LIZ: TONIGHT, ROXBURY RESIDENTS ARE PUSHING TO KEEP THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD WALGREENS PHARMACY OPEN.

WE WILL SPEAK TO A LOCAL ACTIVIST LEADING THE CHARGE, PLUS HEAR FROM A BUSINESS ANALYST ON WHAT IS BEHIND THE MOVE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

FINALLY FROM BOSTON’S HOMEGROWN EMMY WINNER, AYO EDIBIRI, TO THE BIG NAMES HEADLINING BOSTON CALLING.

THE LATEST IN THE CITY’S ARTS AND CULTURE.

WHY ARE SO MANY PHARMACIES CLOSING IN BOSTON’S MAJORITY BLACK AND BROWN NEIGHBORHOODS?

ROXBURY WILL SOON BE A DESERT AFTER WALGREENS CLOSES ITS LOCATION AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

IT WILL BE THE FOURTH WALGREENS TO CLOSE IN BOSTON IN JUST OVER A YEAR.

JOINS A GROWING LIST OF PHARMACIES INCLUDING CVS AND RITE AID TO SHUTTER STORES IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE U.S..

I AM JOINED NOW BY A PROFESSOR OF HEALTH AND POLICY MANAGEMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY, JENNY GUADAMUZ.

WHAT IS THE OVERALL TREND?

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A FEW YEARS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US WHAT IS HAPPENING?

PROF. GUADAMUZ: PHARMACIES IN LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE BEEN CLOSING DISPROPORTIONATELY IN COMPARISON TO WHITE AND HIGH INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS FOR AT LEAST THE LAST DECADE.

IN THE 30 LARGEST CITIES IN THE COUNTRY INCLUDING BOSTON, WE HAVE SHOWN THAT IN PREVIOUS RESEARCH WE HAVE CONDUCTED.

LIZ: WHAT IS BEHIND THIS TREND?

IS IT DROPPING PRICES OR SHRINKING MARGINS ON PHARMACEUTICALS?

LABOR COSTS?

WHAT IS BEHIND THIS?

PROF. GUADAMUZ:PROF. GUADAMUZ: THERE’S A LOT OF REASONS INCLUDING MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO KEEP PHARMACISTS IN THE PROFESSION DURING COVID.

THE THING WE HAVE SEEN MOST OFTEN ARE THE REIMBURSEMENT RATE .

YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT POPULATIONS ARE SERVED IN THESE BLACK AND LATIN NEIGHBORHOODS.

PEOPLE THAT ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY SERVED BY MEDICAID.

THESE HAVE LOWER REIMBURSEMENT RATE THAN FOLKS THAT ARE PAYING FOR THEIR MEDICATION THROUGH PRIVATE INSURANCE.

PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN MORE AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOODS.

THERE’S ALSO BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL MARKET INCLUDING MERGERS OF RETAIL CHAINS BUYING EACH OTHER OUT AND CLOSING PHARMACIES THAT ARE COMPETING WITH ONE ANOTHER.

THIS HAPPENED IN 2018 WHEN WALGREENS PURCHASED SEVERAL HUNDRED RITE AID PHARMACIES.

AS THE MARKET BECOMES MORE CONCENTRATED, IT LEAVES BEHIND A SLEW OF CLOSURES ESPECIALLY IN THESE AREAS THAT ARE BECAUSE OF HOW MEDICAID WORKS AND OTHER INSURERS MORE LIKELY TO HAVE LOWER REIMBURSEMENT RATES.

LIZ: RIGHT HAS FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY.

THEY ARE GOING TO CLOSE 20% OF THEIR STORES I THINK.

PROF. GUADAMUZ: WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST IS THAT WHEN CHAINS, WALGREENS INCLUDED, WHEN CHAINS CLOSE PHARMACIES, THEY CLOSE THEM IN BLACK AND LATINX NEIGHBORHOODS.

LIZ: THESE PHARMACIES ALL HAVE A DRUGSTORE COMPONENT BUT ALSO HAVE OTHER CONSUMER GOODS THEY ARE SELLING.

WHAT IS HITTING THAT PORTION?

PROF. GUADAMUZ: I CANNOT COMMENT TOO MUCH ABOUT THAT PORTION.

I FOCUS ON THE REIMBURSEMENT OF PHARMACEUTICALS.

ONE THING TO QUESTION ONE RETAIL CHAINS SAY THAT ASPECT OF THE BUSINESS HAS BEEN CLOSED IS WHAT PORTION OF PHARMACISTS CLOSE OUT RIGHT AND WHAT CHAINS JUST CLOSE THE PHARMACY, THE CLINICAL ASPECT, AND LEAVE BEHIND THE BODEGA, THE CONSUMER GOODS ASPECT OF IT, AND TRY TO SEE IF THAT ACTUALLY IS THE CASE THAT ONE PART OF THE BUSINESS IS HURTING MORE THAN THE OTHER.

I IMAGINE IT IS PRIMARILY OUT OF REIMBURSEMENT.

THE ACTUAL DRUG DISTRIBUTION ASPECT OF THE PHARMACIES.

THAT NEEDS TO BE REGULATED THE MOST BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ACCESS TO MEDICATION AND VACCINATIONS AND CLINICAL SERVICES.

THESE ARE ESSENTIAL SERVICES.

LIZ: YOU ALSO MENTIONED A BODEGA, A SMALLER INDEPENDENT SHOP.

A LOT OF INDEPENDENT DRUG STORES HAVE CLOSED OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES.

SOMETHING LIKE 50% OVER 30 YEARS ACCORDING TO SOME ANALYSIS.

IS IT AT ALL POSSIBLE FOR ANY OF THOSE SMALLER STORES TO COMPETE WITH THESE MASSIVE COMPANIES?

PROF. GUADAMUZ: PHARMACIES THAT ARE INDEPENDENTLY OWNED, THEY HAVE HIGHER TURNOVER.

THEY OPEN IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AND THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO SERVE BLACK AND LATINX NEIGHBORHOODS TO BEGIN WITH.

THEY ARE IMPORTANT FOR THE PROVISION OF MEDICATIONS TO THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.

THAT BEING SAID, BECAUSE THEY CAN BE MORE EASILY EXCLUDED FROM INSURERS NETWORKS, PHARMACIES THAT AN INSURER WOULD ALLOW PATIENTS TO USE WITH LOWER COST, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO CLOSE BECAUSE THEY ARE EXCLUDED FROM THE REIMBURSEMENT LANDSCAPE.

WE HAVE SHOWN THIS IN THE PAST.

IT IS MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO COMPETE AND THERE’S A WHOLE OTHER SLEW OF THINGS INCLUDING THE WAY THEY GET THEIR DRUGS AND THE COST OF FOR THEM TO OPERATE.

BUT EVEN FROM AN INSURANCE PERSPECTIVE THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE EXCLUDED.

THERE IS A ROLE FOR INDEPENDENT PHARMACIES, AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO ENSURE THESE FOLKS IN BLACK AND LATINX NEIGHBORHOODS AND LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS MORE BROADLY CAN ACCESS MEDICATION.

BUT INDEPENDENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO CLOSE BECAUSE OF INSURANCE POLICY AND OUR HEALTH CARE LANDSCAPE.

WITHOUT POLICIES TO PROTECT THEM , THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SERVE THESE POPULATIONS.

LIZ: WE DID INVITE WALGREENS TO JOIN THIS CONVERSATION AND THEY DECLINED BUT THEY HAVE PUT OUT A STATEMENT WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN GIVING TO ALL MEDIA WHICH ESSENTIALLY SAYS WHEN FACED WITH A DIFFICULT CHOICE TO CLOSE LOCATIONS, SEVERAL FACTORS ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT INCLUDING OUR EXISTING FOOTPRINT, DYNAMICS OF THE LOCAL MARKET, CHANGES IN THE BUYING HABITS OF PATIENTS AND CUSTOMERS, AMONG OTHER REASONS.

IN THEIR EARNINGS CALL, WALGREENS TALKS ABOUT STUFF LIKE SERIOUS SHRINKAGE.

ARE WE TALKING SHOPLIFTING?

IS THAT WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT?

IS THAT A PROBLEM FOR THESE NEIGHBOR HOODS?

PROF. GUADAMUZ: THAT IS A BIT OF A DOG WHISTLE WITH SOME RACIAL OVERTONES.

THAT BLACK AND LATINX NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE HIGHER RETAIL THEFT.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ACTUAL EVIDENCE OF THIS HAPPENING DISPROPORTIONATELY IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS BEFORE I BUY THAT.

ONE ASPECT OF THE RESPONSE ABOUT CONSUMER HABITS AND BUYING HABITS IS MORE ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF PATIENTS COME HERE, WHAT TYPE OF SCRIPTS THEY ARE GETTING.

ARE THEY BEING PAID BY INSURERS WITH HIGHER REIMBURSEMENT RATES?

WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THAT AND NOT THIS NEBULOUS RISK OF SHOPLIFTING THAT HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN.

LIZ: THEY HAVE BEEN USING IT QUITE FREQUENTLY, THESE LARGE CORPORATIONS, TALK ABOUT MONEY LOSS.

THANK YOU FOR SORTING THROUGH THIS WITH US.

PROF. GUADAMUZ: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

LIZ: NOW WE TURN TO THE COMMUNITY IMPACT OF THE CLOSURE.

RESIDENTS OF ROXBURY GATHERED TO PROTEST THE PHARMACY CLOSING.

REVEREND MINIARD CULPEPPER IS ONE OF THOSE LEADING THE CHARGE TO KEEP THE STORE OPEN.

HE JOINS ME NOW.

CAN YOU TELL ME, WHAT IS THE ASK YOU HAD OF WALGREENS IN THIS PROTEST?

REV.

CULPEPPER: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THE ASK IN THE BEGINNING, IT STILL IS, WAS TO KEEP THIS WALGREENS OPEN.

BECAUSE WE THINK THIS IS IN MY OPINION, A HUB WALGREENS.

I MEAN THAT WHEN IT CLOSES, MANY CUSTOMERS CAME TO THE QUINCY AND WARREN STREET WALGREENS.

WHEN THE DELHI STREET WALGREENS CLOSE, MANY OF THOSE CUSTOMERS CAME TO THE QUINCY AND WARREN STREET WALGREENS.

WHEN THE GENEVA AVENUE WALGREENS CLOSED, MANY OF THOSE CUSTOMERS CAME TO THE WARREN AND QUINCY WALGREENS.

BECAUSE IT IS CENTRALLY LOCATED.

I HAVE GONE THERE AT TIMES AND THERE HAVE BEEN CUSTOMERS OF THE PHARMACY ALL THE WAY AROUND THE BACK OF THE STORE.

WE THINK THIS WALGREENS IS CRITICAL TO KEEP OPEN BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT IT HAS ON THOSE THAT NOT ONLY LIVE IN PROXIMITY TO IT , BUT THOSE THAT ARE ABLE TO DRIVE DOWN FROM OUT OF TOWN TO WARREN STREET.

OR STRAIGHT UP DUDLEY STREET.

OR STRAIGHT DOWN GENEVA AVENUE.

IT IS CENTRALLY LOCATED.

THE OTHER THING IS THERE ARE MANY SENIORS, MANY SENIOR HOMES THAT ARE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE FROM THIS WALGREENS.

RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, THERE IS A MARTIN LUTHER KING SENIOR HOME DEVELOPMENT.

ONE MINUTE WALK TO WALGREENS.

THE OTHER THING THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING ABOUT WALGREENS DECISION IS THEY CHOSE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING’S BIRTHDAY HOLIDAY TO CLOSE THIS WALGREENS.

LIZ: I DID NOTICE.

PRETTY TONE DEAF TO SAY THE LEAST.

THEY ARE LARGE, MOST PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THAT.

BUT THEY ARE A MASSIVE GLOBAL OPERATION.

IT IS A WORLDWIDE CONGLOMERATE.

DID THEY RESPOND?

THEY DID POSTPONE THAT PARTICULAR CLOSING JUST TO THE END OF THIS MONTH, BUT DID THEY RESPOND IN ANYWAY TO YOU OTHER THAN THAT?

