Midday

The leading candidates for Baltimore mayor took to the debate stage on Tuesday, in one of the last opportunities for voters to hear from contenders for the city government's top seat. WJZ-TV , The Baltimore Banner , WYPR Radio , and the Schaefer Center for Public Policy at the University of Baltimore organized the event on UB's main campus. Incumbent Mayor Brandon Scott, former Mayor Shelia Dixon,...

Our series of Conversations with the Candidates concludes today and tomorrow with forums for the top two offices in the city of Baltimore. Today, the leading candidates in the race for Baltimore City Council President make their case to voters. With just a few weeks before the May 14 primary, the candidates are locked in a three-way tie. Incumbent Nick Mosby faces challenges from District 1 City C...

On today's Midday newswrap, U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin joins the show to discuss congressional aid for Baltimore following the Key Bridge collapse, and continued military funding for Israel. Plus, legal scholar Kim Wehle joins us with analysis of yesterday’s Supreme Court hearing in which justices considered the claim by Donald Trump that he is entitled to absolute immunity. We also talk about the contr...

Theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck joins Midday to share another weekly review of a local theatrical production. This week, we discuss the Shakespeare Theatre Company's production of Macbeth on stage through May 5, 2024. Actor Ralph Fiennes stars in the titular role. Is this the definitive version of Macbeth . (Photo by Marc Brenner) Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 41...

In today’s Conversations with the Candidate , John Morse discusses his reasons for jumping into the race for U.S. Congress. The 38-year-old is running in the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Howard County, and parts of Anne Arundel County and Carroll County. Morse has garnered some big name endorsements, including Vermont's Sen. Bernie Sanders. What issues are driving his campaign? Email...

Delegate Joe Vogel speaks to Midday about his run for U.S. Congress in another edition of Conversations with the Candidates . Vogel is one of 16 Democratic candidates running in the party's primary in the 6th Congressional District. The incumbent in that seat, Representative David Trone, is running for the U.S. Senate against Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. Vogel was elected to...

Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates joins  Midday  to discuss his comments on parental accountability as it relates to youth crime and the progress of the citation docket. Additionally, he addresses how he will partner with Mayor Brandon Scott to move forward on reducing crime in Baltimore. Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Advocates looking to cut down on CO2 emissions and energy inefficiency in residential properties want to change the way Marylanders warm their homes. Heating pumps can heat and cool residences with significantly less energy than traditional fossil-fueled powered systems. Ruth Anne Norton , CEO and President of the Green and Healthy Homes Initiative, joins Midday to talk about the push to have the...

On Earth Day, a discussion about the future of wind energy in Maryland. Last year, Governor Wes Moore announced a goal of 100% renewable clean energy in the state by 2035. He made this announcement from Sparrows Point, at the site of a new factory building parts for offshore wind turbines. Offshore wind plays a prominent role in Maryland’s renewable energy plans, so today we are taking a closer lo...

For this week's News Wrap, Tom speaks with New York Times Congressional Reporter  Luke Broadwater  about impeachment attempts against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and leadership pressures for House Speaker Mike Johnson. Then we take a look at local news with the archdiocese's announcement to close several parishes and the salvage operation following the Key Bridge collapse. WYPR...

Midday on the Art speaks with  Manuel Barrueco , an internationally acclaimed, Grammy nominated classical guitarist who was born in Cuba, has concertized around the world, and has called Baltimore home for many years. Barrueco is set to play a concert to celebrate his 50th anniversary on the concert stage  Sunday Night at Kaplan Hall at Towson University. Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @Mi...

Former organist and choirmaster James O’Donnell led the music for many historic, royal occasions at London's Westminster Abbey. Since leaving his prestigious position at Westminster in 2022, he has moved across the pond to teach at Yale University. We ask him about his upcoming performance in Baltimore, where  he is set to perform at Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Sunday, April 21, 2024 . Email us a...

