Midday

Cellist Amit Peled is the founder and artistic director of the Mount Vernon Virtuosi, a string orchestra of young musicians who perform free concerts in churches, synagogues, prisons, hospitals and schools throughout the Baltimore-Washington area. The Mount Vernon Virtuosi will be presenting their annual Mozart in Jeans concerts tomorrow and Sunday in Baltimore and Rockville. The Mount Vernon Virtuosi is a WYPR underwriter.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Music from Handel’s Messiah is a holiday staple around the world, including here in Baltimore. Nobody has done it annually for as many years in our area as the Handel Choir of Baltimore. This year the chorus is celebrating their 90th season and will offer Handel’s beloved masterpiece this weekend with shows in Baltimore and Timonium. Brian Bartoldus, the Choir’s Music Director and Jason Rudy, chair of the Handel Choir’s board and singer in the chorus, join Midday to share more on their holiday shows.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

In this year-end edition of Midday with Mayor, Brandon Scott talks with Tom about his goals and priorities for the city in his historic second term. In 2025, how will he move forward on violence reduction, vacant housing and water bills?Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Dr. Myriam Rogers, the Superintendent of the Baltimore County Schools, received great news when the annual Maryland School Report Card was released earlier this month. Twenty Baltimore County schools received a 5-star rating, the most of any jurisdiction in the state. Additionally, Dr. Rogers is moving forward to address school safety and budget challenges as the district continues to grow.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

As Christians celebrate the Christmas holiday this month, churches and parishes in Maryland and across the country are wrestling with a dilemma that has affected every Christian denomination: a marked decrease in the number of people who attend services and say they are affiliated with a church. Dr. Firmin DeBrabander is a philosophy professor at the Maryland Institute College of Art and he wrote an article appearing in the Fall Issue of The Hedgehog Review called “The Vast Dechurching and the Paradox of Christianity’s Decline.” He joins Midday to explain the changes in American Christianity.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck joins Tom to share another weekly review of a local theatrical production. This week's review includes some of her favorite theater actors which are puppets. 'Life of Pi' tells the story of a young man's journey with zoo animals in the ocean after a shipwreck. The production runs through December 14 at the Hippodrome Theatre . Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMadeEmail us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Dr. Leana Wen joins Tom for Midday Healthwatch, where they discuss issues affecting the health and well-being of Charm City residents. Today, Dr. Wen will address your concerns with healthcare coverage, risks of the bird flu and the future of vaccine access. Dr. Wen is a former health commissioner of Baltimore and columnist for the Washington Post.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Should President Biden issue pre-emptive pardons for any people the Trump administration may prosecute when he returns to the White House? Kim Wehle is a law professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law and her latest book is Pardon Power: How the Pardon System Works-And Why. She joins Midday to tell us more about the pardon process.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

In MD, 15% of childcare providers have closed up shop between the pandemic in 2020 and this year.  For parents juggling the demands of work and raising children, finding a safe and reliable situation for their kids is a crucial component of every family's life. Midday guest Christina Eaglin is the author of "Who's Watching My Baby: A Complete Guide to Competent Childcare," and she talks with Tom about this all too familiar issue for many families. Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin ends a storied 58-year career in public service in a few weeks. He served in the state legislature, the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Now he approaches retirement at the age of 81. In Congress, he has been one of the Senate's most impactful members, passing legislation on Human Rights, Health Care, the Environment, Transportation, and a host of other issues. Cardin reflects on a career in Maryland and national politics that has spanned nearly 60 years on Midday.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Today, we talk about raising young people—from babies to teenagers. Dr. Ashanti Woods of the Mercy Medical Center answers your questions. Surveys of America's young people find poor mental health is a widespread problem. How can you keep the young people in your life healthy and happy this winter? Plus, good childcare has become more costly and difficult to find. 1 in 6 childcare providers have closed up shop since the beginning of the pandemic, and parents and caregivers across Maryland are feeling the strain. We hear from Christina Eaglin, the author of Who's Watching My Baby: A Complete Guide to Competent Childcare.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Psychologist and author Dr. George Everly joined Midday in November to talk about moving on from the stress of a tumultuous election season. Today, we discuss coping with loneliness and isolation through the lens of the enormous literature of self-help books. Dr. Everly is the co-author, with the business entrepreneur Jim McCann, of Lodestar: Tapping Into 10 Timeless Pillars of Success.  Everly is a public health scholar who specializes in crisis management and resilience. He is on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins Medical School, and he is the founder of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

