WYPR

Baltimore attorney and Daily Record columnist Jim Astrachan talks about the Supreme Courts's decision that the Westboro Baptist Church's offensive protests outside the Carroll County funeral of a fallen Marine is a form of protected speech.  The Baltimore Sun's Julie Bykowicz reports from Annapolis on the surprising political moves associated with the same-sex marriage bill.  Plus, a look at the failure of Gov. Martin O'Malley's bold initiative to ban most new septic systems in Maryland.

While there’s still a chill in the air what could be better than a nice hot bowl of soup or savory chili. We’ll share some recipes and suggestions for comfort foods that will warm you to the core with Henry Hong, Food writer for the Baltimore City Paper and John Shields, chef and owner of Gertrude’s Restaurant at the BMA.

A kick-off to the five-day celebration honoring the life of Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr., the trail-blazing civil rights activist who was born in Baltimore 100 years ago.  As director for nearly three decades of the Washington bureau of the NAACP, Mitchell played a key role in winning enactment of landmark civil rights legislation in the 1950's and 1960's as well as presidential orders ending segregation on military bases and barring racial discrimination in employment.

Movie Mayhem!  Films that are flops and films that are top flight with Jed Dietz and Mike Sragow.

What Went Wrong on Wall Street? Sheilah talks to Baltimore native Heather Murren about her experience on the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, which released its report in late January.

Web Special: What’s Your Rallying Cry?  A look at the revolutionary new production of Les Misérables, which is in Baltimore this weekend.

The Pleasure Is All Yours:  A walk through The Pleasure of Doing Business the new EP from AK Slaughter.

Midday on the Bay takes up urban environmentalism, in Baltimore and beyond. After decades of neglect, a group of residents, businesspeople and government officials are finally getting serious about cleaning up Baltimore's harbor and its smaller waterways. What's it going to take to get the job done? Join the Bay Journal's Rona Kobell and neighborhood activists Betty Bland-Thomas, of Sharp-Leadenhall, and Inez Robb, of Sandtown-Winchester, as well as Halle Van Der Gaag, deputy director of a new organization dedicated to promoting Baltimore's waterways.

Who Can Hear Me Now?  How hearing loss is linked to the color of your skin.
Roger Casey on Popular Culture:  McDaniel College president and popular culture analyst looks at the way social media is changing the worlds of Middle Eastern autocrats…and Western couch potatoes.

A visit to Studio A from Baltimore City schools chief Andres Alonzo

The History of Collective Bargaining in Maryland:  CCBC Dundalk labor studies director Bill Barry and AFSCME Maryland legislative director Sue Esty walk us through the comparatively short history of collective bargaining rights for Maryland public employees.
Approaching Zanzibar:  A play that takes place across the country, right here in Mount Vernon.
Saints, Thorns, and Vessels:  Viewing the religious art of Medieval Europe.

On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Peace Corps, we meet three local returned Peace Corps Volunteers who are now putting their skills to work here at home. We’ll also hear about how they plan to celebrate 50 years of spreading “peace and friendship” around the world.
Signal contributor Baynard Woods takes us to an ‘artfully revealing’ fashion photo-shoot designed to highlight the glamour and mystique of three African American female models. The models, by the way, happened to be born male.

Enron Oil and Gas drilling for natural gas in Pennsylvania's Moshannon State Forest.