Boston Public Radio

The legislature signaled approval for a Gov. Baker-backed proposal that makes it easier for municipalities to zone for multifamily housing, but Connolly says the bill lacks measures to protect vulnerable populations.

Slaughterhouses won't release the number of employees who are infected by COVID-19, Kummer says.

The president of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy spoke about the history of America's first “green” infrastructure project.

The former business executive, presidential candidate and co-chair of Black Voices For Trump died this week of COVID-19 complications.

People need to go beyond reading books about anti-racism, the BU professor says.

The NAACP national convention was supposed to be held in Boston this summer. With the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the events have gone virtual.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Washington Post national politics correspondent Annie Linskey discussed the latest news surrounding the 2020 Democratic presidential race. Food writer Corby Kummer discussed pushback to a Trump administration move to end limits on slaughterhouse line speeds, and news that grocery chain Dean & Deluca has closed their flagship location. Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed the latest on the House impeachment inquiry, and updates regarding President Trump’s removal of troops from northeastern Syria. Nancy Koehn, Harvard Business School historian, spoke about Silicon Valley's move away from big spending in favor of profit. We opened the lines to callers to hear your thoughts on balancing motherhood and work life. Journalist & author Naomi Klein discussed her new book: “On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal” Jonathan Alsop, founder of the Boston Wine School, previewed WGBH’s upcoming Food & Wine Festival.

An effort backed by the Trump administration to speed up slaughter lines of pigs is facing legal challenges from food workers' unions that argue the new rules will put laborers in danger. Food policy expert Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio Thursday to discuss the new rule, and the workers' safety complaint. "This makes my blood boil. Already the line speeds, the industrial processing allowed in big meat slaughterhouses is hugely dangerous to workers," said Kummer. "They get mad cow brain disease if they're working on the line slicing open brains of pigs and beef and they do, and they have progressive neurological diseases, and meat companies just through them out the door and say, 'We don't owe you any disability.'" The suit challenges the Department of Agriculture's move to eliminate maximum speed guidelines that the agency estimated would provide annual savings in the millions of dollars for large plants. Kummer said this rule expressly throws worker safety out the window in favor of industry benefits. "These new laws friendly to industry increasing line speed, the USDA said we don't care about overload, burnout, physical toll and repetitive stress injury, we're not even going to weigh that in our final rules, we're going to leave that for OSHA," he said. "What they're doing is destroying the health of the workers and even saying flat out, 'We don't care we're going to leave it to OSHA to come in and try and mop up the mess.'" Corby Kummer is executive director of the Food and Society policy program at the Aspen Institute, a senior editor at The Atlantic, and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrtition Science and Policy.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the lines to callers to hear their thoughts on Trump’s choice to not comply with House impeachment proceedings. Media maven Sue O’Connell discussed three LGBT descrimination cases that the Supreme Court heard on Tuesday. CNN analyst Juliette Kayyem discussed President Trump’s decision to pull troops out of northeast Syria, as well as the latest on the House impeachment inquiry. WGBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen reviewed Trinity Rep’s production of “Prince of Providence,” as well as “Homer at the Beach,” a gallery of Winslow Homer paintings on display at the Cape Ann Museum. Listeners phoned in to discuss whether cell phones have any place in theaters and schools. Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam discussed his latest piece, which bemoans a new interior design trend: Judging books exclusively by their covers and using them as decorative objects. Listeners phoned in to give their thoughts on reading in 2019.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the lines to callers to ask: in light of accusations that he solicited sex workers at a Florida spa, is the NFL doing enough about New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft? Author Holly Jackson discussed her new book, “American Radicals: How Nineteenth Century Protest Shaped the Nation.” Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed Sen. Bernie Sanders’ recent heart attack, and the questions it’s raised about whether public officials have an obligation to disclose personal health issues. Attorney General Maura Healey responded to questions from callers as part of her monthly “Ask the AG” series. CNN chief national correspondent John King discussed the latest national headlines, including the House's subpoena of EU ambassador Gordon Sondland following Tuesday morning's canceled deposition.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Shannon O’Brien and Charlie Chieppio discussed the latest national and local headlines, including impeachment news and Ed Markey’s pursuit of an environmental debate against Senate seat rival Joe Kennedy. Charlie Sennott discussed fallout from Hong Kong’s ban on face masks, Boris Johnson’s plan for Brexit, and the U.S.’ decision to pull troops from Northeast Syria. We opened our lines to callers to hear their thoughts on impeachment proceedings. TV guru Bob Thompson discussed CNN’s decision not to air an attack ad by President Trump. He also reviewed Masterpiece’s new series “PRESS", along with "El Camino", the new movie set in the Breaking Bad universe. *All Rev’d Up *hosts Irene Monroe and Emmett G Price III discussed Brandt Jean forgiving his brother’s killer, as well as the passing of actress Diahann Carol. With National Hispanic Heritage Month under way, inaugural poet Richard Blanco read a selection of self-penned poems dealing with Hispanic identity. Boston City Councilor At-Large Michelle Wu discussed her latest report on the benefits of disbanding the Boston Planning and Development Agency.