The Common

More electric vehicles are hitting the streets in Boston, making it one of the biggest EV markets in the country. However, adoption still lags behind similar metro areas across the country and experts worry that the growing number of EVs is still not enough to help the state reach its emission goals. WBUR Senior Business Reporter Zeninjor Enwemeka joins The Common to explain the barriers to more EV ownership in Massachusetts, and what the state is doing about it. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

In late March, the MBTA announced it would be paying an additional $148 million to the Chinese locomotive manufacturer CRRC, in hopes of pushing the company to complete its order for desperately needed T cars by 2027. The order, which was made in 2014, was for 404 new T cars to be delivered by September 2023. To date, the MBTA has only received around 130 of those cars and with this latest payout, the total deal between the agency and CRRC is now valued at over $1 billion. Just last week, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, or SEPTA, canceled its $185 million dollar contract to buy passenger rail cars from the same manufacturer, CRRC. The railway cars were expected by last year. So far, SEPTA hasn’t received a single one. Today on The Common, we look at these two very different approaches to a similar problem with transportation reporters from Boston and Philadelphia: Tom Fitzgerald from The Philadelphia Inquirer and Taylor Dolven from The Boston Globe. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Alvin Campbell, an alleged serial rapist, was arrested in 2020 on sexual assault charges. A new investigation by WBUR finds that at the time of his arrest, Campbell had already been reported for multiple allegations of rape and sexual assault dating back to 2016. He is the brother of Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell. Her office said the attorney general recused herself from any involvement in the case. In a statement, Andrea Campbell said the prosecution has her “unreserved support.” For the past year and a half, WBUR reporter Walter Wuthmann has been investigating the case against Alvin Campbell, and why he was not arrested earlier as allegations and DNA evidence against him surfaced. Wuthmann joins The Common to discuss how the culture of our criminal justice system and Massachusetts' secrecy laws obscure cases of sexual assault from the public in ways that often ends up protecting perpetrators instead of victims. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Massachusetts legalized recreational cannabis in 2016. According to the state, the industry here has grossed nearly $6 billion from hundreds of dispensaries across the state. As part of WBUR's Field Guide to Boston, a series aimed at helping folks better connect with the region, and in honor of the unofficial cannabis holiday on 4/20, we want to offer a quick guide for those who are curious about cannabis in Massachusetts. So The Common team took a trip to Heritage Club in Charlestown, Boston's first recreational dispensary owned by a Black woman, Nike John. She walks us through her experience working in the cannabis industry as well as the dos and don'ts of buying weed responsibly. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

April is Earth Month, so all month long we are featuring weekly conversations with people in Greater Boston working to build our region’s resilience in the face of a changing climate. Arianna Perdomo is a 17-year-old high school senior living in Chelsea. She's a member of Gov. Maura Healey and Massachusetts Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer's Youth Climate Council and part of the Environmental Chelsea Organizers youth crew through GreenRoots. Today, Arianna joins The Common to discuss her work organizing other young people around climate concerns in Chelsea, and her interest in using her voice to advocate for climate justice on Beacon Hill. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Last week, the Boston City Council met to discuss one of the top, pressing issues facing our city: The rat population causing a nuisance to residents citywide. For the second year in a row, Councilor Ed Flynn has proposed a measure to create a city department solely devoted to pest-related concerns, arguing that a specialized department would streamline efforts to tackle rat issues and allow for more coordinated innovation. Today, Boston Globe City Hall Reporter Niki Griswold joins The Common for more on Councilor Flynn's proposal, and other potential solutions discussed at last week's meeting. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

