Midday

The actress Rachel Hilson grew up in Baltimore, and graduated from the Baltimore School for the Arts.

She played many roles on television and in movies, including shows like This is Us and The Good Wife, and Hulu’s Love, Victor.  Her film credits include Red, White and Royal Blue and an upcoming film with Will Ferrell, Judgement Day. 

Rachel Hilson joins Midday to talk about her latest project, Duster, which is currently streaming on HBO Max. Hilson plays an FBI agent who is tracking down a crime kingpin in the early 1970s.

Dr. John Chessare is set to retire after 15 years as the President and CEO of GBMC Healthcare, a nonprofit in-patient and out-patient care provider that employs more than 2,000 nurses and physicians on its Towson campus, and in several other locations across our region.

Chessare joins Midday to discuss the latest health trends, including rising incidences of cancer, and how to address chronic illness in a clinical setting.

Plus, a critique of the state's reimbursement model to hospitals, and the strengths and weaknesses of that approach. And how could possible cuts to Medicaid and other federal welfare programs impact Maryland healthcare and health outcomes?

A pediatrician by training, Chessare held senior positions at healthcare organizations in Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio before taking the reins of GBMC in 2010.

Yesterday, a Baltimore City judge ruled that a multi-million-dollar award in the opioid settlement trial must be significantly reduced, or the city can seek a retrial for damages.

Mayor Brandon Scott acknowledged the much-awaited verdict was "disappointing" and said the city is "evaluating the decision" and exploring all options moving forward.

WYPR Health Reporter Scott Maucione joins the show to give more details on the verdict.

This week, hundreds of residents, advocates, and community members held a rally and marched in Highlandtown in support of Baltimore's immigrant community. The march, organized by the immigrant advocacy group CASA, was planned in response to reports of increased immigration enforcement.

WYPR Reporter Emily Hofstaedter joins the show to share her reporting from the protest and rally.

Midday theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck joins Midday to review the region's current theater productions.

This week, a look at “The Mystery of Irma Vep” at Everyman Theatre through June 22.

Mayor Brandon Scott and a few city council members have proposed a package of bills that would change zoning and parking regulations to allow for the development of multi-family housing.

Councilman Ryan Dorsey, a proponent of the measures, says despite a decline in Baltimore’s population, there is a demand for housing, and that making it more plentiful would “increase Baltimore’s population by a minimum of 5,000 households every year.

Jody Landers disagrees. The former member of the Baltimore City Council joins Midday to discuss why he and others oppose the bills that the council is considering.

Landers is a former Executive Director of Harbel, a community organization based in Northeast Baltimore, and a former executive vice-president of the Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors.

In Baltimore, a few words are most recognized with baseball: Orioles, Camden Yards and Cal Ripken.

But, on the campus of Johns Hopkins University, Bob Babb’s name is synonymous with baseball. In the 2025 season, he finished a winning trip to the Centennial Conference baseball finals with the Blue Jays and a trip to the Division III championship. The results reflect a successful season and a great way to end Babb's 46-year coaching career with the university.

Coach Bob Babb joins Midday now to reflect on his career in baseball at Hopkins.

Maryland’s economy is facing unprecedented challenges. The state faces a budget deficit of over $3 billion, compounded by significant cuts and widespread layoffs from the federal government.

Meanwhile, two of the country’s major credit reporting organizations differ on Maryland’s economic health. Moody’s downgraded the state’s bond rating.

And as we head into hurricane and storm season, is the state accounting for the financial impact of climate change, such as infrastructure damage, threats to human health, and workforce disruption?

State Comptroller Brooke Lierman joins Midday to discuss these topics and more.

A years-long effort to improve accountability and transparency with the BPD began in 2017, when a consent decree with the Baltimore Police Department and the Department of Justice mandated the BPD significant improvements in transparency and procedure.

8 years later, a federal judge recently released Baltimore police from two sections of the consent decree, a sign changes were introduced. But some community organizers and police reformers caution that work still needs to be done.

Meanwhile, in a significant development for advocates of police reform, Baltimore City voters enshrined new control over its police department to the city council.

To discuss local control, the consent decree and what it means for Baltimore City Police, Midday is joined by Ray Kelly, Executive director of the Citizens Policing Project. Kelly also sits on the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission and the Baltimore City Administrative Charging Committee.