Melissa Gerr

Baltimore

Writer and Producer, On the Record at WYPR-FM (Baltimore, MD)

Writer and producer, WYPR radio. Tweets are mine, all mine! Unless it's a retweet, then it's not.

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Articles

Permits required at some Maryland parks, plus favorite hiking spots

5 days ago | wypr.org | Ashley Sterner |Melissa Gerr

The Maryland State Park Service is rolling out a “day pass” system to keep its most popular parks from overcrowding. Angela Crenshaw, the Director of the Maryland Park Service, explains the policy, and offers tips for hiking and camping. On The Record WYPR ProgramsOn the RecordMaryland State Parks
What's it like to farm on the Eastern Shore?

5 days ago | wypr.org | Ashley Sterner |Melissa Gerr

1 of 3 — IMG_4254.jpeg Farmer Coard Bounds runs the corn combine on his land at Coulbourn Farm. Photo: Jill Bounds 2 of 3 — IMG_8807.jpeg Eastern Shore farmer Coard Bounds and his son wait by for refueling. Photo: Jill Bounds 3 of 3 — IMG_5055.jpeg Eastern Shore farmer Coard Bounds, assisted by his dog, work on a tractor software glitch on Coulbourn Farm.
Safeguarding Nesting Ospreys and Maryland Power Infrastructure

1 week ago | wypr.org | Ashley Sterner |Melissa Gerr

Ospreys are one of the largest birds of prey in North America, with a wingspan of up to six feet. Many spend their summers catching fish, building nests, and having babies around the Chesapeake Bay. But they’ve developed an affinity for nesting on utility poles. That can be life-threatening for the birds, and can cause power outages that impact us. Baltimore Gas and Electric has developed a program called “Osprey Watch” - to protect the birds AND the power lines.
Racial disparities, police bias in audit of former Medical Examiner files: Now what?

1 week ago | wypr.org | Sheilah Kast |Melissa Gerr

An audit of a decade-and-a-half of rulings by Maryland medical examiners on the causes of deaths of people restrained while in custody found a pattern that could be racial or pro-police bias. We ask state Attorney General Anthony Brown: What now? If you want to contact the OAG regarding this issue, call 833-282-0961 or email Links: Maryland Office of the Attorney General, Office of Chief Medical Examiner audit of restraint related death investigations, Lawsuits against the Trump Administration.
Maryland Gold Star Mothers honor memories of their children through service

1 week ago | wypr.org | Melissa Gerr |Maureen Harvie

Much more than a kick off to summer, Memorial Day is about remembering those who sacrificed their lives in military service. We meet Paula Davis, treasurer of Maryland Gold Star Mothers -- she talks about her son, Justin, and how the group honors the memories of their children through continued service to the military community. On The Record On the RecordWYPR ProgramsMemorial DayMilitary
Assassin? Egomaniac? Center Stage asks: Who was John Wilkes Booth?

2 weeks ago | wypr.org | Sheilah Kast |Melissa Gerr

It’s been 160 years and a few weeks since a heartthrob-handsome, 26-year-old actor slipped into the presidential box at Ford’s Theater and fired a bullet into the back of Abraham Lincoln’s head. Why should we still be talking about John Wilkes Booth? Why, especially, in Maryland, where Booth grew up?
Stories from the Stoop: What it means to serve

2 weeks ago | wypr.org | Sheilah Kast |Melissa Gerr

Here's a Stoop Story from Dario DiBattista about the continuing journey of his military service. You can hear more stories, find out about live events and the stoop podcast at stoopstorytelling.com . On The Record WYPR ProgramsOn the RecordStoop Storytelling
'Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act' Aims to Improve Environmental Health while Promoting Economic Growth

2 weeks ago | wypr.org | Ashley Sterner |Melissa Gerr

Among the many laws passed by the General Assembly this year is the “Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act.” Its goal: to improve environmental health while promoting economic growth. The measure will have widespread effects: supporting agriculture, bolstering aquaculture, improving bay health, and streamlining watershed restoration. And more! Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources Josh Kurtz provides an overview. On The Record WYPR ProgramsOn the RecordChesapeake Bay
What will happen to Marylanders on Medicaid?

2 weeks ago | wypr.org | Sheilah Kast |Melissa Gerr

Medicaid covers a million and a half Marylanders -- half of Maryland’s children, 40 percent of its births, 80 percent of nursing-home charges in the state. Mental-health and substance-abuse care for 325,000 people. The state health department says thousands of those Marylanders may lose coverage if the federal government follows through on plans to tighten who’s eligible for Medicaid and how they prove it.
Charm City Sings: A choir for the people!

3 weeks ago | wypr.org | Melissa Gerr

Each week nearly two hundred people drop their worries at the door and raise their voices in song. We meet members of Charm City Sings, and its driving force, Heidi Ackerman. Also featured are tenor Patrick McGroarty, soprano 1 Renee Bourke, bass Mark Newsom, soprano 1 Pearl Laaveg, tenor Eric Zhunio, soprano 2 Kathy Helzlsouer and of course the other 190 or so choir members.