Bill Weld, former Massachusetts governor and Republican presidential candidate, expanded his understanding of climate change with the help of local scientists.  

Weld attended a briefing on Monday at the Woods Hole Research Center (WHRC), making him the fourth presidential hopeful to take a meeting with the leaders of the thinktank.  

Did you make a New Year Resolution to get more exercise? It’s nearing the end of February; how’s it going? On The Point, we discuss the importance of staying active, especially as we age, and ways to modify activities to prevent injury and accommodate physical limitations. We also talk about the growing popularity of Pickleball, and other activities organized by Town Rec Departments, designed to get you moving.

On The Point, a conversation with democrat Becky Coletta, candidate for the Plymouth Barnstable State Senate Seat. Mindy Todd and Steve Junker host this interview, which is part of our series of candidate interviews. 

Yiddish was once spoken by over 11 million Jewish people before it was nearly wiped out in the Holocaust. But it spread to the New World and flowered in places like New York and Boston. Today, however, it’s declining quickly—by about fifteen percent every decade. Even the United Nations has declared Yiddish an “endangered language.” 

Lynne Viti reads her poem, "Walking at Day's End."

WCAI News Director Steve Junker hosts a roundup of some of the week's top local and regional news, including: homeowners in Barnstable want more regulations on short-term rentals; Carlos Rafael's fishing fleet and permits will stay in New Bedford; latest estimates say the new Woods Hole terminal project will cost the Steamship Authority almost $93 million; and Massachusetts gets a chance to try early voting for a presidential primary, for the first time ever.

Democrats competing to represent Plymouth and Barnstable in the state Senate emphasized the need for urgent action to battle climate change during a forum Wednesday night. 

The five Democrats, who will face off in a March 3 primary prior to a March 31 special election, spoke passionately about renewable energy, mass transit and water quality to a packed room of nearly 100 people at the Wildlands Trust in Plymouth.   

The two Republican candidates did not attend the forum.

Romance books are big business: 1.8 billion dollars, and there's a very devoted fan base. What makes a good romance novel? We find out on The Point. Petra Mayer, Books Editor for NPR, and Jill Erickson, Reference Librarian at Falmouth Public Library, join us to share their top picks for Books on Romance.

After the Cold War Cuba was forced to grapple with a series of agricultural crises when their industrial system suddenly lost access to chemical fertilizers, fossil fuels, and pesticides. In 2014, MDAR Commissioner at the time Greg Watson traveled to Cuba to study the takeaways from this country’s reluctant experiment.

On The Point, our behavioral health conversation this month is about recognizing when you need help, and how to find the supports you need. 

Our panel of mental health experts talk about the various disciplines, and barriers, in mental health care. State Senator Julian Cyr also joins us to talk about a mental health care reform bill that passed the Senate last week . The Mental Health A.B.C. Act proposes a more integrated system that includes parity and insurance reforms.