Boston Public Radio

The legislature signaled approval for a Gov. Baker-backed proposal that makes it easier for municipalities to zone for multifamily housing, but Connolly says the bill lacks measures to protect vulnerable populations.

Slaughterhouses won't release the number of employees who are infected by COVID-19, Kummer says.

The president of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy spoke about the history of America's first “green” infrastructure project.

The former business executive, presidential candidate and co-chair of Black Voices For Trump died this week of COVID-19 complications.

People need to go beyond reading books about anti-racism, the BU professor says.

The NAACP national convention was supposed to be held in Boston this summer. With the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the events have gone virtual.

Trenni Casey discussed the upcoming Super BowlFormer Rep. Straus + Chris Dempsey on Mayor Wu vs. Josh Kraft's stance on transportation in BostonLee Pelton of the Boston Foundation discussed the national threats to nonprofits, DEIGBH's Adam Reilly spoke about Josh Kraft's mayoral run announcement CNN's John King discussed the latest in national politics.

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