REV.

CULPEPPER: NO.

WE WROTE THEM A LETTER, HAND DELIVERED TO THE OFFICE.

WE GOT A LETTER BACK FROM THE CORPORATE OFFICES IN ILLINOIS.

ENGAGING WITH THEM -- WE ARE ENGAGING WITH THEM TO TALK ABOUT A SMOOTHER TRANSITION ONCE THE 31ST COMES.

WE THINK IF YOU ARE GOING TO CLOSE, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WAYS THE SENIORS CAN BE TRANSPORTED BACK AND FORTH.

THAT MEDICATIONS CAN BE DELIVERED TO SENIORS.

ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THIS WALGREENS, STAFF WAS ACTUALLY TAKING THE MEDICATIONS TO THE SENIORS HOMES BECAUSE THE SENIOR HOMES WERE SO CLOSE.

THEY WOULD WALK OVER TO THE SENIORS WHO WERE SHUT IN AT THEIR HOMES.

LIZ: THAT IS PRETTY AMAZING.

OPERATING ALMOST LIKE AN INDEPENDENT DRUGSTORE REALLY, A COMMUNITY STORE.

REV.

CULPEPPER: IT IS INTERESTING YOU SAY THAT.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH SEVERAL GROUPS THAT ARE WORKING ON -- THEY ARE NOT SURE WHETHER IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN SOON.

BUT THEY HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING INTO A WALGREENS FRANCHISE.

WE ARE TALKING WITH FREDERICK WILLIAMS AT WHITTIER HEALTH.

A GROUND BREAKING PHARMACY AT THE HEALTH CARE CLINIC.

NO ONE HAS REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WILLIAMS OPENING THAT PHARMACY.

SHE’S AHEAD OF THE TIMES.

WHEN SHE OPENED THIS PHARMACY, NOBODY THOUGHT ABOUT HOW SIGNIFICANT THAT PHARMACY WOULD BE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

LIZ: WALGREENS ALREADY IS SAYING WE STILL GOT ONE NOT THAT FAR AWAY.

A 20 MINUTE WALK FOR SOME PEOPLE.

YOU MENTIONED ELDERLY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE FOR WHOM THAT IS A BIG DEAL.

AND DELIVERIES MAY OR MAY NOT DO IT FROM A WALGREENS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER NEEDS PEOPLE HAVE.

THEY WANT TO JUST BE ABLE TO GET VERY CLOSE TO IT.

HOW DO YOU FILL THE GAP?

REV.

CULPEPPER: WE ARE WORKING ON IT.

WE ARE TALKING WITH DOORDASH.

WE THINK DOORDASH COULD FILL A VOID THERE, BECAUSE THEY ALREADY HAVE THE MECHANISM TO MAKE DELIVERIES.

WE ARE ASKING DOORDASH TO HELP WITH THIS TRANSITION.

AND TO MAKE SOME DELIVERIES ON THEIR OWN.

WE ARE REACHING OUT.

WE ARE WORKING WITH A GROUP, A NATIONAL GROUP, THE HILL COLLABORATIVE.

THEY HAVE BEEN FOCUSING ON FARMER ISSUES.

BUT NOW THAT WE HAVE RAISED THIS ISSUE WITH REGARD TO THE WALGREENS ON THE PHARMACIES, THEY ARE TURNING THEIR ATTENTION TO THE PHARMACY ISSUE.

WE ARE WORKING WITH A GROUP OF PASTORS.

BECAUSE THIS IS NOT JUST A LOCAL ISSUE.

THE MORE PASTORS WE TALKED TO AROUND THE COUNTRY, THE MORE WE FIND THIS IS A NATIONAL ISSUE.

LIZ: THIS IS A NATIONAL ISSUE HITTING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT THAT FAMILIAR, IN THIS AREA, EXPLAIN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

FOR WALGREENS THIS IS THE FOURTH CLOSING, OR IT WILL BE.

CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS?

REV.

CULPEPPER: WHEN I MENTIONED THIS WALGREENS BEING A HUB FOR OTHER WALGREENS THAT CLOSED, DUDLEY STATION IS CLOSER THAN MENA PENN, THAT IS PART OF ROXBURY.

