Connections
In the second hour of "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Friday, April 17, 2026, our news roundup covers a statewide volunteer firefighter shortage, dental care, and the Rochester Music Hall of Fame.
Arts, Music and Culture
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Growing up in Las Vegas, Baron Vaughn loved comedy. His mother and grandmother raised him through a tumultuous childhood, and his father was out of the picture. Comedians on TV like Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor became Vaughn’s father figures. He wanted to be like them, so he pursued the first opportunity he found to […] The post Following a two-year artist residency, Baron Vaughn’s newest show premieres at Geva Theatre appeared first on CITY Magazine. Arts. Music. Culture..
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There is a cruel irony in that Neil Diamond, whose songs have made millions of people feel “so good, so good, so good,” felt so bad about himself for much of his life. Diamond has spoken openly about his persistent depression and loneliness, but even his most ardent fans could be forgiven for being surprised […] The post REVIEW | ‘A Beautiful Noise’ at RBTL appeared first on CITY Magazine. Arts. Music. Culture..
Local and national arts from NPR
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Two days before the White House Correspondents' Dinner ended in gunfire, Kimmel delivered a mock Correspondents' Dinner speech during a sketch on his show. The first lady said it was "corrosive." -
Best known for his role as Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation, Offerman plays a former professional wrestler reconnecting with his estranged daughter in Margo's Got Money Troubles. -
A new Netflix comedy series by and starring Dan Levy is a wild inversion of Schitt's Creek. Where that show started out cartoonish and grew warmer, Big Mistakes is a frolic that grows more hellish. -
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with WPLN listener Nancy Bieschke and Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz. -
A selection of prize honorees from the 2026 World Press Photo Contest capture the pain of the past year — but also focus on moments of strength, determination and joy. -
As some continue to pushback on AI art, artist Refik Anadol seeks to base his new venture on ethical and environmental principles. -
The bronze sculpture is on display inside the Philadelphia Museum of Art as part of a new exhibition on the impact and cultural importance of statues. -
The name didn't stick. The fan communities did. -
The carousel was first desegregated when part of Gwynn Oak Amusement Park outside Baltimore in 1963. It was moved to the National Mall after the park closed. -
In The Secret War Against Hate, Steven J. Ross details the racist, anti-Semitic groups that sprang up in the latter half of the 20th century — and the spy network that worked to bring them to justice.
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The White House Correspondents' Dinner will be headlined by a mentalist instead of a comedian. Oz Pearlman tells NPR he hopes to unify, delight and puzzle the crowd — but can't reveal how. -
Thomas led the San Francisco Symphony from 1995 to 2020, helping to establish its reputation as a world-class orchestra. In 2021, he was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, a type of brain cancer.
