Boston Public Radio

Two mass shootings in one week have gun control advocates wondering whether legislation will ever be enacted.

"We have the capacity to force a vote, and I think it’s time we do that," the Massachusetts senator said.

The governor acknowledged criticism from lawmakers but insisted the current mix of state and local efforts is most effective.

Students and advocates are calling on Harvard University to acknowledge its role in slavery and offer reparations.

Healey tells Boston Public Radio she supports legislation to update the state's existing hate crime laws.

If reparations to slavery were enacted before the pandemic, COVID-19 transmission and deaths could have been mitigated dramatically, according to Dr. Michelle Morse.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed a measles outbreak at Disney Land, and a California doctor accused of gross negligence over vaccine exemptions. Emily Rooney, host of WGBH News' Beat The Press, joined us for her famous list of fixations and fulminations. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh discussed plans to manage opioid addiction in Boston, took questions from callers, and announced news that Boston Public Libraries will no long charge late fees to kids under 18. Media maven Sue O’Connell discussed the supposed controversy over Chick-Fil-A’s plans to open a location in Boston. Tech writer Andy Ihnatko discussed Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s testimony to Congress, and Google's new Pixel 4 smartphone. Catherine Allgor and Peter Drummey of the Massachusetts Historical Society joined us for our weekly news quiz to promote an upcoming exhibit on the Boston Massacre.

Today on Boston Public Radio: MSNBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd discussed the latest headlines regarding the House impeachment inquiry. Boston Globe opinion columnist Shirley Leung discussed Tom Brady’s Netflix appearance, and a recent interview with the ex-wife of disgraced former Providence mayor Buddy Cianci. Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral discussed an increase of pretrial incarcerations in Massachusetts. Food writer Corby Kummer discussed a new California law legalizing the consumption of roadkill, and news that Amazon is delivering customers expired food. ** ** WGBH science editor Heather Goldstone discussed recent innovations to clean ocean waste, and the threats they pose to ecosystems floating on the ocean's surface. We opened the lines to callers to ask: why aren’t more Americans interested in protesting Trump? Journalist and author Ronan Farrow joined to discuss his new book, “Catch and Kill."

The Wildlife Traffic Safety Act, also known as the 'roadkill bill,' was signed into law in California this month. Part of the bill allows people to collect the meat of animals that they have accidentally killed from vehicle collision. Food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio *on Thursday to speak about the bill. "It all sounds like it's a very good idea not to waste this meat if you tragically kill this animal," Kummer said. "But it's not so good if you can't certify food safety, it's really eat at your own risk." *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: We opened the lines and asked callers: following diplomat Bill Taylor’s testimony on Tuesday, what are your thoughts on the road ahead for President Trump? National security expert Juliette Kayyem discussed the House impeachment inquiry, and the continuing fallout from President Trump’s decision to pull troops from northeastern Syria. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker stopped by for our monthly "Ask the Governor" series to discuss Massachusetts’ vaping ban, a new healthcare bill, and answer questions from listeners. WGBH Arts Editor Jared Bowen reviewed "Spongebob Squarepants the Musical,” as well as a new exhibit at the Mystic Seaport Museum displaying the watercolor works of painter J.M.W. Turner.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened the lines to callers to ask: should Boston push forward with its proposal to ban face masks in public demonstrations? NBC Sports Boston anchor Trenni Kusnierek discussed controversy surrounding Tom Brady’s cameo in Netflix’s “Living With Yourself.” Former Secretary of Transportation James Aloisi and Chris Dempsey, Director of Transportation for Massachusetts, joined Boston Public Radio for their monthly transportation round-up. Harvard Business School historian Nancy Koehn and CNN Senior Political Analyst David Gergen talked about Alexander Hamilton’s intentions when pushing for impeachment powers, and how he might’ve perceived the current headlines around the House impeachment inquiry. Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam discussed a 1964 American Museum of Natural History jewel heist in light of the museum’s 150th anniversary. CNN’s John King broke down the latest political headlines.