It's the Brian Laird Show on WNYC. Good morning again, everyone. Later in the hour, we're going to open up the phones on the straight ahead question, do you believe in God? Are you an atheist or are you

an agnostic? And for any of those three categories, tell us why? Why are you so convinced there is a

God? Why are you so convinced there is not a God? Or if you're an agnostic, why are you so convinced

that you can't know?

That's going to be a follow-up on all the segments that we've done recently around Ramadan

and Easter and Passover and our look last Friday at the trend.

It's not a huge trend, but enough of a trend to be talked about of people in Gen Z going back to religious institutions because they are seeking community.

But it skirted the question of God.

Some people were trying to bring it up.

I wouldn't let it happen in that segment because we were talking about community. But people wanted to talk about it. So we're just going to let it up. I wouldn't let it happen in that segment because we were talking about community.

But people wanted to talk about it. So we're just going to let it rip coming up a little

later this hour. Do you believe in God? Do you not believe in God? Are you an agnostic? Tell us why

and the ramifications for your life or the world. All right, that's coming up.

But first, a group of local journalists and news organizations have designated today as Local News Day.

Sounds good to us.

We love Local News, and hopefully you think WNYC and Gothamist New York and New Jersey Public

Radio are a great source for it, but as many of you know,

local news has been in decline for decades now as the advertising streams that used to support it

have gone so much to tech sites as have the readers. So to highlight the plight and various efforts

to retain and restore local news, today is Local News Day in the U.S.

And our contribution right now will be to look at some of the particular challenges facing New Jersey.

WNYC has reporters focused on the state. Michael Sol Warren, one of our Jersey reporters were just on

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