With the 2024 Boston Marathon now in the rearview, you may be feeling inspired to hit the road after seeing thousands of athletes crushing 26.2 miles. Or perhaps you’re at the very beginning of your running journey and you’re still trying to find where you fit in the sport. That’s why we bring you this conversation taped at WBUR’s CitySpace featuring Martinus Evans, a runner and founder of the Slow AF Run Club, a community for slow runners and walkers. Host Darryl C. Murphy talked to Evans about his journey as a runner and his work to make the sport of running more welcoming. This conversation has been edited for time and clarity. You can check out the full discussion here and if you want to find out more about events at CitySpace, head to wbur.org/events. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Today, more than 30,000 runners will participate in the 128th Boston Marathon. Among those running are no less than five members of the WBUR staff, including Climate and Environment Correspondent, Barbara Moran. Being the reporter she is, Barb documented the ups and downs of her training journey as part of an essay for WBUR’s Cognesanti. Today, in honor of the marathon and all who run it, we bring you Barb's story. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency introduced a new drinking water standard to reduce exposure to PFAS, chemicals linked to health risks like cancer. Massachusetts is one of 11 states with existing PFAS limits, which are different from the new federal guideline. As a result, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection estimated that 95 water systems across the state will need to upgrade their water system to address PFAS for the first time under the new federal rules. Climate and Environment Correspondent Barbara Moran joins The Common with more on the new federal rule and its impact on the local water systems. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

April is Earth Month, which is a time to reflect on the one planet we have and for a lot of us that brings up climate change, and how it’s affecting our communities. James Comiskey is an activist with Extinction Rebellion, a global environmental movement that aims to use nonviolent civil disobedience to compel government action on climate change. He’s also a co-leader of Boston’s Rainbow Rebellion, which is an offshoot of the group focused on the intersection of climate and LGBTQ issues. Comiskey joins The Common to discuss how climate change disproportionately affects the LGBTQ community, and the queer legacy of social activism. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

On Monday, almost 300 people, many of whom were families with kids, boarded a ferry and headed out to Spectacle Island in the Boston Harbor to take in the solar eclipse over the Boston skyline. The event, "[Not Quite] Total Eclipse of the Park" was hosted by Boston Harbor Now, a non-profit that works to make the Boston Harbor and Islands more accessible and climate resilient, in partnership with Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park. Common Producer Katelyn Harrop joined the crowd heading out to Spectacle Island to talk with some of our youngest neighbors seeing their very first eclipse. Today on The Common, a solar eclipse through the eyes of six and eight-year-olds. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Somerville is re-evaluating the use of ShotSpotter, a surveillance system that detects sounds indicative of gunfire. The devices have drawn scrutiny locally after leaked internal data revealed disproportionately high use in minority communities. Proponents of the technology say it saves lives and helps police catch criminals. Critics, including civil liberties advocates, raise concerns about the technology's accuracy and the risk of over-policing low-income or communities of color. Boston Globe Reporter Spencer Buell joins The Common with more on the controversy behind the ShotSpotter gunshot detection system and its future in Somerville and beyond. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Earlier this year, we learned that financial challenges at Steward Healthcare System, a for-profit company, were jeopardizing the company's ability to run its eight current Massachusetts hospitals. This drew scrutiny from state and federal officials, and raised concerns about the role of private equity in the healthcare industry. Over the last couple of weeks, lawmakers, including U.S. Senators for Massachusetts Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, held hearings on Beacon Hill looking into private equity in healthcare and Steward’s financial problems. WBUR Senior Correspondent Deborah Becker has been following the Steward case since it broke, she joins The Common to catch us up to speed on the latest developments. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

It may be gray outside, but never fear -- WBUR Assistant Director of CitySpace Candice Springer is back on The Common with a list of fun-filled happenings to get you out of your house and on the town this April. Candice recommends... Mystery Picnics – Anytime The Massachusetts Craft Brewers Festival – April 20, Boston Center for the Arts' Cyclorama F1 Arcade Boston – April 22, Seaport in Boston Slow AF Run Club: Martinus Evans on empowering anyone who wants to run – April 11, WBUR CitySpace Earth Week: Reptile and amphibians night with Zoo New England – April 23, WBUR CitySpace Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

