WAMU 88.5FM American University Radio

Healthcare for Immigrants

Immigrant rights issues continue to dominate headlines, both nationally and locally. As Congress debates immigration reform, states are also re-examining their responsibilities to immigrant residents. Maryland is changing the way it provides health care for one group of legal immigrants - recently arrived pregnant women and children. Instead of continuing to insure them through the state's Medicaid program, it's setting aside money in an immigrant health care fund. Governor Robert Ehrlich signed the new plan into law this week. Critics say, in the end, this change will hurt immigrants, and will burden local providers who care for them. WAMU's Sarah Hughes has more.

Commentary by Fred Fiske - Demonstrations

WAMU Senior Commentator Fred Fiske shares his thoughts on the recent immigration rallies around the country.

African American History Trail

Every Saturday morning starting this weekend, Montgomery County is offering guided hikes along its Underground Railroad Trail in Sandy Spring. The three mile roundtrip route winds though open fields, forest and farmland. Along the way, guides share stories of daring escapes and heartbreaking captures in the region. WAMU's Lisa Nurnberger hiked the trail with Montgomery County Historian Susan Soderberg, who explained the trail is a loosely reconstructed route leading to Sandy Spring, where records show Quakers helped escaping former slaves.

Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival

Sheep dog demonstrations, "spinning" workshops and more yarn than you can shake a stick at...it's the 33rd annual "Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. And it's the biggest gathering of its kind in the country. According to festival estimates, about 60,000 people – and 1500 sheep – will crowd into the Howard County fairgrounds this weekend. Peggy Howell has been a festival organizer since 1983. David Furst met Peggy on her farm in Glenelg, Maryland, 15 minutes away from the festival site...surrounded by HER flock of sheep. And they got there just in time for the afternoon snack.

Local Music for "The Persians"

Over the past several weeks, three musicians have been taking the stage at the Shakespeare Theater, performing new music for a play that's about 2500 years old.

The music for the Shakespeare Theatre's production of The Persians, the oldest surviving Greek drama, sounds nothing like your standard show tunes. Composed for cello and percussion, it's a lineup rarely – if ever – heard on stage. WAMU's Stephanie Kaye met with two of the musicians. They climbed over the 18 tons of bright red sand covering the stage, and set the scene for The Persians.

Musicians N. Scott Robinson and Caroline Kang at the Shakespeare Theater Company. Our feature was produced by Stephanie Kaye. The Persians runs through May 21st.

Town Centers

It has been argued that malls and private shopping centers have become the new "town centers." For many Americans, the social gathering places of the modern age. The difference, of course, is that we're talking about private property. While it's okay for candidates for office to hand out literature in a public town square, it gets complicated when those brochures are passed out at the strip mall. That leaves cash-strapped candidates with a problem. How to reach voters if the only public gathering places in town are private? The ACLU is testing the "public" nature of shopping centers in a civil suit that will be heard in Virginia next week. Here with more is our legal expert, Guy Dezarn.

Take this Job and...zzzzzz

Some of the most interesting and important jobs on earth are being performed here inside the beltway. But how fascinating would they look if you had to sit down and watchthem being done? Commentator Jim Helein came face to face with this question, and decided that his job would never make it as a spectator sport.

Writer Jim Helein did invite his brother to observe him while he created this commentary for Metro Connection. Collin reports that it looked a lot like someone dozing off with their feet up on the desk for an hour followed by 10 minutes of typing.