It’s a busy time at the state Capitol, with just over one month to go until the state budget is due. Groups are bringing advocates by the hundreds to try to get their favored items placed into the spending plan. Meanwhile, there are lingering recriminations over the failed Amazon deal.

Democrats who want to increase the capital gains tax in Connecticut say there’s no evidence it would lead to the wealthy fleeing the state.

As the COVID-19 pandemic began to pick up in Alaska, Dr. Anne Zink, the state's chief medical officer, faced a difficult choice. Should she continue in-person meetings and nightly briefings with Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy? Or should she opt for a more socially distant form of engagement? Zink chose the latter, saying she wanted to model the behavior that she has been appealing to residents to follow. She now appears at Dunleavy's briefings by video. And over the past two months, she has become a trusted voice as she urges Alaskans to follow the strict social distancing and other public health guidelines adopted by the state administration — which doctors groups have credited with keeping the state's COVID-19 numbers among the lowest in the country. Zink, who has a Facebook fan club and a #ThinkLikeZink hashtag , isn't the only public health official to acquire a cultlike following during the pandemic: Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal infectious disease expert, has inspired a Saturday

Dr. Grace Farris is chief of hospital medicine at Mount Sinai West in Manhattan. She also writes a monthly comics column in the Annals of Internal Medicine called "Dr Mom." You can find her on Instagram @coupdegracefarris . Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Monty and Rose met last year on a beach on the north side of Chicago. Their attraction was intense, immediate, and you might say, fruitful. Somewhere between the roll of lake waves and the shimmer of skyscrapers overlooking the beach, Monty and Rose fledged two chicks. They protected their offspring through formative times. But then, in fulfillment of nature's plan, they parted ways, and left the chicks to make their own ways in the world. Monty and Rose are piping plovers, an endangered species of bird of which there may only be 6,000 or 7,000 in the world, including Monty, Rose and their chicks. They were the first piping plovers to nest in Chicago in more than 60 years. After their chicks fledged, they drifted apart. Rose went off to Florida for the winter, and Monty made his way to the Texas coast. They'd always have the North Side, but were each on their own in a huge, fraught world. And then, just a few days ago, Monty and Rose were sighted again, on the same patch of sand on

Updated at 9:44 a.m. ET As a young woman growing up in a poor farming community in Virginia in the 1940 and '50s, with little information about sex or contraception, sexuality was a frightening thing for Carole Cato and her female friends. "We lived in constant fear, I mean all of us," she said. "It was like a tightrope. always wondering, is this going to be the time [I get pregnant]?" Cato, 78, now lives in Columbia, S.C. She grew up in the years before the birth control pill was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, on May 9, 1960. She said teenage girls in her community were told very little about how their bodies worked. "I was very fortunate; I did not get pregnant, but a lot of my friends did. And of course, they just got married and went into their little farmhouses," she said. "But I just felt I just had to get out." At 23, Cato married a widower who already had seven children. They decided seven was enough. By that time, Cato said, the pill allowed the couple to

Restaurants were one of the first and hardest hit by our current health crisis and looks like they will remain closed for a while. WEMU's Lisa Barry talks with John Reyes of Eater.com about how Washtenaw County restaurants are evolving during the current health crisis and what they are doing to try and still serve customers and maintain their bottom line.

Using her time in quarantine to rework ABBA's classic 'Chiquitita', the 'Believe' hitmaker will debut her new track on May 8 and release its video as part of UNICEF's COVID-19 Virtual Special.

In episode one, host Will McInerney talks with Farris Barakat about the night his brother Deah was killed along with Deah's wife Yusor Abu-Salha and sister-in-law Razan Abu-Salha. All three Muslim-Americans were shot execution style in their home. Subscribe to this Podcast Stories with a Heartbeat is a new WUNC podcast about the human condition in conflict. Host Will McInerney is an award-winning poet who travels the globe exploring conflict and what it says about us as people. This podcast weaves together interviews, sound, music and poetic reflection into 15 minutes that will pull listeners in and encourage them to explore friction. "Along the journey, I discovered that conflict is a prism; a window into the human condition. In conflict we see the full spectrum, from the unthinkably worst to the absolute best, from resilience to despair, and from life to death," McInerney says. "So what happens when we break down the simplified and dehumanized narratives we so often hear? What

