On The Record

<p>At midnight, the General Assembly will wrap up its 2021 session, with its Democratic leaders claiming they delivered on their most important promises: financial relief for families and businesses struggling through the pandemic, and a rewrite of laws aimed at making policing more transparent and accountable.</p> <p>Over the weekend, lawmakers quickly overrode Gov. Hogan’s veto of part of the police package Senate President Bill Ferguson of Baltimore City, described the bills as a start.</p> <p>Reporters <strong>Rachel Baye </strong>of WYPR and <strong>Charles Robinson </strong>of MPT walk us through highlights of the legislative session.</p> <p>Check out WYPR News team's coverage of the General Assembly <a href="https://www.wypr.org/wypr-news">here</a>.</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>Kids can be cruel. That was part of the school experience for <strong>Simone Ellin</strong>, a local writer who grew up in the toney New York suburb of Westchester County. The girls in her class at times bullied her, teased her, or just plain ignored her. Some of the words and the feelings stuck with her into adulthood, for decades. So she contacted her tormentors … and wrote about it.</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>Here's a Stoop Story by Dale Marie Prenatt, about life lessons learned growing up in the holler. You can hear her story and others at <a href="stoopstorytelling.com">Stoopstorytelling.com.</a></p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>The <a href="https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0409">Juvenile Restoration Act</a>, passed by the General Assembly, offers young people facing life terms a path to resentencing, after they serve 20 years.</p> <p>We speak with House bill sponsor <strong>Delegate Jazz Lewis</strong>.</p> <p>Then: <strong>Calvin McNeill </strong>was sentenced to life in prison in 1981. He was recommended for parole three times. Each time, Maryland’s governor rejected the parole board’s counsel, but McNeill never gave up hope. He shares his thoughts on reform.</p> <p>Listen to more of Calvin McNeill's story <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKOHCD7N7dk&t=3661s">here</a>.</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>COVID-19 ripped through Maryland’s prisons and jails during the past year, and the danger continues.</p> <p><strong>Ryan King</strong> of the <a href="http://www.justicepolicy.org/index.html">Justice Policy Institute</a> calls for proactive testing and ramped-up vaccination. And he highlights the issue of vaccine hesitancy among those behind bars.</p> <p>Read the op-ed coauthored by King and Hopkins epidemiologist Dr. Chris Beyrer <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/op-ed/bs-ed-op-0222-crw-prison-covid-testing-20210222-wxqhnfky4reyvdat4mjsyzbpii-story.html">here</a>.</p> <p>Then, Baltimore City public defender <strong>Todd Oppenheim</strong> describes how the pandemic delayed trials and bail hearings, leaving his clients to languish in detention.</p> <p>Oppenheim's recent opinion pieces:<br><a href="https://www.salon.com/2020/12/23/best-of-2020-im-a-public-defender-my-elderly-client-might-die-in-prison-from-covid-19/">I'm a public defender. My elderly client might die in prison from COVID-19</a><br><a href="https://www.baltimorebrew.com/2021/01/29/amid-a-pandemic-defendants-are-languishing-in-jail-for-lack-of-home-detention-funding/">Amid a pandemic, defendants are languishing in jail for lack of home detention funding</a><br><a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/03/baltimore-public-defender-during-coronavirus.html">What It’s Like to Be a Public Defender Right Now</a></p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>Amid pandemic expenses, state and local officials braced for tough times. Some public employees were furloughed, agencies drew up shrunken budgets.</p> <p>Then Congress passed the American Rescue Plan last month, flipping the budget picture and sending billions of dollars to Maryland and its counties, cities and schools. <strong>U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin: </strong><br><em>“I think this is as dramatic for many american families as the New Deal was during the 1930’s”</em></p> <p>The General Assembly just okayed a state budget 12 percent bigger than last year’s. <strong>Senate President Bill Ferguson </strong>pushed a $300-million-dollar investment to wipe out the digital divide.</p> <p><em>“We in the state of Maryland are going to be on the front edge of treating broadband like we do roads or electricity. Like it is a basic necessity of the modern economy.”</em> </p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>When it comes to adding new perspective to the struggle for racial equality, poet<strong> <a href="http://www.kondwanifidel.com/">Kondwani Fidel</a> </strong>is uniquely suited for the job. His latest book is “The Antiracist: How to Start the Conversation About Race and Take Action.”