The Baltimore Banner recently did a deep, investigative dive into the challenges Baltimore City students face with transportation to get to school. My conversation is with Liz Bowie, veteran education reporter and Greg Morton who created a database to track public transit buses literally every five seconds of the day. Their work is a great example of using data to reveal issues that need to be addressed.

Medicaid and SNAP provide a lifeline to millions of Americans. Who steps in if Trump and the GOP make cuts to the programs? My conversation is with Robin McKinney, co-founder and CEO of CASH Campaign of Maryland. Her organization may also have to scramble for funding.

The supply of affordable housing remains critically short of demand. And now federal cutbacks in funding and staff throw up new hurdles. My conversation is with Tom Coale, lawyer, lobbyist and advocate for affordable housing.

Maryland faces a budget deficit plus the potential loss of federal funding and cuts to the federal workforce. My conversation is with Eric Luedtke, Senior Policy Advisor to Gov. Wes Moore. We talk about the tax proposals, how the state' economy can absorb the loss of federal jobs, and Medicaid--is it untouchable.

Conversation about how to avoid unscrupulous tax preparers, the impact of reductions to the IRS workforce, and the future of Direct File.

With John Hardt, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service

Recent progress in behavioral health and the opioid crisis face pressure from state budget issues and loss of federal funding. My conversation is with Adrienne Breidenstine and Dan Rabbit from Behavioral Health System Baltimore.

Conversation with Brandon Butler and Kirk Murray from the Maryland Workforce Association about the work going on in schools to better prepare students for the workforce. It is a pillar of the Blueprint for education in Maryland which is under scrutiny due to cost.

Maryland legislators are considering reducing the number of crimes that require youth to be charged as adults. There are 33 such crimes and Maryland's rate of automatic charging is among the highest in the nation. Advocates for youth say it is expensive and ineffective.

More info:

https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/model-programs-guide/literature-reviews/youth-in-the-adult-criminal-justice-system

The Maryland legislature is considering several bills that address energy costs and the transition away from fossil fuels. It's not without a fight. My conversation is with Brittany Baker, Maryland director of Chesapeake Climate Action Network.

The Maryland Supreme Court recently upheld the constitutionality of the Child Victims Act which lifts the time limit on lawsuits filed by victims of child sex abuse.

I talk about what happens now with attorneys Jonathan Schochor and Andrew Janet who represent people who have sued the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the Archdiocese of Washington.