In episode two, host Will McInerney talks with reporter Reema Khrais about her personal connections to the Chapel Hill Shootings, and Will travels to the Syrian border to visit a dental clinic named in honor of Deah, Yusor, and Razan. Subscribe to this Podcast Stories with a Heartbeat is a new podcast hosted by poet Will McInerney that explores the human condition in conflict through poetry, listening, and conversation. On February 10th, 2015 Deah Barakat, his wife Yusor Abu-Salha, and her sister Razan Abu-Salha were murdered in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. All three young American-Muslims were shot and killed execution style in their home. Last episode on Stories with a Heartbeat, we relived the night of the Chapel Hill Shootings through the eyes of Deah’s brother, Farris Barakat. Shortly after that night, this story echoed around the world as the victims’ legacy was honored from Chapel Hill to the Syrian border, and concerns over hate crimes and Islamophobia moved to the forefront.

In episode three, we follow Farris Barakat to Reyhanli, Turkey where he is working to complete his brother's mission and help Syrian refugee kids smile. Subscribe to this Podcast Stories with a Heartbeat is a new podcast hosted by poet Will McInerney that explores the human condition in conflict through poetry, listening, and conversation. Over the past two episodes, Stories with a Heartbeat has been exploring personal narratives and connections to the Chapel Hill Shootings. On February 10th, 2015 Deah Barakat, his wife Yusor Abu-Salha, and her sister Razan Abu-Salha were murdered in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. All three young American-Muslims were shot and killed execution style in their home. The Barakat’s, a Syrian American family, have close ties the region and are known for helping those in need. The summer after the Chapel Hill Shootings, Deah’s brother Farris Barakat, and his father Namee Barakat, went to the Turkish-Syrian border to volunteer. Well actually Deah planned the

Was the Chapel Hill Shooting a parking dispute or a hate crime? In this episode of Stories with a Heartbeat we talk about apologies and personal connections with two people at the heart of this question, reporter Reema Khrais and Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue. Subscribe to this Podcast On February 10th, 2015 Deah Barakat, his wife Yusor Abu-Salha, and her sister Razan Abu-Salha were murdered in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. All three young American-Muslims were shot and killed execution style in their home. Their neighbor, Craig Stephen Hicks, turned himself in, was arrested, and charged with three counts of first-degree murder. Two clear narratives started to emerge immediately after the crime. On one hand, family, friends, and community members saw this violent act as a clear hate crime targeting the three young Muslims. Reporter Reema Khrais, a member of the local Muslim community and a reporter covering the story for WUNC, recalls the morning after the murders vividly. I was

Poet Mohammad Moussa believes his friend Deah Barakat was murdered in a hate crime; and he refuses to remain silent. Shattered Glass, Mohammad’s multi-media spoken word poetry show is a year of reflection and mourning wrapped in the power of storytelling and signed with a poet’s pen. It’s a demand for answers and accountability, and it’s a journey that leaves us both broken and whole. On this episode of Stories with a Heartbeat , host Will McInerney sits down with Mohammad Moussa to talk about poetry, processing, and parking disputes. Subscribe to this Podcast Over the past four episodes of Stories with a Heartbeat we explored the human stories behind the Chapel Hill shooting. We pulled out the magnified glass and the atlas to track the emotions and motives of this complex narrative. We talked to family members, close friends, the police, and local reporters. Today, we turn to a poet to help us make sense of it all. This is the final installment in our 5-part series on the tragedy. On

George Yamazawa uses spoken word poetry to address personal conflicts and inner struggles. Yamazawa is a National Poetry Slam Champion and his writing is deeply tied to his Japanese-American heritage. In this episode of Stories with a Heartbeat , host Will McInerney talks with poet George "G" Yamazawa , and we hear a poem by G about a conflict involving language, identity, and his father's accent. In his poem, “The Bridge” (which recently went viral ) G reflects on his frustrations and fears about not being able to fully communicate in his parent’s native tongue, Japanese. “I love being American.” G says, “But the thought of your language being lost is something I’ve worried about and something that makes me feel disconnected.” In the poem, G explores his father’s Japanese accent as a reminder of his own internal struggles with language and identity in America. "The accent is the mark of an immigrant. It's a ruler with mile-long increments that measures the distance away from home." In