</p> <p>Fidel reflects on his losing friends and family to gun violence in East Baltimore, and on uncovering how poverty and segregation are the intended consequences of embedded racism. He calls for thoughtful action, warning against the easy click of a button to share viral images of violence against African American men and women. Read his essay, "How a young boy has been decaying in Baltimore since age 10," <a href="https://medium.com/@KondwaniFidel/how-a-young-boy-has-been-decaying-in-baltimore-since-age-10-a-death-note-98573c2e05cf">here</a>. <em>Original air date: December 3, 2020.</em></p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>Holding a hand, offering a hug or a tender touch … all give comfort to those suffering a loss. But for the past year, many mourners have grieved in isolation.</p> <p>A new exhibit at the Jewish Museum of Maryland called ’in the absence of a proper mourning’ creates a communal space for grieving … and healing -- in any religious context.<strong> Sol Davis,</strong> the Jewish Museum’s executive director, describes it. Artist <strong>Tal Beery</strong>  tells what he hopes people take from it.</p> <p><em>“I want to encourage people to ask their friends and neighbors about the losses that they’ve experienced and not to be shy.  We need to be brave and ask, ‘How are you doing?’ ”</em></p> <p>Links: Jewish Museum of Maryland</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>Here’s a Stoop Story from <strong>Ben Doyle</strong> about the Easter bunny, Santa and other childhood musings. You can hear his story and many others at <a href="https://stoopstorytelling.com">Stoopstorytelling.com</a>.</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>The tide of gunshot, knife and assault victims to University of Maryland Shock-Trauma barely ebbs, not even during the pandemic. More than a third opt for the Violence Intervention Program. Social worker<strong> David Ross </strong>meets them at bedside and offers support, helping fix problems from a missing ID .. to finding a job or safe housing. Too often, Ross says, trauma survivors are invisible.</p> <p><em>“When we hear the news we hear people talking about how many murders there were last year or this year or next year, but we don’t talk about the number of people who survived and need help.” </em></p> <p>Program manager <strong>Erin Walton </strong>tells why patients may see a magic moment to find a new path. And <strong>DeCarlo Cornish</strong>, who survived two shootings, shares his word for those still in the street life.</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>Just over a year ago, the need to ‘disinfect’ and ‘sanitize’ became a priority for every American. Mountains of Clorox wipes and gallons of hand sanitizer later … what long-term effects could increased use of anti-bacterials have on our health? Or for our water?    <br><br><strong>Dr. Amy Sapkota</strong>, professor of Applied Environmental Health at the University of Maryland studies links between real-world microbial exposures and infectious disease in humans.    <br>Antibacterial agents are necessary, she says, but some are better and safer than others. And most of all:     <br> <em>“Handwashing is still one of the most important things you can do to prevent the spread of many different illnesses. So continued hand washing with just soap and water is really essential as we continue to combat this virus.”</em> <strong><br></strong></p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>The opioid overdose crisis accelerated over the past year, as fentanyl drove deaths. State lawmakers are considering whether ‘overdose prevention sites’ are the answer. We speak with two community outreach coordinators with the <a href="https://baltimoreharmreduction.org/">Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition</a>. <strong>Ricky Morris</strong> describes how the pandemic forced changes in on-the-ground activities. Such as, the coalition stopped setting up mock safe sites as demonstrations. But <strong>Samantha Kerr</strong> says the layout would look similar to vaccination sites.</p> <p>Learn more about <a href="https://baltimoreharmreduction.org/">Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition</a> and the <a href="https://baltimoreharmreduction.org/bridges-coalition/">BRIDGES Coalition</a>. Read an <a href="https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/02/18/opinion-prevention-sites-can-help-reduce-overdose-deaths/">op-ed</a> on overdose prevention sites published in Maryland Matters and co-authored by Samantha Kerr. Read <a href="https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0279">SB279</a> and <a href="https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0396">HB396</a>.</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>Today we meet two Open Society Institute fellows working to make Baltimore healthier and safer in 2021. </p> <p><strong>Troy Staton</strong> is leveraging the trust between barbers and clients, and creating a network of hair salons that will bring health care screenings and other resources to their neighborhoods.