Roughly Speaking

Local film critics Linda DeLibero and Christopher Llewellyn Reed join columnist Dan Rodricks to review the year's best movies. (PHOTO CREDIT: Lacey Terrell/TriStar Pictures).

Thirty years is a long, good run for any restaurant, and so attention must be paid: Saturday, Oct. 12 marks three full decades for Nancy Longo’s Pierpoint in Fells Point. It was early 1989 when Longo bought the Emma Giles Tavern, a rowhouse-barroom at 1822 Aliceanna Street, with an ambition to turn it into a restaurant serving “Maryland cuisine with a contemporary style.” As her 30th anniversary approached, Sun columnist Dan Rodricks paid a visit for the Roughly Speaking podcast and recorded a conversation with Longo in the Pierpoint kitchen.In this episode: Secrets of a great crab cake. Plus, something new: The Crab Corn Coddie, a mashup of a classic crab cake and the Baltimore coddie, with some sweet corn added for crunch. It was Dan’s idea, developed at home, and he asked Longo to bring her expertise to the evolving recipe. The chef was game to give it a try. In fact, Longo liked the concept so much she plans to put the Crab Corn Coddie on Pierpoint’s menu as a special on Wednesday evening, Oct. 23.

The Orioles have encouraged fans to have patience through he next few years of Baltimore baseball until the rebuild process shows results.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has voiced opposition to the ambitious Kirwan Commission proposals calling them “half baked” and “fiscally irresponsible.” With recommendations for how to pay for the plans slated to go public this month, lawmakers expect a clash between Hogan and his allies and supporters of education reform.

In Carroll County, Maryland, a years-old lawsuit that sought to bar the county’s commissioners from leading prayers at their meetings came to a dramatic close this month. But residents might not be content to let the fight end.

After a summer-long work stoppage and public back-and-forths with management, the BSO’s future appears more uncertain than ever.

Nearly two decades after his retirement from the Orioles, Cal Ripken Jr. remains an icon sports world, especially in the Baltimore area. But as it turns out, Ripken’s legacy has inspired more than just baseball fans.

Education advocates say that the difference between Baltimore County and Baltimore City test scores shouldn’t surprise anyone.

Baltimore Orioles star Cal Ripken has been honored in several rap songs.

On Baltimore streets for over a year, dockless scooters are no longer a novelty. And, with the city recently awarding permanent licenses to four vendors, they, along with dockless bikes now coming online, will be part of its transportation mix for the foreseeable future. So far, things have gone smoother than with their Baltimore Bike Share predecessor, but equity and safety issues raised during the pilot program remain. In this episode, Baltimore Sun interns Oyin Adedoyin and Christine Condon share what residents and doctors are saying about the vehicles and explain why Baltimore may be especially well suited for the dockless networks. They’re joined by Sun transportation reporter Colin Campbell.

Did the University of Maryland unnecessarily roll the dice by hiring Mike Locksley in the wake of a nationally-reaching scandal that involved the death of 19-year-old offensive lineman Jordan McNair and allegations of a “toxic” football culture fueled by the coaching staff and administration, or has the Washington, D.C. native demonstrated enough growth and potential to lead a Big Ten football team to a brighter future?

While Maryland gun rights advocates argue that the state’s attempts at curbing shootings have backfired, gun control supporters counter that the state hasn’t done nearly enough to save lives.

What role has the federal government played in Baltimore over the years, and what can it do now to move the city forward?

Editorial writer Peter Jensen reads The Sun's July 27 editorial, ----Better to have a few rats than to be one.----

An all-Asian American and Pacific Islander comedy troupe in Baltimore seeks to rewrite the script, carving out their own place on stage to promote visibility in a space where it’s traditionally been lacking.

