Mark Bashore

Host, Current State

Mark Bashore is host of Current State, WKAR's daily news show focusing on community issues, arts and culture, music and more.

Mark is well-known to WKAR listeners as mid-Michigan host of All Things Considered for several years prior to hosting Current State.  

Mark Bashore joined WKAR in May 2007. Prior to his arrival at WKAR, he hosted a talk show on WJIM AM in 2005 and previous to that was morning show host and producer at WFMK in Lansing for 14 years.

Pages

NewsRoom
6:23 pm
Thu August 23, 2012

EL's Power Resigns from City Council

Credit WKAR file photo

The East Lansing City Council is down one member after Wednesday's unexpected resignation of first-term member Don Power.

Read more
NewsRoom
12:00 am
Wed August 22, 2012

Incoming Sexton Principal Discusses LSD Reorganization

Credit Mark Bashore / WKAR

Lansing Public School students return to class on September 4 and many will be looking at significant changes.  A system-wide reorganization plan alters how students are grouped together in an effort to boost academic performance in the face of low test scores and declining enrollment.

Read more
NewsRoom
2:40 pm
Mon August 20, 2012

Sen. Jones Urges Feds to End Coal Exemption for Lake MI's 'Badger'

Credit WKAR file photo
State Senator Rick Jones

A Lansing-area state legislator is urging federal environmental officials to get tough with the coal-fired SS Badger.

Read more
NewsRoom
2:07 pm
Wed August 15, 2012

New Order Helps Young Undocumented Immigrants

Credit Mark Bashore / WKAR
Lansing DACA applicant Ramiro Estrada (left) with supporters including Father Fred Thelen (right) at Cristo Rey Church.

A new presidential order is giving many young, undocumented immigrants in mid-Michigan a shot at legal temporary employment.

The "DACA" program, or "‘Delayed Action for Childhood Arrivals," took effect Wednesday. The Obama Administration order applies to young undocumented immigrants who arrived here before the age of 16.

Ramiro Estrada arrived in Lansing as a 12-year old.  He would like a job to continue his college education in nursing.        

Read more
NewsRoom
12:00 am
Wed August 15, 2012

Ingham Official, Others Frustrated Over MI Foreclosure Practices

Credit niallkennedy / flickr creative commons

Last summer, Ingham County Register of Deeds Curtis Hertel Jr. threw his support behind a proposal to reform Michigan’s foreclosure practices.  The measure is an effort to join 23 other states by enacting “judicial” foreclosure in Michigan. 

Under the approach, a judge is assigned to personally review the details of all home foreclosures.  Advocates say that exposes an often bewildering process to more scrutiny and reduces cases of wrongful foreclosure.

Read more
NewsRoom
6:23 pm
Mon August 13, 2012

Lansing Has Plan for Expanded Red Cedar Project

Credit WKAR file photo

A review team has selected a development plan for Lansing's so-called Red Cedar Renaissance project.

Read more
NewsRoom
6:32 pm
Fri August 10, 2012

Enviro Group: MSU Study Shows Economic Benefits of More Renewable

Credit imma / morgueFile

An environmental group says Michigan's economy would get a boost if it relied more on renewable energy sources.

Read more
NewsRoom
12:00 am
Tue August 7, 2012

Recent College Grads Hope to Acquire Critical Skills in Detroit

Credit WKAR file photo

A new program is offering talented college grads the chance to learn entrepreneurialism on the front lines. It also aims to help perk up job creation in some of America’s most economically challenged cities, including Detroit.

Read more
NewsRoom
2:23 pm
Tue July 31, 2012

Lansing Cmty College Announces $67m in Renovations

Credit Mark Bashore / WKAR
Lansing Community College President Brent Knight

Lansing Community College is launching a $67-million renovation that will update and expand dozens of classrooms and social spaces.  School officials--who call the project “transformative”—say the changes will improve the overall student experience at the school.

LCC President Brent Knight claims renovations to science classrooms will make them one of the best undergraduate learning environments in the country.           

Read more
Election 2012
12:00 am
Tue July 31, 2012

Election 2012: After Dryer Reversal, Delhi Conservatives Press for More Change

Credit Mark Bashore / WKAR

All seven members of Delhi Township’s Board of Trustees are up for re-election this fall.  And in next Tuesday’s primary, voters have some pretty clear choices.

Read more
NewsRoom
12:00 am
Thu July 26, 2012

JORDYN WIEBER AND THE OLYMPICS: Rita Wieber Offers Advice as ‘Gym Mom’

Credit Mark Bashore / WKAR

Only three days remain before DeWitt gymnast Jordyn Wieber begins her much-anticipated medal quest at the 2012 Olympics.

