Two public servants who represent change on the Baltimore City Council join Midday.

Kristerfer Burnett was elected to represent the 8th district in 2016. He has decided to retire from the council at the end of this term, which is in a couple of weeks. His successor is Paris Gray, who served in Councilman Burnett’s office for four years as a community outreach coordinator.

We ask the pair about their work, past and future, on the city council.

Two public servants who represent change on the Baltimore City Council join Midday.
Kristerfer Burnett was elected to represent the 8th district in 2016. He has decided to retire from the council at the end of this term, which is in a couple of weeks. His successor is Paris Gray, who served in Councilman Burnett’s office for four years as a community outreach coordinator.
We ask the pair about their work, past and future, on the city council.

Monday-Friday from noon-1:00, Tom Hall and his guests are talking about what's on your mind, and what matters most to Marylander's, the latest news, local and national politics, education and the environment, popular culture and the arts, sports and science, race and religion, movies and medicine. We welcome your questions and comments. E-mail us at midday@wypr.org

Monday-Friday from noon-1:00, Tom Hall and his guests are talking about what's on your mind, and what matters most to Marylander's, the latest news, local and national politics, education and the environment, popular culture and the arts, sports and science, race and religion, movies and medicine. We welcome your questions and comments. E-mail us at <a href="mailto:midday@wypr.org">midday@wypr.org</a>

Midday

Monday-Friday from noon-1:00, Tom Hall and his guests are talking about what's on your mind, and what matters most to Marylander's, the latest news, local and national politics, education and the environment, popular culture and the arts, sports and science, race and religion, movies and medicine.  We welcome your questions and comments. E-mail us at midday@wypr.org.

In Baltimore's 8th Council District, a transfer of leadership for 2025

On the Midday Newswrap, WYPR's Emily Hofstaedterdiscusses her recent reporting on the first audit of Baltimore’s Safe Streets program. The first biennial audit for MONSE, which oversees Safe Streets, found the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement had weak processes to prevent duplicate payments and overpayments to contractors.

Ultimately, the audit found no evidence of fraud but warned that MONSE was making itself susceptible to fraud if it did not heed recommendations from the Department of Audits.

On the Midday Newswrap, WYPR's Emily Hofstaedter <a href="https://www.wypr.org/wypr-news/2024-11-20/monse-overpaid-for-duplicate-invoices-but-no-evidence-of-fraud-in-baltimore-safe-streets-audit">discusses her recent reporting on the first audit of Baltimore’s Safe Streets program</a>. The first biennial audit for MONSE, which oversees Safe Streets, found the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement had weak processes to prevent duplicate payments and overpayments to contractors.
Ultimately, the audit found no evidence of fraud but warned that MONSE was making itself susceptible to fraud if it did not heed recommendations from the Department of Audits.

News Wrap: Reports identify errors in Safe Streets payment process

Theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck joins Midday to share another weekly review of a local theatrical production.

Today we discuss Frozen, on stage at the Olney Theatre Center through January 5. The theatre was one of the few regional venues that Disney asked to produce their own take on this animated classic.

Theater critic <a href="https://twitter.com/jrousuck?lang=en">J. Wynn Rousuck</a> joins Midday to share another weekly review of a local theatrical production.
Today we discuss Frozen, <a href="https://www.olneytheatre.org/whats-playing/disneys-frozen">on stage at the Olney Theatre Center through January 5</a>. The theatre was one of the few regional venues that Disney asked to produce their own take on this animated classic.

Rousuck's Review: 'Frozen' at the Olney Theatre Center 

Enrollment in Baltimore City schools continue to decline, in parallel to the city's shrinking population over the past few decades. There are nearly 10,000 fewer kids in city classrooms this year than there were 10 years ago.

With funding for schools tied to the number of students in classrooms, less students represents a challenge for school officials. Chronic absenteeism, which afflicts Baltimore schools and schools across the country, is also a pressing problem.

Meanwhile, if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on his pledge to shutter the federal Department of Education, what would that mean for our city?

Baltimore City Public School system CEO Dr. Sonja Santelises joins Midday to talk about the her school system, and its future.

Santelises led the system longer than any other city CEO in the last several decades. Her last contract expired in June. Chair Ronald McFadden reportedly engaged in months-long negotiations with Santelises that ended last summer with an offer for her to continue as CEO for just one more year, while a national search for her successor was undertaken. Then, about a month ago, the board voted to extend her contract another year, through June 2026. McFadden and Roberts voted against that extension, and this week they resigned as commissioners.

Liz Bowie, an education reporter with WYPR's news partner the Baltimore Banner, reports the reshuffling of the board is the result of a power struggle on the board over negotiations on a new contract with Santelises.

Enrollment in Baltimore City schools continue to decline, in parallel to the city's shrinking population over the past few decades. There are nearly 10,000 fewer kids in city classrooms this year than there were 10 years ago.
With funding for schools tied to the number of students in classrooms, less students represents a challenge for school officials. Chronic absenteeism, which afflicts Baltimore schools and schools across the country, is also a pressing problem.
Meanwhile, if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on his pledge to shutter the federal Department of Education, what would that mean for our city?
Baltimore City Public School system CEO Dr. Sonja Santelises joins Midday to talk about the her school system, and its future.
Santelises led the system longer than any other city CEO in the last several decades. Her last contract expired in June. Chair Ronald McFadden reportedly engaged in months-long negotiations with Santelises that ended last summer with an offer for her to continue as CEO for just one more year, while a national search for her successor was undertaken. Then, about a month ago, the board voted to extend her contract another year, through June 2026. McFadden and Roberts voted against that extension, and this week they resigned as commissioners.
Liz Bowie, an education reporter with WYPR's news partner the Baltimore Banner, <a href="https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/k-12-schools/ronald-mcfadden-shantell-roberts-HZHXQQMXS5B6FG3JAWAWOGS5QU/">reports the reshuffling of the board</a> is the result of a power struggle on the board over negotiations on a new contract with Santelises.

In Baltimore's 8th Council District, a transfer of leadership for 2025

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