The Baltimore Metropolitan Council recently released a survey that examined what the top-of-mind issues are around the region. Mike Kelly, BMC's executive director, joins us to take stock of the survey's results on how Marylanders feel on a wide range of issues. The BMC brings together the chief executives of Baltimore and the counties that surround it, as well as others, to look at the challenges each jurisdiction faces through the lens of regional cooperation and shared interest.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

WYPR will begin airing "Poe Theatre on the Air," a collection of stories and poems produced by The National Edgar Allen Poe Theatre. The series will air quarterly beginning December 8 as a part of WYPR's Radio Theatre Sunday Night. The Poe Theatre's Founder and Artistic Director Alex Zavistovich joins Midday to share a preview of the series.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

As 2024 comes to a close, Midday takes stock of the financial markets, where the opportunities for successful investing are, and what we can do to minimize any tax consequences that may come our way. So, what does that mean moving forward, for both experienced investors and people ready to dip their toes in the market for the first time? Nicolas Abrams joins Midday to take your questions and share some tips about how to manage your money, whether you are just entering the workforce, or planning to retire soon. Abrams is a certified financial planner and the founder of Opulentia, a financial services firm in Hunt Valley.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Last night, President Joe Biden issued a broad pardon for his son, reversing an earlier pledge to not interfere in his legal affairs. Hunter Biden had been scheduled to be sentenced in his gun possession and tax cases next week.  Luke Broadwater, a congressional correspondent for the New York Times, joins us with the latest.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Holly Arnold, Administrator of the Maryland Transit Administration, talks about managing rising ridership while state budget cuts seem inevitable. Plus, news on the Red Line.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

It's the What Ya' Got Cookin'? Thanksgiving edition, a beloved tradition here on Midday, going all the way back to 2016. Tom talks with John Shields, owner of Gertrude's at the Baltimore Museum of Art and Damian Mosely of Blacksauce Kitchen. The two chefs talk with Tom and the Midday callers about cooking tips and food faux pas for folks preparing tomorrow's big meal. We also get a special check-in from Tom's mom, Rosemary Hall.   Jo-Jo's Curried Crab Dip (Gertrude's Recipe) Ingredients (8 servings): 1/2 cup of Dried currants 1 lb of Cream cheese 2 tbsp of Madras Curry Powder 2 tbsp of Mayonnaise 1/3 cup of Coconut Milk 1/3 cup of Minced green onions or chives 1/3 cup of finely diced Red bell pepper 1 lb of Lump or Claw Crab meat 1 pack of Melba rounds, Water crackers or Ginger snaps.   Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a small bowl place the currants and just enough water to cover. Let stand for 15 minutes. Drain, but reserve 2 tablespoons of liquid, and put the currants aside.  