</p> <p>And attorney<strong> EV Yost </strong>is recruiting L-G-B-T-Q volunteers to staff a hotline and mobile team to respond when members of the queer community experience a crisis.<em> This interview originally aired on January 27, 2021.</em></p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>That was Stoop Story from <strong>Sheila McMenamin</strong> about the power of music to set you free. You can hear her story and many others, as well as the Stoop podcast, at stoopstorytelling.com. </p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>Musicians and fans have mourned the loss of that electrifying current that connects performers with audiences during a live concert. An die Musik, the small but mighty performing space in Mount Vernon stepped up during the pandemic to serve as a conduit. Owner <strong>Henry Wong</strong> describes how they had to pivot quickly to respond:</p> <p><strong>"</strong><em>Our website is served by instant seats and they’ve never done live streaming before so they have no clue what to do so they said do it on your own”</em></p> <p>And singer-songwriter <strong>Laura Wortman</strong> recounts what the last year has felt like:<strong>"</strong>It has been an emotional rollercoaster … and a creative rollercoaster.” Links: <a href="https://www.instantseats.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.event&eventID=C2E5139D-FD52-486F-EC122E02474FFEED">The Bottom Rung at An die Musik</a>, <a href="https://www.instantseats.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.venue&venueid=321">An die Musik calendar</a>, <a href="https://www.thehoneydewdrops.com/">The Honey Dewdrops</a>.</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>60 years ago so many members of the Lumbee Indian Tribe migrated from North Carolina to East Baltimore, that the area was known as “the reservation.” Today folklorist <strong><a href="http://ashleyminnerart.com/">Ashley Minner</a></strong> is working to preserve this history and the memories of Lumbee elders. She guides us through the walking tour she’s created, which includes the <a href="http://baltimoreamericanindiancenter.org/">Baltimore American Indian Center and Heritage Museum</a>.Check out her Google map <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1Qn0-0XpRKaE4VMGkVBxHB-5FGe8EHa8l&ll=39.2912027%2C-76.60114140000002&z=13">here</a>. Click on the sites and the images to see more information. Ashley Minner will be sharing a keynote address for <a href="https://www.centerstage.org/plays-and-events/civic-programming/butterfly-sessions" data-auth="NotApplicable">Center Stage's Baltimore Butterfly Session</a> on April 5th and speaking at a <a href="http://faculty.ccbcmd.edu/cbc/2020-2021_the-truth-about-stories/calendar.php" data-auth="NotApplicable">CCBC Community Book Connection Talk</a> on April 16th.<em>This interview originally aired on October 19, 2020.</em></p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>Even in pre-school, <strong>Jessie Dunleavy’s</strong> son Paul struggled to learn. His disabilities forced him to switch schools over and over. He turned to poetry, and eventually, after several mental-health diagnoses, to drugs. After he died of an overdose, his mother found a poem alluding to his addiction as a moral disgrace.In her memoir, "Cover My Dreams In Ink," Dunleavy recounts the sobering lessons she learned from Paul’s life and death. You can check out Dunleavy's blog <a href="https://www.jessiedunleavy.com/blog">here</a>. This interview originally aired on January 25, 2021.</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>The Open Society Institute tackles many inequities for Baltimore City residents -- from making fresh food available or healthcare accessible ... to housing rights and more. Each year its community fellows bring game-changing ideas. We hear from two —<strong>James Henderson </strong>helps young people in the city find paths toward college and entrepreneurship:<em>“Education and owning businesses is the cornerstone of creating generational wealth.” </em>And <strong>Bree Jones</strong> creates homebuyer collectives to transform abandoned neighborhoods, a whole city block at a time:<em>“They want to live in historically Black spaces as a means of social justice and as a means of wealth building.</em>Links: <a href="https://www.parityhomes.com/">Parity Homes</a>, <a href="https://www.mtmcollegetours.org/">College Tours and Entrepreneurship</a>, <a href="https://www.mtmcollegetours.org/capital">Capital Campaign/College Tours and Entrepreneurship.</a></p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>The news that <strong>Laura Lippman’s</strong> latest mystery is headed to Apple TV screens is all the motive we need to listen again to Lippman discuss <em>Lady in the Lake</em>, set in Baltimore in the 1960s. The first figure we meet speaks from beyond the grave … apparently the victim of murder. She talks directly and scornfully to the main character, Maddie Schwartz, a housewife turned aspiring reporter. Other characters tell us bits of <em>their </em>stories--and Lippman notes <em>they </em>understand what the ambitious Maddie does not.