The horrific slaying of Dominique Foster led to a weeks-long search for her killer. Police found the 43-year-old’s body hidden near a dumpster on May 12, missing a head, as well as hands, arms and lower legs.Foster’s own father, Lawrence Banks, is charged in her death. The 65-year-old Baltimore man was previously convicted of killing his son and another man. According to Foster’s husband and court records, Banks allegedly abused his daughter as a child, threw her through a window as an infant and continued to engage with sexual behavior with her as an adult.How did Banks avoid longer punishment and, after further accusations of violence, end up reconnecting with his daughter? In this episode, Baltimore Sun police reporter Jessica Anderson joins Newsroom Edition host Pamela Wood to retrace her reporting and research into the suspect’s past. **WARNING: Content may be explicit for some listeners.

Despite pledges on the campaign trail to remain a unifying force in Annapolis throughout his second term, Gov. Larry Hogan sparked outcry from Democrats last week as he announced he would not release $245 million that the legislature put into the state budget for programs and projects including school construction, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and summer jobs for city youth.

This week, you’re the producer, as breaking news and transportation reporter Colin Campbell shares four You Ask, We Answer stories inspired by Sun readers’ curiosity. Come underground, underwater, to the back of the restaurant, and back in time as we reveal lesser-known facts about Federal Hill Park, the Inner Harbor, carryout staple Lake Trout and two Baltimore neighborhoods.Related links:What do you wonder about the Baltimore area that you'd like us to investigate?https://www.baltimoresun.com/ask/bs-you-ask-we-answer-20190228-htmlstory.html'Secret' tunnels are hidden under Baltimore's Federal Hill. Where did they come from and what lies inside?https://www.baltimoresun.com/ask/bs-md-ci-federal-hill-tunnels-20190514-story.htmlYou asked: What's really in Baltimore's Inner Harbor? Here's what we found.https://www.baltimoresun.com/ask/bs-md-ci-what-is-in-inner-harbor-20190404-story.htmlYou asked: What is lake trout? The story behind the Baltimore delicacy with a misleading name.https://www.baltimoresun.com/ask/bs-fo-lake-trout-20190417-story.htmlYou asked: How do Baltimore neighborhoods get their names? The origin behind Pigtown, Sandtown and more.https://www.baltimoresun.com/ask/bs-md-baltimore-neighborhood-origins-20190425-story.html

President Donald Trump spooked Baltimore’s immigrant community last week by announcing that millions of undocumented citizens would be arrested and deported in federal immigration raids across the country. The deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Howard County on Wednesday sparked further concern, fear and uncertainty.In this episode, Baltimore Sun reporter Thalia Juarez sheds light on Baltimore’s immigrant communities and how they’ve responded to the ongoing threat of deportation. She joins guest host John O’Connor, a former radio reporter with WNYC and a current Baltimore Sun politics editor, for an in-depth discussion about the state’s complex relationship with immigrants and the challenges that lie ahead for vulnerable communities.

With so much to do, see and taste this summer, many of Baltimore's hidden gems may get lost in the shuffle.

Baltimore Sun reporter Justin Fenton spent the last year reporting on the inner-workings of the corrupt Gun Trace Task Force members and their leader, Sgt. Wayne Jenkins. What exactly did he spend his time doing? Hear more about his reporting process and his fight to obtain records.

On the surface, former Baltimore Police Sgt. Wayne Jenkins appeared to have earned his reputation as a rising star in the department for his unparalleled ability to get guns off the streets. But a deep dive into Jenkins and the force in which he operated reveals how the well-regarded cop — and the elite Gun Trace Task Force squad he led — manipulated the criminal justice system to rob and steal with impunity over the course of several years. On this episode, Justin Fenton joins Newsroom Edition host Pamela Wood to review key takeaways from the series, explain his reporting process and provide an overview of the road ahead for the Baltimore Police Department.

Despite increased awareness of the opioid epidemic, the public health crisis continues to ravage communities across the nation each year. This holds true especially in states such as Maryland, where the number of opioid overdose deaths per year has escalated into the thousands. Gov. Larry Hogan even declared a state of emergency in March 2017, becoming the first governor in the nation to take such a step.A new book published by two Baltimore-based experts in addiction medicine and public health suggests that a connection may exist between opioids’ continued havoc and a general misunderstanding of the pandemic — from the language utilized to describe those afflicted with substance-use disorders to the distribution of funds meant to decrease the death toll.Together, married couple Yngvild Olson and Joshua Sharfstein wrote “The Opioid Epidemic: What Everyone Needs to Know,” to discuss the misconceptions about the opioid crisis and what lawmakers, physicians and citizens can do to address it. They sit down with Baltimore Sun investigative reporter Doug Donovan to review key takeaways from the book.Call the Behavioral Health System Baltimore at 410-433-5175 if you are in crisis.

