WCBS 880 In Depth

This week, we're checking in on the fate of the nickel. Is it on track to disappear just like the penny? Then, we’re headed to a Rainforest Café to hear about a surprise visitor who appeared in its crocodile pool. From there, we’re going to look in how to book a hot tub boat this summer – yeah that’s a boat with a hot tub on it. After that, we’ll end the show in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s garage...

Here's an "offbite" from our Something Offbeat episode last week. We’re getting a little eerie this week with tales of hauntings and infestations. We’ll dive into a study that reveals how many Americans believe they have psychic abilities and we’ll learn how to avoid being possessed by invasive plants. Featuring audio from the Dana & Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City and WWJ Newsradio in Detro...

Here's an "offbite" from last week's Something Offbeat episode. We’re getting a little eerie this week with tales of hauntings and infestations. These include actor Val Kilmer’s artificial intelligence-fueled return in a new film, and an interview with the grandson of paranormal investigators who inspired the Amityville Horror and Conjuring franchises. Featuring audio from: WWL Radio in New Orlean...

Around a month ago, I wrote about the case of a missing scientist in New Mexico. This week that case, and other similar cases have been making headlines. At least scientists who two lawmakers say are connected to U.S. nuclear secrets or rocket technology have either died or disappeared. There are reasons why people believe these cases might be linked, and we’ll get into those. However, we’ll also...

We’re getting a little eerie this week with tales of hauntings and infestations. These include actor Val Kilmer’s artificial intelligence-fueled return in a new film, and an interview with the grandson of paranormal investigators who inspired the Amityville Horror and Conjuring franchises. We’ll also dive into a study that reveals how many Americans believe they have psychic abilities and we’ll le...

A trial for the murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand and a mystery centered on a couple who went on what many speculate was a deadly boat ride in the Bahamas for Lynette Hooker are some of the developing cases we’ll cover in this episode. We’ll also take listeners into a recent meeting where investigators explained how they finally solved a nearly 30-year-old cold case murder of Deborah Kennedy, tra...

In this episode, you’ll hear Eli Frankel, author of “The Black Dahlia, The Prairie Heiress and Their Hunter” discuss the lesser-known Prairie Heiress case, the murder of a woman named Leela Welsh. It mirrors the Black Dahlia case in many ways, and Frankel argues that the same killer was behind both gruesome crimes. We’ll also dive in to the case of a Hawaii doctor who has been accused of trying to...

This week, things are getting a little intense. We have a playdate with snakes, spiders and bullfrogs, a discussion about flatulence research, questions about robot doctors and a peek into the world of black market fish. Featuring audio from KCBS Radio in the Bay Area, The Dave Glover Show out of KMOX in St. Louis, the Dana & Parks Show out of Audacy station KMBZ in Kansas City and Tommy Tucker ou...

This week, we’re focusing on trials. Once the hunt for a killer or other criminal is over, it can take years for them to go to trial. The high -profile Luigi Mangione case is a good example, both his state and federal trials have been postponed. Meanwhile, the trial for a man accused of killing his neighbor after allegedly harassing the entire neighborhood has been scheduled, and a homicide cause...

This week, we’re talking about traditions, from wacky spring rituals like April Fool’s Day and Dyngus Day to funeral bread, New York’s little-known history of fairies and a tradition in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, that recently resulted in a court battle over bird poop. Featuring audio from Tommy Tucker out of WWL in New Orleans, KRLD 1080 out of Dallas, WBEN out of Buffalo and to the Adam & Jord...

This week, looking into what happens when violent criminals get parole – specifically how it impacts the communities the move into after their release. We’ll also get a detailed rundown of a harrowing Uber drive that ended in gunfire and some reflections on the late director Rob Reiner three months after his murder. We also have short updates on several other cases – including the Nancy Guthrie di...

This week, we’re covering reports whether artificial intelligence can replace cowboys, expensive refrigerators that make their owners watch advertisements, Elon Musk’s Boring Company and its plans to construct tunnels under New Orleans and what you might not know about graffiti. Featuring audio from KCBS Radio’s Bloomberg Tech and Business report in the Bay area, Tommy Tucker and WWL in New Orlean...

In this episode, CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman, who worked on the Oscar-winning documentary “All The Empty Rooms” about mass shootings discusses the film. We’ll also hear about the latest development in the two by four killer case out of Kansas and more. Featuring audio from WWJ Newsradio in Detroit, KYW Newsradio in Philadelphia, WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities, the Dana & Parks Show out...

This episode covers the latest updates in the Nancy Guthrie dissappearance case, the attack on Temple Israel in Michigan, an update on the Tops shooting case and a prank that turned deadly. Featuring audio from Dana & Parks Show out of KMBZ in Kansas City, WWJ Newsradio in Detroit, A New Morning out of WBEN in Buffalo, the Henry Lake Show out of WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities and the Dave Glove...

America has a ton of clothing waste. It’s part of the reason many eco-conscious shoppers prefer thrifting. There’s one problem: even when thrifting, many still buy a ton of clothes and toss barely used garments. Social media is fueling this via massive thrift hauls, a.k.a showing off your shopping sprees. Thrifting and environmental experts help us to explore whether or not shopping secondhand has...

In New York City, Black women are nine times more likely than their white counterparts to die during childbirth. This is why maternal health advocates are pushing the city to connect Black mothers-to-be with Black midwives and doulas for better pregnancy outcomes. In this episode, we hear from birth-givers, advocates, and lawmakers about how to give Black New Yorkers better birthing experiences. H...

New York will no longer prosecute or arrest children under age 12 in 2023 for pretty much all crimes except homicide. Advocates are hopeful this will interrupt the school to prison pipeline — especially for Black and Latinx kids. On the In Depth podcast, we hear how trauma-informed practices could provide better outcomes for at-risk kids. Host/Producer: Jill Webb Audio Engineer: Anddy Egan-Thorpe...

In 2021, more than a third of high schoolers reported experiencing poor mental health during the covid-19 pandemic, according to the CDC. •  Forty-four percent of high schoolers persistently felt sad or hopeless. •  One in five teens considered suicide during the pandemic. Experts are saying there is a shortage on mental health resources that kids need, including guidance counselors. On this episo...

New York City has a trash problem. But a lot of that garbage on the sidewalk is food waste. Experts say a lot of it is good to eat. Zero waste advocates are trying to lessen New York City’s waste footprint. Anna Sacks, known online as "Trash Walker" on social media, is showing her fellow residents exactly what’s being tossed everyday. Think Zero’s Ushma Pandya shares tips on how New Yorkers can de...

There’s a lack of women in top leadership positions at many universities across the country. A study by the Women’s Power Gap found that only 22 percent of what’s considered R1 universities currently have a woman serving as president. American Association of University Women CEO Gloria Blackwell discusses some of the study’s highlights. New York University Professor Teboho Moja breaks down why thi...

The Bronx is home to 1.4 million people – a population bigger than most American cities – but only houses two full-time bookstores. This makes it a book desert. But Bronxites are working to close the literacy gap in their borough.  Saraciea Fennell, a book publicist raised in the Bronx, noticed authors rarely ever came to the Bronx for literacy events. She tells In Depth how she changed that by st...

The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), a decades-old law designed to give indigenous people adoption priority to indigenous children, is being challenged at the Supreme Court. The plaintiffs in Haaland vs. Brackeen say this system is racist due to non-Native families being at the bottom of the list. On this week’s In Depth, we’re asking: What does this mean for Indigenous communities in New York and...

Listen as we explore the history of hunger and poverty in America and the steps being taken to end it once and for all.