Roughly Speaking

A group that played coevr music for decades has come up with its own

Sun investigation into sexual assault waivers gets results; the debate over gender neutral driver's licenses; and an interview with Sen. Stephen Hershey: In the eighth episode of ----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition,---- Baltimore Sun reporter Luke Broadwater and Goucher College pollster Dr. Mileah Kromer talk about what it's like being a State House reporter and spotlight some of the key debates in the Maryland General Assembly, including whether to add a non-binary gender classification on drivers' licenses. The show's guest is State Sen. Stephen Hershey, an Eastern Shore Republican, who is minority whip. Sun State House reporter Pamela Wood provides analysis.Roughly Speaking: Government Edition---- is a partnership between the Baltimore Sun and Goucher College that will run during the 90-day Maryland General Assembly session.Related links:Anne Arundel County police to stop asking sex assault victims to waive rights to investigationhttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/investigations/bs-md-sexual-assault-waiver-reaction-20190219-story.htmlM, F or X: Democratic senator's bill would allow gender-neutral option for Maryland driver's licenseshttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-drivers-license-gender-20190220-story.htmlMaryland Senate rejects nominees to handgun permit review board, citing board's rate of granting appealshttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-handgun-board-nominees-20190222-story.htmlMaryland GOP wages 'Fight for Five' campaign to end Democrats' supermajority in state Senatehttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-fight-for-five-20181017-story.html

Over dinner at Gertrude's in Baltimore, film critics Linda DeLibero and Christopher Llewellyn Reed talk about the 2019 Oscars and four great movies you probably won't hear much about during Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony. Take notes in case you missed them: ----If Beale Street Could Talk,---- and ----First Reformed,---- both victims of major Oscar snubs, and two foreign-language films: ----Shoplifters,---- and ----Capernaum.---- Linda and Chris handicap the major Oscar categories for us, and they debate the merits of Alfonso Cuaron's ----Roma,---- currently considered the frontrunner for Best Picture. Linda DeLibero directs film and media studies at Johns Hopkins University. Chris Reed is professor and chair of the department of film and moving image at Stevenson University.

Four great films you probably won't hear much about during Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony.

Baltimore Sun reporter Luke Broadwater and Goucher College pollster Dr. Mileah Kromer go in-depth on the Goucher Poll results on the key issues facing Marylanders, including whether to raise the minimum wage, legalize marijuana and ban tobacco for people younger than 21. The show's special guest is District 11 state Del. Shelly Hettleman, a Baltimore County Democrat who speaks about her work to expand testing of rape kits and other issues. Sun State House reporter Pamela Wood and breaking news reporter Sarah Meehan also join the discussion.“Roughly Speaking: Government Edition---- is a partnership between the Baltimore Sun and Goucher College that will run during the 90-day Maryland General Assembly session.Related links:Goucher Poll: Legalizing pot, raising minimum wage, banning plastic foam products popular in Marylandhttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-goucher-policy-poll-20190215-story.htmlMaryland lawmakers consider raising the age to buy tobacco from 18 to 21https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-tobacco-age-20190215-story.htmlHere's where Maryland's next bridge across the Chesapeake Bay could start and endhttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-co-bay-bridge-20190211-story.htmlThousands more untested rape kits revealed in Maryland as authorities ramp up efforts to process evidencehttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-untested-rape-kits-20181107-story.html

Luke and Mileah go in-depth on the Goucher Poll results.

In the sixth episode of ----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition,---- Baltimore Sun reporter Luke Broadwater and Goucher College pollster Dr. Mileah Kromer discuss the heated debate over the General Assembly's push to overturn Gov. Larry Hogan's order that public schools may not start classes until after Labor Day, before interviewing District 13 state Del. Vanessa Atterbeary, a Howard County Democrat and vice chairwoman of the Judiciary Committee. After extolling the diversity of her district, Atterbeary shares her reaction to the unfolding scandal in Virginia, and describes the racism she says she witnessed in the state as an undergraduate. Sun State House reporter Pamela Wood and Opinion Page editor Andy Green also stop by.----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition---- is a partnership between the Baltimore Sun and Goucher College that will run during the 90-day Maryland General Assembly session.Links:Maryland Gov. Hogan fights back against lawmakers over post-Labor Day school year starthttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-hogan-labor-day-20190207-story.htmlRepublicans condemn Democratic senator's remark on Maryland Gov. Hogan as attempt to link him to George Wallacehttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-pinsky-governor-20190208-story.htmlThe handgun board that couldn't shoot straighthttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bs-ed-0207-handgun-permit-20190205-story.htmlFresh faces of power in Annapolis in the 2019 Maryland General Assembly sessionhttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-assembly-fresh-faces-20181224-story.html

What's behind the school calendar debate and where it could be heading.

In this episode: A look back to 1896 and a landmark Supreme Court decision that is considered one of the worst in the court's history. In Plessy v. Ferguson, the court upheld a Louisiana law that required racial separation on passenger trains. The decision preserved and furthered segregation (----separate but equal----) throughout the nation well into the 20th Century. Guest: Baltimore-based journalist and author Steve Luxenberg, a former Sun reporter and editor, and senior editor at The Washington Post. His new book, being published this week, is “Separate: The Story of Plessy v. Ferguson, and America's Journey from Slavery to Segregation.” On Wednesday at 7 p.m., Steve Luxenberg will be in conversation with Judge Robert M. Bell, former chief judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals, at the Church of the Redeemer, 5603 N. Charles Street. The Ivy Bookshop will have copies of the book for sale at a signing following the program.

Hogan's ----State of the State,---- gun laws and Sen. Justin Ready: In the fifth episode of ----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition,---- Baltimore Sun reporter Luke Broadwater and Goucher College pollster Dr. Mileah Kromer talk about tax cuts, gun laws and Gov. Hogan's ----State of the State---- speech, before interviewing State Sen. Justin Ready, a Carroll County Republican. Sun reporters Pamela Wood and Doug Donovan join the discussion.----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition---- is a partnership between the Baltimore Sun and Goucher College that will run during the 90-day Maryland General Assembly session.Links:Gov. Hogan calls for targeted tax cuts, school oversight and tougher sentencing in 'State of the State' speechhttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-hogan-state-20190130-story.htmlFact check: Filling in the details on Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's rosy view of bipartisan state leadershiphttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-hogan-facts-20190130-story.htmlMaryland Democrats seek to make state 'foam free,' cut prescription costs, hike minimum wage to $15 an hourhttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-democratic-priorities-20190129-story.htmlGun control advocates push to ban build-your-own guns, expand background checks on private saleshttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-gun-control-20190131-story.html