A LITTLE ON THE FRINGE OF DORCHESTER BUT IT IS REALLY ROXBURY.

LIZ: FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND, AS ONE PERSON TOLD THE GLOBE, IT WAS PRETTY COMPELLING.

I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT A SNEAKER STORE OR I NEED A SWEATER.

THIS IS BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICINE.

THIS IS A DIABETES STRIP.

HELP US UNDERSTAND.

WHAT IS AT STAKE IF PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING IT AND THEY THINK, THEY CLOSE A WALGREENS, THERE IS ANOTHER ONE.

WHAT IS AT STAKE?

REV.

CULPEPPER: FOR ME AND MANY OF THE PASTORS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING TO, IT IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH.

NOT TO HAVE YOUR MEDICATION FOR MANY FOLKS THAT ARE DEPENDENT ON THAT MEDICATION, ESPECIALLY WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

WITHOUT THAT MEDICATION, WE KNOW HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE CAN LEAD TO A STROKE.

WITHOUT DIABETES MEDICATION, WE KNOW THAT CAN LEAD TO SEIZURES.

FOR US IT IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH.

THE SIGNIFICANT THING THAT TROUBLES ME IS THAT MANY FOLKS ARE NOT TROUBLED UNLESS IT HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON THEM.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WROTE A LETTER TO WALGREENS.

WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE HELP SHE HAS GIVEN US.

THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE IS WORKING WITH US.

SENATOR MARKEY’S OFFICE, I SAW A DRAFT LETTER THEY ARE SENDING.

A CITY COUNCILMEMBER CONVENED A LISTENING SESSION.

THIS GROUP THAT DECIDED TO PROTEST CAME OUT OF THE LISTENING SESSION.

LIZ: IT DOES SOUND LIKE YOU ARE GOING UP AGAINST A MAMMOTH ORGANIZATION.

THESE RETAIL PHARMACIES ARE HUGE.

IT DOES SOUND LIKE YOU ARE GOING TO NEED ALL THE GOVERNMENT INPUT YOU CAN GET, ALL THAT FORCE BEHIND YOU.

WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

I THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

REV.

CULPEPPER: LET ME SAY THIS, WE HAVE A DAVID MENTALITY.

DAVID WENT UP AGAINST GOLIATH.

WHEN EVERYONE THOUGHT GOLIATH WAS GOING TO RULE AND CONQUER, DAVID CONCORD GOLIATH.

WE HAVE A DAVID MENTALITY AND WE PLAN -- WE DO NOT NEED TO CONQUER WALGREENS BUT WE NEED TO DEVELOP A PARTNERSHIP THAT IS ABLE TO SERVE THOSE WHO HAVE TRUSTED WALGREENS IN THE PAST.

WE WILL WIN THIS VICTORY.

LIZ: THANK YOU, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

REV.

CULPEPPER: THANK YOU.

LIZ: FROM DORCHESTER NATIVE AYO EDEBIRI’S AWARD SWEEP FOR THE BEAR TO BIG NAMES SIGNING ON TO BIG NAMES SIGNING ONTO HEADLINE THIS YEAR AT BOSTON CALLING.

THERE’S A LOT GOING ON IN THE LOCAL ART SCENE.

THAT IS WHY WE BRING IN HALEY LERNER.

GBH NEWS ASSOCIATE PRODUCER FOR ARTS AND CULTURE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON TO CATCH US UP.

WE ARE GOING TO START WITH THE BIG SPLASH.

AYO EDEBIRI, WINNER OF A GOLDEN GLOBE, WINNER OF AN EMMY.

HERE IS WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY IN HER ACCEPTANCE SPEECH.

>> THIS IS A SHOW ABOUT FAMILY AND FOUND FAMILY AND REAL FAMILY AND MY PARENTS ARE HERE TONIGHT.

PROBABLY NOT A DREAM TO IMMIGRATE TO THIS COUNTRY AND HAVE YOUR CHILD BE LIKE, I WANT TO DO IMPROV, BUT YOU ARE REAL ONES.

