In Common

On this episode of In Common: 

• With nearly 1,400 miles of coastline in Massachusetts, only 12% of beaches are for public use. That's what GBH News investigative journalist Chris Burrell found out in his series called ‘Barriers at the Beach.' He joins In Common to explain why that is and give us an update on what's changed since then.
• The Berkshire Mushroom Festival returns to Sheffield, Ma. In Common’s Jeremy Siegel talks with mushroom connoisseur Chris Kilham and festival organizer Daniel Shakin to learn more about the magic behind mushrooms and what's in store at this year's event.
• The Curiosity Desk's Edgar B. Herwick III speaks with GBH's creative designer Matt Welch and Ruth Wallace Herndon, professor emerita at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, on how their own genealogical research is connected.
• Horseshoe crabs are one of the world's most misunderstood species, even though they’ve been around for millions of years. Now, there's a bill on Beacon Hill pushing to make them the official invertebrate of Massachusetts. CAI's Amy Kolbe Noyes tells us more.
• In many urban areas in Massachusetts, tall trees can be a rare sight. GBH's Sam Turken finds out why there's been a scarcity of trees in some neighborhoods and the push to create more urban canopy in Worcester.
• Bridgewater's Little League baseball team is playing in the Little League World Series for the first time ever. We hear how they’re doing ahead of their next game.