In the wake of the Mueller report, a new CNN poll shows an increase among Democrats for Donald Trump's impeachment while Republicans remain adamant in their support of the president, evidence of what presidential historian Richard Striner describes as tribalism -- fierce political loyalty beyond ideology and mere partisanship.Meanwhile, former vice-president Joe Biden is the current front-runner among Democrats seeking their party's nomination. But Biden's status is starting to take a hit from the party's progressive wing.On the show: Mileah Kromer is associate professor of political science and the director of the Sarah T. Hughes Field Politics Center at Goucher College; she oversees the Goucher Poll. Richard Striner is a professor of history at Washington College and an author of books on American presidents, film and architecture.

In 2016, historic Ellicott City experienced a record flood that tore lives, businesses and the county apart. In 2018, it happened again —u160uanother devastating flood, perhaps even more egregiousu160uthan the first.A year after the 2018 storm, Howard County has put forth a massive plan to reduce future flooding in the town. But after experiencing so much loss, how confident are residents and business owners in their government to keep them safe?In this episode, Howard County Times reporter Erin B. Logan joins Newsroom Edition host Pamela Wood to detail the town’s recovery in the wake of two deadly floods.

Welcome to summer in Maryland, where crab is king. Last year, the state’s popular crustacean industry suffered as nearly half of Maryland’s crab houses were unable to secure enough H2-B visas for foreign workers, whom they rely on to pick the meat sold at restaurants and supermarkets. Some reported revenue decreases of 50 percent or more.But this year’s crab market appears to be in better shape, as the Trump administration made 30,000 additional visas available for the temporary labor program. While Maryland’s crab proprietors say they feel confident about this summer’s crab yield, they’re concerned about what the future holds for their businesses, as the demand for temporary worker visas continues to surge.On today’s episode: Baltimore Sun weather, science and environment reporter Scott Dance joins Newsroom Edition host Pamela Wood for a wide-ranging discussion about the future of Maryland crabs, the state of their habitat in the Chesapeake Bay and what you need to know before hosting your own cookout.

When you’ve devoted nearly 46 years to teaching political science and a good part of that time to being a pundit, you get to have an exit interview when retirement grows nigh. This spring’s semester at McDaniel College in Westminster was Herb Smith’s last as a professor of political science. For many years, he was a regular go-to political commentator for Maryland reporters, and his keenest skill was bringing historical perspective, and much-needed humor, to current affairs. Smith and former state secretary of state John Willis literally wrote the book on Maryland politics --- published by the University of Nebraska Press in 2012, and titled, ----Maryland Politics and Government: Democratic Dominance.---- On this show: Herb Smith reflects on American politics from the time of Eisenhower to Trump.

The battle over keeping the Preakness in Baltimore has ignited a divisive political conflict that’s quietly been brewing, mostly out of public view, for years. For nearly 150 years, the second jewel of the triple crown has hosted names like Seabiscuit, Secretariat and dozens of two-legged celebrities for the Preakness, including models, athletes, and actors. The race attracts hundreds of thousands of fans to the area on Preakness weekend.But despite its historic roots, the millions of dollars it generates, and a state requirement that Baltimore must host the Preakness barring an extreme disaster or emergency, its owners have expressed more interest in investing its future in its Laurel Park facility, some 30 miles away.Baltimore Sun reporting revealed this year that the Canadian-based Stronach group, the owner of the track and the race, has spent most of the state aid it receives for track improvements on Laurel Park since 2013. Though track in Laurel hosts significantly more horse racing events than its Baltimore counterpart and may prove to be in better condition, city residents, neighborhood leaders and others maintain that moving the Preakness away from Baltimore would wreak further havoc on an area in decline.In this episode: Community leaders, city residents, policy experts and Baltimore Sun reporters wade in to help untangle the question at the heart of this debate: Is the Baltimore Preakness worth saving? *Note: A previous version of this episode misstated when the Baltimore Colts left Baltimore. The Colts left Baltimore in March 1984. We regret the error.

