A recent investigative piece by the Baltimore Banner revealed a pattern of racial disparity in traffic stops. This has been a persistent issue in the county and a task force set up to address it -- just a handful of very brief meetings. The overriding question: Do people still care?My conversation is with Ben Conarck and Greg Morton of the Baltimore Banner.
Baltimore City has not one waterfront but two. The Middle Branch of the Patapsco River--11 miles of shoreline now being restored to protect against the effects of climate change. It is an area under new development--from Baltimore Peninsula to Westport. The marshland restoration is led by South Baltimore Gateway Partnership. Funding partly comes from casino revenue.My conversation is with Brad Rogers, Executive Directorof SBGP and Samantha Rose, Senior RestorationManager.
The Baltimore Banner--in just its 3rd year of operation--includes in its mission events like Impact Maryland, coming up on October 14th. It's a day long discussion of the economy, housing, education from the people who have to make the decisions. My conversation includes the Banner's recent expansion to Montgomery County and its success as a non-profit model in journalism.Guests are Bob Cohn, president and CEO of the Banner and Sharon Nevins, Chief Revenue officer and Executive Director of Impact Maryland.
Cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. Diversion of research dollars. Access to vaccines.The impact of the Trump administrations policy and funding decision can add stress to families already stretched thin. My conversation is with Casey Baynes, founder and CEO of Casey Cares, an organization that helps families of children with serious illness and medical conditions.
There are nearly a dozen communities in Baltimore in which half of the residents don't have access to a car. Can they succeed without one?My conversation is with Marty Schwartz, president of Vehicles for Change which works to get people cars they can afford and trains people to be automotive technicians--jobs that are in high demand. His organization is also one of the non-profits that is scrambling to make up for loss in federal funding.
Recent underground fires have put Baltimore's 100 year old conduit system under scrutiny--again. What's going on down there? How long to replace the old system? All in the face of growing demand for electricity which flows though the conduit's wires.My conversation is with two representatives of BGE--the conduit's biggest user. Nick Alexopulos, senior manager of communications and Sterling Sumwalt who oversees the conduit work for the utility.
Autism --its cause and effects--is a main focus of the agenda of HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy, Jr. Controversial and disputed. My conversation separates fact from fiction and underlines the concern of what will happen to research. My guest is Dr. Roma Vasa, Director of Psychiatric Services, Center for Autism Services, Science and Innovation at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore.
Baltimore is not seeing the aggressive ICE raids and street encounters of Los Angeles but the effort to detain and deport the City's migrants is underway. My conversation is with Mark Parker, Baltimore City Council member who represents the SE district, home to the largest number of immigrants.
The "Abundance Agenda" is working its way into politics. My conversation is with Nick Stewart, a Democrat running for County Executive in Baltimore County, one of Maryland's most populous jurisdictions. "Government has overpromised and underdelivered"
Rising costs of electricity.A renewed debate of fossil fuels vs clean energy.A president who's going after climate change policies and even the popular Energy Star program. My conversation is with Emily Scarr from Maryland PIRG.
Most people want government to address the lack of affordable housing and housing affordability. But how to get there--especially with less support from the federal government.My conversation is with Jake Day, Maryland Secretary of Housing and Community Development
The Baltimore Banner recently did a deep, investigative dive into the challenges Baltimore City students face with transportation to get to school. My conversation is with Liz Bowie, veteran education reporter and Greg Morton who created a database to track public transit buses literally every five seconds of the day. Their work is a great example of using data to reveal issues that need to be addressed.
Maryland faces a budget deficit plus the potential loss of federal funding and cuts to the federal workforce. My conversation is with Eric Luedtke, Senior Policy Advisor to Gov. Wes Moore. We talk about the tax proposals, how the state' economy can absorb the loss of federal jobs, and Medicaid--is it untouchable.
Conversation about how to avoid unscrupulous tax preparers, the impact of reductions to the IRS workforce, and the future of Direct File. With John Hardt, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service
Recent progress in behavioral health and the opioid crisis face pressure from state budget issues and loss of federal funding. My conversation is with Adrienne Breidenstine and Dan Rabbit from Behavioral Health System Baltimore.
Conversation with Brandon Butler and Kirk Murray from the Maryland Workforce Association about the work going on in schools to better prepare students for the workforce. It is a pillar of the Blueprint for education in Maryland which is under scrutiny due to cost.
Maryland legislators are considering reducing the number of crimes that require youth to be charged as adults. There are 33 such crimes and Maryland's rate of automatic charging is among the highest in the nation. Advocates for youth say it is expensive and ineffective.More info: https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/model-programs-guide/literature-reviews/youth-in-the-adult-criminal-justice-system
The Maryland Supreme Court recently upheld the constitutionality of the Child Victims Act which lifts the time limit on lawsuits filed by victims of child sex abuse.I talk about what happens now with attorneys Jonathan Schochor and Andrew Janet who represent people who have sued the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the Archdiocese of Washington.
Conversation with employment law attorney Elaine Fitch about the Trump Administration's effort to push federal employees out of their jobs. The legal options they may have .
A recent report by Maryland's Economic Council described Maryland's economic growth as "anemic" despite high median income and low unemployment. What factors explain it? My conversation with Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman