R. Eric Thomas writes wry, perceptive essays about things that seem more amusing in his life than they do in yours. He grew up in West Baltimore -- but moving back after more than a decade away triggered stress and latent depression -- as well as some very funny episodes. We speak about his new book, "Congratulations, the Best is Over!"

Asking Eric, a new syndicated advice column, is now in papers nationwide. You can send questions to [email protected]

Mary Rose Madden tells a stoop story about how her mother passed on a love of cooking… and guidance on how to be a mom. You can hear more stories and find information about live events and the Stoop podcast at StoopStorytelling.com.

Did you know there's a natural savanna, located just a 20 minute drive northwest of Baltimore? Also called a barrens, the rare ecosystem at Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area is home to more than 30 rare plant and animal species - birds, bugs, reptiles, and more! We get a tour from Edwin Guevara, Outreach and Education Assistant for the Wildlife and Heritage Service at the Maryland DNR. He occasionally leads tours of the area with the Natural History Society of Maryland. For information on how you can help preserve Soldiers Delight, check out the Friends of Soldiers Delight.

Did you know there's a natural savanna, located just a 20 minute drive northwest of Baltimore? Also called a barrens, the rare ecosystem at Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area is home to more than 30 rare plant and animal species - birds, bugs, reptiles, and more! We get a tour from Edwin Guevara, Outreach and Education Assistant for the Wildlife and Heritage Service at the Maryland DNR. He occasionally leads tours of the area with the Natural History Society of Maryland. For information on how you can help preserve Soldiers Delight, check out the Friends of Soldiers Delight.

In the first four months of this year, state legislatures across the country have taken up 575 bills targeting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. That’s according to the American Civil Liberties Union, which tracks that activity.

On a federal level, the Trump administration is coming after the community on many fronts: in the military, education, healthcare… and even in the arts, with places as high profile as the Kennedy Center canceling week’s worth of events set to celebrate World Pride festival in Washington, DC.

The climate can feel dangerous. And in the midst of this atmosphere, the Baltimore City Police Department has started an initiative to offer support the LGBTQIA community. It’s called Safe Place.

We learn how it works from Sgt. Robin Blackmon, who works with auxiliary police volunteers and on hate crimes response and from Sgt. Doug Gibson, who oversees the mounted unit, soon to join the special liaison unit.

Customers are paying a lot for electricity these days. Some are thinking how great it would be to take advantage of solar energy floating free from the sky. But would solar even work for their home? And what would it cost to install -- how long before they’d see any savings? For 170 families in the city of Baltimore, there’s good news in a program called “Baltimore Shines,” organized by the non-profit Civic Works. People with low and moderate incomes can have solar installed and connected free. We talk with Eli Allen, Civic Works’ senior program director, and with John DeHuitta, a Civic works trainee.

Maryland abolished the death penalty in 2013; 22 other states and the District of Columbia have also banned the practice. But capital punishment remains legal in many parts of this county. The most common method of execution is lethal injection. But there are a lot of misconceptions about it... like how it’s implemented, and how humane it is (or isn’t).

Corinna Barrett Lain is one of the nation’s leading authorities on the death penalty, and author of the new book: “Secrets of the Killing State: The Untold Story of Lethal Injection.” She will be speaking about tomorrow night at 6pm at Red Emmas.

This conversation includes graphic descriptions of lethal injection and death.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month. For the seventh year, The Asia North Exhibition and Arts festival will fill the Station North Arts district with music, food, dance, and art to engage all of your senses! Everyone is invited, and we hear from artist Phaan Howng and co-curator Nerissa Paglinauan to get a preview!

Here's a Stoop Story from Chief Donna Wolf Mother Abbott about finding her way, and stepping into leadership for her Native American community in Dorchester County, Maryland.

Monday, May 5 is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP). Two women from Baltimore’s Lumbee community are among those remembered: Tiffany Jones was abducted and murdered in 2018. And Yasmine Wilson was murdered in 2019. Both were mothers. And both were taken violently, in front of their young daughters.

May their memories and those of others, live on in the name of justice, visibility and healing.

Ten years ago, when police chased Freddie Gray on the streets of Sandtown and arrested him, more people from his neighborhood were in state custody than from any other census tract in Maryland. That, according to data analyzed by the Justice Policy Institute and the Prison Policy Initiative.

Their latest count shows things have changed only slightly: The Justice Policy Institute’s most recent data show Sandtown-Winchester and nearby Harlem Park rank no. 3 in the number of residents incarcerated -- although by rate, per 100-thousand people, Sandtown is still No. 1 in Maryland.

That detail is part of the picture as public officials and criminal-justice reformers work to implement reforms proposed this spring by the Maryland Equitable Justice Collaborative. Its work is premised on statistics that show Black people make up roughly 30% of Maryland’s population, but they are 51% of its adult arrests, and 71% of its prisoners and parolees. We talk with Maryland Public Defender Natasha Dartigue to learn more.