Seven poets from across the US share new works written and posted to Facebook within one day of the recent mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando . These poems are raw, personal, and earnest. In the wake of such horrific violence, host Will McInerney passes the mic to seven writers to help us understand what happened at the Pulse nightclub on June 12th . When the country is collectively at a loss for words, sometimes poets can help us find them. Subscribe to this Podcast

School is full of conflict. This week we explore three conflicts in the classroom. Students and teachers use poetry and stories to reflect on moments of friction at school and help us understand why they matter. Stories with a Heartbeat is a new podcast from WUNC hosted by poet Will McIneney that uses poetry and storytelling to explore the complexity of conflict.

In a month filled with tragedy, how do we make sense of it all? This week on the podcast, we use a poetic lens to try and find meaning within conflict. July 2016 is Dhaka and Baghdad and Medina and Baton Rouge and Falcon Heights and Dallas and Aleppo and Juba and Nice and another and another and another - and another. It feels like the news won’t stop. It feels like the second this is published there will be another name to add to the list. This week on Stories with a Heartbeat , we turn to poetry. Poetry does not have all the answers or some magic solution, but it connects us, it helps us find meaning, and it inspires us to think and act. In the first story, host Will McInerney reflects on a simple conversation with a Palestinian refugee that both challenged and changed the way he reports on tragedy. Conflict brings out the full spectrum of human potential. Conflict exposes the unthinkably worst in people, and it simultaneously shines light on the absolute best. Conflict is human, it

CJ Suitt is a young black poet living in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. And he has a simple and frightening question, "Would I be shot if I called the police?" CJ uses his poetry to combat stereotypes and to build bridges of understanding. But he admits, in the wake of yet another series of high profile killings of black men by the police, something has changed. CJ no longer feels safe walking at night. This week on Stories with a Heartbeat, CJ Suitt shares his thoughts and poetry on the fear of police violence. Download This Week’s Episode CJ is not afraid of being robbed or assaulted. He is afraid of being perceived as a threat. "It's night time, I'm a black male, a dark skinned black male. I'm walking in the street. People don't see nothing but a shadow. And because there is no understanding. Or a willingness to understand. There is just a jump to a reaction," he said. But CJ is not only afraid of being perceived as a threat. He is also afraid because there is no one he can call for

As athletes from around the world compete for gold in Rio this summer, poets from across the U.S. are facing off in a different kind of competition. It is called a poetry slam. On this episode of Stories with a Heartbeat , we talk to poetry slam champion Dasan Ahanu to figure out what this poetic conflict is all about, and how to win. Download Episode 11 Now In 2010, Dasan Ahanu and host Will McInerney were on a slam team together. They were competing in the Southern Fried Poetry Slam . Southern Fried is one of the the largest and longest running poetry slams in the world. Their team from Durham, North Carolina made it all the way to finals that year. Dasan recalls what it felt like to be in a big-time poetry slam like Southern Fried. "It's one of the most amazing feelings ever, everything moves in slow motion, you feel like there is this aura around you, you are totally conscious of everything you are doing in terms of body motion, you are hearing each word as it comes out," he said.

Graduation speeches tend to be predictable and repetitive. They rarely leave a lasting impression. But a couple months ago, Harvard Graduate School of Education student Donovan Livingston's voice echoed around the world as his poetic commencement speech went viral .

Rafeef Ziadah is a Palestinian poet and human rights activist living in London. Her poem, “We Teach Life, Sir,” is powerful and poignant reminder of the human condition in conflict. On this bonus episode of Stories with a Heartbeat, host Will McInerney reflects on some of the stories from our past episodes covering the Chapel Hill Shooting in season 1. Rafeef's beautiful and moving poetry is emblematic of the legacy and the lasting message of life that Deah Barakat , Yusor Abu Salha , and Razan Abu Salha left behind. Listen to Rafeef's poem with the link below. Download the Bonus Episode Now Season 1 of the Stories with a Heartbeat podcast is over, but you can still download all the episodes today! Stories with a Heartbeat is a new podcast produced by North Carolina Public Radio and hosted by poet Will McInerney that uses poetry and storytelling to help us understand conflict. You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes , Google Play , or your podcast platform of choice. Check out

Amin Drew Law is a Palestinian-American poet and educator based in Washington D.C. In his poem, "The Secret Weapon of Chubby Boys," Amin taps into a classic schoolyard conflict and provides a hilarious and heartwarming solution. On this bonus episode of Stories with a Heartbeat, we reflect on some of the classroom conflicts we covered in season 1 of the podcast. From the first days of elementary to college graduation, we explored the spectrum of friction at school. This week we hear from poet Amin Drew Law with a new, potent, and poetic reminder of school conflict. Download the Bonus Episode Now Season 1 of the Stories with a Heartbeat podcast is over, but you can still download all the episodes today! Stories with a Heartbeat is a new podcast produced by North Carolina Public Radio and hosted by poet Will McInerney that uses poetry and storytelling to help us understand conflict. You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes , Google Play , or your podcast platform of choice. Follow

North Carolina is one of only two states in the US where 16 and 17 years old kids are routinely charged as adults for even the most minor offenses. This policy has serious consequences for the youth involved. In this bonus podcast episode, poet Kane Smego shares a gripping poem called, “Oh Carolina” about justice and conflict in North Carolina. Download the Bonus Episode Now Season 1 of the Stories with a Heartbeat podcast is over, but you can still download all the episodes today! Stories with a Heartbeat is a new podcast produced by North Carolina Public Radio and hosted by poet Will McInerney that uses poetry and storytelling to help us understand conflict. You can subscribe to this podcast on iTunes , Google Play , or your podcast platform of choice. Check out Kane's website to learn more about his poetry. Thanks to Torian Ugworji, Robalu Gibsun, and the VCU Ram Slam for the audio from Kane’s poem. Subscribe To This Podcast

Kieve and Margaret, mom and indie, middle grade and romance author, discuss Kruger’s We Are Not What We Seem. They talk about second wave feminism’s connections to modernism and Lacanian Psychology, collage, and language. Kieve discusses parallels between the SUPREME brand and Kruger’s aesthetic. Buckle up, for an informative, jam packed episode!

Kieve and Camille, a veterinarian and cancer researcher, discuss Kahlo’s Broken Column. The pair blaze through topics like chronic pain, colonialism, race, Catholic symbolism, and Lacanian Psychology, and Feminism. Once again this is a packed episode! I hope you’re excited! Links to art: Music: Fed up with Hunger by Saintsenenca : Patron Saint Regina Spektor Flying Away from Fun Home Lisa Kron and Jeanine Tesori

Kim Manley Ort shares her approach to contemplative photography including exercises you can try using your camera or smartphone. We also discuss the challenges of sharing photos on social media and why they’re worth navigating. Excerpt from her book Adventures in Seeing: How the Camera Teaches You to Pause, Focus, and Connect with Life : “Learn to trust and honor your unique way of seeing and share it with the world. Our world needs people who pause before reacting, who focus on what’s really happening, see the possibilities, and then act from this place. It needs people who don’t feel helpless, who don’t rush to judgment or dismiss people or situations as unworthy of attention. The world needs you to see this way and your camera or smartphone can lead the way.” Follow Kim: KimManleyOrt.com Workshops, on-demand email courses, and retreats Monthly newsletter Instagram Resources that came up in our conversation: Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World ( library ) by

Cheryl Leutjen cares deeply about the future of our planet. But like the rest of us, she often feels overwhelmed by the scope of our environmental challenges and a sense of powerless in the face of so much uncertainty. In her book, Love Earth Now: The Power of Doing One Thing Every Day , she uses humor and candor to inspire others to steer toward personal engagement and sustainable hope. In this conversation, Cheryl shares some of the ways she’s found to approach the challenges of "eco-madness" more mindfully — not to prescribe how others should respond, but to invite each of us to find immediately doable ways to contribute to the sustainable wellbeing of the earth for future generations. Follow Cheryl: CherylLeutjen.com Love Earth Now ( first chapter ) Mango Publishing Author Profile Newsletter Facebook Instagram Twitter Etsy Related: Greta Thunberg: TIME's Person of the Year 2019 Please consider leaving a review , following us on Twitter , and sharing your reflections on Facebook .

Carl Coleman has worked in law enforcement and protection for 30 years. He has provided security for professional sports teams, politicians, and public figures such as Les Wexner, James Caan, and Shaquille O’Neal. He is a lifelong learner who leverages his time to assess his life, come up with ideas, and develop projects. He started to learn how to play the piano as an adult and has been taking lessons for eleven years. Carl and Daron talk about situational awareness, sustaining attention over extended periods of time, and the importance of challenging yourself throughout your life. Carl recommends: Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Rac e by Margot Lee Shetterly and the 2016 movie based on it Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins Additional information related to topics we discussed: "Attentional Fitness Exercises for Musicians" by Daron Larson The Gift of Fear and Other

Arden Kaywin is a singer, voice teacher, and vocal producer based in Los Angeles. She incorporates mindful awareness into her holistic approach to helping singers get out of their heads and realize their full potential for artistic expression. 
 Arden and Daron discuss the kinds of obstacles professional singers run into and how navigating them invariably supports showing up for more fully in their personal lives. Resources related to this conversation: FEAR: False Evidence Appearing Real The DEN Mediation studio in Los Angeles Mindfulness teachers: Heather Prete and Chandresh Bhardwaj (author of Break the Norms ) "For Singers Who Have Ever Felt Stuck In Your Head" A blog post Arden wrote in response to Daron's TEDxColumbus Talk Don't Try to Be Mindful "Attentional Fitness Training for Musicians" A blog post Daron wrote about bringing mindful awareness to musical practice and performance Follow Arden: Arden Kaywin Vocal Studio ( www.ardenkaywinvocalstudio.com ) Facebook Group: The Pro

Created by 'American Vandal' showrunner Dan Lagana, this eight-part series is said to revolve around the life of Joe Schreibvogel, an eccentric zookeeper in Oklahoma, who fights to keep his park open.

In the new episode of the spin-off series of ABC's 'The Bachelor', the remaining six couples will be paired with someone from another couple to test their relationships.

When expressing hopes to steer clear from the upcoming Amazon Prime film, director Patty Jenkins admits that 'Wonder Woman 1984' has left her feeling creatively depleted.

According to Jack Osbourne, a big-screen adaptation chronicling his famous father's early solo career and life with wife Sharon is 'absolutely' in the works.

During Wednesday's (May 6) watch party, producer Christopher Miller revealed that he wanted cameos for all three actors who have played the web-crawler in the live-action movies.

The famed filmmaker has made a mini movie that documents the New Yorkers' struggles in the epicentre of the killer coronavirus pandemic in the United States.

The 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' actor and the 'Arrested Development' alum reportedly live only about 10 minutes away from each other, so she will bike or walk to Brad's place 'whenever they have time to chill.'

During Wednesday's (May 6) watch party, producer Christopher Miller revealed that he wanted cameos for all three actors who have played the web-crawler in the live-action movies.

The retired NBA player has sent a thousand of free pizzas to the key workers during the ongoing coronavirus lockdown at police stations and local hospital in Miami.

The famed filmmaker has made a mini movie that documents the New Yorkers' struggles in the epicentre of the killer coronavirus pandemic in the United States.

The 'Good Golly, Miss Molly' hitmaker has died at the age of 87 after several years of health woes that included hip problems, a stroke, and a heart attack.

The 'Good Golly, Miss Molly' hitmaker has died at the age of 87 after several years of health woes that included hip problems, a stroke, and a heart attack.

THE crippled Greek cargo ship Nymfea was brought to Southampton docks for urgent repairs following a collision with another vessel in the English Channel nearly 55 years ago.

PARKER’S Hotel, at the junction of Terminus Terrace and Bridge Road in Southampton – now the lower end of Bernard Street – is the backdrop for this 1906 photograph.

DWARFED by the huge size of one of Queen Mary’s three funnels, a team of workmen repaint the smokestack as part of the ship’s refit more than 70 years ago.

Mylan CEO Heather Bresch repeatedly told the panel last month that Mylan made just $50 in profit for EpiPens sold for more than $300 apiece.

The MTA's brand new breast cancer awareness month bus is now on the road.

Police say a member of the school board in Connecticut's largest city posed as a police officer and attempted to kidnap a man at gunpoint.

Top vet gains international honours as he seeks world title.

Inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Duchess of Cornwall unveils stunning new Roald Dahl installation.