WYPR

A 40-year-old outdoor education center run by the Prince George's County, Maryland, public schools may close its doors for the last time in June because of a budget crisis.  Because of the economic downturn, federal, state and county governments are looking to cut back funds for environmental education.

In order to close a $1.4 billion budget gap, Governor O’Malley has taken aim at funding for state roads, education and health care. Six Democratic senators have responded with an alternative budget that includes taxes hikes on alcohol, cigarettes and gas. We focus on the Legislative Session this hour with Michael Dresser, transportation reporter for the Baltimore Sun.

Justice for Juveniles?  The state of Juvenile Justice for Maryland Youth
Know Housing Policy, Know School Policy:  Abell President Robert Embry on how changing housing policy could improve poor children’s education more than any particular school reform.
Thai Food for Cold Days:  Our resident foodie Sascha Wolhandler talks about how to use Thai food to stave off colds on these brisk March days.
Maryland Morning Culture Calendar:  Treats for aesthetes!

The Invisible Line: Daniel Sharfstein, a Vanderbilt law professor visiting Baltimore for an engagement at the Enoch Pratt Free Library, followed three families, from the Revolutionary Era up to the Civil Rights movement, as they straddled the color line and changed their racial identification from black to white. While previous stories of "passing" have focused on individuals' struggles to redefine themselves, Sharfstein's subjects managed to defy the legal definitions of race within their own communities.

The competitive nature of youth sports is resulting in more students sustaining sports related injuries. We’ll look at a recent study in the American Journal of Sports Medicine on youth sports injuries and what’s being done to prevent and treat them. Our guests are Dr. Richard Hinton, orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine expert at Union Memorial Hospital who took part in the study. Also taking part in the discussion is Dr. Andrew Lincoln, who heads the Sports Medicine Research Center at Union Memorial Hospital.

Whose Ad Is It, Anyway?  A look at a bill that would change disclosure requirements for political ads in Maryland.
Femi the DriFish:  Reaching out to young people, through poetry and spoken word.

The Morning Economic Report 3-2-11

To A Mountain In Tibet: A Journey to Kailas, the sacred summit considered holy by one-fifth of humankind, with bestselling travel writer Colin Thubron who visited this mystical peak by foot with only a guide, a cook, and a horse man.

Former Maryland Governor Parris Glendening, now the president of the Smart Growth America Leadership Institute, joins us to talk about what governments and businesses close to home and around the world are doing to create new jobs and sustainable neighborhoods. Plus, the death penalty – as governor, Mr. Glendening supported it, now he’s become an outspoken opponent. He’ll tell us why.

Considering Others:  The second in our series of conversations with the writer Dudley Clendinen, on how he’s coping with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Lady Lippman:  A peek into Laura Lippman’s latest book, The Girl in the Green Raincoat.