PBS

• The one-hour special ART HAPPENS HERE WITH JOHN LITHGOW premieres Friday, April 26, 2024, 10:00–11:00 p.m. ET/PT (check local listings) on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS App.
• Growing up, Lithgow wanted to be an artist and was inspired and encouraged by his public school art teachers.
• "Education involves much more than just the basic academic subjects and preparing kids for being tested and evaluated.
• Major funding for ART HAPPENS HERE WITH JOHN LITHGOW was provided by John and Louise Bryson.

• Attendees will also hear from Kevin O'Connor, the host of PBS home renovation series "This Old House," who will speak to the future of home service.
• Jobber Summit is the virtual destination for tens of thousands of home service pros to connect with their community and hear expert advice for reaching new heights of success.
• Attendees can customize an agenda from more than 15+ in-demand sessions that fit their interests and align with their stage of business.
• To see the full Jobber Summit agenda, speakers, and to register for free, visit: jobber.com/summit .

• The nonprofit World War II Foundation has appointed John Fenzel as its new CEO, effective January 1.
• SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I., Jan. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The nonprofit World War II Foundation has appointed John Fenzel as its new CEO, effective January 1.
• "It's an honor to be chosen to lead the World War II Foundation," Fenzel said.
• The Rhode Island-based World War II Foundation travels the world capturing poignant stories through award-winning documentary films shot on location in Europe and the Pacific.

• By far the most significant decision the Howard government made in 2003 was to support the invasion of Iraq.
• While the Howard government had many other important issues to manage in that year, the Iraq War consumed most attention and sparked most debate in the wider community.

Entering the war

• But in March 2003, Prime Minister John Howard asked the full cabinet to confirm the decision to commit Australia to war.
• Howard advised Hollingworth there was no need to refer to the governor-general any decision to commit Australia to war.
• The governor-general had been consulted but did not need to give his approval, and cabinet had agreed to send Australian troops to war.
• Howard was determined to take advantage of the Iraq war to strengthen the alliance.
• In 2003, public opinion was opposed to Australian participation in the war.
• However, the government was aided by the effusive support of News Corporation papers for its position on the war.

Beyond the war

• Ten years after the agreement came into force, however, analysis showed it had diverted trade away from the lowest-cost sources.
• Read more:
  How the US trade deal undermined Australia's PBS

  Other papers relate to health policy.

• Howard sought to blunt an effective Labor campaign against the erosion of the rate of bulk-billing under Medicare.
• It described the package as a “decisive step away from the principle of universality that has underpinned Medicare since its inception”.

Resources boom – and missed opportunities

• This offered hope Australia could maintain a constructive relationship with its closest ally as well as its major trading partner.
• Three opportunities were missed in 2003.
• One was to establish a sovereign wealth fund to invest the temporary windfall gains from the mining boom.

David Lee is a member of Australians for War Powers Reform.