Boston Public Radio

Harvard Alpaca Ranch boasts certified therapy alpacas like Sir Erik, who brings calm and smiles to nursing homes, libraries and even radio studios.

The state auditor is starting a ballot initiative to let voters decide whether the office has the power to audit the Legislature.

Actors are left without work opportunities, as they demand better pay and AI regulation.

The Massachusetts senator supports expanding the number of justices.

Comedian Jay Leno discussed his oddly fond memories of Massachusetts.

Massachusetts' first Black governor says it's necessary for Democrats to play "the long game."

Today:Actor Ethan Hawke zooms into BPR ahead of an event at the Coolidge Corner Theater this week. His latest film is "Blue Moon."

CNN chief national correspondent John King with the latest national political headlinesConductor Keith Lockhart discusses the Boston Holiday Pops 2025 season, which kicks off this weekActor Ethan Hawke zooms in ahead of his event tomorrow with Jared at the CoolidgeLee Pelton of the Boston Foundation discusses the organization's One+ mortgage program, and housing affordability more broadly

Massachusetts is considering new regulations for elderly home care. We talk with Mass League of Community Health Center’s Michael Curry about that, and the latest on rising health insurance costs as Affordable Care Act subsidies sunset. Tufts food policy analyst Corby Kummer breaks down the rising costs of pantry staples bananas and even… pasta. Plus, he’ll tell us why Bostonians pay some of the highest prices in the country for their daily caffeine fix. Boston Medical Center’s Dr. Katherine Gergen Barnett discusses her argument for stable housing and why it's vital for keeping people healthy. And, she explains what the latest CDC vaccine changes mean for people in Massachusetts. Plus, we remember English playwright and screenwriter Tom Stoppard and revisit our 2019 interview with him at Tanglewood. The Trump administration is imposing new restrictions on all refugees from Afghanistan after an Afghan national was charged in the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington DC last week. We check in with Fariba, an Afghan refugee with U.S. citizenship, about what that means for her community. And we talk with Xan Weber of the International Institute of New England about the impact on refugee communities.

Today: After an Afghan national was charged in the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington DC last week, the Trump administration is imposing new restrictions on all refugees from Afghanistan. We check in with Fariba, an Afghan refugee with US citizenship, about what that means for her community. And, we talk with Alexandra Weber of the International Institute of New England about the impact on refugee communities.

Today:Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon of the War on Cars podcast join to discuss their new book "Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile"