Boston Public Radio

The South Coast Commuter Rail plans to start service on March 24, with passengers riding free on the weekends until the end of April.

The state couldn't raise the requisite funds elsewhere, the governor tells GBH News.

Bike and bus lanes have become a flashpoint in Boston’s 2025 mayoral election.

U.S. Reps. Ayanna Pressley and Stephen Lynch shared how they're pushing back.

Probationary employees fired from the National Weather Service and Veterans Affairs share their stories.

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton said remarks by President Trump and Vice President Vance threaten national security.

President Trump announced tariffs against Mexico and Canada. We check in with MIT economist Jon Gruber on the potential impacts. Boston Medical Center has collaborated with churches in Roxbury and Milton to pilot a Black wellness group called Reconnect. Program leaders Nuha Alshabani, Devin Cromartie Brodrick and Sarah Valentine join us to discuss.The GroundTruth's Charlie Sennott discusses the global reaction to Trump's orders on immigration, tariffs, international aid and more. Food policy analyst Corby Kummer discusses the expected changes to food policy in Trump's administration and how TikTok has changed the way we cook.Princeton University's Khalil Gibran Muhammad discusses the impact of Trump's executive orders on higher education & DEI, plus some of Harvard's recent actions in response to the war in Gaza.We end the show with all things Groundhog Day and help Margery answer the question, is a groundhog a beaver?

Today:Trump is doubling down on his isolationist promises, cutting global aid and ending decades of support for developing nations… while simultaneously going after Greenland and the Panama Canal. We get a global news roundup with the GroundTruth Project’s Charlie Sennott. And, we hear from the team behind the Reconnect Program at Boston Medical Center, they’re studying the health impacts – both mental and physical – of racism, sexism, and LGBT discrimination.

Zishi Liu is a Chinese-born saxophone player inspired by Western greats like John Coltrane and Kenny G. He’s performing a unique Chinese-infused jazz with his band on Saturday at the Charles Hotel Regattabar. He joins us first for Live Music Friday.Ian Coss is host and producer of the GBH podcast The Big Dig. He’s back with another podcast series about the wildly successful Mass. Lottery called "Scratch and Win." He joins alongside Dawn Hayes, longtime lottery presenter for WBZ.Boston Medical Center's Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett talks bird flu, a new framework for defining obesity and RFK Jr.'s confirmation hearing. The NAACP's Michael Curry talks about what the federal funding freeze means for local health centers, Trump blaming “DEI” for Wednesday’s deadly plane crash, and a new study showing Black men are being hit disproportionally hard by the opioid crisis.

The mob once controlled America's gambling empire. Until the government saw the money flowing and decided: they wanted a piece of the action. What happened next was more than a turf war. It was a battle between street corner bookies and bureaucrats in suits. And at the center of it all: one state lottery that would change gambling forever by inventing something we all know: the scratch ticket. Introducing “Scratch & Win” – the true story of how the government got into the gambling business. The new 8-part series is made by the Peabody Award-winning team behind “The Big Dig” and produced by GBH News.This is Part 1: The Instant Ticket. It’s 1974, illegal bookies are everywhere and the brand new state lottery is struggling to compete. But a simple piece of paper is about to change the game forever: the nation’s first scratch ticket. New episodes drop every Wednesday. ---------------------------Credits:Host and scriptwriter: Ian CossExecutive Producer: Devin Maverick RobinsProducers: Isabel Hibbard and Ian CossStory Editor: Lacy RobertsEditorial Advisor: Jen McKimFact Checkers: Ryan Alderman and Isabel HibbardScoring and Music Supervision: Ian CossGraphic Design: Bill MillerProject Manager: Meiqian He

Today:U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley has strong words for RFK Jr., the Republicans supporting him, and Trump himself -- who just this morning blamed diversity and equity initiatives for a tragic plane crash that killed more than 60 people in D.C. last night.And, NOVA filmmaker Terri Randall joins us with former Naval pilot Ryan Graves -- the first active duty pilot to come forward about frequent UFO sightings -- to discuss NOVA's latest film, "What Are UFOs?"