Wednesday Morning: Lawmakers Look At Nuclear Options

Published April 6, 2011

With the world focused on the nuclear catastrophe in Japan, lawmakers on Beacon Hill hope to ensure that Massachusetts is prepared for its own nuclear emergency. Four joint legislative committees will hear today from public safety and environmental officials, energy leaders and anti-nuclear groups in order to study the state’s preparedness.

Grab that big flat-screen from Amazon today, the days of tax-free Internet shopping may soon be over. The Retailers Association of Massachusetts is pushing a bill that would force a tax on e-commerce sites.

Amidst bleary-eyed undergrads and the leaders of tomorrow, a Harvard program is also educating the leaders of today. The university’s Advanced Leadership Initiative is a year long fellowship for people with more than 20 years of leadership experience who want to start socially conscious ventures instead of retiring.

A longtime business and civic leader is in line to take over the reins of the Boston Redevelopment Authority. Boston Mayor Tom Menino nominated Peter Meade to head the BRA yesterday.

Man the bridges and tall buildings around New England, the Red Sox are still looking for that ever-illusive first win. The team fell to 0-4 last night — this time it was their bats that let them down — after losing in Cleveland, 3-1.

What we’re following: We’ll continue to report on some Harvard professors’ ties to Libya, the push for an e-commerce sales tax and the memorial for Rev. Peter Gomes. Radio Boston will look at advances in men’s health.

Tuesday Morning: Cape Cod Camp Under Scrutiny

Published April 5, 2011

The Cape Cod district attorney has opened an investigation into the summer camp on Cape Cod where Sen. Scott Brown was allegedly sexually abused as a child. The investigation follows allegations from another former camper who recently claimed that he, too, was sexually abused at Camp Good News.

A new report finds health care costs for municipal workers like teachers, police and firefighters are much higher than what the state or private sector employers pay. Many cities and towns are finding that their health care costs are draining their budgets. You can read the full report.

Gov. Deval Patrick yesterday nominated Barbara Lenk to the state’s highest court. Lenk would be the first openly gay Supreme Judicial Court justice.

Don’t illegally download music or the Boogie Man will get you. Sure, laugh. A B.U. graduate student probably would have laughed until he was ordered by a judge to pay the music industry $67,500 for illegally downloading 30 songs. Gulp.

They’re celebrating from…Hartford to Storrs? The UConn Huskies beat Butler last night to take home their third men’s basketball national title.

What we’re following: We’ll continue to report on state home sales numbers, the Peace Abbey facing foreclosure and the FAA plane inspections.

Claims Of McCarthyism Over Professor Email Requests

Published April 4, 2011

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, seated, after signing into law the controversial bill that eliminates most union rights for public employees in Madison, Wis., on March 11 (AP)

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, seated, after signing into law the controversial bill that eliminates most union rights for public employees in Madison, Wis., on March 11 (AP)

Should the emails of professors at public universities be subject to open records requests?

That’s the latest subplot emerging from ongoing union turmoil in the Midwest, as heard on Morning Edition today. After a noted University of Wisconsin professor questioned the GOP agenda, the state Republican party submitted a Freedom of Information Act request seeking the professor’s emails that contain the words “union,” “recall” and [Gov.] “Scott Walker.”

A few days later, a conservative think tank in Michigan filed a request for emails pertaining to the Wisconsin debate from labor studies faculty and staff at three state universities.

“I think that politicians are trying to intimidate academics from speaking out on issues, especially those who are in state-related institutions,” said University of Kansas Prof. Randal Jenks.

Cary Nelson, the president of the American Association of University Professors, took his criticism further.

“These email requests, for me, were the first time I was willing to say this was a contemporary version of McCarthyism,” he said.

But Lucy Dalgish, of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said professors don’t have statutory protection. And the Wisconsin GOP, in a statement, said taxpayers have a right to know if public employees are conducting themselves in an ethical manner.

We’ve got a vibrant public university system here in Massachusetts — what do you think of the email records requests? Are claims of new McCarthyism legitimate, or hyperbolic? Have your say in the comments section.

Political Rhetoric: The Real March Madness

Published April 4, 2011

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich speaks during the "Wild Irish Breakfast" in Nashua, N.H., March 17. (AP)

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich speaks during the "Wild Irish Breakfast" in Nashua, N.H., March 17. (AP)

Newt Gingrich is in New Hampshire today, for the third time in three weeks, continuing to test the waters of a presidential run.

His first trip to New Hampshire, on St. Patrick’s Day, was the day the men’s NCAA tournament began. His third trip falls on the day the tournament ends.

That first time, WBUR’s David Boeri reported on Gingrich’s visit. One of the “controversies” of the time was that President Obama had just gone on TV to reveal his NCAA Tournament picks.

Gingrich, among others, claimed that the president wasted too much time pondering the “Baracketology” and not enough time on the disaster in Japan or the rebellion in Libya. Gingrich said his “final four” consisted of getting the country back to 4 percent unemployment, producing more oil and gasoline in-country, balancing the national budget and “controlling the border.”

In his next breath, however, Gingrich offered his NCAA pick.

