Under the Radar with Callie Crossley looks to alternative presses and community news for stories that are often overlooked by big media outlets. In our roundtable conversation, we aim to examine the small stories before they become the big headlines with contributors in Boston and New England. For more information, visit our website: wgbhnews.org/utr
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New play 'Toni Stone' tells the story of one of America's forgotten baseball stars
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In the days when professional baseball was segregated into white and Black teams, a Black woman named Toni Stone made history. Stone was a sports phenom, and she rose through the ranks to become the first woman to play regularly in the Negro leagues, a series of men's professional baseball leagues. The teams attracted talented players including Sat…
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Worcester found a solution to the lifeguard shortage
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This week on Under the Radar's Local News Roundtable — City Hall shifts, ballot questions, lifeguard news and more. Boston’s Environmental Chief is moving on. Rev. Mariama White-Hammond used her three-year cabinet tenure to amplify equity in the city’s environmental policies from expanding the city’s green jobs to reducing heat islands in neighborh…
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'I'm the mother, that's why': Reflecting on the quirkiness and wisdom of motherhood
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Mother expressions run the gamut of familiar advice. ”If everybody jumps off the bridge, will you do it, too?” “I’m the mother; that’s why.” “We have food at home.” These and other motherly quips have lasting resonance — not always positive. “If you came to my mom and told her you were bored, you got assigned a cleaning task. Can't be bored washing…
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70 years after Brown v. Board of Education, work remains to integrate schools
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On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court overturned legal segregation in America’s public schools in the landmark ruling, Brown v. Board of Education. The decision dissolved the “separate but equal” doctrine, effectively ending legal segregation in American education. The ruling 70 years ago was a defining moment for the country’s racial progress — it al…
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'One Last Word' finds the comedy in what happens when you tell someone how you really feel
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Author Suzanne Park's new rom-com, “One Last Word,” is a novel centered around a Korean tech entrepreneur — and what happens when her new app accidentally sends intimate messages to all the important people in her life. “Her goal is just to get from point A to point B. I've been conditioned to work hard and get good grades and work hard at work, an…
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A new group wants Mass. to be 'the first state to end hunger, permanently'
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Organizations across the Bay State are joining together to take on a bold mission — eliminating hunger in Massachusetts. More than one million people in the state try to make ends meet with federal funds for food; many of those include families with children. The new Make Hunger History Coalition includes leaders of food banks, legislators and othe…
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A drop of ghost pepper with your clam chowder? A new Cambridge hot sauce festival will bring the heat
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America loves hot sauce. A 2021 Instacart survey found 74% of consumers eat hot sauce with their food, and when there was a shortage of the popular Huy Fong Foods' sriracha hot sauce last year, one bottle would go for as much as $52 on Amazon. Right now, they go for $9. But given Greater Boston’s reputation for cuisine that is the opposite of spicy…
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Over 1 million Americans start menopause every year. Why don’t we talk about it?
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Each year more than one million American women begin menopause — an experience many don’t understand and few talk about. Often referred to as “the change,” the most common symptoms include — hot flashes, brain fog and fatigue. “I had insomnia for years,” Dr. Tina Opie, a management professor at Babson College, told Under the Radar. “I was sweating …
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From ancient art to K-Pop, 'Hallyu! The Korean Wave' celebrates South Korea's global influence
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From Oscar-winning movies like “Parasite” and the Oscar-nominated “Past Lives,” to the innovative modern fashion and the thumping beats of K-pop groups like BLACKPINK and BTS, South Korean culture has risen to global prominence. It’s known as the Korean Wave, or Hallyu. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts is highlighting Korean culture with “Hallyu! The…
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Maine legislature rallies for gender-affirming care with a new bill
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This year 21 anti-transgender laws have passed nationwide with hundreds more under consideration. But Maine’s legislature has gone against the trend, instead approving a new “shield law” protecting health care workers who provide gender-affirming care. It is headed to the desk of Democratic Gov. Janet Mills. It is incredibly important “to protect s…
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Bay Staters' attitudes on abortion reflect nationwide consensus
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When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, abortion rights were pushed into a blazing spotlight. The intense fallout from the 2022 decision resulted in new state-sponsored legal limits to abortion access as well as the successful blocking of would-be abortion bans in states like Kansas. Despite the highly charged ongoing national debate about a…
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Rhode Island taxpayers gawk at the $132 million price tag of a new stadium
