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: Have you taken vacation time yet this summer? We opened the lines to ask our listeners about their work-life balance. NBC Sports Boston anchor Trenni Kusnierek joined Jim and Margery to talk about David Ortiz's recovery. Former state secretary of education Paul Reville discussed his new book on improving schools for low-income communities. Boston Globe reporter Dan Adams gave us the latest updates on the state's cannabis industry. Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, discussed the latest immigration headlines. CNN's John King called in from Detroit to preview tonight's 2020 Democratic debate. We opened the lines again, this time to ask our listeners if they'll be watching the 2020 Democratic debates tonight and tomorrow.

Today on Boston Public Radio: Charlie Chieppo of Chieppo Strategies and Michael Curry of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, discussed Trump's racially charged tweets against Rep. Elijah Cummings, previewed Tuesday's presidential debates, and discussed the latest local political news. Bob Thompson discussed the completion of Orange is the New Black, Netflix's most popular show. We opened the phone lines to hear from listeners about the efficacy of political apologies. Bruce Marks, CEO of the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America, joined us to discuss how to make home ownership possible for low to moderate income families. Reverends Irene Monroe and Emmett G. Price III discussed President Donald Trump's outreach to black voters by embracing rapper A$AP Rocky. We heard from listeners again, this time about escapism in TV-watching habits. Inaugural poet Richard Blanco gave us a lesson in evocative writing.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened up the lines to hear from listeners about the unaffordably of housing in the Boston area. Callie Crossley joined to discuss the protests in Puerto Rico that forced Governor Rossello to resign. Vikki Spruill, the president of the New England Aquarium discussed the organization’s role in the fight against climate change. Emily Rooney joined us with her weekly list of fulminations and fixations. Tech writer Andy Ihnatko discussed a $5 billion fine levied by the FTC against Facebook. We spoke with Dr. Leah Zallman, who has been researching how Trump's immigration policies are impacting immigrant communities’ access to healthcare. Does Massachusetts’ craft beer industry have a diversity problem? Boston Globe business columnist Shirley Leung joined us to discuss her latest column. The Commonwealth Shakespeare Company cast of Cymbeline joined us for our weekly news quiz.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We heard from Congressman Joe Kennedy III on his thoughts about former special counsel Robert Mueller's testimony yesterday. We opened the lines to hear listeners' reactions from Mueller's testimony. Criminal justice analyst Andrea Cabral parsed through former Vice President and Democratic candidate for president Joe Biden's new criminal justice reform plan. Medical ethicist Art Caplan discussed the ousting of Planned Parenthood's president, Leana Wen, over "philosophical differences." Former Massachusetts Secretary of Education Paul Reville discussed Rhode Island's decision to take over Providence Public Schools. WGBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen shared his thoughts on Quentin Tarantino's new film "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood." We heard from listeners about their most daring feats.

Today on Boston Public Radio: We opened up the lines and hear listeners' thoughts on the licenses suspension scandal at the Registry of Motor Vehicles. On Monday, lawmakers abruptly recessed an oversight hearing on failures at the Registry of Motor Vehicles after the Baker administration witnesses the committee hoped to hear from did not show up. Attorney General Maura Healey joined us for another edition of Ask the AG. Legal analyst Michael Zeldin joined us for a preview of special counsel Robert Mueller's testimony tomorrow. We spoke with Atlantic Senior Editor Corby Kummer about a new program by the National Restaurant Association to train former inmates to work in restaurants. CNN's John King joined us to go over the latest headlines from the 2020 presidential race. We discussed an ESPN radio host's break from normal content to condemn President Trump's racist comments with NBC sports reporter Trenni Kusnierek.