April is Earth Month, so all month long we are featuring weekly conversations with people in Greater Boston working to build our region’s resilience in the face of a changing climate. Kannan Thiruvengadam is the Executive Director of Eastie Farm — a community-based non-profit in East Boston, which focuses on food insecurity and climate justice through urban agriculture and education. Today, Kannan joins The Common to discuss how urban agriculture can be used as a tool for climate resiliency and community building, and what keeps him motivated and inspired to do this work, even in the most challenging times. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Have you ever answered a knock on your door to find someone asking to see your electric bill? Perhaps with the promise of getting you a better deal? If so, you might've come face-to-face with a representative from a competitive electric supplier -- an industry that has been tied to high rates, and at times, illegal activity, targeting some of the states' most vulnerable residents. While some savvy individuals are able to use these suppliers to get a better, or greener deal, State data show that this often isn't the case. In fact, the State Attorney General's office reports that between 2015 and 2021, ratepayers in Massachusetts who used a competitive electric supplier collectively paid $525 million more than if they had kept their utility as their supplier. Boston Globe Climate Reporter Sabrina Shankman has been looking into this industry in collaboration with WBUR's Miriam Wasser. Today, she joins The Common with more on how competitive suppliers are impacting residents, and what's being done at the state-level to curtail or reform the industry. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Last week, the MBTA board of directors voted in favor of offering a reduced-fare program for low-income adults across the transit system, including for The Ride -- the MBTA's paratransit service. It's a huge victory for advocates who have been pushing for such a program for more than a decade. Today, Boston Globe Transportation Reporter Taylor Dolven joins The Common for a transit news round-up. First, a look at what it will take to make a low-income fare program a reality. Then, Taylor tells us about the MBTA's decision to pay an additional $148 million to a company notably behind on their contracted promise to make new Red and Orange Line train cars for the system. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Chewed automobile wires? Gnawed car cables? That's what a Boston rat calls lunch! Drawn in by the promise of a warm and cozy place to hang, rats are hoping out of dumpsters and taking up residence under the hoods of cars, bringing their trash and snacks with them, and causing damage to vehicles while they're at it. Today, WBUR Investigative Reporter Willoughby Mariano joins The Common for a look at why Boston's rat problem is so significant, and what this could mean for the wellbeing of your ride. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

This semester, both Berklee College of Music and Harvard University are offering classes themed around one of pop music's biggest names: Taylor Swift. The class at Berklee uses Swift's music to instruct students on songwriting, while the Swift-themed class at Harvard sits in the university's English department and looks at her music through a literary lens. Today on The Common, WBUR Senior Arts and Culture Reporter Amelia Mason takes us into the classroom for a lesson on what students (and the rest of us) can take away from some of Taylor Swift's biggest hits. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

The Boston Water and Sewer Commission launched a free program to replace lead pipes on privately owned property early last year, but few property owners have taken advantage of it. A recent Boston Globe investigation found that a water line that services one Boston College dormitory is among thousands of lead pipes that deliver water to city residents. Lead can contaminate drinking water and ingesting lead poses some serious health risks. Today, Boston Globe contributing reporter and Boston University professor David Abel and Boston University journalism student Taylor Brokesh join The Common to discuss why this free program has gone so underutilized. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

On Monday, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced a 30-day limit on the length of time families can stay in certain overflow shelters while waiting to enter the state's emergency shelter system. Families must re-apply every 30 days proving they meet certain requirements to remain in overflow shelters and on the waitlist. Meanwhile, state legislators have also been working on plans to limit the amount of time families can stay in the state's emergency shelter system, but have yet to agree on a final proposal. Reporter for The Boston Globe Matt Stout joins The Common to outline the details of the different sets of restrictions, and what they say about this moment for the Mass. emergency shelter system. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

The Boston Public Library's chef-in-residence program is a three year project aimed at helping community members get the most out of their food. The program provides instruction on basic cooking techniques and nutritious, and helps members of the community prepare culturally appropriate meals with everyday ingredients. Glorya Fernandez is the library's inaugural chef-in-residence. Over the period of one year she will work with the community to create a culinary curriculum that can be used throughout the BPL system. The Common took a trip to the BPL Roxbury Branch's Nutrition Lab to meet Glorya, as well as Stephanie Chace, BPL Nutrition Literacy Coordinator, and learn more about what they hope to accomplish during the first year of the chef-in-residence program. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Muslim students at MIT are holding nightly Iftar dinners on campus in observance of the holy month of Ramadan, which is celebrated by Muslim communities across the globe. The holiday is typically marked with fasting, prayer and community. It’s the first Ramadan since the war in Gaza broke out in October, so this month holds particular weight for those observing. WBUR Morning Edition Field Producer Laney Ruckstuhl attended one of the MIT Iftar dinners. She joins The Common to tell us about how the students she spoke to are thinking about Ramadan this year, in the midst of on-campus tensions and grief over the lives lost in Gaza. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Music residencies - regularly scheduled performances from the same band or artist at a set venue - are a key part of a thriving local music scene. Today on The Common, WBUR Arts Contributor Noah Schaffer has recommendations for five can't-miss residencies you can check out in Boston, Somerville and Cambridge all year long. Noah recommends... The Fringe - Mondays at The Lilly Pad in Cambridge (featured song: "I Loved You Yesterday") The Conscious Band - Sundays at West End Johnnies in Boston (featured song: "Oh What a Saturday Night" by lead singer, Errol Strength) The Natural Wonders - Sundays at Sally O'Briens in Somerville (featured live recording, September 2021) Bars Over Bars - First Sundays at The Junge in Somerville (featured live recording, March 2024) Yoko Miwa Trio - Fridays at The Mad Monkfish in Cambridge (featured song: "Keep Talkin'") Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