</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>Take a listen to this Stoop Story from Rick Wilson about his friend and coworker, Sam the Toucan. Listen to more Stoop Stories <a href="https://stoopstorytelling.com/">here</a>.</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.shaemccoyphotography.com/">Shae McCoy</a> </strong>photographed vacant homes and abandoned buildings--capturing their brokenness in vivid color and compiling them into the new book, "West Baltimore Ruins." The book is a time capsule that preserves these buildings before they’re torn down or replaced. What will survive? What will Baltimore lose?</p> <p>Follow this project on Instagram at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/west_baltimore_ruins/">west_baltimore_ruins</a>. Check out the <a href="https://librarygallery.umbc.edu/shae-mccoy-west-baltimore-ruins/">virtual exhibit</a> at the UMBC's Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery. Read the BmoreArt <a href="https://bmoreart.com/2021/03/see-west-baltimore-right-with-shae-mccoy.html">interview </a>with McCoy.</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/healingyouthalliance/">Healing Youth Alliance</a> is an ambitious project that trains Baltimore City teens about mental wellness and how to talk to professionals about what it’s like to be in young people’s shoes. The ultimate goal is a better path to healing for them, and their peers. Founder and director <strong>Professor Kyla Liggett-Creel</strong> and faculty member <strong>Nia Jones</strong>, from the <a href="https://blackmentalhealth.com/">Black Mental Health Alliance</a>, explain how it works. Then <strong>Taylor Clinton</strong>, a teen ambassador in the program, describes why African American youth--in particular--need a program like this, and why it’s important.</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>A year after the pandemic hit, Maryland’s economy is crawling back to life but not quite yet on its feet. What is the plan to jumpstart it … and how long could that take? </p> <p><strong>Ashley Duckman, </strong>vice president of government affairs the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, talks about policies and priorities to assist businesses in a strong comeback.</p> <p>And <strong>Caryn York</strong>, CEO of the Job Opportunities Task Force, advocates on behalf of essential workers. She says she is hopeful because she is finally hearing policy makers engaged in necessary conversations to make sure assistance is allocated fairly during recovery:</p> <p><em>“What this pandemic has done is that it has actually laid bare all of the structural inequities that we have been raising for years.”</em></p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>Shelter in place, stay socially distanced. What does that mean when you are homeless?</p> <p>We ask <strong>Lawanda Williams, </strong>Chief Behavioral Health Officer for Health Care for the Homeless, about connecting with clients during the pandemic. And the nonprofit’s Chief Medical Officer <strong>Dr. Adrienne Trustman</strong> describes vaccination efforts.</p> <p>Then, <strong>Mary Slicher</strong> of Project PLASE, tells how COVID posed challenges to safely operating temporary shelter space and delayed efforts to get clients into permanent housing.</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>A year ago, life as we knew it abruptly stalled. Hundreds of thousands of Marylanders became sick. Eight thousand have died.</p> <p><strong>Dr. Joshua Sharfstein</strong>, past city health commissioner and former deputy FDA chief, reflects on the public health response to COVID-19 -- the frustration of mixed messages from leaders and the triumph of scientific headway.</p> <p>And Hopkins professor <strong>Cynda Rushton</strong> describes the burden carried by nurses during the pandemic, and warns that many are thinking of leaving the profession.</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>After a year of staying mostly at home, many of us are closer than ever to our families. For better or worse. We speak to <strong>Joe Kane</strong>, father of four and chair of the Parent-Community Advisory Board of Baltimore City Schools.</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>Here’s a Stoop Story from <strong>Maggie Master</strong> about feeling like a teacher, a tech support worker, and the cafeteria manager all rolled into one. Listen to more of Stoop Storytelling Series <a href="https://stoopstorytelling.com/">here</a>.</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>It’s not a subtle hint: Sunshine and warmer temps are telling us straight-out that spring is coming! <strong>Jordan Bethea</strong>, farm manager of <a href="https://backyardbasecamp.org/bliss-meadows">BLISS Meadows</a> in Northeast Baltimore, is preparing with the help of a team of goats. He shares gardening tips for beginners on how to choose the right plants, and why it’s important to be cautious when fertilizing.