Under the Radar with Callie Crossley

We're all living in a real-life pandemic so we could all use a little escapism. Social distancing doesn't apply to books, so cozy up with some stories you can't miss. It's our annual summer reading special! Whether it's a murder mystery, a mythical reimagining, an historic biography, or a visually enchanting graphic novel, three local librarians give us their picks for the books you won't be able...

A bicycling boom has emerged amid the pandemic as people search for a socially distanced outlet for recreation and a safer mode of transportation. Most bike stores are besieged by the demand from would-be bike buyers for just about anything on two wheels. Mechanics, too, are overwhelmed by massive waitlists of customers’ requests for a tune-up on their old bikes — some of which have been dragged o...

Child care providers can reopen under Massachusetts’ Phase 2 response. But will new health guidelines force many to close? With street demonstrations calling for police reform, faculty at UMass Boston protest local police using the campus as a staging area. And, generational differences lead to two very different vigils for George Floyd in Everett. These stories and more during our Local News Roun...

The devastating impact of COVID-19 on the Native American community has yet to be a focus of the national conversation. At the same time, the coronavirus pandemic has highlighted other ongoing tensions around sovereignty, including the federal fight over Mashpee Wampanoag reservation lands, and has created a financial crisis because of the shutdown of tribal casinos. All this occurs as indigenous...

President Donald Trump has ramped up attacks against mail-in voting, while more states make the option available in order to allow for social distancing and to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Local campaigns, including the hotly contested Senate race between Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Joe Kennedy III, try to get voters' attention — virtually. And who will be former Vice President Joe Biden’s soon...

Hospitals' desperate need for donated blood during COVID-19 forced an end to a long-held policy blocking gay men from donating. But not without controversy. The Navy waived the Trump administration's ban on transgender personnel for one lieutenant. Is this the first step in rescinding the ban altogether? And another historic moment in Boston will, for the first time, not be celebrated with a party...

In January of this year, hundreds of Holocaust survivors gathered at Auschwitz to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the largest Nazi concentration camp. The survivors and their children rededicated themselves to remembering the horror of the Holocaust, even as  a Pew study  confirms that nearly 3 in 10 Americans say they are not sure how many Jews died in the Holocaust. With anti-Semi...

Any New Hampshire voter can cast an absentee ballot now because of the coronavirus crisis. But other New England election officials are not yet ready to sign off on mail-in voting. How are the Cape and Islands preparing for the all-important summer season during the pandemic? And why is Rhode Island simultaneously seeing a spike in unemployment claims as well as an uptick in ID fraud? These storie...

Even before the COVID-19 crisis, millions of millennials were finding new solace in an old celestial tradition: astrology. The onetime '70s fad is back as millennials are looking to the stars for answers on mobile apps, online, and in newspaper and magazine horoscopes. The Pew Research Center reports a third of Americans aged 18 to 29 regularly follow the planets’ movements and positions. How did...

April is a significant time for many major religions. April 23 is the first day of Ramadan, observed by Muslims worldwide. Ramadan begins just as Christians finished their celebration of Easter, and Jews concluded the eight days marking Passover. But because of the coronavirus, these observations were without the familiar settings and rituals. What’s more, COVID-19 has stirred deep conversations a...

Earth Day’s 50th anniversary is on Wednesday, but most of us will be marking the occasion indoors, due to the coronavirus. Global carbon emissions are falling as COVID-19 cases are rising. So, what can a pandemic teach us about the climate crisis? Those stories and more in our Environmental News Roundtable. Guests: Beth Daley  - Editor and general manager at The Conversation, U.S. Dr. Aaron Bernst...

A loved one's memory loss is one of the most painful experiences for family caregivers, who care for the 5.7 million Americans suffering from Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Logan Wells was about 12 when his grandmother was diagnosed. The Lexington-based teen joined several family members and friends in her round-the-clock care. But, Logan quickly realized that their homemade syst...

Pop culture adapts in the age of COVID-19. Streaming services are the number one choice of the pandemic shut-in for many. From "My Sharona" by The Knack to "My Corona," musical parodies provide levity and public health messaging. And Black Twitter rebrands the coronavirus. It's Under the Radar 's Pop Culture Round Table. Guests: Rachel Rubin - Professor of American studies at the University of Mas...

