A pilot program that teaches girls how to code is expanding across the Newark Public Schools in the hopes of engaging more girls in the fields of science and technology, which have largely and historically been dominated by males. WBGO's Alexandra Hill reports the district is enlisting the help of international non-profit organization Girls Who Code in order to do so.

Ang Santos: This is an interesting program. We have a combination of music, gospel, jazz…bring us into this program a little bit. What should people expect when they come to see this? Chris Whitaker: This is a version of ‘Handel’s Messiah’ like you’ve never heard before. It’s basically like Handel landed in the 21 st century and crafted a modern oratorio for our time. It’s the original ideas, melodies, and lyrics from the Messiah, but it’s reimagined though a contemporary lens. AS: A venue could

Movie stars every season come to Broadway, but WBGO theater critic Michael Bourne this week reviews TV stars who've come OFF-Broadway. Michael gives us his thoughts on Downstairs by Theresa Rebeck and starring Tyne Daly and Tim Daly as well as Thom Pain by Will Eno and starring Michael C. Hall. Click above to hear Michael's reviews of both Off-Broadway shows.

The United States was attacked by the Japanese Military on December 7, 1941 . Exactly one year later, the USS New Jersey launched for the first time from the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Jack Willard is one of several history buffs you may meet aboard the Battleship New Jersey in Camden, where the dreadnought turned museum annually commemorates the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. To hear about the Battleship New Jersey, click the link above.

Gov. Phil Murphy says New Jersey government procedures have to change after state worker Katie Brennan's tearful testimony that she was raped and her pleas for help to officials were ignored. At a Wednesday press conference, Murphy called Brennan “extraordinary” and “poised” for speaking before a state legislative committee about the alleged sexual assault and subsequent attempts to have law enforcement and state government officials help her get justice. “We have to question ourselves and

Campbell Soup Company, headquartered in Camden, New Jersey, has seen better days. Canned soup has fallen out of fashion and the nearly 150-year-old company’s sales are down. And now it’s enduring an attack from one of its own shareholders, a shrewd investor bent on raising profits by any means necessary. On this episode of The Why , WHYY and WBGO statehouse reporter Joe Hernandez discusses what this means for the future of the iconic company — and for the city of Camden. Click below to hear the

Theater critic Michael Bourne's pace has been meteoric this Broadway and off-Broadway season. This time he reviews American Son and The Other Josh Cohen .

December 1 st is World AIDS Day , an opportunity for people to unite in the fight against HIV. It’s also about putting an end to social stigma associated with talking about the disease. “This has been highlighted in the #MeToo movement, as a culture we don’t equip people with the knowledge or suggest that is ok and necessary to talk about how one protects themselves,” said David Johns, executive director of National Black Justice Coalition , a civil rights organization and advocate for the LGBTQ

Public health officials expect the number of people diagnosed with illnesses related to the World Trade Center attack to keep growing. A New York Representative is still pushing for permanent financial aid for survivors 17 years later. “At first they don’t’ see the symptoms but since then many have died, many more will become sick each day and are not able to work,” said New York Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney. “It’s important that we give them their health care and compensation for what they did

Thanksgiving came a month early this year to the volunteers of a community farm in Jamestown, Rhode Island. Last month the Jamestown Community Farm had its annual dinner to acknowledge a harvest that goes for the most part toward feeding the poor in nearby communities. To hear the report, click the link above.