The Point

The documentary More Art Upstairs by Cape Cod native Jody Hassett Sanchez takes us to Art Prize, a populist experiment that inverts the equation of who gets to decide what art has value by letting the general public vote, via their phones, on which works will win much of the $500,000 in prize money. We talk with Sanchez about the film and if the competition reshapes how the public views art and how artists view their work. A screening will take place on January 16 th at the Falmouth Art Cente r,

WCAI News Director Steve Junker hosts a roundup of some of the top local and regional news of the week, including: the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Department referred 79 inmates to federal immigration authorities last year; Cape towns may fund a collaborative study of shark solutions; and the state’s new short-term rental law has many people asking questions.

Syringe Service Programs, also called needle exchanges, have been around since the 1980’s and are proven to slow the transmission of HIV and Hepatitis amongst intravenous drug users. The present day opioid addiction epidemic has caused a rise in the rates of HIV and hepatitis, prompting the call for more needle exchanges. We discuss the effectiveness of these programs and address concerns some have about crime and safety around Syringe Service program sites.

On The Point, we take a look at what's happening at WCAI, and ask listeners for comments, questions and suggestions. WCAI Managing Director of Editorial Mindy Todd and News Director Steve Junker are in the studio to talk about the work of the Cape and Islands local NPR radio station, and get feedback.

On The Point, naturalist Mark Faherty brings us this month's report from the Avian world. Mark is a wildlife biologist at Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary . We hear highlights from the Christmas bird counts around the region, reports of seabirds moving through our waters, and birdfeeder tips for the season. Mindy Todd hosts.

WCAI News Director Steve Junker hosts a roundup of some of the top local and regional news of the week, including: Good news! A right whale calf is spotted – the first since 2017; the government shutdown is affecting local federal workers; and a community comes together to bring home a Dennis Port teen after a car crash in Jamaica.

Even if you don’t play an instrument, sing or consider yourself musical, there’s a good chance you enjoy listening to music. Research suggests we incorporate music into our lives because it evokes a strong emotional response, helps us regulate mood, and is an expression of our relationship with others.

Mindy Todd talks with bestselling author Louise Penny before a live audience at Sandwich High School. The mystery writer talks about her new book Kingdom of the Blind, and the other books in the Inspector Gamache series. We also hear about her writing process and get a glimpse into her life in a small village south of Montreal.

Has it been a rough year? Did you buy stock in Sears? Or invest in Ivanka's clothing line? Did you take a job as a public relations spokesperson for Kanye West? Then you may feel the need to laugh at 2018, and the Capitol Steps could not agree more! So tune in to the Capitol Steps' New Year's edition of "Politics Takes a Holiday," featuring songs from their latest album, Make America Grin Again . Now is your chance to finally enjoy the headlines you were too scared to read. After all, the

WCAI News Director Steve Junker hosts a special year-end news roundup looking back at the top local news stories of 2018. Joining him in the studio is Patrick Cassidy, News Editor at the Cape Cod Times.