On The Record

A century ago silent films captivated audiences, complete with live music to enhance the experience. This week Maryland Film Fest offers movie buffs that taste of nostalgia -- featuring the music of jazz, gospel and hip hop artist Aaron Hill . We get a preview!  Maryland Film Fest: 'Body and Soul ,' Sat. May 4; Aaron Hill's World; Aaron Hill Youtube;   5M Soulful Self Care .   Do you have a questi...

One-third of Maryland students were chronically absent last school year - missing 10 percent or more school days, according to the state department of education . Howard County had the fewest chronically absent students, about one in five, while more than half of Baltimore City students missed 18 school days or more.  Hedy Chang is the executive director of Attendance Works . We ask what schools c...

Danna Thomas taught in Baltimore City for nearly a decade. Now she’s teaching teachers how to prioritize their mental health in a profession ripe with overwhelming demands. What does it take to stave off burnout? In her new book, Thomas calls for a ' Happy Teacher Revolution .' Thomas will be at Greedy Reads Remington on Tuesday, May 7th to speak about her book. Details here .  Do you have a quest...

Thiru Vignarajah keeps coming back. It’s the democrat’s fourth run for office, his second campaign to become mayor of Baltimore City. He describes how he’d fund schools, his plans to make city streets safer and lessons learned from being a political outsider.  Check voter registration status  here , Thiru Vignarajah site here , request a mail-in ballot here , Early voting and other election day in...

Seven hundred thousand Marylanders don't get enough food. The Maryland food bank has been fighting hunger for decades. Now they hope to get at the root of food insecurity with a new grant program -- we hear about it from COO Meg Kimmel . Plus,  Eric Jackson , head of the  Black Yield Institute  and  Billy Humphrey , who leads  City of Refuge-Baltimore  talk about how their nonprofits plan to comba...

Here is a Stoop Story from Devin Morris about claiming the title of "artist." The next Stoop show is May 8th at Whitehall Mill. Storytellers will share tales about motherhood and about the complexities, challenges, and enduring significance of our relationships with our mothers. Listen to more stories by checking out the Stoop Storytelling Series podcast . Do you have a question or comment about a...

The Baltimore News Collaborative's Youth Voter Guide is out now. The guide surveys young people and candidates about priorities this election.  Baltimore Beat  editor Lisa Snowden speaks with WYPR's Bri Hatch about top issues affecting youth, like the cost of housing and how Baltimore’s taxes are levied. Check out the Youth Voices section. Read responses to the candidate survey . The Baltimore New...

As salvage crews work to remove debris from the Patapsco River, investigators are trying to determine why the cargo ship Dali lost power and collided with the Key Bridge last month. The collision caused the bridge’s collapse and the death of six construction workers.  Lee O. Sanderlin , enterprise reporter at The Baltimore Banner, investigated similar instances of engine failure, in a recent piece...

More than $512 million dollars of adult-use recreational cannabis has been sold in Maryland since July 1, 2023. As legislators created the state's legal cannabis market, they passed legislation to remedy the criminal consequences people historically faced for possession of cannabis. Maryland Legal Aid  assists people as they navigate the expungement of cannabis charges. We speak to Logan Haarz, a...

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, is typically diagnosed in children by about age five in the U.S. , according to the National Autism Data Center. About 1 in 36 American children are affected by autism, up from 1 in 44 from previous data. April is Autism Awareness Month. But at Zoe’s Just Dezzerts in Baltimore’s Federal Hill neighborhood, autism awareness is part of every day. We visit with Zoe...

Twelve mattresses are arranged in a circle. Drawn on beds’ white fabric are the outlines of sleeping children. Their hands are curled up by their peaceful faces. That tranquility is betrayed by the title of the installation: "Dream Refuge for children imprisoned." It is on display through May 18th at the Asian Arts & Culture Center at Towson University.  Creator Na Omi Shintani founded the Kit...

In honor of WYPR’s Spring pledge, we’re offering up not one but two stoop stories today. First, a stoop story by Rohaizad Suaidi about fierce love, sacrifice, and pledging support for an adopted country. Then we hear from Gretchen and Warren Hensel, about persistence, timing, and pledging your heart to someone before it’s too late! Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to...