LIZ: WE LOVE HEARING ABOUT A LOCAL CELEBRITY.

THIS MAKES A BIG SPLASH.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US?

HALEY: SHE IS THE PRIDE AND JOY OF THE WORLD RIGHT NOW AND BOSTON IS SO HAPPY FOR HER BUT PEOPLE JUST WANT TO ROOT FOR HER SO BADLY.

SHE’S AN AMAZING ACTRESS AND SEEMS LIKE SUCH A GREAT INDIVIDUAL.

WATCHING HER WHEN THESE AWARDS IS REALLY AMAZING.

LIZ: LOCALLY SHE IS DORCHESTER NATIVE, SHE WENT TO SCHOOL HERE, THERE ARE TEACHERS SURFACING OF COURSE TALKING ABOUT, SHE WAS SO AMAZING AND WE SAW THE WRITING ON THE WALL.

HALEY: I HAVE TALKED TO HER FORMER DRAMA TEACHERS WHO RAN IMPROV WITH HER AND SHE WAS A BIG PART OF THE BOSTON IMPROV CLUB.

THEY EXPECTED THIS FROM HER IN A WAY, SHE WAS ALWAYS A DEFICIT STAR ON THEIR STAGE.

THEY SAID IMPROV IS WHAT THEY -- IS WHAT SHE DID BEST.

THEY ARE SO PROUD OF HER AND IT IS GREAT TO INSPIRE OTHER STUDENTS ABOUT WHAT CAN BECOME OF THEM IF THEY KEEP GOING.

LIZ: INTERESTING POINT AND I THINK THEY ARE DOING RELATED EVENTS.

HALEY: THERE’S GOING TO BE AN AY O-PROV EVENT TO THEY ARE NAMING AFTER HER BECAUSE THEY ARE SO INSPIRED BY HER.

IT IS MAKING NEWS AND I THINK IT IS GREAT TO SEE HOW FAR SHE HAS COME.

LIZ: DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA IF SHE IS COMING BACK TO CONNECT WITH THESE SCHOOLS?

HALEY: NOTHING I HAVE HEARD OF BUT I AM SURE STUDENTS WOULD LOVE THAT.

SHE JUST HAS DONE SO MUCH.

THE AWARD SWEEP IS GREAT.

LIZ: IT IS AMAZING MOMENTUM SHE HAS HAD.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT LOCAL CONNECTIONS?

SHE HAS TEACHERS, DRAMA TEACHERS HERE.

HALEY: SHE HAD MULTIPLE DRAMA TEACHERS AT BOSTON LINE SCHOOL.

SHE CAME BACK HER FRESHMAN YEAR FROM NYU TO VISIT BOSTON LATIN.

SHE SAID I’M HAVING A GOOD TIME BUT I MISS DOING IMPROV ALL THE TIME WHICH SHE MENTIONED IN HER ACCEPTANCE SPEECH HOW MUCH SHE LOVED IMPROV, SO IT STUCK AROUND.

LIZ: AND IT IS A CRITICAL SKILL FOR AN ACTOR TO HAVE.

BOSTON IS A BIG RESTAURANT PLACE.

SHE HAS A LOT OF RESTAURANT CONNECTIONS.

HALEY: DEFINITELY.

THERE COULD BE A REAL-LIFE BEAR IN THE CITY.

LIZ: SHE SAID IT HAS BEEN NICE GOING TO RESTAURANTS, BEING SO VISIBLE IN A RESTAURANT ROLE, YOU GET FREE FOOD.

HALEY: PEOPLE PROBABLY GIVE HER A BIG HANDSHAKE WHEN SHE WALKS IN, YOU ARE ONE OF US.

LET’S TURN NOW TO BOSTON COLLEGE.

A MAJOR MUSIC MOMENT FOR BOSTON, FOR NEW ENGLAND EVERY YEAR.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS?

HALEY: THERE ARE SOME INTERESTING HEADLINERS.

HOZIER, MEGAN THE STALLION.

PEOPLE HAVE HAD COMPLAINTS ABOUT, WE NEED MORE LOCAL ARTISTS, MORE DIVERSE ARTISTS, AND THIS YEAR A THIRD OF THE ARTISTS ARE LOCAL, WHICH IS GREAT.