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Rhode Island taxpayers are feeling sticker shock as they may shell out over $130 million in debt payments for a soccer stadium in Pawtucket. One reporter noted it was similar to the amount the government of Pakistan is charged to borrow money. Plus, the bids are in for major offshore wind projects that could bring energy and jobs to Connecticut, Rh…
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'Relinquished' aims to challenge our understanding of adoption in America
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"Relinquished" is an industry term used to describe the process where parents give up their children for adoption. The term is also the title of author Gretchen Sisson's new book, “Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and The Privilege of American Motherhood” which profiles the stories of birth mothers and breaks down the myths and misunderstandi…
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From Billie Eilish to Stevie Wonder, musicians demand creative protections against AI
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Billie Eilish, Stevie Wonder and the Jonas Brothers have joined more than 200 U.S. musicians in an open letter demanding protections against artificial intelligence. The group argues the new tech could undermine or replace human artists. Plus, Beyonce’s record-breaking album, “Cowboy Carter” is pushing boundaries in country music highlighting the g…
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From fadeaways to the runway, 'Fly' documents the world of NBA fashion
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March Madness wraps up this week as top college basketball players compete for the coveted NCAA championship. Some of the most talented collegiate players will go on to join the pros in the NBA — and while it's likely they want to play like superstars LeBron James, Jason Tatum and Stephen Curry, to name a few, more and more it appears they also wan…
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How community fridges continue to fight food insecurity across the commonwealth
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The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the national hunger crisis across the country. In Massachusetts, the number of households struggling with food insecurity more than doubled, from about 8% pre-COVID to a record high of 19% during the pandemic. Emergency food access programs, food pantries and even targeted pandemic food subsidies did not eliminate …
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Trump continues to signal he won't accept a loss in November
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From immigration to reproductive rights, issues that ignited the country in the last presidential election will be re-litigated in the rematch between President Biden and former President Trump. As the contest heats up, former President Trump’s speeches are reaching new levels of violent rhetoric — at a recent rally he predicted a "blood bath" shou…
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The 'Queen of Jazz,' Ella Fitzgerald's legacy is celebrated in new book
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How did Ella Fitzgerald become the legend she was? That’s the question author Judith Tick asks and answers in her new biography on the famed vocalist, “Becoming Ella Fitzgerald: The Jazz Singer Who Transformed American Song," our March selection for Bookmarked: The Under the Radar Book Club. Jazz and history buffs know about the young Ella Fitzgera…
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Why some Republicans are aligning with Latin American populists
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President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have officially clinched the required delegates for their Democratic and Republican presidential nominations. With the unofficial general campaign underway, both parties are eager to win the Latino vote. Now, a Republican strategy to shore up Latino support is becoming clear as they are aligning…
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The island spirit of Puerto Rico is coming to Boston in an inaugural cultural tour
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Greater Boston is home to one of the largest populations of Puerto Ricans. It's a local community that expanded by the thousands after World War II, when about six million islanders from the US territory made their way to the mainland looking for better economic opportunities. They enriched the nation’s cultural melting pot with aspects of indigeno…
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A local organization is tracing the lineage of enslaved Americans to their present-day ancestors
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From the 1500s through the Civil War, more than 10 million Black men, women and children were enslaved in America. Slavery deemed them property. They were listed on bills of sale; their family members were sold away and their names were changed. After emancipation and the Civil War, the formerly enslaved found many of the familial threads of connec…
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A year of 'wins' for Asian American representation in movies and TV
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In 1993, "The Joy Luck Club" was a surprise hit. The poignant story featuring an all-Asian cast broke barriers at the box office. Would "The Joy Luck Club" inspire more stories drawn from the Asian American experience? No, as it turned out — it took 25 years before 2018’s “Crazy Rich Asians,” another film featuring an all-Asian cast, became a break…
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New documentary shows how flight attendants fought to transform workplace, break gender barriers
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In the 1950s, most single, white middle-class women were expected to marry and raise a family — much like their mothers before them. But becoming a flight attendant, or a "stewardess" as they were referred to then, offered another kind of life for young women — a life of adventure. From GBH’s "American Experience" program, the new documentary "Fly …
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America has grappled with reparations for centuries. Will it happen in Boston?