Call it beginner’s luck, but rookie Lamar Jackson’s record-breaking 2018 season left the Ravens management wanting more. So much more, in fact, that they traded veteran quarterback Joe Flacco for a fourth-round NFL draft pick and did not play him after he recovered from his week 9 hip injury — a decision that many criticized during the infamous Wild Card Round playoff game against the Los Angeles Chargers, which ended in a 23-17 defeat. With Flacco’s departure, the team has vowed to head in a “new direction,” with Jackson at the helm. Outside of the Ravens’ administration, not everyone is as confident in this rebranding effort or Jackson’s ability to carry an offense — much less get through a game without fumbling. However, the team’s management, now headed by new general manager Eric DeCosta, is sticking by its decision.Ravens beat reporter Jonas Shaffer joins Roughly Speaking host Pamela Wood to discuss the Ravens’ big gamble on Lamar Jackson and other important decisions that the team has made as it enters the 2019 season.

How will history remember Pugh? Baltimore Sun reporters Luke Broadwater and Ian Duncan join Pamela Wood to discuss the many shades of Pugh’s legacy. Then, editorial page editor Andy Green joins to comment on the kind of leader the city seeks to move it forward.

Many woke up Thursday to the news that federal law enforcement agents had raided multiple locations in Baltimore with ties to Mayor Catherine Pugh, who has been on a leave of absence as mayor for the past four weeks. The raids confirmed that federal as well as state officials were investigating Pugh’s activities. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, all members of the Baltimore City Council and several other state officials have called for Pugh’s resignation. Her attorney, Steve Silverman said she was not “lucid” enough to make a decision about stepping down. But that could change by next week, he said.On this episode: Baltimore Sun politics reporters Pamela Wood and Luke Broadwater break down this week’s dramatic crescendo and what pieces of information have yet to come to light.

Two prominent Maryland figures entered the spotlight this week, albeit for very different reasons. Days after Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's return from New Hampshire, an early-caucus state considered a ----must---- stop for potential presidential candidates, federal law enforcement agents spread out across Baltimore, raiding City Hall and other several other locations with connections to Mayor Catherine Pugh. It was the first confirmation that federal authorities, as well as state officials, were investigating the mayor's activities, who has been on a leave of absence as she recovers from pneumonia for four weeks.On this episode, Baltimore Sun columnist Dan Rodricks discusses the high-profile moments-in-parallel with McDaniel College political science professor Herb Smith, Sun editorial page editor Andy Green and Sun State House bureau reporter Luke Broadwater.

On April 27, 2015, the day of Freddie Gray’s funeral in Baltimore, police and youth clashed near the Mondawmin metro stop in a skirmish that would thrust the city into the international spotlight. For four years, police, youth and others there that day has shared their version of events, leaving unanswered questions. Who, in reality, initiated the confrontation? And who was responsible for shutting down the transit service that day, a decision that left many high school students stranded in the center of the clashes?Baltimore Sun reporter Kevin Rector has sought to review surveillance footage from that day to paint a clearer picture. The Maryland Transit Administration continues to deny that request. But for the first time, the MTA has released records related to the April 2015 unrest that provide new insights, and revive old questions, about one of the most controversial and consequential moments in Baltimore’s history. Rector sits down with Roughly Speaking host Pamela Wood to discuss the findings and provide insight into a four-year-long hunt for surveillance video that he and many others believe they are entitled to view.

In the final episode of ----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition,---- Baltimore Sun State House reporters Luke Broadwater and Pamela Wood talk with Goucher College pollster Mileah Kromer about the legacy of House of Delegates Speaker Michael Busch. He presided over a progressive agenda as speaker that included ending the death penalty, decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana, legalizing same-sex marriage and in this session raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour.----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition---- is a partnership between the Baltimore Sun and Goucher College that will run during the 90-day Maryland General Assembly session.