LIZ: THIS STARTED AS A SMALLER, MORE LOCAL FESTIVAL.

OR WAS IT ALWAYS THIS BIG?

HALEY: THERE WERE ALWAYS BIG NAMES BUT IT WAS A SMALLER FESTIVAL.

IT STARTED AT CITY HALL PLAZA.

THE ENTIRE PLAZA TAKEN OVER, SMALLER THAN WHERE IT IS NOW AT HARVARD’S FIELD.

BUT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WANTING TO GO BACK TO THE GRUNGE ROOTS OF THE ORIGINAL.

SOME PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO HAVE MORE LOCAL ACTS TO SHOWCASE.

LIZ: YOU HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE RANGE.

YOU HAVE TYLER CHILDERS.

BLUEGRASS COUNTRY.

MEGAN THE STALLION, HIP HOP.

WHO IS THIS AUDIENCE?

HALEY: IT IS FOR EVERYONE WITH THIS LINEUP.

THERE ARE ARTISTS THAT MAY BE AN OLDER CROWD THAT LIKES ROCK OR ALTERNATIVE CAN BE THERE AND SEE BUT ALSO THERE’S A TON OF ARTISTS FOR YOUNGER PEOPLE.

IT’S A FESTIVAL FOR EVERYONE.

IT IS EXCITING TO HAVE IT IN THE CITY AND IT IS EXCITING FOR THE LOCAL ARTISTS THAT NOW GET TO MINGLE WITH THEIR ICONS.

LIZ: WE HAVE A CLIP FROM K, WHO WILL BE PERFORMING.

LET’S LISTEN.

SO EFFORTLESS, GOT YOU HOOKED ON IT, COULD NOT FIND THE WORDS TO EXPRESS, BUT I DIGRESS.

LIZ: SHE WILL BE THERE ALONG WITH -- HALEY: BILLY DEAN THOMAS, THE WOLF SISTERS, YOU HAVE TO CHECK OUT THE UNDERCARD PERFORMERS.

HEARING FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE LOCAL MUSIC SCENE, THEY KNOW EACH OTHER.

THERE’S A REAL CAMARADERIE.

EVERYONE IS EXCITED TO SEE A PERSON THEY ARE FRIENDS WITH, IT IS GREAT TO HAVE LOCAL ARTISTS IN BECAUSE PEOPLE MIGHT BE GOING FOR THE BIGGER NAMES AT THE FESTIVAL BUT THEY CAN CATCH A LOCAL BAND, THEY CAN SEE AGAIN AND AGAIN NEARBY.

LIZ: WHAT HAS THIS DONE FOR BOSTON’S FOOTPRINT ON THE MUSIC SCENE?

HALEY: THERE’S A BIGGER REPUTATION FOR BOSTON WHEN IT COMES TO MUSIC.

SO MANY CONCERTS COME THROUGH THE CITY AND HAVING A FESTIVAL LIKE THIS, PUTS IT ON THE SAME SCALE AS NEW YORK OR THE SHOWS IN CALIFORNIA.

IT’S NOT COACHELLA BUT IT IS A THREE-DAY FESTIVAL WITH BIG NAMES.

ED SHEERAN IS PLAYING.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE ON STAGE.

LIZ: THIS IS IN MAE.

WE ARE GOING TO LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR COVERAGE ON THAT.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

I AM LIZ NEISLOSS.

GOOD NIGHT.

>> HEY FOLKS, EDGAR B. HERWICK III FROM CURIOSITY DESK WHERE YOU ASK QUESTIONS AND I FIND ANSWERS.

TODAY’S QUESTION CAME OUR WAY ON TWITTER FROM EMILY WORDEN.

WHEN I FIRST SAW THIS I WAS LIKE, YES, THAT IS SO GOOD.

MICROWAVES DO ALL SOUND THE SAME.

I WAS LIKE, WAIT A SECOND.

DO THEY SOUND THE SAME?

THEY SOUND ALIKE, BUT EXACTLY THE SAME?

LET’S PUT IT TO THE TEST.