In a large bowl combine the cream cheese, curry powder, mayonnaise, coconut milk, green onion, and red bell pepper. Beat until smooth and somewhat creamy. Mix in the crabmeat, currants, and 2 tablespoons of the reserved currant liquid.  Transfer the mixture to a greased casserole dish and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Serve hot or warm with Melba rounds, Water crackers, or Ginger snaps.   Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie (Gertrude's Recipe) Ingredients (1-9 Inch Pie): 1 Pie Crust 3 Eggs 1/2 cup of Sugar 1/2 cup of Brown sugar 1 cup of Karo syrup 2 tsp of Vanilla extract 1/2 cup of Melted butter 2 tsp of Flour 2 oz of Unsweetened chocolate, melted 1 1/2 oz of Semi-sweetened chocolate, melted 1/4 cup of Locally distilled bourbon 1 1/2 cup of Pecan pieces (per pie)   Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Cream eggs and sugar together. Stir in the Karo syrup, vanilla, butter, and flour, Mix well. Add chocolate and bourbon. Spread pecan pieces around the bottom of each pie crust. Pour in filling and gently mix into the nuts. Bake for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until puffy and set. Cool and serve.   Rosemary Hall's Fresh Cranberry Relish Tom's Mom makes this delicious cranberry concoction, which Tom and his Mom first learned from James Porterfield, a friend in Ithaca, NY. Ingredients: 1lb Cranberries 1/2 cup of White granulated sugar (Tom uses 1/4 of a cup) 1/2 cup of Firmly packed brown sugar (Tom uses 1/4 of a cup) 1 cup of water   Directions: Grab a pot and bring the cranberries and sugar to a boil and cook for 10 minutes. When cool, mix in: 2 tbsp of Horseradish 2 tbsp of Dijon mustard Serve over Cream cheese as an Appetizer, or eat it as a side with Turkey, Chicken, or Pork.   Sweet Potato Biscuits (Blacksauce Recipe) Ingredients: 4.75 lbs of All-purpose flour 7 tbsp of Baking powder 4 tbsp of Sugar 2 tsp of Salt 1.75 lb of Cold butter, cut into parts 1 lb of a Peeled Sweet potato 64 oz of Buttermilk 2 oz of Heavy cream 2 tbsp of Turbinado sugar   Directions: Preheat convection oven to 400°F. (if you're using a conventional oven, then 425°F). Line two half-size sheet pans with parchment paper. Measure dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt) into a stainless steel bowl. Using a knife and sanitized cutting board, cut the butter into 1-ounce cubes. In small batches, pulse the flour mixture and butter in the bowl of a food processor until the mixture resembles a coarse cornmeal. Return mixture to stainless steel bowl. Add roasted sweet potato to the food processor; pulse in the buttermilk. Make a well in the center of the flour & butter mixture; using a stainless steel spoon, fold in sweet potato buttermilk mixture just until the dough comes together. Turn out the biscuit dough onto dry, lightly floured work table; bring together and knead twice. Flatten the mound of dough, with hands or rolling pin, to two inches in height. Cut biscuits using 2” biscuit cutter, and place next to each other on sheet pan. Bake for 9 minutes in full size electric convection oven Remove biscuits from the oven and, working quickly, brush the tops with heavy cream and sprinkle with turbinado sugar. Return to the oven and bake for 9 more minutes in full size electric convection oven. Remove pans from oven and place onto bun rack to cool.   Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

