Here & Now

After last week's shootings in Atlanta, Sung Yeon Choimorrow, executive director of the National Asian Pacific Women's Forum, discusses how stereotypes about Asian women have resulted in a culture of violence. And, data from the AstraZeneca U.S. Phase III vaccine trials found the vaccine is 100% at preventing severe disease and hospitalization. Dr. Angela Rasmussen talks about the data.

Lamik Beauty founder Kim Roxie talks about creating space for Black-owned brands and the pandemic's impact on makeup. Also, the NCAA has not yet acted in response to a number of states that have proposed new laws to restrict athletic activities of transgender girls and women. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reports.

Host Tonya Mosley continues her conversation with author Jesse Holland and illustrator John Jennings in this special edition of Here & Now's podcast.

Billy Strings talks about his album "Home," which won Best Bluegrass Album at the 2021 Grammy Awards. Also, Houston police chief Art Acevedo has been chosen to head up the Miami Police Department. He became a national figure when he marched with protestors after the police killing of George Floyd. He joins us.

There's something of a digital gold rush going on right now in the brave new world of non-fungible tokens, or NFTs. "Endless Thread" host Ben Brock Johnson explains. And, Carl Hiaasen retired as a columnist for the Miami Herald. He began with the paper as a reporter in 1976 and has been writing a column since 1985.

Editor Amy Solomon and contributor Ayo Edibiri discuss "Notes from the Bathroom Line: Humor, Art, and Low-Grade Panic from 150 of the Funniest Women in Comedy." Also, there's growing interest in high-end collectibles of all sorts during the pandemic, causing auction prices to skyrocket. Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Auctions, explains why.

Tererai Trent grew up in poverty in rural Zimbabwe where she dreamed of getting an education. Today she's one of the world's most recognized voices for quality education and rural empowerment. And, experts advised parents to relax about screen time during the past year. But is it time to scale back all that screen time? Dr. Jenny Radesky joins us.

Right-wing extremist groups operate in ways that echo groups like ISIS. NPR's Dina Temple-Raston explores how a sense of purpose inspired an 18 year old to breach the Capitol. Also, this week marks a decade since the beginning of the Syrian civil war. CNN's Arwa Damon joins us to discuss her reporting of the conflict.

Air travel is starting to pick up again, but is it safe to travel? President of Uniglobe Travel Designers Elizabeth Blount McCormick answers listeners' questions about taking a vacation. And, this year's Grammys featured history-making achievements and thought-provoking performances. Jenna Wortham of The New York Times Magazine and Ivie Ani of AMAKA Studio join us to discuss.

Mexico is close to legalizing recreational marijuana and having one of the biggest cannabis markets in the world. Ryan Berg of the American Enterprise Institute explains what that will look like. And, in the early 1900s, Henry Perry changed the barbecue scene in Kansas City. KCUR's Mackenzie Martin shares the story of how this Black entrepreneur created an American institution.

One mother's 8-year-old son had to wait for over a month to be transferred to a psychiatric hospital where he could get the care he needs. She talks about how having to board in a hospital damages young mental health patients. And, a total of 65 journalists were killed worldwide in 2020, according to the International Federation of Journalists.

KPCC entertainment reporter John Horn talks about the Oscar nominations, which were announced Monday morning. And CBS's Jill Schlesinger shares tips on filing your 2020 tax return.

The Department of Defense is looking into a Trump administration order to move the U.S. Space Command from Colorado to Alabama. As Dan Boyce of CPR reports, critics say the order to move was politically motivated. And, because of the pandemic, education experts are worried that achievement gaps are widening, especially for English language learners. CapRadio's Pauline Bartolone reports.

Jacob Collier's latest album, "Djesse Vol. 3," has earned him three Grammy nominations. He joins us to explain the album, his creative process and more. And, a new study finds that in comparing cities that saw Black Lives Matter protests from 2014 to 2019 to those that didn't, police killings decreased. Travis Campbell, the study's author, talks about his findings.

Netflix knows many of its 200 million subscribers share their login information with others. The company plans to crack down on that practice with various verification tactics. Also, starting Monday, Texas prisoners will be able to see their loved ones in person again with some restrictions. Kirsten Ricketts, who hasn't seen her husband since March 13, 2020, joins us.

After years of being told to keep quiet about her relationship, country singer Brooke Eden is being honest about her partner. She explains how country music is shifting. And, spring rains wash rock salt used to melt snow into rivers and streams, which can destroy freshwater ecosystems. WBUR's Jesse Remedios reports on why this problem has no simple fix.

Lawmakers in Kentucky voted to advance a bill that would make it a crime to taunt a police officer. Sen. Danny Carroll, a retired police officer and the bill's lead sponsor, joins us. And, jurors in Iowa have found reporter Andrea Sahouri not guilty of failing to disperse and interfering with official acts while covering a protest last year.

People with Down syndrome are prone to serious illness or even death if they get COVID-19. WBUR's Callum Borchers shares one man's story. Also, the U.S. Army is planning to give their helicopters a significant reboot. A new initiative encouraged companies to prototype rotorcraft with better range and speed. As Ari Daniel of IEEE Spectrum reports.

The new "Through The Cracks" podcast revisits the disappearance of 8-year-old Relisha Rudd from a Washington, D.C., homeless shelter seven years ago. Host Jonquilyn Hill joins us. And, new research says the latest "super-Earth" discovery could help us better understand our own world. Trifon Trifonov led the research team.

Chef Kathy Gunst suggests using lemon to brighten up your late winter/early spring meals. She shares recipes for sole with lemon, lemon pudding and a lemon pound cake. And, the nearly $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill includes funds for debt relief and support for farmers of color. John Boyd Jr., a fourth-generation farmer in Virginia, explains its significance.