Overriding Gov. Hogan's vetoes, the failure of medically assisted suicide and the ----joint chiefs---- in Annapolis: In the penultimate (13th) episode of ----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition,---- Baltimore Sun State House reporter Luke Broadwater and Goucher College pollster Mileah Kromer talk about the Democratic-controlled legislature's override of Gov. Larry Hogan's vetoes, including the $15 minimum wage, and the failure of medically assisted suicide. Sun politics reporter Pamela Wood joins to discuss several gun control measures and the debate over whether school should start after Labor Day. The show's guests are two of the most influential, but little-known people in Annapolis: Alexandra M. Hughes, the chief of staff for House of Delegates Speaker Michael Busch, and Jake Weissmann, the chief of staff for Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller. Among other topics, they discuss the evolving scandal rocking the University of Maryland Medical System over allegations of ----self-dealing---- and no-bid contracting among board members, including Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh.----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition---- is a partnership between the Baltimore Sun and Goucher College that will run during the 90-day Maryland General Assembly session.

The uber-musical “Hamilton” comes to Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theater in June, and in this episode of the show: Some Maryland history related to Alexander Hamilton, founder of the nation’s financial system and its first Secretary of the Treasury. In McCulloch v. Maryland, a case that went to the U.S. Supreme Court in the winter of 1819, statesman Daniel Webster defended the legitimacy of a national bank that had opened a branch in Baltimore. The Maryland General Assembly, sympathetic to struggling state bankers, had tried to tax the federal bank out of existence. Webster invoked Hamilton’s belief in the ----implied powers---- of the Constitution to broadly define the national government’s supremacy over the states. As a result, McCulloch is considered one of the most important Supreme Court decisions in history.Our guest, Kathleen Day, covers the decision in her new book of American financial history.A long-time journalist, Day is now on the faculty of the Johns Carey Business School, where she lectures on the history of the country’s banking system and why financial crises keep happening. Her book, ----Broken Bargain -- Bankers, Bailouts and the Struggle to Tame Wall Street,---- was published earlier this year by Yale University Press.

In the 12th episode of ----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition,---- Baltimore Sun State House reporter Luke Broadwater and Goucher College pollster Mileah Kromer talk about the evolving scandal rocking the University of Maryland Medical System over allegations of ----self-dealing---- and no-bid contracting among board members. Sun politics reporter Pamela Wood joins the discussion about the continuing battle to save the Preakness from moving to Laurel. The show's guests are the youngest lawmakers from each General Assembly chamber: Sen. Sarah Elfreth, 30, an Anne Arundel Democrat and Del. Julian Ivey, 23, a Prince George's County Democrat, who discuss everything from oysters and gun legislation to the biggest lessons they've learned from their first session in office.

In the 11th episode of ----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition,---- Baltimore Sun State House reporters Luke Broadwater and Pamela Wood talk about the intense scrutiny facing the University of Maryland Medical System over its contracting practices, including $500,000 in payments to Mayor Catherine Pugh for self-published ----Healthy Holly---- books. They also discuss the flurry of legislation moving in the General Assembly on ----crossover day---- — the deadline for most bills to pass from one chamber to the other.The show's guest is Sen. Bill Ferguson, a Baltimore Democrat who serves on the Kirwan commission to improve public schools. He says he hasn't ruled out a run for mayor.Related links:Baltimore Mayor Pugh resigns from UMMS board as 8,700 books she sold to hospital system sit in warehousehttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-pugh-resigns-umms-board-20190318-story.htmlSen. Ferguson calls on Baltimore Mayor Pugh to return $500,000 to medical system from book dealhttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-ferguson-pugh-20190318-story.htmlRepublican Gov. Larry Hogan calls Democratic-controlled Maryland legislature 'reckless' and 'pro-criminal'https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-hogan-democrats-20190318-story.htmlMaryland House of Delegates OKs bills requiring long gun background checks, banning 3D-printed gunshttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-house-gun-bills-20190318-story.html