The Baltimore Children & Youth Fund supports access to arts, athletics, music, mental healthcare and more, using 3 percent of the city's property tax each year. The idea behind the community foundation is to fundamentally change the dynamic for nonprofits in the city, and get more money into the hands of Baltimoreans making a difference in the lives of children across the city. In 2024, BCYF awarded $9 million in grant funding to 91 youth programs. However, some critics say more transparency into the funds is needed. Can the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund guarantee its using the fund wisely, and create an impact? BCYF CEO and President Alysia Lee joins the program to talk about their work. Lonnie Walker of JOY Baltimore, a grantee of the community foundation also joins the conversation. Later, Heather Iliff of group Maryland Nonprofits talks best practices for community foundations and how smaller nonprofits can make a bigger impact.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Midday's guest is the best-selling author, Ann Patchett. Her latest book is an annotated edition of her most popular novel, Bel Canto, which was published to great acclaim in 2001. In the latest version, she walks us through what she wrote, page by page, commenting on what she thinks could be improved. She shares insights into her creative process with the same kind of grace, humor and gifts of perception that draw us all to her novels and essays.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

On the Midday Newswrap, WYPR's Emily Hofstaedter discusses her recent reporting on the first audit of Baltimore's Safe Streets program. The first biennial audit for MONSE, which oversees Safe Streets, found the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement had weak processes to prevent duplicate payments and overpayments to contractors. Ultimately, the audit found no evidence of fraud but warned that MONSE was making itself susceptible to fraud if it did not heed recommendations from the Department of Audits.  Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Two public servants who represent change on the Baltimore City Council join Midday. Kristerfer Burnett was elected to represent the 8th district in 2016. He has decided to retire from the council at the end of this term, which is in a couple of weeks. His successor is Paris Gray, who served in Councilman Burnett's office for four years as a community outreach coordinator. We ask the pair about their work, past and future, on the city council.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck joins Midday to share another weekly review of a local theatrical production. Today we discuss Frozen, on stage at the Olney Theatre Center through January 5. The theatre was one of the few regional venues that Disney asked to produce their own take on this animated classic.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Enrollment in Baltimore City schools continue to decline, in parallel to the city's shrinking population over the past few decades. There are nearly 10,000 fewer kids in city classrooms this year than there were 10 years ago. With funding for schools tied to the number of students in classrooms, less students represents a challenge for school officials. Chronic absenteeism, which afflicts Baltimore schools and schools across the country, is also a pressing problem. Meanwhile, if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on his pledge to shutter the federal Department of Education, what would that mean for our city? Baltimore City Public School system CEO Dr. Sonja Santelises joins Midday to talk about the her school system, and its future. Santelises led the system longer than any other city CEO in the last several decades. Her last contract expired in June. Chair Ronald McFadden reportedly engaged in months-long negotiations with Santelises that ended last summer with an offer for her to continue as CEO for just one more year, while a national search for her successor was undertaken. Then, about a month ago, the board voted to extend her contract another year, through June 2026. McFadden and Roberts voted against that extension, and this week they resigned as commissioners. Liz Bowie, an education reporter with WYPR's news partner the Baltimore Banner, reports the reshuffling of the board is the result of a power struggle on the board over negotiations on a new contract with Santelises.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Midday revisits Tom's conversation with political scientist Tom Schaller, a professor at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and former Washington Post columnist Paul Waldman. In February they published, 'White Rural Rage: The Threat to American Democracy.'Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Donald Trump's penchant for fabrication and malicious claims against immigrants and others did not seem to matter to voters in the last election. A majority of voters chose Trump to serve a second term. My guest has been chronicling lying in politics for the past 17 years. Bill Adair is the creator of PolitiFact. We'll talk about his latest book, Beyond the Big Lie: The Epidemic of Political Lying, Why Republicans Do It More, and How It Could Burn Down Our Democracy.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Today on Midday on the Arts, a rare, Reconstruction-era masterpiece by the groundbreaking African American composer Scott Joplin is on stage at Morgan State University. Opera@Morgan artistic director Marquita Lister tells us about Treemonisha. Plus, the violin virtuoso Qing Lee of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra joins Midday to preview her appearance at Emmanuel Church tomorrow night at Emmanuel Church.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

First District Baltimore Councilman Zeke Cohen dominated the primary and general election to become the next President of the Baltimore City Council, succeeding Nick Mosby. Cohen is a Democrat who has been on the council since 2016. Cohen joins Midday to talk about his priorities as he assumes one of only three city-wide offices.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

It is the Midday Newswrap on today's show. Baltimore's go-it-alone approach to holding companies accountable for their role in the opioid epidemic continues to pay off. This week, the city won yet another huge judgment. WYPR's Health Reporter Scott Maucione has the latest. Plus, Aman Azhar of Inside Climate News reports on efforts to end Maryland's use of energy generated by trash incineration. Advocates have long railed against waste-to-energy plants, but now lawmakers are signaling their appetite for change.  And, we remember a titan of Baltimore politics. Mary Pat Clarke passed away this week. Former Baltimore City Councilman Anthony Ambridge reflects on her life of service.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck joins Midday to share another weekly review of a local theatrical production. This week, we discuss Into the Woods, at the Vagabond Players through Sunday, Nov. 17. Then we briefly take a look at another Broadway musical in town, MJ, at the Hippodrome through Sunday.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Today, a conversation about how immigration policy will change when President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House. He says his intention is to hire or nominate immigration officials who have long taken hardline positions. Tom speaks with Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, the President and CEO of Global Refuge, which provides asylum services and assists refugees with resettlement. He also talks with Mark Parker, who has just been elected to serve on the Baltimore City Council to represent District 1, which includes a large Hispanic population. Community organizer Susana Barrios also joins us. She is the Vice President of the Latino Racial Justice Circle.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