</p> <p>Plus, the popularity of houseplants has soared. What varieties are forgiving if you lose track of their care? How can you tell when it's time to water your plants?</p> <p>More resources:<br><a href="http://beginner%20farmer%20training%20program/">Future Harvest Beginner Farmer Training Program</a><br><a href="https://extension.umd.edu/">University of Maryland Extension</a><br><a href="https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/canr/cooperative-extension/environmental-stewardship/soil-testing/">University of Delaware soil testing</a></p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>Kids stared at screens a lot before, but during the pandemic it’s estimated their screen hours, on average, have doubled:  Logging in to classrooms … hanging out with friends on Zoom ... in addition to video games and TV. </p> <p>How does increased screen time affect young eyes? </p> <p><strong>Dr. Megan Collins</strong>, a pediatric ophthalmologist at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute, talks about early-onset myopia, digital eye strain and ways to counteract excessive screen time.</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>Reginald F. Lewis--a Baltimorean and a powerhouse in business and philanthropy during the 1980s and ‘90s--had a big wish for his hometown: he longed to support a museum devoted to African American culture.</p> <p>Years after his death the dream materialized as the ‘Reginald F. Lewis Museum of African American History and Culture.’</p> <p><strong>Terri Freeman</strong> is its new executive director. Today we hear about her priorities, her plans to engage audiences and her focus on broadening the Lewis’s reach beyond Baltimore:</p> <p><em>“It is going to be really important that as we move forward that we are really reflecting all of Maryland and all of the richness that is the African American community throughout the state and frankly throughout the region.” </em></p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>If you’ve traveled east across the Bay Bridge toward Maryland’s Eastern Shore, you might recognize the feeling: shoulders relax, blood pressure drops, a satisfying deep sigh … as Chesapeake waters stretch around you and Kent Island comes into view.</p> <p><strong>Troy Lowman</strong>--writer, director and executive producer of the film <em>Love Letters to the Shore</em>--wants people who view his documentary to better understand the special place he calls home. He hopes to entice visitors, but the film itself is his own personal love letter:</p> <p><em>“Really what I did this for is, I did it to instill the pride in shore people to remind them that we’re lucky that we’re from there, and it’s always going to be a part of all of us.” </em><strong></strong><em></em></p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>The Maryland Senate gave final approval to a package of police reforms yesterday, including a bill to repeal and replace the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights -- which lays out due process procedures for police accused of misconduct.</p> <p>Maryland Matters reporter <a href="https://www.marylandmatters.org/author/hannah-gaskill/"><strong>Hannah Gaskill</strong> </a>talks about years of previous attempts by lawmakers to tackle repeal. And <strong>Senator Will Smith</strong>, who chairs the Judicial Proceedings Committee, shares specifics of the Senate’s approach.</p> <p>Read more:<br><a href="https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/03/03/historic-police-reform-package-passes-out-of-senate-chamber-on-bipartisan-terms/">Historic Police Reform Package Passes Out of Senate Chamber on Bipartisan Terms</a><br><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/maryland-senate-approves-package-of-police-reform-measures/2021/03/03/5e30cdd0-7c5a-11eb-8c5e-32e47b42b51b_story.html">Maryland Senate approves package of police reform measures</a><br><a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-police-bills-pass-senate-20210304-xcmoghrlj5gqnjck2cpahng3di-story.html">The Maryland Senate has passed 9 major policing bills. Here’s what to know about each one and what comes next.</a></p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p> </p> <p>The pandemic is distributing its financial effects, like its health damages, chaotically. They’re colliding on people who never before reached out for mental-health support but are now seeking help. <strong>Sherri Bloom</strong> is clinical director of the nonprofit <a href="https://probonocounseling.org/clinicians/get-involved/" data-cke-saved-href="https://probonocounseling.org/clinicians/get-involved/">Pro Bono Counseling Project</a>, which is hearing from more callers and getting referrals from the<a href="https://211md.org/" data-cke-saved-href="https://211md.org/"> 211 United Way helpline</a>.</p> <p>Like Bloom, psychiatrist <a href="https://hopehealthsystems.com/" data-cke-saved-href="https://hopehealthsystems.com/"><strong>Dr. Jonathan Shepherd</strong></a>, board president of the <a href="https://blackmentalhealth.com/board-member/dr-jonathan-shepherd-president/" data-cke-saved-href="https://blackmentalhealth.com/board-member/dr-jonathan-shepherd-president/">Black Mental Health Alliance</a>, says the impact on mental health will stretch beyond the pandemic itself.