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Forty acres and a mule. That’s what was promised to thousands of the formerly enslaved in a post-Civil War nation. Since then, America has grappled with the idea of reparations for Black Americans. But in recent years, some cities, towns, and states have begun to consider — and move forward — with reparations as atonement for America’s cruel histor…
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The Genius Next Door: Harvard's Imani Perry on the history and culture forged by Black Americans
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Editor's note: This episode originally broadcast November 24, 2023. When the MacArthur Foundation named its class of 2023 “genius grant" fellows last month, the recipients joined an exclusive group of previous fellows who have demonstrated outstanding talent and leadership in their fields. Interdisciplinary scholar and writer Imani Perry is one of …
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Why the 'Battle of Versailles' still resonates 50 years later
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Editor's note: This episode originally broadcast on November 24, 2023. In 1973, Americans triumphed in a fashion smackdown that earned the country respect and admiration among critics worldwide. On that day 50 years ago, American and French designers went head-to-head in a creative competition dubbed the “Battle of Versailles." The fashion show was…
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GBH President and CEO Susan Goldberg on the importance of 'Reckoning and Repair' initiative
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Almost thirty years ago, President Bill Clinton formally declared the “President's Initiative on Race” with the goal of jumpstarting a national discussion about race. Arguably, there ended up being more conversation about the initiative than the actual discussions he’d hoped it would inspire. In 2016, former Boston mayor Marty Walsh ushered in a si…
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'Our Hidden Conversations' reveals the poignant discussions that Americans are having about race
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The blood-soaked heritage of America’s enslavement of an estimated 10 million Africans is a fact. Yet some Americans refuse to recognize or openly discuss the communal inherited pain, shame and anger linked to that history. But conversations about this fraught history are happening, according to author and journalist Michele Norris' latest book, “O…
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Florida continues its assault on LGBTQ rights with a new driver's license rule
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Florida bolsters its reputation as an anti-LGBTQ state with a new rule — trans residents can no longer update their driver’s license with their correct gender identity. Plus, a New Hampshire town manager stepped down after being harassed in an ongoing controversy about an LGBTQ art display. And the Massachusetts State Senate passed a bill to repeal…
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'In the Pines' author confronts family's ties to Mississippi lynching
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Grace Elizabeth Hale grew up hearing that the real-life heroism of her grandfather mirrored the fictional courageous confrontation of Atticus Finch, the hero of "To Kill A Mockingbird." While she had been told her grandfather, a county sheriff in Mississippi had protected a Black man from a lynch mob, who then died in his custody the following day …
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Why one organization is working to highlight New Hampshire's rich Black history
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New Hampshire is not generally considered a beacon of Black culture, where the last census documented people of color to be just a fraction of the general population. But the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire is working to prove how generations of Black Americans have informed both the Granite state’s — and the nation’s — history. Under the Rad…
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A new dictionary aims to boost the language and pride of Cabo Verdeans
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From the Oxford English to the Merriam-Webster, English language dictionaries are well established in the U.S. But the effort to create dictionaries of indigenous languages is growing, including a new one capturing Cape Verdean Creole. A local publisher is documenting the common tongue of the West African nation — and of many Greater Boston immigra…
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New reforms open up access to disaster funding in Massachusetts and beyond
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Climate change has sparked a sharp rise in fires, floods and other natural calamities. Now, the Biden administration has directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to speed up victims' ability to get immediate monetary support through benefits including “displacement assistance.” In Massachusetts, Gov. Maura Healey has released the fir…
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Whether you measure it by its politics, pubs or people, Boston's Irish heritage is unavoidable — but Ireland's northeastern neighbor is beginning to step out of its shadow. From bagpipes to the savory meat pudding known as haggis, local Scottish groups are making a push for more recognition of their distinct culture and history throughout New Engla…
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As goes New Hampshire so goes the nation? New voters may change Granite State politics
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As goes New Hampshire, so goes the nation? A Granite State mantra will likely be put to the test in this Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary. Former President Donald Trump trounced his competitors in last week’s Iowa caucus with the biggest margin of victory in the history of the state’s Republican caucuses. But has his momentum been slowed in the days…
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Two Embrace Boston honorees reflect on their efforts for a more equitable city
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Last year, a new memorial was unveiled in Boston Common to honor the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King. Embrace Boston, the organization behind the memorial, also announced the names of civil rights leaders whose names were embedded in the Boston Common plaza where the sculpture sits. Now Embrace Boston is adding to t…
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New documentary features African students at MIT and their journey far from home
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Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the only federal holiday that is also designated a National Day of Service. Reverend King spent his life in service leading the campaign for social justice during the civil rights movement — and a new documentary looks at a new generation following in his footsteps. "Brief Tender Light" follows four Black African stude…
