HearSay with Cathy Lewis

Feeling overwhelmed by the abundance of STUFF in you life? On today's HearSay we'll help you reorganize yourself – and we're not just talking about that junk drawer in your kitchen. Today's discussion focuses on chronic disorganization and how to conquer you stuff before it overruns your life.

It's been a delicious year! Join us for a culinary retrospective of our favorite moments with host, Cathy Lewis and Chef Patrick Evans-Hylton. We'll look back at some of our tastiest talks with the region's (and the world's) best chefs and thought leaders in the world of food and cocktails!

When you're truly committed to something, be it a person or a cause, it's said that you "give a part of yourself." This adage was doubly true for Tim McDermott and his siblings, Mary and Jeff, who each donated a kidney as Tim's began to fail. On today's HearSay, Tim and his family share their story as we explore the complex physical and emotional processes involved in organ donation. We'll also speak with Virginia physicians and facilitators who specialize in organ and tissue donation and transplantation

Gift-giving season is in full swing and your four-legged friends are not to be left out! Resident veterinarian Dr. Phyllis Newman joins us on HearSay to discuss some ideal pet presents and holiday "do's and don'ts." We'll also offer some points to consider before giving a puppy, kitten, or other pet as a gift this holiday season.

Earlier this year Steven was diagnosed with alcoholic liver disease, and consequently, cirrhosis of the liver. Years of alcoholism had done near-irreparable damage to his liver, and though his doctor warned him to never drink again, continued consumption of alcohol pushed him into the final stages of liver disease -- doctors tell him that he now has less than a month to live. He hopes others can learn valuable lessons from his cautionary tale; Steven joins us live to share his story and his day-to-day fight to prolong his life long enough to make it onto the transplant list.

Earlier this month, Delegate Chris Jones of Suffolk, member of the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission, said he would sponsor legislation that limits tolling on existing highways and bridge-tunnels. The announcement comes in the wake of plans from state transportation officials to add tolls and tolling lanes to parts of Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. A recent Virginian-Pilot editorial addressed the concerns being voiced by many of the region's residents, and today Pilot Editorial Editor, Don Luzzato, joins us to go in depth on the issue, along with Philip Shucet, former Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Transportation, and Aubrey Lane, Virginia's Secretary of Transportation.

It's time to take a break from decking those halls and roasting those chestnuts and spend an hour chatting with our favorite gardener, Jim Orband! Jim stops by to answer all your toughest gardening questions and provide some tips for using the bounty of your yard and garden to decorate your home for the holidays.

Join us for today's edition of HearSay from the Headlines, where we tackle the latest news headlines that have you talking. This week we're joined live by U.S. Senator Tim Kaine for a review of Congress' efforts in 2015. Our lines are open, and we invite you to let us know your thoughts by joining us live at 440-2665 or 1-800-940-2240. You can also e-mail the program at [email protected] or join us on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/hearsaywithcathylewis.

The little-known Rosenwald Syphilis Study was a public health service experiment in 1929 that tested the effects of untreated syphilis in the human body. Thousands of African-Americans in 5 southern states, including Virginia, were unknowingly injected with syphilis. Some were given penicillin for treatment and others were left untreated. Many died from this experiment, and harmful toxins were inadvertently passed through the bloodstreams of future generations, causing them to have complications and even die. Today, we'll examine the history of perhaps the most well known example of unethical medical research through the eyes of one local woman and her realization that her family is still suffering the effects of The Rosenwald Syphilis Study.

First time ever in Virginia, the number of people dying from heroin and prescription drugs is higher than the number of people dying in traffic accidents. The startling rise of Virginia's heroin and opioid epidemic has drawn the attention of Virginia Attorney General, Mark Herring, and law enforcement all accross the Commonwealth. Today one Virginia family shares their experience overcoming the ravages of heroin addiction, and we consider how law enforcement and public health agencies are responding to the growing crisis.