</p> <p>You can reach the Pro Bono Counseling Project at (410) 825-1001. The counseling project’s warmline - if you want to talk, but not necessarily start a counseling relationship - is (443) 608-9182.</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>With another COVID-19 vaccine deployed, the end of the pandemic may be in sight. But millions of people who were infected continue to battle lasting complications.</p> <p>Hopkins epidemiologist <strong>Priya Duggal</strong> tells of a new survey collecting data about COVID symptoms and of genetic research into why some people are vulnerable to long COVID. Check out the <a href="https://covid-long.com/">Johns Hopkins Long COVID Study</a>.</p> <p>And we hear from <strong>Chimére Smith</strong>, who has spent a year navigating the painful reality of long haul COVID. Read more about Chimére's experience:<br><a href="https://www.thecut.com/2020/11/the-cut-podcast-doctors-didnt-believe-she-had-covid.html">'The Cut' Podcast: Doctors Didn't Believe She Had COVID</a><br><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/04/health/covid-long-term-symptoms.html">Covid 'Long-Haulers' Need Medical Attention, Experts Urge</a></p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>Each year <a href="https://www.osibaltimore.org/">Open Society Institute-Baltimore</a> awards grants to highly motivated community leaders. We hear from two recipients about their work.</p> <p>First, <a href="https://www.osibaltimore.org/fellow/ateira-griffin/"><strong>Ateira Griffin</strong></a> leads BOND - <a href="http://www.mdbond.org/">Building Our Nation’s Daughters</a> - which brings single moms and daughters together for activities to build their confidence and their connection.</p> <p>Then, <a href="https://www.osibaltimore.org/fellow/wanye-paige/"><strong>Wayne Paige</strong> </a>graduated from Howard University with a degree in finance. Now he’s passing down this knowledge and encouraging young people in the McElderry Park neighborhood in East Baltimore to become entrepreneurs.</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>The state rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine has been slow, chaotic and frustrating. But even with the glitches … nearly 800-thousand Marylanders have managed to secure a slot and get vaccinated. What does immunity offer … and how maddening is it for those still waiting? We talk with Dr. Neda Frayha, Dr. Zackary Berger, Gregory Terry, Renee Wilson, Sara Torvik and Jackie Oldham. Oldham says the quest for an appointment feels like a life-or-death competition:</p> <p>“I liken it to the hunger games where you’re forced to go out and fight for this really necessary incredibly vital vaccine.” </p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>Here’s a Stoop Story from <strong>Dr. Cat Chamberlain</strong> about her experience as a medical director at the Baltimore Convention Center Covid-19 overflow field hospital last year.  You can hear their story and many others at <a href="http://stoopstorytelling.com/" data-cke-saved-href="http://stoopstorytelling.com">stoopstorytelling.com</a>, as well as the Stoop podcast. </p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>Eighty days into his tenure as Baltimore City’s mayor, Brandon Scott wrestles with some of the city’s enduring challenges,  and some newer ones.</p> <p>We ask about the police consent decree, his multi-pronged struggle against gun violence, what help he expects from the Biden-Harris administration, and what is on the mind of so many citizens -- the city’s Covid-19 response. Scott contends the state is not sending enough vaccine to the local health department. That’s why he’s asking Johnson and Johnson to sell directly to the city - thousands of the doses it’s manufacturing in Baltimore.</p> <p><em>“If we had a more equitable process at the state level, then maybe we wouldn’t have had to ask Johnson and Johnson for help.”</em></p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>Retailers and consumers are navigating a challenge: looking ahead to buying and selling post-pandemic while keeping commerce alive now. </p> <p>The Baltimore Downtown Partnership is focused on both, with BOOST, which stands for 'Black-Owned and Occupied Storefront Tenancy.' It pairs Black-owned businesses with vacant storefronts and wraparound services like tech and marketing support. </p> <p><strong>Delali Dzirasa</strong>, himself a successful entrepreneur with his tech company Fearless, talks of the responsibility to nurture new ventures. And <strong>Shelonda Stokes</strong>, president of Downtown Partnership, describes the kind of business they want to boost:</p> <p> <em>“We want organizations that are going to contribute to downtown, organizations that are going to thrive and employ other people in here. That’s a win. And that’s what we’re looking for.”"</em></p> <p>Plus, Tanisha Taliaferro, a bold shop owner tells why she opened her boutique during the pandemic.</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>In his new book, “We Own This City,” Baltimore Sun crime reporter <strong>Justin Fenton</strong> unwinds a twisted tale of dirty cops, oblivious leaders, and a community betrayed by those sworn to protect it.</p> <p>Fenton unearths the rotten roots of the Gun Trace Task Force, an elite plainclothes police unit that won praise for its arrest rate, all while skimming from drug busts and illegally searching citizens.</p> <p>Read an except <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/bs-md-ci-cr-gttf-we-own-this-city-excerpt-20210219-aeovy3pzpje2znde7jjfgnswsy-story.html">here</a>.</p> <p>Check out more reporting by Fenton on the Gun Trace Task Force:<br>Cops and Robbers: <a href="https://news.baltimoresun.com/cops-and-robbers/part-one/">Part 1</a>, <a href="https://news.baltimoresun.com/cops-and-robbers/part-two/">Part 2</a>, <a href="https://news.baltimoresun.com/cops-and-robbers/part-three/">Part 3</a></p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>n anthology of Black American history...verses about the life of 18th-century poet Phillis Wheatley...short stories about girlhood in the South. These are some of the new must-read picks <strong>Carla Du Pree </strong>of <a href="https://www.citylitproject.org/">CityLit Project </a>offers us. She also previews next month’s virtual <a href="https://www.citylitproject.org/events-programs/citylit-festival/">festival</a>.</p> <p>And local history teacher <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/The-Red-Ball-Express-American-Heroes-107528017615592/posts/"><strong>Dante Brizill</strong></a> shares the unsung story of African-American war heroes who drove the Red Ball Express after D-Day.</p> <p>Check out Carla's book picks:<br><em>Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of Africa America 1619 - 2019 </em>- Ibram X Kendi & Keisha N. Blain<br><em>The Age of Phillis</em> and <em>The Love Songs of W. E. Du Bois</em> - Honoree Fanonne Jeffers <br><em>The Prophet</em> - Robert Jones<br><em>Caul Baby</em> - Morgan Jerkins<br><em>Milk, Blood, Heat </em>- Dantiel W. Moniz<br><em>We Speak For Ourselves</em> - D. Watkins<br><em>The Sum of Us </em>- Heather McGhee<br><em>How the Word is Passed</em> - Clint Smith<br>Children’s & Young Adult Literature: <em>Angel of Greenwood</em>, Randi Pink; <em>The Life I’m In</em>, Sharon G Flake</p> <p> </p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>What goes into the decision to, literally, put someone on a pedestal? A new podcast called ‘Who Deserves a Monument’ follows a class from City Neighbors High School in their exercise to define what makes someone monument-worthy and who that person should be for Baltimore City.</p> <p>Podcast creator <strong>Sarah Lohnes</strong><strong>,</strong> tells about the colorful and accomplished Marylanders you probably haven’t heard of but who led the way on pivotal civil rights issues. It features interviews with historians, living descendants and high-school history students to reveal the lives of committed, daring Marylanders who have nearly been lost to history.</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>Here's a Stoop Story from Pete R. about the power of the mind … under the power of suggestion. You can hear his story and others at <a href="http://stoopstorytelling.com/" data-cke-saved-href="http://stoopstorytelling.com">stoopstorytelling dot com</a> and the Stoop podcast. </p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic a year ago, Asian Americans have been the target of more racial profiling and xenophobia. What are the effects of this mistreatment? We learn from UMBC <strong>Professor Charissa Cheah</strong> about the toll it’s taken on the mental health of Chinese American families.</p> <p>And <strong>John C. Yang</strong>, president of the Asian Americans Advancing Justice/Asian American Justice Center, tells how his group advocates on behalf of scientists and scholars under scrutiny by the FBI, an initiative set in motion by the Trump administration.</p> <p> </p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>African Americans make up one-third of Maryland’s population but only 15 percent of Covid-19 vaccine recipients. Is medical mistrust behind low vaccination rates of minority residents, or is it the struggle of getting an appointment, and getting to it?</p> <p>We ask <strong>Dr. Jinlene Chan </strong>of the Maryland Department of Health.</p> <p>Read the letters between <a href="https://conduitstreet.mdcounties.org/wp-content/uploads/02-08-2021-County-Letter-to-Gov-Hogan-RE-Vaccine-Distribution-Suggestions.pdf">county leaders </a>and <a href="https://conduitstreet.mdcounties.org/wp-content/uploads/2021.02.09-MACo-MDH-Response-IQ171770.pdf">Acting Secretary of Health Dennis Schrader</a>.