More than one in five people in Baltimore live in a food desert, which the city calls “Healthy Food Priority Areas.” More than 30% of people who live a quarter-mile from an affordable grocery store in the city are African American. A quick trip to a full-service grocery store, or a trip for a week's worth of food, is made harder when supermarkets are farther away. Convenience stores and small corner markets fill in the gap, but they rarely offer produce or affordable prices. The residents in neighborhoods near the B&O Railroad Museum were part of that grim statistic until recently. A new store in the Mount Clare Junction shopping plaza, JumboFresh Supermarket, features a wide variety of foods and products catering to the culturally-diverse clientele of nearby neighborhoods. Improving food access is crucial for the health and wellbeing of city residents. Today, a discussion about how this new store came to open in Southwest Baltimore, its unique business model and what it means to the residents of the surrounding areas. Are there lessons other neighborhoods can replicate? We begin with Bif Browning, the President of the Union Square Association, and Jonathan Tejada, a JumboFresh staff member. Later in the program, we talk to Baltimore City 10th District Councilwoman Phylicia Porter, and Carrie Baniszewski, the Executive Director of the neighborhood development nonprofit Pigtown Main Street.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

WYPR Reporter John Lee joins Midday to discuss an eventful time in Baltimore County politics. The Baltimore County Council is set to expand in 2026 after voters approved a measure to add two members to the 7-member body. And with Johnny Olszewski heading to Washington, D.C., the county also needs to find a new county executive. Plus, the Baltimore County Council decided to keep a district map it drew for nine council seats, but the issues is not resolved. Councilman Julian Jones, a Democrat, said is it likely the County Council will be sued over the nine-district map. Lee catches us up on the latest.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott joins Midday to discuss his priorities as he enters a second term. What are the prospects for projects planned with federal assistance? While President Joe Biden made promises to Baltimore, the administration of President-elect Donald Trump may not offer continued support. We also discuss Baltimore Safe Streets, a prominent part of the city's violence reduction strategy, the passing of the influential Mary Pat Clarke and the status of repairs following underground fires in the city near the electrical infrastructure.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

2024 has been a transformative year for women's sports with the prominence of Baltimore's own Angel Reese, along with Caitlin Clark, in the WNBA. Plus, the summer Olympics in Paris saw the women's soccer team and gymnastics team earning gold. Two sports journalists join Midday to discuss the breakout year in women's sports in advance of a symposium being held Tuesday at The Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism at the University of Maryland.  Guests for this conversation are USA Today Sports columnist Christine Brennan and Ringer staff writer Mirin Fader.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

On today's Midday Healthwatch, our monthly conversations about public health with Dr. Leana Wen, we discuss the future of public health policy as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to begin his second term. Given his administration's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic during his first term, what can we expect in the case of a future health crisis? And what will the fate of agencies like the FDA or CDC be? Wen will answer your questions about your health concerns, including bird flu, COVID-19 and more. Wen was the Health Commissioner of Baltimore City from 2014 to 2018. In addition to being a columnist on health matters for the Washington Post, she also writes on medical topics for CNN, and she serves as a scholar at George Washington University and the Brookings Institution.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck joins Midday to share another weekly review of a local theatrical production. This week Rousuck reviews the Maryland premiere of The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals, at Notre Dame of Maryland University through November 10th.  Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Maryland was one of several states where residents reported receiving racist text messages from anonymous sources. The messages appear to be part of a nationwide campaign targeting Black people in the wake of the election, according to the office of the Maryland Attorney General. Recipients of the message included young people and college students. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown joins Midday to discuss his call for Marylanders who received these messages to make a report to his office online, or through the Maryland Commission on Hate Crimes Response and Prevention's hotline at 1-866-481-8361.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Many Americans experienced anxiety related to this week's election. And following the election's results, millions of Americans are finding no release from uncertainty and fear. As some Americans nervously confront the reality of a return of President-elect Donald Trump to the White House, we seek advice from Dr. George Everly. He is a psychologist who specializes in trauma and disaster mental health, on how to cope with the range of feelings many people are experiencing in the election's aftermath.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

When we have elections, Midday turns to former Maryland Secretary of State John Willis for insight into how Marylanders exercised their right to make their voices heard. After serving as Secretary of State from 1995-2003, and for many years has been the Executive in Residence at the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Baltimore.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.

Khalil Zaied is the newly sworn-in Director of the Baltimore City Department of Public Works. He takes over an agency that has been rocked by scandal, and roundly criticized by workers and people outside of DPW for ineffective and hostile organizational culture. A lack of training and accountability and insufficient emergency protocols even contributed to the death of a DPW worker, Ronald Silver II, last summer. Zaied joins Midday to discuss how he intends to address the questions surrounding DPW.Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.