Amazon, FedEx and Under Armour are the first major tenants of Tradepoint Atlantic in Baltimore County, the sprawling former site of the largest steel-making operation in the world, where more than 30,000 men and women were employed in 1959. But Bethlehem Steel is long gone, and now Tradepoint Atlantic, a private joint venture, is in the process of redeveloping the waterfront land for a hub of e-commerce and manufacturing. So far, the complex features mostly warehouse and distribution centers with 3,500 jobs. More are coming, and Tradepoint plans to redevelop the old Beth Steel shipyard into a deep-water port for bulk materials. Investors believe they will eventually bring 10,000 jobs and another 7,000 related jobs to the Point. In this episode: Aaron Tomarchio, a senior vice-president of Tradepoint Atlantic, gives a tour of the 3,300-acre complex and catches us up on the massive redevelopment project.

In the 10th episode of ----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition,---- Baltimore Sun reporter Luke Broadwater and Goucher College pollster Dr. Mileah Kromer talk about the House of Delegates' vote to legalize medically assisted suicide, the effort to repeal the Handgun Permit Review Board and how a Sun investigation is changing state policy. The show's guest is Del. Eric Luedtke, a Montgomery County Democrat who gave moving testimony on the so-called ----aid-in-dying---- bill. Sun reporters Pamela Wood and Catherine Rentz provide insight and analysis.----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition---- is a partnership between the Baltimore Sun and Goucher College that will run during the 90-day Maryland General Assembly session.

In the ninth episode of ----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition,---- Baltimore Sun reporter Luke Broadwater and Goucher College pollster Dr. Mileah Kromer talk about the House of Delegates' censure of Harford County Del. Mary Ann Lisanti after she apologized for using a racist slur. They also check in on important bills moving through the General Assembly, including two that affect the future of horse-racing in Maryland. The show's guest is Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford, who talks about how the GOP needs to move beyond the ----hardcore right.---- Sun reporters Pamela Wood and Kevin Rector provide insight and analysis.----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition---- is a partnership between the Baltimore Sun and Goucher College that will run during the 90-day Maryland General Assembly session.Related links:Maryland delegate says she won't resign after House censures her for 'racist and hateful slur'https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-lisanti-censure-20190228-story.htmlAs Pimlico faded, its owners were pouring money into their Laurel track. Was anyone watching?https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/horse-racing/bs-md-pimlico-accountability-20190226-story.htmlMedically assisted suicide bill moves forward in Maryland General Assemblyhttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-death-bill-vote-20190301-story.htmlLong at home behind the scenes, Boyd Rutherford takes on new roleshttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-boyd-rutherford-succession-20150622-story.html

Gazze is one of the Baltimore area's oldest party bands, going back to teen dances in the 1970s. In fact, if you attended a wedding, bah mitzvah, dance, bull roast, crab feast or fundraiser over the last 47 years, there’s a good chance the music at that event came from Gazze -- a cover band with a brass section and a talented lead singer and dancer, Dwight Weems, the last of the founding members.In this episode: Can a group that played other people’s music for 40-plus years come up with its own? Gazze has done it, recording an album of 11 original songs at Invisible Sound Studio before it closed for good last year. On the show: Dwight Weems and four members of the current Gazze -- vocalists Shannon Ramsey and Dana Satisky, guitarist Dave Leoni and keyboard man Marty Cannelli. The conversation was recorded at Stages Music Arts in Hunt Valley. Gazze's album, Building 46, is available online.

Sun investigation into sexual assault waivers gets results; the debate over gender neutral driver's licenses; and an interview with Sen. Stephen Hershey: In the eighth episode of ----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition,---- Baltimore Sun reporter Luke Broadwater and Goucher College pollster Dr. Mileah Kromer talk about what it's like being a State House reporter and spotlight some of the key debates in the Maryland General Assembly, including whether to add a non-binary gender classification on drivers' licenses. The show's guest is State Sen. Stephen Hershey, an Eastern Shore Republican, who is minority whip. Sun State House reporter Pamela Wood provides analysis.Roughly Speaking: Government Edition---- is a partnership between the Baltimore Sun and Goucher College that will run during the 90-day Maryland General Assembly session.Related links:Anne Arundel County police to stop asking sex assault victims to waive rights to investigationhttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/investigations/bs-md-sexual-assault-waiver-reaction-20190219-story.htmlM, F or X: Democratic senator's bill would allow gender-neutral option for Maryland driver's licenseshttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-drivers-license-gender-20190220-story.htmlMaryland Senate rejects nominees to handgun permit review board, citing board's rate of granting appealshttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-handgun-board-nominees-20190222-story.htmlMaryland GOP wages 'Fight for Five' campaign to end Democrats' supermajority in state Senatehttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-fight-for-five-20181017-story.html

