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

Leader from around the world have arrived in Venezuela to pay their final respects to President Hugo Chavez, who used his country's oil wealth to put in place his vision of socialism during 14 years in power. And this larger-than-life leader presumably will continue to inspire his followers. The Venezuelan government plans to embalm his body and keep it on display in a glass coffin.

Seventeen year-old Kelly Talim, a finalist in the 2012 Stulberg International String Competition, will present a solo recital at Kalamazoo College this Sunday. 

She remembers  the competition in Kalamazoo last May as a positive experience, and says while she works hard on technique, it's also important to her that she have "something to say" musically. Her program features works of Robert Schumann, J.S. Bach, and Eugene Ysaye.

Was Senator Rand Paul's 13-hour filibuster a smart political move or a total disaster? The Barbershop guys weigh in on that — and how Major League Baseball could be affected by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's death. Host Michel Martin checks in with writer Jimi Izrael, civil rights attorney Arsalan Iftikhar, sports writer Dave Zirin and columnist Mario Loyola.

It's been 10 years since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. That conflict drastically changed the lives of Iraqi women. On International Women's Day, host Michel Martin talks with Iqbal al-Juboori, about how the war affected her personally, and what it's like for women to live in a conflict zone. al-Juboori works to provide job training and life skills to women and their families in rural parts of Iraq.

Catholicism is reaching further into the developing world. Will the Church shift its focus to new concerns in those regions — like poverty, education and rural development? Michel Martin talks with Sister Simone Campbell, Father Patrick Ryan and Yale Divinity Professor Lanim Sanneh about whether the Church's priorities are changing.

U.S. Senator Carl Levin's decision not to seek re-election next year means a wide-open field in next year's election. Western Michigan University Political Science Professor John Clark discusses the political landscape with WMUK's Gordon Evans. 

The city of Battle Creek's efforts to lure new businesses has been aided by a workforce development program. Battle Creek Enquirer reporter Jennifer Bowman discussed the issue with WMUK's Gordon Evans. 

Many forecasters predicted a monster storm would hit Washington, D.C., but the nation's capital just got a bit of snow and rain. Channel 5 meteorologist Tucker Barnes did not blame the vagaries of the weather. He took a "timeout," shown on camera sitting in a corner during the broadcast.

Colorado voters recently legalized small amounts of marijuana. State lawmakers must work out the details and regulations. They put together a special committee. Because it consists of members of both the state House and Senate, it is known by the phrase that such committee always are. Yes, it is the joint committee on marijuana regulation.