Dr. Leana Wen joins Tom for Midday Healthwatch for their monthly discussion about the public health of Charm City residents.

Today, Wen will answer your questions about the recent outbreak of bird flu among animal populations, including dairy cows. While documented cases are clustered in just a handful of states, the Maryland Department of Agriculture is taking steps to protect the state’s food supply and residents.

In March there was one documented case of bird flu spreading to a human host, in a person with close contact with cows.

Wen wrote about the spread of the virus for The Washington Post How concerned are public health experts about bird flu?

Wen is a former health commissioner of Baltimore. She’s a columnist on health matters for the Washington Post, a medical expert at CNN, and a scholar at George Washington University and the Brookings Institution.

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Leading Baltimore mayoral candidate Thiru Vignarajah dropped out of the race for the city's top leadership position and endorsed his opponent, Sheila Dixon, ahead of this month’s Democratic primary.

The endorsement came during a surprise announcement Wednesday in Fells Point. Dixon and Vignarajah would not confirm whether a role in Dixon’s administration would be down the road.

Emily Sullivan, City Hall reporter for WYPR's news partner The Baltimore Banner, joins us to discuss the mayoral race and Maryland's 3rd Congressional District race to replace retiring Rep. John Sarbanes.

Plus, early voting in primary elections across Maryland began this week. Residents can register to vote and cast their ballot at an early voting center in the county where they live. Residents can also register on Election Day at their assigned polling place.

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Today is Midday at the Movies, our monthly focus on new films and film-industry trends, with our regular movie aficionado, founding director of the Maryland Film Festival Jed Dietz.

The Maryland Film Festival is this weekend, and promises a slate of films and videos reflecting Charm City's unique culture. Local, national and international screenings covering a broad range of genres are on the festival's lineup.

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In Reading Genesis, author Marilynne Robinson revisits the Scripture and explores the rich themes of the first book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament.

Robinson argues both academic and fundamentalist interpretations of the Book of Genesis lead to a lack of appreciation for the grand example of literature found within this foundational tome.

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Over 30 years ago, The Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies was created in Baltimore, tasked with building bridges between the world's Abrahamic religions.

The organization's founding Executive Director Christopher Leighton released a new book that tries to equip readers to breakdown the anger, fear and mistrust harbored between followers of the different faiths.

In A Sacred Argument: Dispatches from the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim Encounter, Leighton recounts his experience pursuing conversation between polarized groups about difficult centuries-old topics, while addressing the sharp religious divides in today's society.

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Commissioner of the Baltimore City Police Department Richard Worley joins Midday to discuss challenges facing his department, which he has lead for less than a year.

Worley, a native of Pigtown in southeast Baltimore, is a longtime member of the department and was named acting commissioner in June 2023. His nomination was approved by Baltimore city council last October.

Homicides and non-fatal shootings continue to decline in Baltimore and around the country, and the city has announced another expansion of the Group Violence Reduction Strategy. But can police sustain the program with hundreds of patrol vacancies?

(Photo by Ulysses Muñoz, The Baltimore Banner)

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The leading candidates for Baltimore mayor took to the debate stage on Tuesday, in one of the last opportunities for voters to hear from contenders for the city government's top seat.

WJZ-TV, The Baltimore Banner, WYPR Radio, and the Schaefer Center for Public Policy at the University of Baltimore organized the event on UB's main campus.

Incumbent Mayor Brandon Scott, former Mayor Shelia Dixon, attorney Thiru Vignarajah and businessman Bob Wallace answered questions on public safety, city development, affordable housing and other topics.

WYPR reporters John Lee, Wambui Kamau, Emily Hofstaedter discussed the mayoral race before the candidates' opening statements were made.

The debate was moderated by the Banner’s Emily Sullivan, WJZ’s Denise Koch and Midday's Tom Hall and is set to air at 7pm on WJZ-TV, WJZ's websites and at The Baltimore Banner.

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Our series of Conversations with the Candidates concludes today and tomorrow with forums for the top two offices in the city of Baltimore.

Today, the leading candidates in the race for Baltimore City Council President make their case to voters. With just a few weeks before the May 14 primary, the candidates are locked in a three-way tie.

Incumbent Nick Mosby faces challenges from District 1 City Councilman Zeke Cohen and former City Councilwoman Shannon Sneed.

We ask the candidates why they think they are the best choice to lead the city council, and what their plans are for transportation, development, public safety and more.

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On today's Midday newswrap, U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin joins the show to discuss congressional aid for Baltimore following the Key Bridge collapse, and continued military funding for Israel.

Plus, legal scholar Kim Wehle joins us with analysis of yesterday’s Supreme Court hearing in which justices considered the claim by Donald Trump that he is entitled to absolute immunity. We also talk about the controversial case of access to emergency abortions in Idaho. In both cases, Justices appear to be divided.

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Theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck joins Midday to share another weekly review of a local theatrical production.

This week, we discuss the Shakespeare Theatre Company's production of Macbeth on stage through May 5, 2024. Actor Ralph Fiennes stars in the titular role. Is this the definitive version of Macbeth.

(Photo by Marc Brenner)

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In today’s Conversations with the Candidate, John Morse discusses his reasons for jumping into the race for U.S. Congress. The 38-year-old is running in the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Howard County, and parts of Anne Arundel County and Carroll County.

Morse has garnered some big name endorsements, including Vermont's Sen. Bernie Sanders. What issues are driving his campaign?

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