Maine Calling

The situation in Augusta is tense as House Republicans and House Democrats fail to find common ground. We hope to have leaders from each side join us to discuss their differences and how the issues still to be decided might be resolved.

First there were cassettes, then CDs, then MP3s — each supposed to be the death of vinyl records. Yet they remain popular, and more and more bands are releasing their music on vinyl. Last year 14 percent of all albums sold were vinyl records — the 12th straight year of vinyl sales growth. We’ll hear from collectors and aficionados about why this “old” format continues to remain popular.

Relying on hundreds of exclusive interviews with family members and maritime experts, as well as the words of the crew members themselves — whose conversations were captured by the ship’s data recorder — journalist Rachel Slade unravels the mystery of the 2015 sinking of El Faro in her new book “Into The Raging Sea: Thirty-Three Mariners, One Megastorm And The Sinking Of El Faro.”

Ambassador and global conflict leader Rick Barton uses a mix of stories, history and analysis for a transformative approach to foreign affairs and offers concrete and attainable solutions for the future.

Spring is here — it’s time to get out the trowel and spade and get ready to plant. We’ll get expert advice on how best to make your garden grow.

Our panel discusses the news that made Maine headlines in April, from the latest on ranked-choice voting to the hunt for the killer of a sheriff’s deputy and the latest developments from the State House as the Legislature tries to wrap up the session.

The inaugural Abbe Museum Indian Market takes place in Bar Harbor May 18-20. The market will support Wabanaki artists and the local community. We’ll discuss the art of the Wabanaki, its effect on the local economy and learn about events taking place to celebrate the inaugural event.

We speak with Joshua Freeman, the author of " Behemoth — A History of the Factory and the Making of the Modern World ." Freeman describes how significant the role of factories have been in shaping our society. We’ll also hear about the role of factories in Maine’s history.

Surfing in Maine? Yes, people surf in Maine. We’ll learn about the best places to surf and where to start if you’ve never paddled out to catch a ride on a big wave.

What is the forecast for ticks and Lyme disease this year? Has the extended cold pushed their arrival later—or are they out there already? Are there other vector-borne diseases that are of particular concern?