Boston Public Radio

The Massachusetts legislature, citing economic downturns due to COVID-19, appears unlikely to adopt a higher gas tax. Transportation advocates say that's a missed opportunity.

The "All Rev'd Up" hosts were critical of what they described as a whitewashing, in U.S. schools, of the nation's history of racial injustice and white violence.

Commissioner for Elementary and Secondary Education Jeff Riley said schools may continue to operate fully remotely if there is a high rate of community transmission of COVID-19 in their district.

On Monday, media scholar Bob Thompson joined Boston Public Radio to share what he's watching on TV this week.

On Monday, Sennott joined Boston Public Radio to go over the latest international headlines.

The 'Make Way For Ducklings' artist speaks about the importance of public art and describes her latest piece.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners about the debate between in person and remote learning as Omicron surges. Michael Curry updates listeners on how community health centers are responding to Omicron, and the state of schools as cases rise. Curry is the president and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and a member of Gov. Charlie Baker’s COVID-19 vaccine advisory group. He’s also a member of the national NAACP board of directors and chair of the board’s advocacy and policy committee. Trenni Kusnierek talks about a U.S. speedskater giving her winter olympics spot to a teammate, and the Yankees promoting Rachel Balkovec to manager of their minor league Tampa team, becoming the first woman working as full-time manager of a major league affiliated team. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Ali Noorani discusses why President Joe Biden hasn’t been able to take action on former President Donald Trump’s Remain in Mexico policy, and population slowdown in the U.S. Noorani is the president and chief executive officer of the National Immigration Forum. His forthcoming book is “Crossing Borders: The Reconciliation of a Nation of Immigrants.” Cindy Hughes shares the impact of eliminating parking spots in favor of bike lanes on her business in Cambridge. Cindy Hughes is co-founder of Fast Phil’s barbershop on Mass Ave in Cambridge. Then, we ask listeners their thoughts on bike lanes versus parking spots in Cambridge. John King updates listeners on the latest national politics headlines, including the state of voting rights legislation and opinions on term limits. King is CNN's Chief National Correspondent and anchor of "Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. We end the show by asking listeners their opinions on term limits.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by opening phone lines, talking with listeners about whether they’re continuing to be cautious as COVID-19 cases rise. E.J. Dionne previews what’s in store for the Democratic Party in 2022, and talks about the one-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol riots. Dionne is a columnist for The Washington Post and a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution. His latest book is "Code Red: How Progressives And Moderates Can Unite To Save Our Country.” Dr. Renee Crichlow discusses COVID-19 rates across Mass., and the burnout healthcare providers are facing as the world nears its third year of the pandemic. Crichlow is the Chief Medical Officer at Codman Square Health Center and the Vice Chair of Health Equity at the Boston University Department of Family Medicine. Next, we ask listeners for their tips and tricks on finding COVID-19 rapid tests. Dr. Irene Bosch shares her story of creating a COVID-19 rapid test in the early weeks of the pandemic, only to face red-tape from the FDA despite meeting 2021 standards. Bosch is the founder of the diagnostic company E25Bio. She’s also a visiting professor at MIT, and adjunct professor of medicine at Mount Sinai University in New York. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III talk about Pope Francis’ letter of support to LGBTQ+ Catholic advocate Sister Jeannine Gramick. They also weigh in on Judge Timothy Walmsley’s minute of silence before he sentenced Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael, and William Bryan Jr. to life in prison for the killing of Ahmaud Arbery. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist and the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail. Emmett G. Price III is founding pastor of Community of Love Christian Fellowship in Allston, the Inaugural Dean of Africana Studies at Berklee College of Music. Together, they host GBH’s All Rev’d Up podcast. We wrap up the show by asking listeners whether an honor-system approach to store check-outs through Venmo or tip jars could help with retail labor shortages.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners their favorite snow day activities. Shirley Leung updates listeners on the state of Mass. and Cass, and which New England businesses continue to donate to election-denying politicians a year after Jan. 6. Leung is a business columnist for The Boston Globe and a Boston Public Radio contributor. Callie Crossley talks about the death of Sidney Poitier, the first Black man to win the Oscar for best actor, bomb threats at HBCUs and a Black-owned startup incubator based in Roxbury. Crossley hosts GBH’s Under the Radar and Basic Black. Andy Ihnatko discusses Winnie the Pooh’s freedom from copyright and updates from the world of car technology and foldable laptops. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Tracy Chang weighs in on vaccine requirements for restaurants and the state of the food industry. Chang is the chef and owner of Cambridge’s PAGU, as well as the co-founder of two non-profits: Off Their Plate, which empowers local female and minority-owned kitchens to provide free meals communities across the country, and Project Restore Us, which provides grocery supplies to struggling restaurant workers. Sue O’Connell talks about tennis star Novak Djokovic’s detention in Australia due to his vaccination status and Betty White’s legacy. O’Connell is the co-publisher of Bay Windows and the South End News, as well as NECN's political commentator and explainer-in-chief. We end the show by asking listeners their reaction to Pope Francis chastising couples for choosing pets over kids.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd reflects on the one year anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection, and reacts to President Joe Biden’s speech marking the violent event. Todd is the moderator of “Meet the Press,” host of “Meet the Press Daily” on MSNBC and the political director for NBC News. Then, we ask listeners their reflections on the anniversary of Jan. 6. Andrea Cabral weighs in on the outcome of the Elizabeth Holmes trial, in which Holmes was convicted of fraud for her company Theranos, which failed to deliver on its promises of a blood test with the prick of a finger. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and the former Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She is currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Paul Reville updates listeners on the latest in the chaos of back to school plans amid Omicron, and the future of standardized testing after Harvard waived its requirement until 2026. Reville is the former Massachusetts secretary of education and a professor at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where he also heads the Education Redesign Lab. His latest book, co-authored with Lynne Sacks, is “Collaborative Action for Equity and Opportunity: A Practical Guide for School and Community Leaders.” Myrieme Churchill talks about how to deradicalize people who have fallen prey to extremism, and why people feel drawn to extremist circles to begin with. Myrieme Churchill is a psychotherapist and the Executive Director of Parents for Peace, a non-government public health non-profit that helps families and communities address and treat the radicalization of loved ones. Rep. Katherine Clark shares her memories from the Jan. 6 insurrection, her reactions to Biden’s speech and what she thinks the Democrats must do to fortify democracy. Clark is assistant house speaker and represents the Fifth District of Massachusetts. We end the show by continuing our conversation with listeners about the legacy of the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Michelle Singletary gives financial advice for the new year, including navigating the buy now pay later trend, the state of inflation and overdraft fees. Singletary is a nationally syndicated columnist for The Washington Post, whose award-winning column “The Color of Money” provides insight into the world of personal finance. Then, we ask listeners their thoughts on the buy now pay later trend and other financial plans. Juliette Kayyem discusses the chaos on I-95 which closed this week due to snow in Virginia, and the latest on the Jan. 6 investigation one year after the insurrection. Kayyem is an analyst for CNN, former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and faculty chair of the homeland security program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Lauren Kennedy talks about Omicron’s strain on child care and early education workers during the latest surge, and the work her group does to provide access to testing. Lauren Kennedy is co-founder of Neighborhood Villages, a non-profit that works to improve access to affordable child care and early education. Art Caplan updates listeners on the latest with Omicron, and how he thinks the country should navigate the next couple weeks as cases surge. Caplan is director of the division of medical ethics at the New York University School of Medicine. Jared Bowen previews the newest arts events in the region, including an exhibit about love at the Worcester Art Museum, Immersive Van Gogh shows and “WITNESS,” a show about Jewish immigration during times of antisemitism. Bowen is GBH’s executive arts editor and the host of Open Studio. We end the show by asking listeners if they have returned to movie theaters at this point in the pandemic.