If you're having trouble getting in to see your doctor, you're not alone. Access to primary care providers in Massachusetts has been declining for three straight years, according to a recent survey from Massachusetts Health Quality Partners. This comes as factors including industry staffing challenges, salary discrepancies, and burnout, contribute to a shortage of PCPs nationwide. Today, WBUR Senior Health Reporter Priyanka Dayal McClusky joins The Common with more on what's behind this concerning trend, locally and across the country. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

A recent survey commissioned by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce finds that, while almost 90% of surveyed residents between the ages of 20 and 30 in Greater Boston say they're satisfied with their daily lives, one in four plan to leave the region in the next five years. Those surveyed cited the high cost of housing, concerns with public transportation and the availability of quality jobs among the reasons contributing to their possible exodus. In today's episode, CEO and President of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Jim Rooney joins The Common to discuss these survey findings and what they can tell us about our region. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

More than half of the over 8,000 childcare providers in the state will see significant cuts to monthly grant payments they receive from the state for the months of May and June. These funds are part of the Commonwealth Cares for Children grant program, which is experience a budget shortfall as the 2024 fiscal year comes to a close. Today WBUR Senior Education Reporter Carrie Jung joins The Common with more on how these cuts to the C3 grant program will impact childcare providers, many of whom already function on razor thin margins. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Today, we're taking you to Quincy, Massachusetts. In the last several decades, the number of people in Quincy who identify as Asian has grown considerably. The latest census shows nearly 30% of the city's residents identify as Asian. Part of this growth can be attributed to the city remaining an affordable, but accessible, alternative to Boston. Meanwhile, Boston's Chinatown has seen a decrease in its Asian population, as housing prices have increased significantly in the neighborhood. To illustrate this change, The Common producer Frannie Monahan spoke with Joyce Chan, a former high school teacher and musician, about her personal experience starting a Chinese bakery in Quincy after her band lost its practice space in Chinatown. This episode is part of WBUR's Field Guide to Boston, a station-wide effort to help you connect with the city's communities. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

This week Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey made headlines when she announced that she would be pardoning all minor cannabis possession offenses in Massachusetts. The pardons apply to all convictions before March 13, 2024, and are thought to apply to hundreds of thousands of people. It’s a precedent-setting move as no other Governor has issued such a sweeping pardon on this issue to date. WBUR State House Reporter Walter Wuthmann was on the story this week. He joins The Common to walk us through what these pardons mean for the folks affected, and for Governor Healey. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

