On The Record

COVID-19 is no longer a pandemic - the CDC considers it an endemic disease - but COVID is still dangerous, and the disease keeps on changing and spreading.

So, how can we best prepare ourselves? For answers, we’re joined by virologist Dr. Andy Pekosz of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Yesterday, the Baltimore City Health Department announced it will hold vaccination clinics with the updated COVID-19 vaccine at no cost to the uninsured.

Links:
When Should I Get My COVID/Flu Shot? And Other Queries To Kick off Respiratory Virus Season

Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here’s a Stoop Story from Jen Diamond about emerging from the pandemic.

Listen to more from Stoop Storytelling Series. Check out the podcast and schedule of upcoming events.

Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

The Baltimore Social-Environmental Collaborative (BSEC) brings together scientists, researchers and neighbors to take a deep dive into the ecological health of the city. For years they’ve collected data measuring the health of the air, soil, plants and trees across many neighborhoods -- all in hopes to make equitable environmental decisions to combat the effects of climate change.

To find out how it's going we talk with Ben Zaitchik, chair and professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Johns Hopkins University and BSEC lead scientist and with Kelly Cross, president of the Old Goucher Community Association and chair of BSEC’s Equitable Pathways Steering Committee.

Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

New research from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science suggests that songbirds of different feathers flock together during their migrations… and there’s a lot to learn about these multi-species relationships.

For insight, we’re joined by migratory ecologist Joely Desimone, an assistant research scientist at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Appalachian Laboratory.

Link:
Migratory bird species found to be socially oriented | University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science

Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here’s a Stoop Story from Kelly Harris about a memorable trip to Greece.

On September 21st and 22nd, the Stoop Storytelling Series will share tales on the theme, “Keepers of Culture: Stories about people who inspire and enlighten,” at the Maryland Folk Festival. 

And on September 27th, the Green Room in Baltimore will host an evening dedicated to the theme: “Neighbors: Stories of Friends, Foes, and the Fences In Between.”

Check out the Stoop podcast.

Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Juvenile crime overall has declined. But to change the course of the young people caught up in gun violence -- either as victims or perpetrators -- Thrive Academy surrounds them with support -- life coaches who help them figure things out. We talk with Pastor Ebony Harvin and Bilal Rahman, two life coaches for Thrive, and with Secretary Vincent Schiraldi, the head of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services. 

Links: Thrive Academy, We Our Us, Thrive Academy Life Coach application. 

Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Three times as many people are dying from opioids as a decade ago. Baltimore City sued on behalf of those lives lost, and to combat overdose deaths in the future: The city has won more than $242 million dollars in restitution so far.

We ask Interim Deputy Mayor J.D. Merrill, and Sara Whaley, Program Director of the Bloomberg Overdose Prevention Initiative at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, how it will be spent.

Links: Baltimore City Opioid Restitution Fund, Overview of Mayor Brandon Scott's executive order, Restitution Advisory Board Application, Comments or Questions, 988 substance abuse help.

Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Here's a Stoop Story from Michael Furr about bottoming out -- and living to tell about it.

If you, or someone you know needs help with substance abuse, you can call the 9-8-8 lifeline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or go to this link.

Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Administering elections has always been important. The stakes are high to get it right. For decades, the high stakes mostly weren’t linked to high tension. But these days, as so many Americans insist the 2020 presidential election was stolen, election workers in some battleground states face threats and harassment. 

We speak with Jared DeMarinis, Maryland state administrator of elections, about election security and combatting mis- and disinformation.

The deadline to register to vote online or by mail is about six weeks away: Oct. 15. Early voting is set for the last week in October, Oct. 24 through 31. Election day is Nov. 5.

Links:
Rules and Information for Voters
Reporting Dis/Misinformation
Election Judges Form

Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472

Behind the Silent Generation, the Baby Boomers, Gen X, and the Millenials are the Zoomers: the 70 million Americans who make up Generation Z.

This group includes the country's youngest voters. A new book, titled, “The Politics of Gen Z: How the Youngest Voters Will Shape Our Democracy,” takes a close look at their political motivations and ambitions. 

Author Melissa Deckman is the chief executive officer of PRRI, the Public Religion Research Institute.

Do you have a question or comment about a show or a story idea to pitch? Contact On the Record at: Senior Supervising Producer, Maureen Harvie she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1903 Senior Producer, Melissa Gerr she/her/hers [email protected] 410-235-1157 Producer Sam Bermas-Dawes he/him/his [email protected] 410-235-1472