Author Brittany Williams grew up in East Baltimore, taking theater classes and performing in the spotlight. Now she’s turned her talent from the stage to the page. In her latest novel, “ Saint-Seducing Gold ,” Williams brings readers to 17th century London, where a sword-wielding heroine teams up with William Shakespeare to defeat evil fairies and restore peace.  Williams will join author Molly Ho...

Patients in Maryland’s emergency rooms experience far longer wait times than residents of other states. What does this mean for the more than 1.7 million patients served each year by the state’s 48 emergency departments? What solutions are hospital leaders exploring?  Our guests: Erin Dorrien , vice president of policy at the Maryland Hospital Association and co-chair of the Maryland General Assem...

For a group of Baltimore middle and high school students, squash is more than a vegetable! They participate in SquashWise . The non-profit melds the fast-paced game with personal development and academic excellence. We hear from Abby Markoe , co-founder and executive director, and visit the courts to hear from some of the coaches and students!  Links: Community SquashWise sign up , Squash with You...

Daniel and Mary Bell tried to use the courts to win freedom for their family, so history shows us more details about them than many other enslaved people in the 19th century. We know that Francis Scott Key, who wrote our national anthem, was one of the white people who lined up against freedom for enslaved people like the Bells. "The Bell Affair" film tells the Bells’ story; we talk to director Kw...

In the early 20th century, Baltimore City codified racial segregation in housing into law, prohibiting African Americans from moving onto blocks where white residents were the majority. As the city grew, the sewer commission methodically avoided building infrastructure in Black neighborhoods. That’s one example given by historian Andrew Kahrl of how African American taxpayers have been denied the...

Here’s a Stoop Story from Erica Rimlinger about growing up in Baltimore’s Stoneleigh neighborhood. The next Stoop event is April 18th. The theme is “Too Close for Comfort: Tales about Roommates to Remember.” Listen to the Stoop podcast . Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers mharvi...

Health disparities, food deserts, the achievement gap. In ‘Just Action,'' Leah and Richard Rothstein argue the profound issues plaguing society are tied to our segregated neighborhoods. They draw a roadmap to desegregation that allies can undertake at the local level.  Original air date: February 5, 2024 Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record...

Pompeian Olive Oil has employed locals for more than a century. Since the Key Bridge collapse, how have they supported workers and kept their product flowing? Mouna Aissaoui , executive vice president and chief operating officer, fills us in. Then, Dundalk is home to a diverse community of people affected by the tragedy. We hear how they’re faring from Tasha Gresham-James , executive director of D...

Hours after the Maryland General Assembly adjourns, we speak with two journalists who covered it: WYPR's  News Director Matt Bush and Pamela Wood of The Baltimore Banner . Lawmakers reached a budget compromise. What new taxes and fees can consumers expect? Juvenile justice was revisited; will longer probation reduce crime? What's the future of Pimlico Race Course? Plus, financial help for Port wor...

Black teachers in Maryland leave the profession at higher rates than their white teacher counterparts. Why? We talk with  Baltimore Banner  education reporter  Kristen Griffith  about what she learned. Plus,  Wallace Lane ,  Michelle Early  and  Danielle Ferrentino share their very different experiences in the Maryland education system. Baltimore Banner article: " Black teachers are leaving. How c...

We learn about the Native communities who lived, and still live along Maryland's Eastern Shore. Drew Shuptar-Rayvis a citizen and ambassador of the Pocomoke Indian Nation, paints a picture of their traditions and ways of life, drawing on collected oral histories.  Links: Mayaisuwàk (They Speak in One Voice): The Oral History and History of Place of Maryland's Eastern Shore Tribal Communities and R...

Here’s a Stoop Story from Sophia Garber about contemplating mortality, the privilege of prioritizing joy, and a very, very long hike. Hear her story and others at Stoopstorytelling.com Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers mharvie@wypr.org 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr...

Six months after Richard Worley was sworn in as Baltimore police commissioner, we ask him about his focus on community policing, how he’s recruiting to fill hundreds of vacant slots, squelching the flow of ghost guns, youth who carry in self-defense, and what he’s doing to stave off burnout.   Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior...