Boston Public Radio

Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, said the Boston Police Department needs sustained internal pressure, along with increased funding, to become the force that the city deserves.

Ken Gloss, proprietor of Boston's Brattle Book Shop, said he wasn't sure what became of the woman who would eat pages out of the Douay-Rheims translation of the Bible.

New video affidavits from White's daughter and sister-in-law allege White's wife was the aggressor in alleged domestic violence.

A fungus that affects 10 percent of the cicada brood causes the insects to lose their genitals and become hypersexual.

The attorney general also said embattled Boston Police Commissioner Dennis White "should not have been put into this position."

The Revs. Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III speak about Floyd's legacy and whether the country has changed.

Today on Boston Public Radio: MSNBC “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd discussed the passing of Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings, as well as the latest headlines regarding President Donald Trump’s conduct. We opened lines to callers to hear your thoughts on the House impeachment inquiry. Legal analyst Michael Zeldin discussed the road ahead for impeachment proponents. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed a set of new guidelines urging doctors not to take patients off opioids too abruptly. Paul Reville, former Massachusetts Secretary of Education, discussed the ongoing debate over funding in an education bill currently before the Massachusetts Legislature. Artisan baker Daniel Leader stopped by the *BPR *studios to discuss his latest cookbook, “Living Bread.”

Today, on Boston Public Radio: We opened lines to callers to hear your thoughts on Tuesday night’s Democratic presidential debate. Boston Globe columnist Alex Beam discussed the passing of Alexi Leonov, the first man to walk in space. National security expert Juliette Kayyem discussed the repercussions of Trump’s decision to pull troops from Northeast Syria, along with the latest on the House impeachment inquiry. Former Suffolk County Sheriff and Secretary of Public Safety Andrea Cabral stopped by to talk about an appeal by attorneys representing Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Author and naturalist Sy Montgomery discussed a recent study indicating that dog ownership may lead to a longer life, along well as a “karaoke parlor” phenomenon among Humpback whales. WGBH Arts Editor Jared Bowen reviewed “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead,” now showing at the Huntington Theater. He also discussed A24’s upcoming film “The Lighthouse,” and a documentary on the Cocoanut Cove fire called “Six Locked Doors."

Today on Boston Public Radio: John Rosenthal, co-founder of Newton based nonprofit Stop Handgun Violence, discussed the gun safety organization’s 25th anniversary. NBC Sports Boston reporter Trenni Kusnierek discussed a recent PSA likening youth tackle football to smoking cigarettes. She also discussed Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge’s record-breaking marathon run. Pediatrician Dr. Jon Winickoff spoke with listeners about the risks of vaping, in light of a Tuesday hearing on Massachusetts’ temporary vaping ban. Food writer Corby Kummer discussed the temporary closure of 111 year old New York deli Barney Greengrass, along with a controversial video revealing how Panera Bread prepares its Mac and Cheese. Boston Globe travel writer Christopher Muther spoke about Logan airport’s low rating in a recent airport satisfaction survey, as well as a new bus service offering travel from Boston to New York for five dollars. CNN chief national correspondent John King previewed Tuesday night’s Democratic presidential debate. We opened the lines to callers to ask: what are you expecting out of Tuesday night’s debate?

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill on Saturday that assures all California public school students a state-funded meal regardless of whether they have unpaid meal fees or not. "It's preventing lunch shaming," Kummer said. One student helped raise awareness about the problem of lunch shaming before the bill was signed, Kummer noted. "A nine year old boy in Napa County saved up all his money and used it to pay off his 3rd grade classes lunch debt," he said. Bills like this need to become national policy, Kummer added. "The appropriate solution is universal free lunch in public school systems," he said.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Charlie Chieppo and Michael Curry joined us for our political round-table to speak about the latest in national and local politics. Charlie Chieppo is principal of Chieppo Strategies, Senior Fellow at the Pioneer Institute and Adjunct Professor at Suffolk University. Curry is senior vice president and general counsel at Mass League of Community Health Centers, and a member of the National NAACP Board of Directors. Television expert Bob Thompson reviewed the latest in TV and movies, including the upcoming Netflix show 'Living with Yourself,' featuring Paul Rudd. Boston Globe columnist Nestor Ramos spoke about his reporting on climate change is hitting Cape Cod. We opened the lines to talk with our listeners about the Kurdish-Turkish conflict. Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, called in to give the latest developments with Trump's immigration policies. Poet Richard Blanco spoke about the creative process and inspiration behind writing poetry. We opened the lines again, this time to ask our listeners what they thought about Ellen Degeneres' selfie with George W. Bush.