</p> <p>Plus, <strong>Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby</strong>, who as a state delegate pushed for publicly tracking COVID cases by race and ethnicity, raises the alarm on vaccine equity. Read Mosby's letter to Governor Hogan <a href="https://htv-prod-media.s3.amazonaws.com/files/letter-to-governor-hogan-concerning-maryland-s-vaccination-rollout-city-council-president-nick-j-mosby-2-2-21-1612383225.pdf">here</a>.</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>Over the past decade, Maryland hospitals filed more than 140,000 lawsuits against patients, to recover unpaid bills. The median amount owed was just $944. Left unpaid, this debt can lead to a lien on a person’s home or car, or even garnished wages. <strong>Marceline White</strong>, of the<a href="https://www.marylandconsumers.org/medical-debt-freedom-fund"> Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition</a>, describes the crushing burden of an unpaid hospital bill. <em>This interview originally aired Dec. 21, 2020.</em></p> <p>Read the report on Maryland's medical debt lawsuits <a href="https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/preying-on-patients">here</a>.</p> <p>Today at noon, the <a href="https://www.marylandconsumers.org/">Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition</a> and other supporters are holding a virtual event. Register <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIofuCqrDsiGtVDzutAisr9V47_1EmUQ_j5">here</a>. At 1:30 pm, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXIjS1YzZI7ReOE9l3jPHOg">House Health & Government Operations Committee</a> will hold a hearing on <a href="https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0565">House Bill 565 - The Medical Debt Protection Act</a>. The Senate Finance Committee will take testimony on its version of the bill next week.</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>In his book "The Black Butterfly," former community-health professor <a href="http://theblackbutterflyproject.com/Biography.html" data-cke-saved-href="http://theblackbutterflyproject.com/Biography.html">Lawrence Brown</a> cites a century of policies and budgets he says sapped resources from Baltimore’s African American neighborhoods, forcibly uprooted Black families and triggered generations of trauma. He calls it apartheid, and contends it was planned and deliberately maintained.</p> <p>Brown says undoing it will take deep changes like dismantling the Baltimore police department and ending toxic lead poisoning.</p> <p>On Wednesday at 7 p.m. Brown will discuss the book as part of <a href="https://culturefly.org/calendar/event/29905/writers-live-lawrence-t-brown-black-butterfly-harmful-politics-race-and-space#.YCqP4I9Kipo" data-cke-saved-href="https://culturefly.org/calendar/event/29905/writers-live-lawrence-t-brown-black-butterfly-harmful-politics-race-and-space#.YCqP4I9Kipo">Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Writers’ Live! Series</a>.</p> <p> </p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>Should Maryland establish a public bank? <strong>State Delegate Stephanie Smith</strong> of Baltimore City is proposing a task force to explore the idea. She’s driven by how the pandemic brought economic disparities to the surface. How would a public bank work? Could one help close the wealth gap?</p> <p>Read the 2019 Abell Foundation report about municipal banking <a href="https://abell.org/publications/municipal-banking-movement-opportunity-baltimore">here</a>.</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>Here’s a Stoop Story from<strong> Shaun Adamec </strong>about the highs and lows of having a rich friend. Find more about the Stoop Storytelling Series - including upcoming live events and the Stoop podcast - <a href="https://stoopstorytelling.com/">here</a>.</p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>

<p>Baltimore City plans to begin bringing students and staff back to classrooms next month. Is it safe? <strong>Durryle Brooks</strong>, a commissioner on the Baltimore City School Board, explains why he thinks the risks are too great, particularly for low-income families and students of color. Read his Baltimore Sun op-ed <a href="https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/op-ed/bs-ed-op-0122-baltimore-schools-reopening-20210121-xcqvxwtkdjdrpkp2bzottppgs4-story.html">here</a>.</p> <p>Plus, what do some students think about returning to the classroom? With other student activists, <strong>Joshua Lynn</strong>, a senior at Baltimore City College, is organizing a strike to protest the return to in-person learning. Lynn says the plan needs diverse input.<br><br>Learn more about the strike:<br><a href="https://www.weaa.org/post/today-dr-kaye-students-organize-strike-behalf-baltimore-city-teachers#stream/0">Interview </a>on WEAA's Today With Dr. Kaye<br><a href="https://twitter.com/SOMOSCityKnight">SOMOS City Knights</a> on Twitter<br>Real News Network, <a href="https://therealnews.com/safe-return-or-no-return-strikes-loom-for-public-schools">"Safe Return or No Return: Strike looms for public schools"</a></p><p>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 [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472</p>