Midday WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore

Leading Baltimore mayoral candidate Thiru Vignarajah dropped out of the race for the city's top leadership position and endorsed his opponent, Sheila Dixon, ahead of this month’s Democratic primary.

The endorsement came during a surprise announcement Wednesday in Fells Point. Dixon and Vignarajah would not confirm whether a role in Dixon’s administration would be down the road.

Emily Sullivan, City Hall reporter for WYPR's news partner The Baltimore Banner, joins us to discuss the mayoral race and Maryland's 3rd Congressional District race to replace retiring Rep. John Sarbanes.

Plus, early voting in primary elections across Maryland began this week. Residents can register to vote and cast their ballot at an early voting center in the county where they live. Residents can also register on Election Day at their assigned polling place.
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Today is Midday at the Movies, our monthly focus on new films and film-industry trends, with our regular movie aficionado, founding director of the Maryland Film Festival Jed Dietz.

The Maryland Film Festival is this weekend, and promises a slate of films and videos reflecting Charm City's unique culture. Local, national and international screenings covering a broad range of genres are on the festival's lineup.
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In Reading Genesis, author Marilynne Robinson revisits the Scripture and explores the rich themes of the first book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament.

Robinson argues both academic and fundamentalist interpretations of the Book of Genesis lead to a lack of appreciation for the grand example of literature found within this foundational tome.
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Over 30 years ago, The Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies was created in Baltimore, tasked with building bridges between the world's Abrahamic religions.

The organization's founding Executive Director Christopher Leighton released a new book that tries to equip readers to breakdown the anger, fear and mistrust harbored between followers of the different faiths.

In A Sacred Argument: Dispatches from the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim Encounter, Leighton recounts his experience pursuing conversation between polarized groups about difficult centuries-old topics, while addressing the sharp religious divides in today's society.
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Commissioner of the Baltimore City Police Department Richard Worley joins Midday to discuss challenges facing his department, which he has lead for less than a year.

Worley, a native of Pigtown in southeast Baltimore, is a longtime member of the department and was named acting commissioner in June 2023. His nomination was approved by Baltimore city council last October.

Homicides and non-fatal shootings continue to decline in Baltimore and around the country, and the city has announced another expansion of the Group Violence Reduction Strategy. But can police sustain the program with hundreds of patrol vacancies?

(Photo by Ulysses Muñoz, The Baltimore Banner)
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The leading candidates for Baltimore mayor took to the debate stage on Tuesday, in one of the last opportunities for voters to hear from contenders for the city government's top seat.

WJZ-TV, The Baltimore Banner, WYPR Radio, and the Schaefer Center for Public Policy at the University of Baltimore organized the event on UB's main campus.

Incumbent Mayor Brandon Scott, former Mayor Shelia Dixon, attorney Thiru Vignarajah and businessman Bob Wallace answered questions on public safety, city development, affordable housing and other topics.

WYPR reporters John Lee, Wambui Kamau, Emily Hofstaedter discussed the mayoral race before the candidates' opening statements were made.

The debate was moderated by the Banner’s Emily Sullivan, WJZ’s Denise Koch and Midday's Tom Hall and is set to air at 7pm on WJZ-TV, WJZ's websites and at The Baltimore Banner.
Email us at midday@wypr.org, tweet us: @MiddayWYPR, or call us at 410-662-8780.