The federal government declared COVID-19 a national public health emergency, but was very late getting virus guidelines in Spanish. And why are many Latinos forced to check “Other” on the 2020 Census? Plus, will young Latino voters deliver a major impact on the outcome of the 2020 election? It's our Latinx News Round Table. Guests: Julio Ricardo Varela – Digital editor for the Futuro Media Group,...

Eight years ago, when the legislature approved casinos in the Bay State, opponents worried that more opportunities to gamble would be difficult for people with compulsive gambling habits. Everett’s Encore Boston Harbor resort is now set to open in just under two months. It’s the state's third casino, with more to come. How is this impacting people addicted to gambling? Do more casinos put others a...

A hard fight comes to an end. Elizabeth Warren drops out of the race for Democratic presidential nominee – we take a look at her exit and the rest of the Super Tuesday’s aftershocks. With the world and nation in a frenzy, what could be the political symptoms of COVID-19? And a new poll confirms a tight race ahead for Senator Ed Markey and his challenger, Congressman Joe Kennedy. It’s a full hour o...

2020 marks the centennial anniversary of women’s suffrage in the United States. Since the beginning of the Trump administration, the political climate has largely been influenced by the rise of female-powered movements. From the Women's March to the #MeToo movement, women have become one of the most powerful forces in American politics. In the corporate sector, 10 years ago, the founders of the or...

Massachusetts’ new distracted driving bill takes effect on Sunday, Feb. 23. Drivers will no longer be able to use any hand-held devices while behind the wheel, except for minor exceptions to use navigation tools on their phones. This comes after years of lobbying from advocacy groups and supporters. The new law is a legislative milestone, but the real work to eliminate distracted driving begins no...

The votes are in from the Granite State and the dust has settled — kind of. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is out in front, with young liberal voters leading him to victory. Entrepreneur Andrew Yang, Colorado Sen. Michael Bennett and former Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick threw in the towel. President Donald Trump secured an historic win for himself. Those are the New Hampshire primary results, but there’s...

Charlestown has no laundromat - how did gentrification leave the neighborhood’s lower income residents without a crucial life service? A monorail for Logan International? This year Massport may finally make the decision to streamline ground transportation at the airport. And is it worth it to recycle now that it costs Boston more to haul away recyclables than trash? It’s our local news round table...

One of our absolute favorite shows here at Under the Radar is our annual review of quirky holiday songs with Mike Wilkins, intrepid music collector and radio engineer for the radio program, The World. Each year Mike brings us a carefully curated mix-tape of rescued vinyl one-hit wonders and whatever background he can find behind each track. But inevitably, some of those origin stories are lost to...

Bernie Sanders is surging with voters in New Hampshire. Or is he? The polls said yes, but other data is conflicting. Endorsements from top Granite State Democrats are rolling in for Joe Biden. Will they make a difference? And can late-starters Michael Bloomberg and Deval Patrick persuade undecided voters to choose one of them? Our New Hampshire Insiders are back. Guests: Arnie Arnesen  — Former Ne...

Deadly bush-fires continue to rage in Australia. The environment wasn’t always a hot-button political topic – how can we take the politics out of climate change? And rising sea levels threaten Boston’s disadvantaged neighborhoods. That’s a sample of the environmental stories that are increasingly important to Greater Bostonians and millions of Americans. Those stories and more on  Under the Radar'...

While more than 60 percent of American high schoolers go on to college, only 17 percent of American Indian students do. Those who do enroll often have a tough time coping with a lack of connectiveness and social isolation. That's why 25 years ago, a group of young native women decided to claim their space in one of the most traditional social organizations in higher education - Greek life. Alpha P...

How about two different versions of a song entitled, “Ho, Ho, Ho?” Or another one of our new favorite holiday jams, like "Santa's Pissed Off" and "Sugar and Booze?" They could only be featured together on the 2019 collection of holiday music curated by WGBH engineer Mike Wilkins. These are not the traditional carols from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir or even new traditional favorites like Mariah Car...