WAMC | Northeast Public Radio

Biden Wants New Ban On Assault-Style Weapons. What Lessons Were Learned From The '90s?

When an assailant stormed a grocery store in Boulder, Colo., last month and fatally shot 10 people, the suspected weapon of choice — a Ruger AR-556 pistol — captured immediate attention. Not for what it technically was — a pistol — but for what it more closely resembled — an assault-style rifle. The legality and lethality of semi-automatic "assault-style weapons" has been a topic of debate before. But in the wake of the mass shooting in Boulder, calls are once again growing for a federal ban...

Supreme Court Rules For Worshippers And Against California COVID Restrictions

Volcano On St. Vincent Could Experience Larger Eruption

The Rivers Sportsbook opened with 14 kiosks. — WAMC/Jesse King

New York Joins Booming Mobile Sports Betting Market

The $212 billion New York state budget passed in recent days includes the legalization of mobile sports betting. Governor Andrew Cuomo says it could generate up to $500 million in tax revenue a year. Part of that is winning back mobile sports betting business from neighboring New Jersey. The Gaming Commission is expected to issue sports betting licenses this year. David Schwartz of The University of Nevada Las Vegas studies gambling and casinos , and he previously served as Director of the Center for Gaming Research at UNLV. He spoke with WAMC’s Ian Pickus.

Maryland Lawmakers Override Vetoes On Sweeping Police Reform

Recent Attacks On The Capitol Have Reignited Debate Over Security And Fencing

Maryland Lawmakers Override Vetoes On Sweeping Police Reform

By The Associated Press • 2 hours ago

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland lawmakers voted Saturday to override Republican Gov. Larry Hogan's vetoes of three far-reaching police reform measures that supporters say are needed to increase accountability and restore public trust.

Mother Arrested After 3 Young Children Found Dead In Los Angeles Apartment

By Dustin Jones • 5 hours ago

A mother is in custody after authorities discovered three deceased children in an apartment building in the Reseda neighborhood of Los Angeles Saturday morning.

All three children were believed to be under the age of 5, police said.

Volcano On St. Vincent Could Experience Larger Eruption

By Dustin Jones • 9 hours ago

La Soufrière, the highest peak on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent, began to explosively erupt Friday morning, forcing thousands to evacuate as ash and smoke filled the sky.

And a larger eruption may be on the way.

Writer Discusses 'The Futility Of Vaccine Passports'

By editor • 10 hours ago

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

We've talked about whether so-called vaccine passports are legal and whether they might be necessary for travel. Now we want to ask whether bringing them into widespread use is the right thing to do. Yasmeen Serhan is worried about this. She wrote a piece for The Atlantic titled "The Futility Of Vaccine Passports." In it, she argues that vaccine passports could divide society into two groups, the jabbed and the jab-less. And Yasmeen Serhan is with us now from London.

Welcome. Thanks so much for joining us.

YASMEEN SERHAN: Thanks for having me.

Airlines 'Generally In Favor' Of Embracing 'Vaccine Passports'

By editor • 10 hours ago

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Welcome. Thanks so much for joining us.

YASMEEN SERHAN: Thanks for having me.

Legal Questions Surround 'Vaccine Passports'

By editor • 10 hours ago

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Welcome. Thanks so much for joining us.

YASMEEN SERHAN: Thanks for having me.

China Fines Alibaba $2.8 Billion For Breaking Anti-Monopoly Law

By Elena Moore • 11 hours ago

The Chinese government says it is issuing a $2.8 billion fine on the e-commerce company Alibaba Group for violating its anti-monopoly regulations.

Alibaba is one of the most influential tech giants in China and the world. The company was under investigation by the Chinese government since December for "suspected monopolistic conduct."

In Coney Island, The Wonder Wheel Spins Again

By Camille Petersen • 13 hours ago

Coney Island's eccentric orchestra is back: Roller coaster carts tick up, up, up and then plummet and swerve along winding tracks. Rides hum, buzz and creak to the beat of carnival music.

After a year of being shut down due to the pandemic, Coney Island's two amusement parks, Luna Park and Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, have reopened — at a third of their normal capacity.

At Deno's, kids and adults face off to see who can squirt water into the mouth of a clown fastest — and get a balloon to pop like a firecracker.

Reid Kisselback's Midday Forecast 4/10/21

By Weather • 15 hours ago

Listen

Listening...

5:02

NewsChannel 13 Meteorologist Reid Kisselback delivers the regional forecast for Saturday, April 10th.

Fresh Air Weekend: Singer Brandi Carlile; Cookbook Author Reem Kassis

By editor • 15 hours ago

Fresh Air Weekend highlights some of the best interviews and reviews from past weeks, and new program elements specially paced for weekends. Our weekend show emphasizes interviews with writers, filmmakers, actors and musicians, and often includes excerpts from live in-studio concerts. This week: