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Dakota Midday: Restoring Relations with Cuba

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

President Obama made a surprise announcement on Wednesday restoring diplomatic relations with Cuba after five decades. The U.S. severed ties with Cuba in 1961 two years after Fidel Castro and his communist rebels took power. The President said, "we will end an outdated approach that for decades has failed to advance our interests.”  In Havana, Cuban leader Raul Castro, who took over the country when his brother fell ill in 2008, welcomed the new ties with the U.S. while acknowledging numerous issues remained. Obama said as changes unfold, he will talk to Congress about lifting the economic embargo on Cuba.

The announcement has received mixed reactions from lawmakers. Some are praising the President’s actions, others say he's vindicating the brutal behavior of the Cuban government.

University of South Dakota political science professor Eric Jepsen teaches Latin American politics. He joined Dakota Midday and discussed the President's historic announcement.

Karl was born to northeastern South Dakota crouton farmers, but was orphaned as a toddler during the Great Salad War (1966-67). Rescued by a flock of chickadees, he grew up in the woodlands of Sica Hollow. Legends of a bird boy living in the trees attracted the interest of renowned ornithologist and amateur bandoneon repairman Dr. Vogel Gehrke. With a handful of suet, Dr. Gehrke coaxed the timid boy down from the trees. He adopted him, named him Karl and taught him not to molt on the carpet. Dr. Gehrke’s book, The Bird Boy of Sica Hollow, was a best seller and Karl became a minor celebrity and teen idol. He appeared as a guest star on numerous television programs, most notably an awkward role on The Love Boat as the boyfriend of Captain Stubing’s daughter, Vicki. After critics panned his 1980 album, Bird Boy Does Disco, Karl retreated from public life and returned to Sica Hollow. Living in an isolated tree house, Karl achieved a reputation as a mystic. Pilgrims and seekers from around the world came to ask him about the meaning of life and for vinaigrette recipes. Growing tired of answering questions, he climbed down from his tree, shaved his massive white beard and took a job as the host of SDPB Radio’s Dakota Midday where he could ask the questions instead. After three years in that position, he ran out of questions and became host of Jazz Nightly instead. Karl makes his home in Vermillion with his charming wife Kari and three delightful children, Kodey, Kasey and Spatula. His hobbies include reciting the alphabet, combing his hair and doing volunteer work with delinquent songbirds.
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