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Maryland Senate Race

The last time there was an honest-to-goodness competitive race for Senate in Maryland, "The Bangles," Billy Ocean and Huey Lewis were still topping the charts.

Things are different this time. With Senator Sarbanes stepping down after thirty years in office, there will actually be a new senator in the state for the first time since Barbara Mikulski was elected in 1986. We're joined now by James Gimpel, a professor of government at the University of Maryland in College Park, and political analyst Frank De Filippo, with a focus on the democratic primary.

African Resource Center

The African Resource Center opened in DC this week, aiming to be a voice for what it calls "voiceless" African immigrants struggling with housing, language barriers and immigration issues. The center is located in a row-house, near U and Vermont Streets northwest, the area known as "Little Ethiopia." Abdul Kamus, originally from Ethiopia, founded the center. He says it's the culmination of three years of grassroots work - an example of one group of immigrants trying to help others. Kamus will be the sole volunteer working at the center while he and others seek grants. WAMU's Lisa Nurnberger spoke with Kamus - who says the African Resource Center will be addressing some pressing community needs.

Commentary by Fred Fiske - Minimum Wage Woes

WAMU Senior Commentator, Fred Fiske has been feeling a little sarcastic lately, especially when it comes to minimum wage workers, and the salaries members of Congress pay themselves...

Ads for Teens

Teenagers in the United States have money to spend - about a hundred dollars a week, according to the market research firm Teenage Research Unlimited. Some say it's no wonder there's been an increase in the number of new products marketed to teens and kids. This kid-focused advertising has grabbed the attention of child advocates and politicians, including DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton. Along with others in Congress, she's pushing for proposals that would give the government more power to restrict ads. WAMU's Sarah Hughes reports.

Fishing for Women

Visit any local lake and or stream where people go fishing and take a look around. Yes, there may be some women here and there, but this bunch is overwhelmingly male.

Not for long, if Black Hill Regional Park in Montgomery County has anything to do with it. Marion Joyce, manager of community outreach for Maryland's National Capital Park and Planning Commission, says they're launching a "Fishing - for Women" program. WAMU's Stephanie Kaye cruised up to Little Seneca Lake in Boyds, Maryland, to find out about the women-only fishing workshop. Classes run July 31st, August 3rd and August 5th.

Crummy but Good - How to Eat Corn

Spring brings wildflowers. Winter has its snow. And summer is corn season. During the dog days of summer, there are few among us that don't relish the pleasures of tearing into fresh corn on the cob, slathered with way too much butter. But who knew there was such variation in the WAY we dig into that corn? Well, Donovan Kelly knew. Our Crummy But Good food critic dragged us to the Loudoun County Fairgrounds armed with a bucketful of corn to conduct a corn-eating demonstration with a very willing group of kids.

Donovan Kelly is author of the book "Quest for the Holy Grill - 50 Crummy But Good Restaurants Withing Rambling Range of Washington DC." His next survey will be the Big Corn Count at Cascades Library in Loudoun County on August 5th at 2 pm.

Disappearing Act

Magic shops are a dying breed. Just one recent example: longtime landmark Barry's Magic Shop is in a fight for its life in Wheaton, where Montgomery County has plans to demolish the building where it rents space. But even though the world moves on and change is inevitable, writer Brett Busang says he still misses the magic shops of his youth. For him, the "novelty" never wore off.

Brett Busang is a writer, painter - and connoisseur of fake vomit - living in Washington.