Boston Public Radio

Former education secretary says state education officials need to make determinations about learning requirements as school shifts online.

In response to the outbreak, MassInc conducted a tracking poll, sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, to gauge public sentiment about COVID-19 within Massachusetts.

Self-isolation is one of the most effective ways of preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

Even if the nation did open its economy back up sooner rather than later, it won't be business as usual.

The economic journalist was dismissive of President Trump’s proposal to re-open the economy in April.

The president of Pine Street Inn discusses how homeless people are being impacted by the novel coronavirus

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the show by talking with listeners about new legislation, unveiled Friday by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, that would establish a Congressional panel with the authority to decide when a president is unfit to lead. Beat the Press host Emily Rooney weighed in on the failed attempt by militiamen to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. She also talked about the challenges with celebrating Halloween during the coronavirus pandemic, and gave Jim and Margery a debate-themed pop quiz. Food writer Corby Kummer discussed the latest news around how the restaurant industry is struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic, and why the federal government isn’t doing more to help. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh weighed in on the stalled reopening of Boston Public Schools, discussed how he’s preparing for the looming eviction moratorium, and responded to questions from listeners as part of our monthly “Ask the Mayor” series. Under the Radar host Callie Crossley offered her take on Tuesday’s vice-presidential debate and the vitriol brought against Sen. Kamala Harris from critics on the right. She also touched on the surprisingly close Senate race in South Carolina, and previewed this week’s edition of Under the Radar. Closing out the show, we opened lines to talk with listeners about that fly that landed on Vice President Mike Pence’s head at Tuesday night’s debate.

Food writer Corby Kummer spoke to Boston Public Radio on Friday about transitioning to indoor dining at restaurants, as the colder winter months emerge. Diners should be ‘moderately nervous,’ when it comes to indoor dining, Kummer said. “We should be paying a lot of attention to what the restaurants are doing. So ventilation is a really big deal, and fresh air is the key.” Kummer is a senior editor at The Atlantic, an award-winning food writer, and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition and Policy.

Today on Boston Public Radio: NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd offered his post-debate debrief, following Wednesday night’s vice-presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Mike Pence. He also touched on other headlines around the November election, including President Trump’s threat that he'll opt out of a forthcoming virtual town hall debate. We opened lines to talk with you about your impressions of Wednesday night’s vice-presidential debate. Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral talked about the West Roxbury resident who was stopped by ICE officers while out jogging, and a recent decision by the Department of Justice to sidestep policy keeping prosecutors from taking steps that could interfere with elections. Republican Congressional candidate John Paul Moran discussed his views on climate change, LGBT rights, political partisanship, and more, in a conversation about his campaign for Mass.’ 6th Congressional District. We opened lines to talk about President Trump’s decision, announced Thursday, to opt out of a virtual presidential debate against Democratic challenger Joe Biden. Mass. AG Maura Healey offered her impressions on Wednesday night's vice-presidential debate, discussed the ways he office is addressing the threat of voter suppression in the November election, and responded to listener questions and comments as part of our monthly “Ask the AG” series.

MIT economist Jonthan Gruber discussed the stalled negotiations in Congress over further coronavirus relief spending, and how large-scale tax evasion among the nation’s richest dwarfs the budget shortfalls that are keeping everyday Americans from receiving additional financial aid. We opened lines to ask listeners: how is the federal government’s inability to pass another stimulus packaging affecting you? Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed new FDA rules that make an election-ready COVID-19 vaccine highly unlikely, and ethical concerns with the handling of coronavirus infections within President Trump’s administration. Boston Globe editor-in-chief Brian McGrory talked about his experience running the Boston Globe from what his colleagues describe as “the dreariest looking room in America,” why he expects the current whirlwind news cycle will only going to get crazier in the final months of 2020, and his thoughts on the Baker administration's limited transparency throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Former Mass. Education Secretary Paul Reville discussed criticisms surrounding Notre Dame President John Jenkins, who skirted social distancing guidelines and contracted COVID-19, as well as the stalled reopening at Boston Public Schools. Milk Street TV host Chris Kimball discussed his latest cookbook, “Cookish: Throw it Together,” along with the forthcoming season of Milk Street TV, and his favorite recipe from legendary TV cook Julia Child. Restauranteur Joanne Chang updated listeners on how her restaurants are doing, spoke on the opening of a new Flour Bakery in Beacon Hill, and talked about how she's planning to adapt operations through fall and winter of the coronavirus the pandemic.

Boston Public Schools put a pause to reopening plans on Wednesday, citing the city’s COVID-19 positive test rate climbing over 4%. Paul Reville, former Massachusetts education secretary, spoke with Boston Public Radio about the difficult situation. “I certainly sympathize with what Boston is doing - I mean it’s hit a certain point and is trying to be cautious at same time as there’s tremendous tension to want to provide in-person schooling especially to the neediest and youngest students,” he said. “They’re trying to bend over backwards to do that, and they’re being cautious, and you certainly can’t fault them for that.” Reville is a professor at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, where he also runs the Education Redesign Lab. His latest book, co-authored with Elaine Weiss, is "Broader, Bolder, Better: How Schools and Communities Help Students Overcome the Disadvantages of Poverty."