Published March 24, 2011

Turn to the Wall Street Journal’s op-ed page today and you’ll find a byline you’re normally used to hearing, not reading, with your morning coffee. NPR’s Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep penned an opinion piece defending the network’s journalistic credibility — under fire after recent personnel upheaval.

On assignment in Egypt on the day ex-NPR CEO Vivian Schiller resigned from her post, Inskeep says he felt a disconnect between his work and his bosses. Inskeep writes:

When I had time to think about it, I noticed a contrast between the news that NPR reports from the Arab world and the news NPR has lately made at home.

Inskeep defends the network against accusations of liberal bias in its reporting. Citing surveys by media-watcher Gfk MRI, Inskeep said that most NPR listeners identify themselves politically as “middle of the road” or “conservative.”

At the time of Schiller’s departure, WBUR General Manager Charlie Kravetz spoke with Radio Boston about the leadership changes’ effect on NPR member stations and about the popular perception of the network.

WBUR has an extraordinarily broad-based support system within our community, for which we are enormously grateful. I think that ‘BUR is in a healthy position, but we’re yet to see whether or not there is an impact from what’s going on at NPR on our overall financial health. I’m optimistic, we’ll leave it at that.

As the resolution to strip NPR of federal funding continues to be debated in Congress, the scrutiny on NPR will only increase. Journalists like Inskeep believe that the network can withstand the increased pressure.

Published March 24, 2011

Embroiled in a scandal over faulty light fixtures in Big Dig tunnels, the state’s top transportation official admitted that he didn’t know about the issue for a month.

State Transportation Secretary Jeffrey B. Mullan says that he was not informed until March 8, a week before he informed the governor, about the 110-pound light fixture that fell from a tunnel ceiling onto a roadway in early February.

The tables were turned yesterday on a prominent Boston criminal defense attorney when he was arrested on federal money laundering charges. Robert George was released on $50,000 bond after an initial court appearance. George’s arrest shocked many in the city’s legal community.

After two years without maintenance, veterans worry that the Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans memorial in Worcester could fall into disrepair. State budget cuts last year eliminated the memorial’s $25,000 in funding.

The Boston School Committee unanimously approved a budget last night that closes a projected $63 million shortfall by cutting over 200 positions, closes nine schools and merges eight others. The plan does not include any teacher layoffs.

Conceived at Harvard, Facebook jetted Boston for the open arms of Silicon Valley before hitting it big. As WBUR’s Curt Nickisch reports, Boston has lost another burgeoning online social network — this time for scientists.

Red Sox legend Pedro Martinez will be in Washington today for the unveiling of his portrait at Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. The former Sox ace, and eight-time All-Star, won the World Series with the team in 2004.

What we’re following: We’ll continue to report on the Big Dig tunnel lighting controversy and developments in the Robert George case. Radio Boston will speak to experts on hospice care, including a state lawmaker that wants to help fund end-of-life health care with public money.