Theater critic  J. Wynn Rousuck  joins Midday to share another weekly review of a local theatrical production. This week, we discuss “The Hot Wing King,”  which continues at Baltimore Center Stage through April 28, 2024 . The play follows a hot wing competition, with family drama and dysfunction spicing up the plot. Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Many different people make local music possible, from artists and producers to music teachers and venue owners. The Baltimore Music Census, a first of its kind effort in the city, wants to hear from anyone involved in local music. What do they need to make Baltimore’s music scene thrive? Anna Harwell Celenza  is a professor at Johns Hopkins University and an organizer of  the Baltimore Music Censu...

Civil rights lawyer Don Quinn speaks to Midday about his run for U.S. Congress in another edition of Conversations with the Candidates . Quinn is running in the crowded campaign for Maryland's 3rd Congressional District. He was inspired by what he describes as "an erosion of federal laws." What does he think sets him apart from the other candidates? Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWY...

Former sports and features columnist Kevin Cowherd followed a 30 year career at the Baltimore Sun with several books, including a book about Orioles legend Cal Ripken. His latest nonfiction work, The Gym , is a funny, suspenseful story about the quirky subculture found among those who work out together. Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

In today’s Conversations with the Candidate, we speak with Harry Dunn , a Democrat, who is running for U.S. Congress in the 3rd Congressional District. This area includes all of Howard County, as well as parts of Anne Arundel and Carroll counties. The incumbent, Congressman John Sarbanes, will retire from the House of Representatives next January . Harry Dunn came to national prominence as one of...

In today’s Conversations with the Candidate, Delegate Harry Bhandari joins Midday to explain why he thinks he should represent Maryland's 2nd Congressional District. Bhandari has represented District 8, covering Baltimore County, as a Democrat in the state General Assembly since 2019. He was born in Nepal and emigrated to the United States in 2005. After losing a bid for the House of Delegates in...

New polling data sheds light on how candidates are performing in primary races across Maryland. We hear the latest on Maryland's election campaigns from Hallie Miller of the Baltimore Banner . Then we hear from WYPR 's News Director Matt Bush and Maryland Matters Founding Editor Josh Kurtz for a lookback at the important points from this year's session . (Photo by Rachel Baye, WYPR) Email us at mi...

Theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck joins Midday to share another weekly review of a local theatrical production. Today we review Gem of the Ocean , which continues at Arena Players through April 28, 2024 . The play is by esteemed American playwright August Wilson. Is the Arena Players’ production a good introduction for newcomers of Wilson’s work? (Photo by David Mitchell) Email us at midday@wypr.org,...

If history is a guide, there will be more than a few people finally getting around to filing their taxes this weekend. The deadline is Monday at midnight, unless you file for an extension. If you live in one of 12 states in which the IRS has a pilot program, and you meet certain qualifications, you can file for free directly on the IRS website. Maryland is not one of those states. Maryland residen...

Yesterday, in a courtroom in Pontiac, Michigan, Jennifer and James Crumbley were each sentenced to prison for failing to prevent their son from killing four students in a 2021 mass shooting at Oxford High School . Legal experts say it is the first time that parents of minors who commit murder have been convicted of involuntary manslaughter, and it could serve as a model for other cases around the...

As warmer weather arrives, you might be repotting or revisiting your collection of houseplants. Propagation is the act of creating new plants from an existing plant, usually by repotting. Hilton Carter joins the show to discuss his new guidebook to propagating houseplants of all shapes and sizes. Carter is an acclaimed plant stylist, television and podcast host, artist and best-selling author. His...

April McClain Delaney is a Democrat and one of 16 candidates running for Congress in the 6th Congressional District. The incumbent in that seat, Representative David Trone, is running for the Senate against Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. Her husband John Delaney held the 6th district seat for 6 years, from 2013-2019. The 6th District is in the northwest part of our state and i...

Theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck joins Tom to share another weekly review of a local theatrical production. Discussion centers on The Squirrels at Maryland Ensemble Theatre in Frederick through April 28, 2024. The production, written by   Robert Askins and directed by Julie Herber, follows the complex story of a family of grey squirrels at odds with a nearby family of fox squirrels. (Photo by Meech...