The news reports coming out of the town of Bethlehem this week say more tourists are back this year to celebrate Christmas after two years of pandemic restrictions.
There are still the reports about the continuing tensions between Palestinians and Israelis, but churches and merchants say they are seeing bigger crowds this week.
There is always good news and bad news to report from that area of the world every year, but the news from Bethlehem appears to be more peaceful here in 2022.
But what if reporters had been around 2,000 years ago to cover the first Christmas? That’s the idea behind a San Diego radio tradition called "The Bethlehem Report".
KOGO Radio’s news staff goes back in time to report on the breaking news developments of what happened that night in Bethlehem.
We tell the story as if it is happening now, with our reporters on the ground in Bethlehem, describing an unusual star, interviewing shepherds, the innkeeper, and residents.
You will hear the familiar voices you listen to every day on KOGO, including LaDona Harvey, Ted Garcia, Eddie McCoven, Marty Golingan, Jack Cronin and Lucinda Kay along with the voices of a couple of radio personalities who are no longer with us, but whose memories are rekindled, KOGO’s longtime Business News reporter George Chamberlin and popular late night talk show host Art Bell.
This is the 39th year of presenting the Bethlehem Report to radio listeners in San Diego who tell us every year that they listen to it with their kids, young and old.
And that’s why you will also hear the voices of the eight grandchildren of my wife and I during this unique Christmas program, including our youngest, who provides the sounds of the little baby in the manger.
The Bethlehem Report airs at 6 p.m.Saturday night, Christmas Eve, on KOGO and in a podcast on our website at KOGO.com.
And all of us here at KOGO, wish you and your family a very merry Christmas and a New Year filled with Good News.
(Photo Getty Images)
Photo: Getty Images