I QUICKLY GOT MY HANDS ON EVERY MICROWAVE I COULD FIND AT WGBH.

MY APOLOGIES TO JAMES IN ACCOUNTING.

I’M GOING TO SET THEM ALL TO FIVE MINUTES AND PUT THEM ON IN SUCCESSION.

THAT SHOULD GIVE US A SENSE OF IF THEY ARE EXACTLY THE SAME OR NOT.

YES, THEY ARE ALL RIGHT THEREBETWEEN A B AND A B SH ARP.

NOT EXACTLY THE SAME BUT SIMILAR.

AND IT TURNS OUT THERE’S A REASON FOR THAT.

POPCORN.

FOR DECADES THE SAME PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY WAS USED IN NEARLY ALL MICROWAVES TO GENERATE THE SOUND.

A DEVICE CALLED A PIEZO ELECTRIC BUZZER.

>> IT IS A MEMBRANE THAT VIBRATES AND IS ELECTRICALLY CHARGED AND VIBRATES TO CREATE A SOUND, VERY SIMILAR TO THE WAY A SPEAKER WORKS.

>> PIEZO ELECTRICITY WAS FIRST DESCRIBED BY PIERRE AND JACQUES CURIE IN 1888.

IT IS AN ELECTRIC CHARGE THAT CAN ACCUMULATE IN CERTAIN MATERIALS WHEN PHYSICAL PRESSURE IS APPLIED.

THE BUZZER HARNESSES THAT CHARGE TO CREATE THE SIMPLE BEAT.

-- SIMPLE BEEP.

IT WAS FIRST BROUGHT TO MARKET BY JAPANESE MANUFACTURERS IN THE 1950’S AND QUICKLY PROVED TO BE A WORLDWIDE HIT.

ON THE ONE HAND THEY ARE VERSATILE USED NOT JUST IN MICROWAVES BUT ALSO SMOKE ALARMS AND TIMERS AND ALL SORTS OF GADGETS.

ON THE OTHER HAND THEY ARE EXTREMELY LIMITED IN WHAT THEY CAN DO.

>> WE CAN SET THE FREQUENCY BUT WE COULD NOT DO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

THE FREQUENCY AND THE LENGTH OF THAT NOTE WAS ALL ABOUT ALL WE HAD AVAILABLE TO US.

>> THIS IS WHY FOR DECADES NEARLY ALL MICROWAVES HAVE SOUNDED THE SAME.

BUT TODAY IT IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALLGAME THANKS TO DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPED MAINLY FOR MOBILE PHONES, A SYMPHONY OF SOUNDS IS NOW AVAILABLE LITERALLY AT THE TOUCH OF A BUTTON.

>> YOU HEARD THAT BEEP AT THE END BUT IT IS A LOT MORE ORGANIC, MORE MUSICAL.

IT IS MORE SUBTLE AND NUANCED.

>> THIS NEW WORLD ORDER DOES PRESENT SOME CHALLENGES.

AFTER ALL THAT ICONIC BEEP MAY NOT BE SPELLBINDING BUT IT IS DEEPLY FAMILIAR.

DESIGNERS LIKE HUGHES HAVE TO COME UP WITH JUST THE RIGHT COMBINATION OF BEEPS THAT SAYS HEY, YOUR POPCORN IS READY JUST AS EFFECTIVELY.

>> THAT IS THE MAIN OBJECTIVE WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

MUNICH 82 YOU IN A MEANINGFUL WAY AND A THOUGHTFUL WAY -- COMMUNICATE TO YOU IN A MEANINGFUL WAY AND A THOUGHTFUL WAY THAT YOUR TASK IS COMPLETE.

>> DO NOT FORGET TO LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU ARE CURIOUS ABOUT BECAUSE I MIGHT JUST LOOK INTO IT FOR YOU.

STAY CURIOUS OUT THERE.

THAT WAS IT THOUGH.

THAT WAS IT THOUGH.

YOU HAVE TO GO BACK, THROW IT A LITTLE BIT BACK.

THAT IS THE TECHNIQUE.

>> THE CURIOSITY DESK IS SPONSORED BY EMERSON COLLEGE.