On The Record

As the General Assembly hurtles toward wrapping up its session, we look at what proposals are still in suspense and what’s been decided: Where does the state budget stand, including funding for schools?  The structure of a new industry to sell recreational cannabis?  And gun control?  Guests: Pamela Wood , The Baltimore Banner Bryan Sears , Maryland Matters Follow the WYPR Newsroom's coverage . Do...

As a teenager, Reid Wiseman wasn’t dreaming of being an astronaut -- he was just trying to make it through Dulaney High School in Timonium. But when Artemis II launches next year, Wiseman will be commanding the first crew in fifty years headed toward the moon. He tells us what it means.  Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Super...

Here’s a Stoop Story from astrophysicist Adam Riess about a force of nature …  that comes in a 4 foot 11 frame ... and another one from   astronomer Nora Lutzgendorf  about her work on the James Webb Space Telescope! Check out more stories and live events 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 P...

Pervasive, pernicious, and persistent -- that’s how Attorney General Anthony Brown describes the child sexual abuse uncovered by his office’s investigation into the Archdiocese of Baltimore. We ask Brown about efforts by Catholic leaders to conceal and protect abusers, and with David Lorenz, Maryland leader of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests , about his reaction to the report, and...

Even months after a COVID infection clears, some people are left with debilitating symptoms - brain fog and extreme exhaustion after performing everyday tasks. What does long COVID have in common with ME/CFS - myalgic encephalomyelitis, formerly known as chronic fatigue syndrome? We speak with Dr. Alba Azola , a rehabilitation physician and co-director of the Johns Hopkins Post-Acute COVID-19 Team...

Scandal engulfed the Baltimore Police Department following a federal investigation into the 'Gun Trace Task Force.' Leo Wise , of the Fraud and Public Corruption Unit of the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, has just published his account of the case. 'Who Speaks for You? The Inside Story of the Prosecutor Who Took Down Baltimore’s Most Crooked Cops,' takes an inside look at the investigation, and...

The month of Ramadan is a time of prayer, charity and reflection for Maryland's many Muslim communities. Traditional observance sees daily fasting, prayer and an evening breaking of fast—a meal called iftar . Imam Yaseen Shaikh is Lead Resident Scholar and Head of Community Affairs at the Islamic Society of Baltimore. The ISB serves thousands of Muslims in the Baltimore area. Imam Shaikh often wor...

Many people rely upon DNA testing to identify mutations or predict their risk of developing, or passing on, serious disorders. And at-home DNA kits like ‘23 And Me,’ ‘My Heritage’ or ‘Ancestry’ have spurred many amateur genealogists into action. Jennifer Mendelsohn is using genetic genealogy as her powerful investigative tool to help Holocaust survivors piece together families and make sense of th...

Here’s a Stoop Story from Jennifer Mendelsohn about the spark that ignited her work as a genetic genealogist. There’s a live stoop storytelling show April 12th at Creative Alliance! It’s an all audience show, so bring your most hilarious story that proves truth is the ultimate source of comedy.  Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Seni...

The Free State looks sure to pass a constitutional amendment protecting the right to abortion, but access remains a challenge. We speak with Katie Quiñonez , the executive director of a new clinic that will offer abortions in western Maryland. Plus, Baltimore Banner reporter Brenda Wintrode describes how the state’s recreational cannabis industry is taking shape. Do you have a question or comment...

It’s spring … and that means hundreds of bird species are using the Atlantic flyway to migrate. Baltimore is a favorite stop to refuel.  We hear from Mike Hudson, program manager at ‘Birds of Urban Baltimore’ about what to look for during spring migration and ways to attract birds to your yard.  Plus, Kiera Givens, co-founder of BlackOak Collective, talks about the non-profit's efforts to improve...

The opioid epidemic continues to torment families and communities across the country. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is the primary driver of overdose mortality in Maryland. Josh Siems was one of the thousands of people in Maryland who suffered a fatal overdose after struggling with substance abuse for years. His friends and family are now pushing for legislation they say will help lawmakers and me...

