In November, Maryland voters will elect a new chief financial officer, the state comptroller.

State Delegate Brooke Lierman is the Democratic nominee. To her, it’s an opportunity to build a more transparent and financially resilient state. Another priority: ensuring Maryland has the revenue to fund the multi-billion dollar Blueprint for Education.

Lierman hopes to use the comptroller’s statewide bully pulpit to address the burden of student loans and the economic consequences of gun violence.

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

Journalist Baynard Woods grew up in the last quarter of the 20th century, son of white parents raised in the Jim Crow South, descendant of forebears who had enslaved hundreds of Black people in South Carolina. His memoir Inheritance: An Autobiography of Whiteness, traces his dawning awareness of the crimes and outrages of his dead ancestors, … and his parents’  failure to confront that history and the privileges it created. Woods identifies whiteness as the problem, and calls for it to be dismantled.

“Our skin is the place that’s part world and part us. It’s where we meet the world. And similarly, whiteness is where our subjective experience, our mental state, merges with the structures of power around us.”

Links: 'Inheritance: An Autobiography of Whiteness'

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

Seven decades ago, the construction of the Bay Bridge was the largest public-works project in Maryland’s history. It knitted the Western and Eastern Shores together, and paved the way for economic growth in the nine eastern counties. 

Lydia Woolever, a senior editor for Baltimore Magazine, tells us about the crossing’s impact. Read her story, How The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Changed Maryland Forever.

Then, Maryland Transportation Authority Executive Director William Pines breaks down the steps in a multi-year study of ways to alleviate congestion at and around the bridge.

Tomorrow, an open house will be hosted at Broadneck High School in Annapolis. Submit public comment here.

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 resiliency of restaurant owners and workers is impressive.

Christina Tkacik covers food news for The Baltimore Banner. In the wake of the pandemic, restaurants are dealing with the pressures of inflation, supply-chain delays, and the labor shortage. These pressure may be reflected on menus, "So if you’ve gone to a restaurant and you’ve noticed, ‘Oh, this restaurant only has like five items on their menu,’ there’s a lot of cost savings that comes with having a short menu.” 

Plus: at restaurants across the city, chefs and crew share a staff meal before dinner service. Banner reporter John-John Williams takes us behind the scenes of “family meal,” and the talented cooks serving up homestyle dishes. Read the full story here, and check out photos of family meals being prepared.

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

Harford County Executive Barry Glassman, a Republican, has served in public office for 32 years straight. Now he’s running for comptroller, the only one of the three Republicans campaigning  statewide who is not a fan of Donald Trump. Glassman is counting on his moderate philosophy and hands-on budget experience to draw voters from the middle, and maybe the left..

We ask about his priorities if elected, his plans to update the comptroller’s office  … and where he differs from his progressive Democratic opponent’s broad policy agenda:

“You’d see me more working on the primary duties of a fiscal manager than a partisan or someone that’s going to be a little more active in various issues that I think are outside of the purview of the comptroller.” 

Links: Barry Glassman for Comptroller, Maryland Matters article, MDElections2022.

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

Most people with federal student loans are eligible for some forgiveness, under the plan President Biden announced last month: up to $20,000 for low-income recipients of Pell Grants, $10,000 for other borrowers. What does this mean for Marylanders?

Tisa Silver Canady founded the non-profit Maryland Center for Collegiate Financial Wellness. She says this plan moves toward addressing the failures of the federal financing system.

Plus, two graduates share their student loan experiences.

Links:
FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces Student Loan Relief for Borrowers Who Need It Most
The Biden-Harris Administration's Student Debt Relief Plan Explained

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

Twenty thousand Baltimore children have a parent behind bars or on parole or probation. A new program called B’More Reconnects aims to solidify the bonds between a parent and child and reduce trauma.

Kate Sweeney co-directs the Parent, Infant, Early Childhood Program at the Institute for Innovation and Implementation at the University of Maryland School of Social Work. She describes B’More Reconnects’ group parenting classes, which will start pre-release and continue for six months after.

Then Deputy Mayor Faith Leach shares her connection to this initiative. After her mother was released from prison, they rebuilt their relationship, and Leach saw her mother return to college:

"My mom’s story is the illustration of why we can’t ever - and let me repeat that - we can’t ever give up on our neighbors that are returning home."

And Kimberly Haven, executive director of Reproductive Justice Inside, talks about her experience as a mother in prison.

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

We may grow up thinking friendships just happen--because they often do, for kids. NOT, usually, for adults. You have to reach out; if you spot someone you’d like to know better, suggest getting together. University of Maryland psychology professor Marisa Franco says research shows we underestimate how welcome an overture will be.

Franco’s book, Platonic, is filled with ideas for making friends and being a better friend. It adds up to a lot of work--like the effort we put into romantic relationships--and Franco argues it’s worth it:

 “We are social creatures. We need connection to be at homeostasis. For our mood to be regulated for us to feel like our very selves. And when we lack that connection it’s really devastating on both our minds and our bodies.” 

Links: 92nd Y St. Sept. 8, 7:30p virtual conversation, Marisa Franco, Platonic.

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

As inspiring as the story of the Star-Spangled Banner is-- 25 hours of British bombardment failing to ravage the Stars-n-Stripes!--it’s not the only memorable tale from Fort McHenry. Four decades ago, park ranger Scott Sheads thought much of the fort’s story was not coming alive for visitors. So, with others, he started the Fort McHenry Guard, of rangers and volunteers, to tell of the people behind the history. 

And we meet Kordell Kemp, who started playing in the Guard’s fife-and-drum corps when he was 11!

Fort McHenry will be bursting with activities next weekend to celebrate Defenders Day. There’s a parade next Friday night along Fort Avenue at 7 p.m. A week from tomorrow, at noon, the Guard’s Fife and Drum Corps will perform. Other military bands will perform throughout the weekend. That Saturday night, Sept. 10, there will be concert with a ship-to-shore bombardment at dusk … and when it’s dark -- fireworks! Check out the guard on Facebook. 

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

Randi Benesch shares a sweet Stoop story about summer love. And Tom Jub talks about his camp counselor hijinx.

Want more Stoop? Find information about upcoming live events or take a listen to 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