WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

 It's the third Friday of the month and on Radio M that means a visit from Chicago Reader music writer Peter Margasak.

Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, who designed the modernist iconic buildings of Brasilia during his 70-year career, dies at 104.

We'll discuss human rights abuses committed by the Mexican army in the state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico and tell you where to find a festival that combines mariachi music and tequila on Weekend Passport.

This genre of Brazilian country dance music has not only influenced samba and bossa, but has swept Brazil and New York City in the past few years.

Brazil’s international profile may be rising, but it continues to face serious domestic challenges: This year the country became the world's sixth-largest economy, but ranked only 84th on the UN Human Development Index — below countries like Libya and Venezuela. So has Brazil really has arrived? 

The story of a Brazilian man who died after performing the role of Judas in the Passion of the Christ inspired writer Ian Belknap to think about this story as a performance piece gone inspirationally wrong.

Governor Pat Quinn met with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff  on Monday to discuss Illinois's exports to South America. Today, Eight Forty-Eight catches up with the Governor to talk about that meeting. We'll also ask the Governor about rising gas prices and the future of video gaming law in Illinois.