Where We Live

What challenges do people with criminal records face when re-entering society? What is Connecticut doing to help prior offenders reintegrate?  This hour: we discuss challenges faced after leaving prison. This includes finding gainful employment, getting an education and even finding a place to live. Join the conversation on  Facebook  and  Twitter . Guests Kel Lyons -  Rep...

She started as a social worker in Connecticut more than two decades ago. Now, Vannessa Dorantes is the Commissioner of the state’s Department of Children and Families (DCF). This hour, we sit down with Commissioner Dorantes. What questions do you have for the leader of DCF? Join the conversation on  Facebook  and  Twitter . GUESTS: Vannessa Dorantes -  Commissioner of the...

There have been confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York. What do you need to know to prepare for a potential outbreak in Connecticut?  What should residents do to protect themselves and their families against coronavirus? How is the state of Connecticut preparing? This hour: what are researchers doing t...

March Madness begins in a couple of weeks, a favorite time of year for people who love watching college basketball. But if you want to legally place bets on your favorite team, inside Connecticut you’re out of luck. This hour: will the General Assembly legalize sports betting this legislative session? Some lawmakers want to see sports betting revenues coming into the state's coffers. But a d...

It’s tax season. Filing taxes can be a complicated and intimidating process. And ProPublica has found that big names in e-filing, like TurboTax, are actually making it more difficult for Americans to file easily and free of charge. This hour, we talk with a reporter behind the investigation, and find out whether you can file your taxes for free. Read ProPublica's guide to filing your state a...

Deaths related to alcohol have been rising over the past two decades, especially among women.  Today, we look at the impact of alcohol on public health. In 1920, Prohibition went into effect around the country, making it illegal to sell alcohol. 100 years after the beginning of this national experiment, we ask: what is a productive policy approach today to dealing with addiction? Join the con...

This November, 32 million Latinos will be eligible to vote in the 2020 election, making them the largest minority voting bloc in the United States, according to the  Pew Research Center . But Latinos are a diverse electorate—with roots from more than two dozen countries.  This hour, what are President Trump and the Democrats doing right now to reach these voters? We talk to Kristia...

Lori Jackson feared for her life, so she got a temporary restraining order against her husband. But he was still able to legally buy a handgun, which he used to kill Jackson. This hour, we talk about the legal gaps that allow some domestic abusers to purchase firearms. Proposed changes to federal law aim to address these gaps, changes that advocates say would protect women like Lori Jackson....

Amid the constant discussion of Connecticut residents leaving the state, the shoreline may soon be home to five new residents: Beluga whales.  Mystic Aquarium has petitioned the federal government for permission to import five captive belugas to join its wildlife on display. Mystic says the move would help research to aid conservation efforts. But critics say the proposal is not only hazardou...

They grew up during a digital revolution, two foreign wars, and a devastating financial crisis.  Now, millennials are beginning to come into political power, and those formative experiences shaping them into a different kind of politician than found in past generations. This hour, we talk with TIME national political correspondent Charlotte Alter. Her new book is called “The Ones We&rsq...

Ugandan-American musician Samite Mulondo combines music and storytelling in his performances. This hour, Samite returns to our studios to talk about his newest piece,  The Story Of Mutoto,  which he performs at the University of Saint Joseph this weekend. And  Hartford’s art house theater Cinestudio celebrates fifty years of showing films this week. We talk with Cine...

From veterans returning from Iraq, to survivors of mass shootings, to those putting together the pieces after a hurricane--we know that the emotional and psychological scars of violence and tragedies sometimes last even longer than physical wounds. But what is the psychological toll on those who help victims of traumatic experiences? We talk with Dr. Megan Berthold, professor of social work at UCo...

This summer marks 100 years since women achieved the right to vote. Yet women still are underrepresented in political office, both nationally and in the Connecticut General Assembly. This hour, we listen to my conversation with a panel of experts and women lawmakers. We ask: what barriers remain for women who are considering seeking office? Join the conversation on  Facebook  and  T...

Norwich, CT resident Tamara Lanier believes she is the descendant of two enslaved people—Renty and his daughter, Delia. They were photographed in 1850 for Harvard professor Louis Agassiz, as part of his research to advance the racist theory that Africans had different origins from Europeans.  Lanier wants those early photographs , and has sued Harvard for “wrongful seizure, posses...

Valentine's Day is around the corner, which means it’s the season for chocolates and cheesy Hallmark cards. Love is what most people are looking for in a spouse or life partner. But this hour, we take a look at marriage, an institution that for much of history had very little to do with love at all. We also talk about the right to end a marriage by divorce. And we want to hear from you, too....

The death of a pet can be devastating --yet when you lose an animal companion--you’re sometimes expected to “just get over it.”  This hour, we talk about human attachment to pets. Have you experienced the death of a beloved animal? How comfortable were you talking about your grief with others? We also explore the impacts on the mental health of veterinarians as they help pat...

What’s it like being a dad in 2020? On the next Where We Live, we’ll talk about social expectations for fathers as caregivers, and the impact an involved father has on the entire family, emotionally and financially. Are you a father? We want to hear from you. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How often do you buy new clothing? Stores like H&M and Forever 21 sell new styles at low prices, making it easy to constantly update your wardrobe. But, this hour: the environmental and social costs of " fast fashion ".  From unsafe garment factories to pollution in rivers , we hear about impacts of the fashion industry from journalist Jasmin Malik Chua. We’ll also talk about o...

Anyone who’s spent time outdoors in Connecticut has probably come across a dam or two. The state is home to more than 4,000 dams, a dozen of which were spotlighted in a recent national dam safety investigation by The Associated Press . This hour, we take an in-depth look at this investigation. What do its findings tell us about the integrity of the nation’s dam infrastructure? And how...

It’s a busy week in politics. The presidential primary season kicked off in Iowa, and tonight is the President’s State of the Union Address. Meanwhile, the impeachment trial nears its end. This hour, Southern Connecticut State University political scientist Jennifer Hopper joins us.   And later, what do you know about the new coronavirus? There are now 11 confirmed cases in the US...

Standardized tests, application forms, campus visits. The path to college can be a daunting one, especially when you add tuition to the mix. Then, of course, there is the cost of room and board, meal plans, textbooks...feeling stressed yet? This hour, we tackle the realities of affording a college education, and we also hear from you. Are you the parent of a college-age student? Are you, yourself,...

Have you noticed fewer sparrows or warblers flitting about your backyard? Bird populations in North America have been declining for years, but in 2019, the data was particularly grim. Two-thirds of bird species are at risk of extinction due to climate change and urbanization, according to recent studies . What does that mean for Connecticut’s birds? This hour, we talk to UConn professor Chri...

Wanjiku Gatheru is the daughter of Kenyan immigrants and a first-generation American. Now, the UConn senior has made university history as the school’s first-ever Rhodes Scholar. This hour we sit down with Gatheru. We talk about her life growing up in Conencticut’s Quiet Corner, and find out why she’s pursuing a career in environmental justice. Later, we talk about strategies to...

The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act introduced a new initiative, the Opportunity Zones Program , to spur investment in the nation’s most distressed communities. The state of Connecticut is home to 72 Opportunity Zones. What efforts are being made to attract investors to these regions? This hour, we find out, and we also hear from you. Do you live in or near an Opportunity Zone?  Support the...

Sheff v. O’Neill, the landmark desegregation case in Connecticut, has shaped school systems in the greater Hartford region for decades. The state of Connecticut has announced it reached a settlement with the plaintiffs. This hour, we hear more from CT Mirror education reporter Jacqueline Rabe Thomas. Connecticut’s Open Choice program, where students from Hartford travel to suburban sch...