Over dinner at Gertrude's in Baltimore, film critics Linda DeLibero and Christopher Llewellyn Reed talk about the 2019 Oscars and four great movies you probably won't hear much about during Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony. Take notes in case you missed them: ----If Beale Street Could Talk,---- and ----First Reformed,---- both victims of major Oscar snubs, and two foreign-language films: ----Shoplifters,---- and ----Capernaum.---- Linda and Chris handicap the major Oscar categories for us, and they debate the merits of Alfonso Cuaron's ----Roma,---- currently considered the frontrunner for Best Picture. Linda DeLibero directs film and media studies at Johns Hopkins University. Chris Reed is professor and chair of the department of film and moving image at Stevenson University.

Baltimore Sun reporter Luke Broadwater and Goucher College pollster Dr. Mileah Kromer go in-depth on the Goucher Poll results on the key issues facing Marylanders, including whether to raise the minimum wage, legalize marijuana and ban tobacco for people younger than 21. The show's special guest is District 11 state Del. Shelly Hettleman, a Baltimore County Democrat who speaks about her work to expand testing of rape kits and other issues. Sun State House reporter Pamela Wood and breaking news reporter Sarah Meehan also join the discussion.“Roughly Speaking: Government Edition---- is a partnership between the Baltimore Sun and Goucher College that will run during the 90-day Maryland General Assembly session.Related links:Goucher Poll: Legalizing pot, raising minimum wage, banning plastic foam products popular in Marylandhttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-goucher-policy-poll-20190215-story.htmlMaryland lawmakers consider raising the age to buy tobacco from 18 to 21https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-tobacco-age-20190215-story.htmlHere's where Maryland's next bridge across the Chesapeake Bay could start and endhttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-co-bay-bridge-20190211-story.htmlThousands more untested rape kits revealed in Maryland as authorities ramp up efforts to process evidencehttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-untested-rape-kits-20181107-story.html

In the sixth episode of ----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition,---- Baltimore Sun reporter Luke Broadwater and Goucher College pollster Dr. Mileah Kromer discuss the heated debate over the General Assembly's push to overturn Gov. Larry Hogan's order that public schools may not start classes until after Labor Day, before interviewing District 13 state Del. Vanessa Atterbeary, a Howard County Democrat and vice chairwoman of the Judiciary Committee. After extolling the diversity of her district, Atterbeary shares her reaction to the unfolding scandal in Virginia, and describes the racism she says she witnessed in the state as an undergraduate. Sun State House reporter Pamela Wood and Opinion Page editor Andy Green also stop by.----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition---- is a partnership between the Baltimore Sun and Goucher College that will run during the 90-day Maryland General Assembly session.Links:Maryland Gov. Hogan fights back against lawmakers over post-Labor Day school year starthttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-hogan-labor-day-20190207-story.htmlRepublicans condemn Democratic senator's remark on Maryland Gov. Hogan as attempt to link him to George Wallacehttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-pinsky-governor-20190208-story.htmlThe handgun board that couldn't shoot straighthttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bs-ed-0207-handgun-permit-20190205-story.htmlFresh faces of power in Annapolis in the 2019 Maryland General Assembly sessionhttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-assembly-fresh-faces-20181224-story.html

In this episode: A look back to 1896 and a landmark Supreme Court decision that is considered one of the worst in the court's history. In Plessy v. Ferguson, the court upheld a Louisiana law that required racial separation on passenger trains. The decision preserved and furthered segregation (----separate but equal----) throughout the nation well into the 20th Century. Guest: Baltimore-based journalist and author Steve Luxenberg, a former Sun reporter and editor, and senior editor at The Washington Post. His new book, being published this week, is “Separate: The Story of Plessy v. Ferguson, and America's Journey from Slavery to Segregation.” On Wednesday at 7 p.m., Steve Luxenberg will be in conversation with Judge Robert M. Bell, former chief judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals, at the Church of the Redeemer, 5603 N. Charles Street. The Ivy Bookshop will have copies of the book for sale at a signing following the program.

