A look at new shale-related illness claims and an artist’s second coming

Mondays can be kind of a drag, so enjoy a little pick-me-up with NewsWorks Tonight, which returns at 6 p.m. after our weekend break. Tonight we’ll hear about a noteworthy painter’s mellow transformation and, believe it or not, trips to Mars.

Susan Phillips has the latest on the Marcellus Shale drilling. We’ll hear from her about her extensive look into the latest claim surrounding the drilling: barium poisioning. She spoke with a resident of Bradford County, Pa., who says her illness is a result of barium poisioning from a nearby wellhead.

We’ll hear from the Franklin Institute’s chief astronomer Derrick Pitts about short- and long-term plans for the nation’s space shuttle program. The plans are big. We’re looking beyond the moon for the long run in this week’s edition of Skytalk.

You may recognize Chuck Connell’s name from his work as a painter, or from the 2008 HBO documentary about his failures as a painter. But tonight, you’ll hear about his comeback. Peter Crimmins talked with Connelly about his journey back into the art world with a show at a Chestnut Hill gallery.

To hear the full show, listen from 6 to 6:30 p.m. on 91 FM, check us out online, or catch the full podcast later.