Boston Public Radio

16 million people have been placed under quarantine in Northern Italy, the center of the country's financial industry.

As COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the world and the United States, news organizations have been delivering constant coverage of the virus’ spread.

The Atlantic writer discussed a simple alternative to dangerous rodenticides.

Gilbert Tsang and Meg Tartasky of Mem Tea Imports joined BPR for our weekly news quiz.

"It's important as we celebrate Pete Buttigieg's success," she said.

Black voters in southern states live within the history of discrimination, Crossley said, and will do everything they can to continue racial progress.

Today on Boston Public Library: We begin the show by opening phone lines, asking listeners about whether they’re returning to pre-pandemic activities as COVID-19 cases wind down. Trenni Kusnierek shares her thoughts on the International Olympic Committee allowing Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva to continue competing despite testing positive for banned substances. She also discusses Roger Goodell’s recent statement on diversity in the NFL. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Stacy Thompson and Jim Aloisi discusses Mayor Michelle Wu’s announcement of a two-year, fare-free program for MBTA bus routes 23, 28, and 29 beginning March 1, 2022, and how the program relates to Mayor Wu’s mission to make the T free. Aloisi is the former Massachusetts transportation secretary, a member of the Transit Matters board and contributor to Commonwealth Magazine. Thompson is executive director of Livable Streets. Carol Greenwald talks about the end of “Arthur” after 25 years on-air. Greenwald is executive producer of Arthur, and has been since the beginning of the show. Rep. Katherine Clark discusses threats to Roe v. Wade, and state and federal authorities attempting to get back at least $2.7 billion in unemployment payments they accidentally overpaid people during the pandemic. Rep. Katherine Clark is assistant Speaker of the House. John King updates us on the latest political headlines, from Russia’s potential invasion of Ukraine to the state of inflation. King is CNN's Chief National Correspondent and anchor of "Inside Politics,” which airs weekdays and Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. We wrap up the show by talking with listeners about whether they enjoy being late to things.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Dr. Katherine Gergen-Barnett takes questions from listeners on the latest mask guidance from the state, when to replace your mask, the importance of booster shots and more. Gergen-Barnett teaches in the family medicine department at Boston Medical Center and Boston University Medical School. Meredith Goldstein gives out Valentine’s Day advice and takes listener calls on all things love. Goldstein is an advice columnist and features writer for the Boston Globe. Her advice column, “Love Letters,” is a daily dispatch of wisdom for the lovelorn that has been running for more than a decade. She also hosts the “Love Letters” podcast. Richard Blanco reads his favorite love poems, including his poem “Killing Mark,” his poem “Maybe” and “You Are Who I Love” by Aracelis Girmay. He’s the fifth presidential inaugural poet in U.S. history. His latest book, “How to Love a Country,” deals with various socio-political issues that shadow the United States. Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III debrief last night’s Super Bowl and the halftime show. Rev. Monroe is a syndicated religion columnist and the Boston voice for Detour’s African American Heritage Trail. Rev. Price is founding pastor of Community of Love Christian Fellowship in Allston and the Inaugural Dean of Africana Studies at Berklee College of Music. Together they host the All Rev’d Up podcast at GBH. Paris Alston and Jeremy Siegel introduce themselves as the new hosts of Morning Edition, and talk through this morning’s headlines. Alston and Siegal are the new co-hosts of GBH’s Morning Edition, which you can catch every weekday from 5 until 10 AM. We end the show by asking listeners if they think playing sports can make you a better person.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners for their thoughts on newly released details about former President Donald Trump’s toilet habits, including that he clogged White House toilets by trying to flush documents. Judge Nancy Gertner discusses Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins’ comments about Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and the death penalty, and the ethics of the Supreme Court. Judge Gertner is a retired U.S. District Judge for the U.S. District Court here in Massachusetts. She’s currently a Senior Lecturer on Law at Harvard University. Callie Crossley talks about a bipartisan bill passed by Congress strengthening protections for victims of sexual misconduct, the Obama Portraits headed to the MFA and research showing homes on streets named after Confederate leaders are valued lower than homes on other streets. She’s currently a Senior Lecturer on Law at Harvard University. Matt Gilbert rounds up the best in television, including “Maid,” “A Teacher,” “Unorthodox,” “Normal People” and “Inventing Anna.” Gilbert is the TV critic for The Boston Globe. Rick Steves updates listeners on his latest travels, including romantic spots in Europe and why he loves Istanbul. Steves is an author, television and radio host and the owner of the Rick Steves’ Europe tour group. You can catch his television show, “Rick Steves’ Europe,” weeknights at 7:30 p.m. on GBH 2 and his radio show, “Travel With Rick Steves,” Sundays at 4 p.m. on GBH. Sue O’Connell weighs in on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ new “Don’t Say Gay” law banning teachers from discussing sexuality and queerness in schools and Dolly Parton paying tuition costs her employees. 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 plans for the Super Bowl.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We begin the show by asking listeners how they’re coping with the high levels of inflation. Paul Reville weighs in on Governor Charlie Baker’s decision yesterday to end mandatory masking in schools, and Superintendent Brenda Cassellius announcing her resignation. 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.” Andrea Cabral talks about new technology in detecting stoned drivers, and a new report from the state detailing the racial breakdown of traffic stops in Mass. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Andy Ihnatko discusses the Justice Department charging two people with laundering $4.5 billion in crypto currency, and the death of 3G networks and the potential problem that might bring for cars. Ihnatko is a tech writer and blogger, posting at Ihnatko.com. Shirley Leung updates listeners on the state’s attempts to get money back after overpaying unemployment money to residents, and employers offering paid leave after pregnancy loss. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. Jon Gruber breaks down the economics of the rose industry in advance of Valentine’s Day. Gruber was instrumental in creating both the Massachusetts health care reform and the Affordable Care Act, and his latest book is “Jump-Starting America: How Breakthrough Science Can Revive Economic Growth And The American Dream.” We end the show by asking listeners about when and how they cry, and if they find it cathartic.

Concern is growing over what the Boston Globe is calling a potential “spudpocalypse” threatening Massachusetts’ potato supply. Award-winning food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio on Wednesday to explain whether Massachusetts residents might see a drop in potato stock at their local grocery stores. The spuds most at-risk are grown on Prince Edward Island (PEI), where farmers ship between 250 million to 300 million pounds of potatoes to the U.S. annually. According to the Globe, “Massachusetts residents consume an average of 75 million pounds of PEI potatoes each year, second only to Puerto Rico.” Lately, potato crops on Prince Edward Island have been decimated by potato wart, a fungus that poses no threat to humans but produces spores and appendages on potatoes. “It's been very bad for the [Prince Edward Island] potato industry; not all that bad for the Massachusetts potato supply,” Kummer said. “We have to be worried about Prince Edward Island farmers and their access to markets. They're hoping that Puerto Rico is going to reopen the market soon.” While potatoes from the island popularly known as the home of Anne of Green Gables may be harder to find in Massachusetts, local farmers should be keeping grocery store shelves full. “Western Mass has potato farms,” Kummer said. “So it's an opening for local potato growers.” Kummer is the 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 Nutrition Science and Policy.