My Thanksgiving Terror

My Thanksgiving Terror

The leaves are changing colors and the air is getting crisp. As we settle into fall, Americans take time to reflect on what they’re thankful for. Like many folks, I’ve got plenty of gratitude for the most important meal I’ll eat this month. Sweet...
Urban America’s Slow-Motion Crisis

Urban America’s Slow-Motion Crisis

Baltimore, my hometown, is facing its highest rate of homicides in decades. Along with other cities that are reporting higher than usual violent crime rates this summer, Baltimore’s murder rate is up by 33 percent this year. It’s a terrible reminder that the violence...
Greening Spring Cleaning

Greening Spring Cleaning

What’s that smell in the air? It’s fresh and floral — and probably filled with formaldehyde. It’s spring-cleaning time once again. And in the name of cleanliness, people everywhere are dousing their homes and workplaces with dangerous, even toxic, cleaning...
The Hazards of Your Daily Commute

The Hazards of Your Daily Commute

Stuck in standstill traffic in downtown Baltimore, I catch this message emblazoned across the side of a city bus: “Did you know? This bus operates in ‘zero emissions’ mode on battery power up to 40 percent of the time.” Maybe I should be impressed or...
Warning: Fracking May Harm Public Health

Warning: Fracking May Harm Public Health

What do public health advocates like me tell people all the time? Get tested. Use protection. In practice, that means we’re always explaining how everything from cancer screenings to immunizations to bike helmets can save lives. The same logic ought to apply to...