D. Watkins is tired of the lies. Lies about being tough, about not feeling pain or loss or rejection. In his latest book,  ‘Black Boy Smile: A Memoir  in Moments,’  Watkins shows how he learned to face those lies and push through to the truth. He hopes everyone, especially young Black men and boys, find that strength from his stories On April 12th, D. Watkins will be in conversation with author Sh...

Here’s a Stoop Story from Fariborz Zarfeshan about living through the tumultuous diplomatic relationships between Iran and the United States. Check out more stories and live events 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...

Ari Shapiro’s voice might be one of the most recognized in the nation. Millions listen each night as he hosts NPR’s All Things Considered. Shapiro has covered stories across the globe, and shared them with listeners with what he calls “a level of vulnerability.” His debut book, “ The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening ,” is part memoir and part globe-trotting adventur...

Since 2012, the  Goucher Prison Education Partnership  has offered college courses to men and women at two Maryland prisons. Executive Director  Eliza Cornejo  describes how Goucher stays in touch even after participants leave prison to help them continue their studies or find work. And   William Freeman , a graduate, now pursuing a Master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University, says signing up fo...

Half of all Black Americans in the country's biggest metropolitan areas live in the suburbs. In Liberty Road , sociologist Gregory Smithsimon writes about Black Americans breaking the color barrier in Baltimore County and how white neighbors reacted. The book lays out the role of the suburbs in building a new Black middle class. Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pit...

More than one hundred thousand Americans await an organ transplant, and most organ donations come from deceased donors. Ieesha Johnson , executive director of community outreach at Infinite Legacy , works to dispel myths and educate the public about what it means to be an organ donor. And  Danette Ragin , an organ recipient and relative of deceased organ donors, talks about how somebody’s decision...

Ben Jealous is former president of the NAACP and a former candidate for governor of Maryland in 2018. He was born and grew up in California after his African-American mother and white father left Baltimore. Interracial marriage was not legal in Maryland until 1967. Many of the stories Jealous tells in his latest book, including the summers he spent with his maternal grandparents in West Baltimore,...

Jim Burger is an avid collector of artifacts, a creator of images and a teller of tales. Those all come together in his book: “What’s Not to Like: Words and Pictures of a Charmed Life.”  His experience includes a decade shooting for the Sun Papers in the late 80s, so he also sees the importance of his role as documentarian: “I was walking around the building one day and I was just taking pictures...

Here’s a Stoop Story from Maura Taylor about the importance of tradition … and her big Irish family. You can hear her story and others and find more information about the Stoop Storytelling Series - including upcoming live events and the Stoop podcast -- 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...

In the decade since Ethan Saylor was killed during a clash with sheriff’s deputies, hundreds of Maryland police recruits and first-responders have been trained in communicating with people with disabilities. We take a look inside that training with  Lisa Schoenbrodt , a professor at  Loyola University Maryland  and co-owner of  LeadAbility LLC , and self-advocate educator  Kayla Grange . And  Patt...

The fuel of the Underground Railroad was its passengers, enslaved people who summoned their courage to flee. The Railroad’s engineer was William Still, a free Black who met them in Philadelphia, fed them and helped them move to freedom. Andrew Diemer , associate professor of history at Towson University, tells the story of that work and what followed in his new book, "Vigilance: The Life of Willia...

What does it take to quit smoking…and to make that change stick? We speak with  Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos , who leads the  Johns Hopkins Tobacco Treatment and Cancer Screening Clinic , about how mindfulness and medication can diminish cravings. Contact the clinic at:  tobacco@jhmi.edu . More resources: Maryland Tobacco Quitline Baltimore City Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Program Baltimore Co...

People with intellectual or developmental disabilities are often shut out of the labor market. We hear how Kennedy Krieger Institute educates employers about inclusivity and accommodation and supports individuals pursuing careers.  We speak with Stacey Herman is the assistant vice president of neurodiversity and community workforce development about Project SEARCH and CORE Foundations . And Brian...