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Two experts unpack Barbra Streisand's long-awaited memoir
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Barbra Streisand's life and career has long been the stuff of legend and mystery — until now. The singer, actress, director and activist spent 10 years writing her new memoir, and at nearly 1,000 pages it fills in the behind-the-scenes details fans have long craved. From lifelong insecurities and singular triumphs, to devastating losses and her ong…
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Why some grocery stores are rejecting self-checkout and replacing them with humans
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Local shoppers at the California-based grocery store chain Trader Joe's and Massachusetts’ own Market Basket know there is no self-checkout in either store. Even as self-service checkouts gained floor space in other American grocery and retail stores, those two bet that their customers preferred the efficiency of trained human staff. And recently, …
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Mr. Mike's Merry Mix 2023: Our annual review of peculiar holiday music
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For many Americans, there can be only one Christmas song to rule them all: Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You." In addition to 772 million views on that single YouTube video alone, it has hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart the past four years in a row and is believed to have raked in nearly $100 million in earnings thus far. But fo…
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Frozen food advent calendars and a new French bubbly are popping off this holiday season
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This year, the newest versions of a favorite American Christmas tradition are, well, untraditional. Advent Calendars now offer much more than chocolates — frozen food and canned wine anyone? Plus, a lesser-known French bubbly our wine expert says is perfect for toasting in the New Year. And chic new restaurants Jiang Nan and Zhi Wei Cafe are making…
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250 years later, local experts consider the complex legacy of the Boston Tea Party
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In the 1760s, Massachusetts colonists began pushing back against the ever-tightening grip of British rule. The boiling tension erupted in violent episodes, few more shocking than the Boston Massacre in 1770 when five colonists were killed by British militia. Three years later, protestors publicly rejected the taxes on tea by dumping crates of tea f…
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Daniel Mason's 'North Woods' explores a vibrant history of New England
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In the middle of a New England forest, a yellow house and the land on which it sits holds 200 years of personal and political history. The home and forest tell stories of family, time, memories, ghosts and the wonders of an evolving landscape. This sweeping saga is author Daniel Mason’s latest novel, “North Woods,” a riveting, imagined story of one…
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It's the season of giving, but what motivates Americans to give?
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It’s the season of giving and a time of year when Americans traditionally make charitable donations. With more than 1.5 million nonprofit organizations across the country, there’s plenty of choices for where Americans can donate their dollars. But just last year, total charitable giving dropped by 3.4%, according to the Giving USA Foundation. "Ofte…
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The Genius Next Door: Harvard's Imani Perry on the history and culture forged by Black Americans
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When the MacArthur Foundation named its class of 2023 “genius grant" fellows last month, the recipients joined an exclusive group of previous fellows who have demonstrated outstanding talent and leadership in their fields. Interdisciplinary scholar and writer Imani Perry is one of this year's MacArthur fellows. “I describe my work in part as haunti…
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Why the 'Battle of Versailles' still resonates 50 years later
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In 1973, Americans triumphed in a fashion smackdown that earned the country respect and admiration among critics worldwide. On that day 50 years ago, American and French designers went head-to-head in a creative competition dubbed the “Battle of Versailles." The fashion show was held at the historic Palace of Versailles, the former residence of Kin…
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The Genius Next Door: BU ecologist breaks down carbon dynamics
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The MacArthur Foundation named its class of 2023 “genius grant" fellows last month. The recipients join an exclusive group of fellows who have demonstrated outstanding talent in their fields. Environmental ecologist Lucy Hutyra is one of this year's fellows. “I didn't realize I was breaking all those barriers at the time that I was breaking them,” …
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Catch up on your New England news in 30 minutes
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This week on Under the Radar's Regional News Roundtable: Gabe Amo was sworn into Congress this week, becoming the first Black person, or person of color, elected to represent Rhode Island in the U.S. Congress. Plus, controversy over a New Hampshire Republican who was forced to resign after an investigation revealed he hadn’t lived in the district t…
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The Genius Next Door: Harvard cellular and molecular biologist Jason Buenrostro breaks down gene expression
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The MacArthur Foundation named its class of 2023 “genius grant" fellows last month. The recipients join an exclusive group of previous fellows who have demonstrated outstanding talent in their fields. The award acknowledges the fellows’ demonstrated talent and potential as leaders in their fields. Cellular and molecular biologist Jason Buenrostro i…
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Despite the horror of war, these organizations continue to seek peace between Israelis and Palestinians
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Israel’s war against Hamas has marked just over one month. It’s the latest chapter of the decades-long, ongoing strife between the Israeli government and Palestinians. The present day suffering of people in the war zone and its impact on others around the world is incomprehensible. And yet, even during this conflict, the struggle for a peaceful res…
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