Hogan's ----State of the State,---- gun laws and Sen. Justin Ready: In the fifth episode of ----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition,---- Baltimore Sun reporter Luke Broadwater and Goucher College pollster Dr. Mileah Kromer talk about tax cuts, gun laws and Gov. Hogan's ----State of the State---- speech, before interviewing State Sen. Justin Ready, a Carroll County Republican. Sun reporters Pamela Wood and Doug Donovan join the discussion.----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition---- is a partnership between the Baltimore Sun and Goucher College that will run during the 90-day Maryland General Assembly session.Links:Gov. Hogan calls for targeted tax cuts, school oversight and tougher sentencing in 'State of the State' speechhttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-hogan-state-20190130-story.htmlFact check: Filling in the details on Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's rosy view of bipartisan state leadershiphttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-hogan-facts-20190130-story.htmlMaryland Democrats seek to make state 'foam free,' cut prescription costs, hike minimum wage to $15 an hourhttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-democratic-priorities-20190129-story.htmlGun control advocates push to ban build-your-own guns, expand background checks on private saleshttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-gun-control-20190131-story.html

In the fourth episode of ----Roughly Speaking: Government Edition,---- Baltimore Sun reporter Luke Broadwater and Goucher College pollster Dr. Mileah Kromer talk about criminal justice issues affecting Maryland, including the Anton Black case and a proposed police force for Johns Hopkins University, before interviewing State Sen. Jill P. Carter, a Baltimore Democrat who is the former director of Baltimore's Office of Civil Rights. Sun reporters Pamela Wood and Talia Richman join the discussion.Roughly Speaking: Government Edition---- is a partnership between the Baltimore Sun and Goucher College that will run during the 90-day Maryland General Assembly session.Links:https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-anton-black-greensboro-20190124-story.htmlhttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-bloomberg-hopkins-police-20190122-story.htmlhttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-ci-carter-letter-20181018-story.htmlhttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-house-livestream-20190122-story.html

Baltimore's long-standing problem with thousands of abandoned houses and blighted communities is gradually being addressed -- with state funds for demolition and initiatives by the city to raise funds for affordable housing and new development in previously overlooked neighborhoods. One of the key organizations on the affordable-housing front is Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake. Since it came on the scene in the 1980s, Habitat Chesapeake has built or restored about 750 homes in the city, Baltimore County, Howard County and Anne Arundel County.On this show: A catch-up conversation and ride-along with Mike Posko, CEO of Habitat Chesapeake, about the non-profit's building projects and its HabiCorps skills-training program.We visit two neighborhoods where Habitat has completed projects -- Woodbourne-McCabe in north Baltimore, and Orchard Ridge in the northeastern part of the city.

Baltimore Sun reporter Luke Broadwater and Goucher College pollster Dr. Mileah Kromer talk about Gov. Larry Hogan's inauguration, budget and whether ----Hogan 2020---- is real, before interviewing District 20 State Sen. William C. Smith Jr., a Montgomery County Democrat who is chairman of the Veterans Caucus. Sun reporters Pamela Wood and Liz Bowie join the discussion.Roughly Speaking: Government Edition---- is a partnership between the Baltimore Sun and Goucher College that will run during the 90-day Maryland General Assembly session.Links:https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-hogan-inauguration-20190116-story.htmlhttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-hogan-niskanen-20190117-story.htmlhttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-budget-takeaways-20190118-story.htmlhttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-hogan-budget-preview-20190117-story.htmlhttps://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/education/bs-md-kirwan-report-20190118-story.html