Gingrich, it turns out, did just about as well as the rest of the country in picking winners — like the president, he thought Kansas would take the title.

Monday Morning: New England In The News

Published April 4, 2011

Two 19-year-olds accused in connection with the 2009 home invasion in Mont Vernon, N.H., are set for sentencing today. Both William Marks and Quinn Glover were accused of being present during the massacre, but struck deals with prosecutors. Two men found guilty of actually carrying out the brutal attack are serving life sentences.

In other New Hampshire news, Vice President Joe Biden will visit the state today. Biden and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will speak at the University of New Hampshire to discuss the issue of sexual assault on college campuses.

South of the Mass. border, the University of Connecticut men’s basketball team will face Butler in the NCAA national title game tonight. The women’s team was upset in the Final Four last night.

Back home, many of Massachusetts’ 35 underperforming schools have begun a sweeping overhaul designed to improve their standing. More than half the schools have extended their days and 20 of the schools have installed new principals.

It turns out relying on a 7-foot-1 39-year-old center to carry your team to the NBA Finals isn’t such a good idea. After missing 27 games with an achilles injury, Celtics center Shaquille O’Neal will miss more time after picking up a calf injury last night. At least he looked impressive in his five minutes on the floor, right?

Do you have an interesting scar? WBUR’s Martha Bebinger is researching scars to illustrate the recent history of medical practice. She set up a really cool timeline.

What we’re following: We’ll report on Newt Gingrich’s visit to New Hampshire, Fidelity potentially moving more jobs out of state and Mayor Menino’s plan to fight youth violence.

American Student Released From Syrian Custody

Published April 1, 2011

Tik Root, a 21-year-old Middlebury College junior, was released today after being held by authorities in Syria for two weeks. While studying there, Root was apparently arrested by the Syrian regime as he watched a large anti-government protest.

Tik Root (Facebook)

Tik Root (Facebook)

For over a week, Root’s friends and family were left without word from him and without knowledge of his condition. On Saturday, to their relief, Root’s family was notified that he was in the custody of Syrian officials. Today, he was released.

For two weeks, Syria has been gripped by “an extraordinary wave” of anti-government dissent.

Today on WBUR we also heard similar stories. Two of the New York Times journalists kidnapped by Gadhafi’s forces in Libya were interviewed on Morning Edition and on Here & Now, respectively.

$115M Dorchester Community Center Set For Opening

Published April 1, 2011

It took nearly three years of fund-raising, but it’s finally here. Tomorrow, a new $115 million community center will officially open its doors to the Dorchester and Roxbury communities.

The aquatic center, shown here under construction, uses heated water and boasts a waterslide that leaves the building and returns inside to the pool. (Courtesy of The Salvation Army)

The aquatic center, shown here under construction, uses heated water and boasts a waterslide that leaves the building and returns inside to the pool. (Courtesy of The Salvation Army)

The Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, which the Dorchester Reporter calls “the largest social service facility in New England history,” boasts: a performing arts center; a rock climbing wall and gym; an aquatic center complete with lap lanes and a water slide that is so big part of it extends out of the building; and a chapel with a digital memorial for homicide victims.

The center will provide after-school care and career development, and a new sports field across the street will offer additional green space for local sports events.

Supporters say the Uphams Corner facility has the potential to have a big impact on what some call an often-forgotten urban neighborhood.

A dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony takes place tomorrow at 1 p.m.

Nicky Egan Got Her Groove (Back)

Published April 1, 2011

Smooth-singing soulstress Nicky Egan originally hails from Philadelphia, but graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston. Now she’s making it big.

Egan and her band will be featured on Radio Boston on Monday. Here’s a little preview of what to expect:

[youtube url=”f5bRVTcGzfU”]

Make sure you check out all of the great videos WBUR’s Jesse Costa produces on our YouTube channel.

Friday Morning: Ugh, Another Snowstorm

Published April 1, 2011

You can stow away the fake mustaches and re-box the snake-in-a-can toy, Mother Nature has beaten you all to the punch. Yes, it’s April 1. Yes, there’s snow on the ground. Turn April Fools’ Day into Thanksgiving and be thankful you don’t live in central Mass.

It also happens to be my favorite holiday of the year, Opening Day. The Red Sox finally open their (admittedly interminable) season this afternoon in Texas. At the start of the season, the Sox are on the short-list of World Series favorites. The first pitch against the Rangers is scheduled for 4:05 pm.

Presenting a complex picture of a loner medical student who celebrated Passover with his grandparents mere hours after robbing a woman at gunpoint, the Suffolk County district attorney’s office released files compiled for the investigation of Philip Markoff. Markoff, dubbed the “Craigslist Killer” after he was arrested in connection with a spate of murders in Boston, committed suicide in August while being held in jail.

The brother of the man who allegedly shot and killed a Woburn police officer during a robbery was indicted yesterday on charges related to the December 26 shootout. Dominic Cinelli also died in the shootout; his brother Arthur allegedly provided support for the robbery-gone-wrong.

What we’re following: We’ll continue to report on the snow/rain storm tormenting the psyches of Bostonians, a wind energy project in Dartmouth and the new dean of Boston College Law School. Radio Boston will dive behind the headlines and review the week in the news.