The city has long been working towards a revamp of Blue Hill Avenue, a major corridor in Dorchester and Mattapan. But due to a history of underinvestment and concerns about gentrification, many residents there are skeptical about the city's plan. Despite this, the city has decided to move ahead on certain parts of the plan anyway, including a center lane bus that will operate between Grove Hall and Mattapan Square. Dorchester Reporter News Editor Seth Daniel has been following the story. He joins The Common to explain the history behind the community's skepticism and how the city hopes to build trust in the neighborhood. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Spring is upon us, and with it comes a whole new slate of recommendations from WBUR's Arts and Culture team as a part of their seasonal arts guides. From new albums, to visual arts, to movies, there's something for everyone in Boston's art scene this spring. WBUR Senior Arts and Culture Editor Dianna Bell joins The Common with some of her favorite recommendations from this season's guides. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Last fall WBUR Investigations Correspondent Todd Wallack joined The Common after he published an investigation into Massachusetts’ public housing waitlist system. In the investigation, he found that despite the state being in a record housing shortage, almost 2,300 state-funded units were sitting vacant across the Commonwealth, sometimes for years. In the aftermath of the investigation, the state announced it would make a 90-day push to significantly reduce the number of empty units. Six months later, only 72 more units have been filled and more than 180,000 people remain on the waitlist. Today on The Common Todd joins us again to provide a look into Massachusetts' public housing waitlist system, and how it is and isn't working for housing authorities and potential tenants alike. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Almost a year after affirmative action was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court, Massachusetts lawmakers are working to institute a ban on legacy preferences at colleges in the state. Legacy preference, or legacy admissions, is the practice of favoring college applicants who have familial connections to the school, and it often disproportionately benefits white and wealthier students. Today on The Common WBUR Education Reporter Max Larkin discusses the bill's background and how it's being received in Mass. education communities. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Introducing the trailer for ‘Beyond All Repair,’ a brand new WBUR podcast about an unsolved murder and a woman who wasn’t believed. Note: This is the trailer for Beyond All Repair from WBUR and ZSP Media. Episodes 1 & 2 are already waiting for you: Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

We're back with our second installment of Sound On: The series where WBUR Senior Arts and Culture Reporter and Critic Amelia Mason joins The Common to share a new album from a rising artist or band in Massachusetts. Today, we're discussing "i know i know i know," an expansive new album from Western Massachusetts-based band, Cloudbelly. Check out Amelia's full write-up on Cloudbelly here. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Last year, Governor Maura Healey set a cap on the number of families served by the state family shelter system at 7500. Families beyond that number are put on a waitlist. Some have found temporary shelter in overflow sites set up by the state. The thing is, those shelters are not all open during the day, leaving day-side support options limited. Enter La Colaborativa, a Chelsea-based immigrant services non-profit, which opened a day service center late last month. Today, La Colaborativa president Gladys Vega joins The Common to discuss the services the organization is offering to support recently arrived migrant families on the state family shelter waitlist. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Yesterday was Super Tuesday - the day voters in Massachusetts and 14 other states, plus one territory, cast their votes for the candidates they’d like to see face off in the general presidential election in November. By the time you hear this episode, some results from Super Tuesday may already be known, but what we want to focus on in this episode is not who got the most votes, but how voters are thinking about the election cycle more broadly, and what that means for the future of our country. Boston Globe Politics Reporter Matt Stout joins The Common with his insights from a day reporting at the polls. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Our region is experiencing its first El Niño in five years, and, bolstered by climate change, we have an unusually warm winter to prove it. Today, Tom Di Liberto, climate scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, joins The Common to discuss how El Niño impacts weather patterns in the region, and what other factors are contributing to our unseasonably warm winter. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

The Massachusetts State Senate recently unveiled a new bust in their renovated chambers in the statehouse. It honors Frederick Douglass – a Black civil rights leader who worked to abolish slavery in the United States. The sculpture puts Douglass in the company of Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Ben Franklin, and other historical figures. It's the first permanent bust added to the chamber in over 125 years, and it occupies one of two new spots. State Senate President Karen Spilka says the other spot will go to a woman. Today, Boston Globe Senior Opinion Writer Kimberly Atkins Stohr joins The Common to discuss Maria W. Stewart, a groundbreaking Black Bostonian who she believes should be honored with a bust in the Senate chambers. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

March is the month that brings us spring, at last! But it's also a long month, with no observed holidays to give us a break. To help motivate us all to get out and explore this March, WBUR Assistant Director of CitySpace Candice Springer joins The Common with three DIY craft classes that offer an opportunity to learn a new creative skill. Candice recommends... Bonsai Bar – multiple dates and locations Tutu Land Boston – Open daily in Allston, reservations recommended In House Baking School – Anytime, your very own kitchen Celebrating accessibility in the arts – March 19, WBUR CitySpace Field Trip: Karaoke Night – March 28, WBUR CitySpace Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

