i began my career as a volunteer at wamu back in 1973. by 1979, i had begun hosting the daily morning show. by 1998, i had begun to develop a problem. at first, my voice began to wobble, so i went to doctor after doctor, trying to find out, "why the wobble?" at first. >> hinojosa: did you... was there a part of you that was like, "oh, this is just nerves. it's all in my head"? >> yeah, absolutely. >> hinojosa: "the wobbling is just because i get nervous because i'm a woman and i always am doubting myself and questioning whether or not i can do this"? >> but there was part of me that knew something was wrong. so i went to doctor after doctor, who proceeded to put tube after tube down my throat, and then who ended up saying exactly as you've just said, "it's all in your head." >> hinojosa: oh, my god. >> "it's all in your head, nothing to be done." until february 1998. maria, i don't want to frighten you or your viewers, but this is how i sounded: (voice straining): i could barely get a word out. >> hinojosa: oh, my god. >> and on that last

today on wamu radio leggett told our tom sherwood he is confident that federal funding's going to come through. >> i believe that they will come forward with the $900 million in this project and going forward. said a few weeks ago, how will montgomery county come up with this part have done that, we have demonstrateded we can do that. i think ultimately, prince george's county will cut a deal in their interest, long term and short term and allow them to move forward as well. maryland is counting on about $900 million federal for the purple line. prince george's county is still in talks with the state over how much money it will be contributing. >>> a prince george's county man in jail tonight on child porn charges. earlier this month, investigators raided kyle kenny's home in college park. they found several videos of child pornography on his computer. kinney turned himself in to state police today. >>> your kids may not want to think about it, but the start of school is just weeks away. for students in one northern virginia community, it means starting at a brand-new elementary school

tameka smith, national public radios wamu. allison fitzgerald managing editor for finance at the center for public integrity. skipping over our speaker for a moment, angela keen a minnesotan, a white house correspondent for bloomberg news, a former national press club president, and the speaker's committee member who organized today's lunch. thank you, angela. menachem wecker, a tremendous reporter who covers art, religion and education. elizabeth jia a multimedia reporter producer or cbs affiliate wusa channel 9. verdoze al farouk medical reporter for the gray sheet. and devon henry a native minnesotan and energy and environment reporter for the hill. [ applause ] i want to welcome our c-span and public radio audiences. and remind you that you can follow the action today on twitter. use the #npclunch. and remember the public attends our lunches. applause is not evidence of a lack of journalistic objectivity. well garrison keillor is a storyteller, author, humorist and radio personality. he's best known as the voice on the rad

tamika smith, anchor for national public radio's wamu. alison fitzgerald, managing editor of politics at the center for public integrity and a national press club board member. skipping over our speaker for a moment -- [laughter] angela, a minnesotan, white house correspondent for bloomberg news, former national press club president and the speakers committee member who organized the day's lunch. thank you, angela. a freelance reporter who covers are, religion, and education. elizabeth jia, a multimedia reporter producer for cbs affiliates, w usa channel nine. all peru, medical reporter for the gray sheet. and david henry, a native minnesotan and energy and environment reporter for "the hill." [applause] i want to welcome our c-span and public radio audience and remind you you can follow the action today on twitter, use the #npclunch. and remember, people are attending during this lunch, so applause is not evidence of a lack of journalistic object to -- objectivity. and are guest today is a humorist and radio personality best known as the