Boston Public Radio

Will Boston become a victim of COVID-19?

42 year-old Dave Ayres was named an honorary North Carolinian on Tuesday.

For former Vice President Joe Biden a win in this Saturday’s South Carolina Democratic primary is crucial to proving his viability as a candidate, according to CNN’s Chief National Correspondent.

Boston Latin currently has 8% of Black students in its enrollment, compared to Boston's public schools at 30%.

On Saturday, the United States and the Taliban officially began a seven-day reduction of violence as the precursor to beginning peace talks between the two.

Hassan Minhaj and Kenan Thompson booked to take center-stage at this year’s dinner.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Acting Mayor Kim Janey discusses the investigation into Boston Police Commissioner Dennis White, and Northeastern University’s plans to build a 25-story dorm and classroom space in Roxbury. She also answers listeners’ questions during “Ask the Acting Mayor.” David Leonard speaks about the reopening of the Boston Public Library, and explained how their operations changed throughout the pandemic. He also shares which genres library patrons gravitated to during quarantine. Leonard is president of the Boston Public Library. Trenni Kusnierek discusses Naomi Osaka’s decision to withdraw from the French Open following her comments on post-match press conferences, and the arrest of a Boston Celtics fan for allegedly throwing a water bottle at Kyrie Irving. She also shares her thoughts on calls to cancel the Tokyo Olympics. Kusnierek is a reporter and anchor for NBC Sports Boston, and a weekly Boston Public Radio contributor. Ken Gloss talks about how The Brattle Book Shop adapted during the pandemic, from offering curatorial services to continuing house calls for rare and antiquarian books. Gloss is the proprietor of The Brattle Book Shop, one of America's oldest book stores. He also appraises books. John King discusses Texas Democrats’ responses to GOP legislation that would restrict voting rights in the state. He also updates us on the status of President Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill. 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 talking with listeners about Massachusetts dropping COVID restrictions over Memorial Day weekend.

We're on tape today, replaying some of our favorite conversations, which includes: Ron Chernow joins Jim and Margery to talk about his biography, GRANT Harvard Business School's Michael Norton discusses his latest research, which looks at what is more valuable to people, saving money of saving time Author Karl Ove Knaussgard discusses his book, Autumn Patti Smith discusses why she considers herself a writer above all of the other talents. It’s the subject of her memoir, Devotion (Why I Write) Salman Rushdie discusses his novel, The Golden House Sy Montgomery and Elizabeth Marshall Thomas discuss their book, Tamed and Untamed: Close Encounters of the Animal Kind

We’re on tape today, replaying some of our favorite conversations, which include: James Beard award winning pastry chef Joanne Chang discussing her book, Pastry Love: A Baker’s Journal of Favorite Recipes. Former commercial fisherman Bren Smith discussing his book, Eat Like a Fish: My Adventures Farming the Ocean to Fight Climate Change. Jacques Pepin and his granddaughter Shorey Wesen discussing their latest collaboration, the cookbook A Grandfather’s Lessons: In the Kitchen with Shorey. Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the National Farmworkers Association, discussing why her work remains as relevant today as it did in the 1960s. Chris Kimball, founder of Milk Street, discussing his latest cookbook Tuesday Nights Mediterranean: 125 Simple Weeknight Recipes from the World's Healthiest Cuisine. Andrew Li and Irene Li discuss their latest cookbook, which they wrote with their sister Margaret Li, Double Awesome Chinese Food: Irresistible and Totally Achievable Recipes from Our Chinese-American Kitchen.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Chuck Todd speaks about the San Jose Valley Transit Authority (VTA) rail yard shooting, and weighs in on what it would take for Congress to pass meaningful gun reform legislation. Todd is the moderator of “Meet The Press” on NBC, host of “Meet The Press Daily” on MSNBC and the political director for NBC News. Next, we talk with listeners about Massachusetts reopening for Memorial Day weekend. Andrea Cabral discusses New York prosecutors convening a grand jury to decide whether to indict former President Donald Trump and Trump Organization executives under a criminal investigation into the business. She also updates us on Boston Police Commissioner Dennis White’s ongoing legal battle. Cabral is the former Suffolk County sheriff and Massachusetts secretary of public safety. She’s currently the CEO of the cannabis company Ascend. Paul Reville talks about Boston Public Schools ending a partnership with a nonprofit due to alleged “cult-like” counseling sessions with students, and shared his thoughts on the future of hybrid learning. He also discusses research into whether children benefit from repeating a grade. 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.” Then, we open the phone lines, asking listeners if they want their kids to repeat this school year in order to be more prepared for the next grade. Shirley Leung talks about corporate America’s pledge to racial equity after the murder of George Floyd, and shares her thoughts on whether corporations have made good on their promises a year later. Leung is a business columnist for the Boston Globe. Rick Steves speaks about his travels in Israel and Palestine, and shares his thoughts on Europe reopening for travel. 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.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We start the show by asking listeners whether schools should have police officers on campus. Art Caplan shares his thoughts on the CDC’s decision to not investigate breakthrough COVID-19 cases among vaccinated people, and the rollback of mask mandates across the country. Caplan is director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the New York University School of Medicine. Juliette Kayyem discusses scientists’ increasing interest in the lab-leak origin theory of COVID-19. She also explains how Republicans who sought to overturn the 2020 election are now seeking roles as election officials. 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. Chris Dempsey and Jim Aloisi talks about the MBTA’s return to pre-pandemic service levels, and safety issues with new Orange Line cars. They also share their thoughts on how Boston’s next mayor could improve public transit and urban design. Dempsey is the director of the nonprofit Transportation for Massachusetts, and the former assistant secretary of transportation of Massachusetts. Aloisi is the former Massachusetts transportation secretary, a member of the Transit Matters board, and contributor to Commonwealth Magazine. Brian McGrory discusses the Spotlight team’s investigation into the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. He also talks about corporate buyouts of local newspapers, and the Boston Globe’s Fresh Start Initiative. McGrory is the editor-in-chief of The Boston Globe. Sy Montgomery updates us on a fungal pathogen infecting this year’s cicada Brood X, and speaks about a 600 mile cross-country drive to save a pigeon. Montgomery is a journalist, naturalist and a BPR contributor. Her latest book is "The Hummingbirds’ Gift: Wonder, Beauty, and Renewal on Wings." We wrap up the show by asking listeners if they would travel hundreds of miles to save the life of an animal.