The Emerald Necklace Conservancy and 16 area residents recently filed a lawsuit to stop a proposal to renovate White Stadium in Franklin Park. They say the plan is “unconstitutional,” fearing that this public facility will be privatized and made inaccessible to the public. The city said the claims are without merit and the renovation will expand the number of usable hours for student-athletes and the community. Seth Daniel, news editor for the Dorchester Reporter, joins The Common to break down the controversy around the White Stadium renovation plan and its significance to the neighborhoods. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Earlier this month, four members of the Brockton School Committee called on Governor Healey to bring in the National Guard to calm campus violence amid understaffing at Brockton High School. The idea has split the school community, with many expressing the desire to not militarize the school, while others say the response is appropriate to help manage a situation, which includes fighting and open drug use among students, that has spiraled out of control. Boston Globe Great Divide reporter Chris Huffaker has been following the story. He joins The Common to break down the situation inside Brockton High School, and what bringing in the National Guard could mean for students and teachers. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

The Massachusetts child welfare system is looking at a huge leadership change across its ranks with several key leaders stepping down this year. Advocates and former foster kids in the state see it as an opportunity to overhaul the overburdened system that impacts the lives of more than 86,000 children and adults across the state. Boston Globe Reporter Jason Laughlin joins The Common to break down the calls for change and what’s behind them. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Governor Maura Healey’s pick to fill the vacant seat on the state's Supreme Judicial Court could be confirmed as soon as Wednesday. Judge Gabrielle Wolohojian has an impressive judicial record, having served as an appeals court justice for 16 years. However, one piece of her background has been a sticking point through the confirmation process – the fact that she was at one point a long-term romantic partner of Gov. Healey. WBUR State House Reporter Walter Wuthmann joins The Common to discuss Judge Wolohojian's background and if confirmed, what her ties to the governor mean for the state's highest court. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends offering buprenorphine, a medication that can help curb opioid cravings, to teens addicted to opioids. However, only 6% of pediatricians currently offer the drug, in part because some believe that they do not have the right training or staffing to provide this care. Today, WBUR reporter Martha Bebinger brings The Common to a pediatrician's office in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, and discusses the role pediatricians can play in preventing drug overdose deaths among adolescents. If you or someone you care about is struggling with addiction and may be at risk of an overdose, you can call the Massachusetts Overdose Prevention Helpline at: 1-800-972-0590. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

There are the Patriots, the Red Sox, the Celtics... and the stone walls. That's right. Many New Englanders are absolutely enamored by the approximately 100,000 miles of stone walls, relics of early settlement, that dot the woods and roadsides of our region. Today, Hanna Ali, WBUR associate producer for newsletters, joins The Common to tell us more about how these historic stone walls came to be, and why they've captured the hearts of so many in Massachusetts and beyond. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Update: Ed Augustus, the state's housing secretary, sent a letter to Milton town officials Wednesday morning saying the town failed to comply with the MBTA Communities Act, and as a result, the Healey administration will immediately stop sending "significant grant funding" to the town. Read the full letter here. Last week, residents of Milton voted down a plan that would have allowed for the development of more multifamily housing. The vote puts Milton at odds with the MBTA Communities Act -- a state law that aims to tackle the housing crisis by requiring communities with MBTA access to create new zoning plans allowing for higher density housing. Today, Boston Globe Housing Reporter Andrew Brinker joins The Common for a look at what happened in Milton, and what this community's response can tell us about the appetite for tackling the state's housing crisis. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Immigration and border security have long been hot-button issues in national politics. Now, with concerns mounting over the state's overstretched family shelter system, where nearly half of the people housed are migrants, asylum-seekers or refugees, immigration is becoming a firey point of conversation in state and local politics, too. WBUR Senior Political Reporter Anthony Brooks joins The Common to discuss how the immigration debate is entering and informing political discourse on Beacon Hill and beyond. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Team Common is off today, so we’re bringing you a story from our friends in the WBUR newsroom. We'll be back with our regular show tomorrow. Today’s story comes from Arts Reporting Fellow, Solon Kelleher. It’s about a jukebox in Cambridge, redesigned by artist Elisa Hamilton to play stories from people in the community instead of music. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.

Chinatown's streets will come to life on Sunday with thunderous drums and the piercing clang of cymbals as nine lion dance troupes celebrate the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese New Year Parade. WBUR Podcast Fellow Cici Yu joins The Common to preview this year's parade, and give us a window into the vibrant history and community surrounding lion dance in Boston. Greater Boston’s weekly podcast where news and culture meet.