Long before her daughter’s Olympic potential was clear, Rita Wieber wanted to write a book to help guide other gymnastics parents with what she learned. That part of the Wiebers’ journey can be explored in the new book, “Gym Mom:  Surviving Your Daughter's Gymnastics Career.”

Read more
NewsRoom
3:33 pm
Mon July 23, 2012

Clare Man Is First in Area with 'Bionic' Ankle

Credit Mark Bashore / WKAR
Mike Coon gets acclimated to his new 'bionic' knee Monday in Lansing.

A Clare man has become the first mid-Michigan recipient of what's being called a "bionic" ankle.

Read more
Economic Evolution in the Great Lake State
12:00 am
Mon July 23, 2012

reWorking Michigan: Motorcycle Culture at Heart of Haslett Company’s Success

Credit Mark Bashore / WKAR

A unique mid-Michigan business is succeeding in keeping it loose at work.  Baker Drive Train in Haslett has carved out a profitable niche in the motorcycle business with cutting edge transmissions it designs and sells all over the world.  WKAR’s Mark Bashore reports on a married couple who left their buttoned-down GM jobs to embrace the rowdier culture of high performance motorcycles. 

There’s energy on the shop floor to start the workday at Baker Drive Train.  A little ‘liquid metal’ with your caffeine of choice is just the ticket for clearing out the morning cobwebs.

Read more
NewsRoom
12:00 am
Wed July 18, 2012

Lansing Councilwoman Jody Washington Speaks About Her Roller Coaster Term

Credit Mark Bashore / WKAR
Lansing City Council member Jody Washington

Six months ago, political newcomer Jody Washington became Lansing’s First Ward representative on the city council.  She ran to address serious challenges like the city’s burgeoning, long-term pension and health care deficit. Washington calls her brief tenure a 'roller coaster' and admits being disappointed.  WKAR’s Mark Bashore sat down with her to explore why.

Read more
NewsRoom
6:49 pm
Wed July 11, 2012

For Second Time, Ingham Officials Stop Home Auction

Credit WKAR file photo

For the second time, Ingham County officials have intervened in the public auction of a Meridian Township home they say has been wrongfully foreclosed.

Read more
NewsRoom
6:31 pm
Tue July 10, 2012

Lansing Council Member Blasts Bernero Over Comment

Credit WKAR file photo
Lansing City Council member Jody Washington

First term Lansing City Council member Jody Washington has upbraided Mayor Virg Bernero, alleging he referred to her as "Eric Hewitt in drag."

Read more
NewsRoom
12:00 am
Tue July 10, 2012

Drought Begins to Worry Mid-Michigan Corn Growers

Credit Mark Bashore / WKAR
With more plentiful rain, Lane Cook's sweet corn would be a few feet taller. The Okemos farmer is bracing for a poor harvest.

2012 is already unfolding as a year that many Michigan crop growers would like to forget. The state’s warmest March ever led to the destruction of almost all of its apples and tart cherries--a combined loss in the hundreds of millions of dollars. As summer settles in, a prolonged dry spell has thousands of mid- and south-Michigan corn growers praying for rain.

Read more
NewsRoom
6:31 pm
Fri July 6, 2012

NWS: Lansing Sets Its All Time High Temperature Record

Credit WKAR file photo

The National Weather Service says Lansing set a record Friday for its highest temperature ever officially recorded.

Read more
NewsRoom
2:33 pm
Tue July 3, 2012

President Simon Expects F-RIB Strategy in 2-3 Weeks

Credit Courtesy / Michigan State University

Michigan State University President Lou Anna Simon says she expects to announce a strategy for the school's much anticipated F-RIB project in two to three weeks.

Read more
NewsRoom
12:00 am
Tue July 3, 2012

Judge Economy: Life Prison Sentence Still Possible for Lansing Teen

Credit Courtesy / Ingham County
Judge George Economy

A ruling last week by the U.S. Supreme Court has confusing repercussions for a recent court decision in Lansing.  The high court ruled that laws like Michigan’s that sometimes mandate life sentences for juveniles found guilty of serious crimes are unconstitutional.

In January, a jury found 15-year old Charles Lewis Junior of Lansing guilty of accomplice to murder, a felony. WKAR’ Mark Bashore spoke with Ingham County Judge George Economy to clarify how the ruling impacts Lewis’ sentence.     

Read more

Pages