Where We Live

As students head back to school, teachers and administrators in Wolcott, Connecticut will be starting the school year without access to important files. That’s because the Wolcott Public School system computers were attacked by ransomware , a type of computer virus that holds essential data hostage unless the school agrees to pay attackers a ransom. This hour we take a look at why hackers ha...

Luke Bronin has been mayor of Hartford since 2016. Now, with the mayoral primary race just around the corner, Bronin is hoping that Democratic voters in the city will choose him as their party’s nominee.  This hour, we sit down with Mayor Bronin. We ask him to reflect back on his term in office, and ask him: What are his plans for Connecticut’s capital city if he is reelected? Wha...

Brandon McGee is a Democratic state representative and petitioning candidate for mayor of his native city of Hartford. This hour, we sit down with Rep. McGee. We discuss his background and campaign platform, and we also hear from you. Are you a Hartford resident? What issue, or issues, would you like to hear Rep. McGee address ahead of the Sept. 10 primary?  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/...

Joe Ganim’s election as Bridgeport’s mayor in 2015 was an unlikely comeback story.  Reelected after seven years in federal prison for felony corruption, Ganim got a second chance. And now, he is asking for their vote to put him back in the mayor’s office once more. This hour, we sit down with Joe Ganim ahead of the September 10th Democratic primary.  If you’re a B...

Attorneys general from several U.S. states, including Connecticut, have allied in opposition to new Trump administration rules that target immigrants. This hour, we sit down with Connecticut Attorney General William Tong to learn more.  Also, you many have noticed the recent deluge of headlines responding to the Trump administration’s threats to end birthright citizenship. But does the...

What would it have been like to see a huge, elephant-like mastodon roaming our state?  The earth has been home to some spectacularly large animals. A few of them still roam or swim our world today. This hour, we take a look at the biology of these giants.  From chunky island-dwelling birds to the enormous blue whale, what do we know about why these creatures evolved to be so big? And why...

Not only is Charles Ives a revered American composer, but he is also Connecticut's native son. This hour, we take an in-depth look at Ives’ life and profound musical output, and we ask: What is his legacy today?  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From surprise bills to sky-high deductibles, the American health care system is not working perfectly for many. But what’s the fix? This hour: Democratic presidential candidates have a wide variety of ideas to reform how Americans are insured, from a “public option” to “Medicare for All”. But what do these terms mean? We break it down. We’ll also ask the preside...

This hour, we hear about a months-long investigation into allegations of sexual abuse at local Boys & Girls Clubs. We also learn about reports of a plan to relocate federal detention hearings from Connecticut to Massachusetts.  And later we ask: How effective are "red-flag" laws at reducing gun violence in the U.S.?  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listene...

This hour, we talk with Democratic State Sen. Marilyn Moore who, in addition to representing the 22nd District, is campaigning for mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut. What is her strategy to successfully unseat the city's current mayor, Joe Ganim? We find out and we also hear from you. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ryan Leigh Dostie is an Iraq War veteran. She joined the U.S. Army to serve her country. But before she was deployed, she experienced violence from one of her own when she was raped by a fellow soldier.  This hour, we sit down with Dostie. She is a Connecticut resident and author of the new book: Formation: A Woman’s Memoir of Stepping Out of Line . Recent statistics show sexual as...

Although he is running against a seasoned politician, Justin Elicker is not a new face in New Haven politics. The former alder faced off against now-mayor Toni Harp in 2013, and this year, they are set to do it again. This hour, we sit down with the candidate for mayor of New Haven, ahead of the September 10th primary. With a familiar matchup back on the ballot, we ask Elicker what makes him stand...

During the Arab Spring, young Egyptians took to the streets, calling for the end of dictatorship in their country. It worked: former President Hosni Mubarak would leave. But today, eight years later, Egypt is more repressive than ever. Connecticut resident Esam Boraey was one of those young Egyptians who led the movement for change, long before the revolution. His decision would eventually force h...

They are the force behind big companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon. Often hidden or misunderstood, these chunks of computer code drive pretty much everything we do online. This hour: algorithms. They permeate throughout our lives, from credit scores to GPS driving directions. But how do algorithms work? We talk about algorithms, machine learning, and the ethics of computer-problem solving....

Abandoned factories tagged with graffiti. Vacant properties marked by broken windows and overgrown lawns. This hour, we consider the impact of urban blight on communities and hear how some local municipalities are working to improve quality of life. We check in with the cities of Waterbury and Hartford, where significant strides have been made to survey and address blight. We also talk with Laura...

With the last decade of the twentieth century came the first clinical trials for a biotechnology known as gene therapy. Since then, how far has gene therapy come? And how far has it left to go? This hour, we consider these and other questions, and we also hear from you. Were you or was someone close to you diagnosed with a genetic disease? What thoughts or questions do you have about gene therapy...

In 2017, nearly 40,000 people died from gun violence in the U.S. according to the CDC. Aswad Thomas is a survivor. A victim of a Hartford shooting outside a convenience store in 2009. He is also one of the people featured in the documentary The Sweetest Land , which looks at the epidemic of gun violence in the city of Hartford. This hour, Thomas joins us along with the documentary’s director...

This hour, we take a look at bees. From the famous animals that make the honey we eat to lesser-known native “solitary bees” that nest in holes in the ground, there are thousands of species of bees, and hundreds of them have been found right here in Connecticut! We'll talk about the critical role these pollinators play in agriculture and learn about the threats they face. Later, we tal...

Listen live on Thursday at 9:00 am. Yale University has a $29 billion endowment, one of the largest in the world. The endowment invests in many things including fossil fuel companies. This doesn’t sit well with some Yale students and faculty who are concerned about climate change. They’ve called on the school to divest that money from oil, coal, and gas companies.  Their protests...

For some single adults and couples, the path to adoption can be winding and difficult. This hour, we take an in-depth look at the realities of open adoption in the U.S. We also learn about legislative efforts to improve adoptees' access to birth records in Connecticut. And we want to hear from you. Have you adopted, or were you adopted yourself?  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See o...

Yale University is offering a voluntary wellness program to some employees. The catch? You have to share your health data and there’s a financial penalty if you don’t participate. Now, Yale is now being sued by some of it workers over this program. This hour, we take a look at the legal questions surrounding employer-sponsored wellness programs. Does your job offer one? Later, we...

A new report paints a picture of the arts in Greater Hartford, a scene that’s both colorful and rocky. This hour, we learn about the  Greater Hartford Arts Landscape Study , and consider efforts to better support the region’s artists. We also look back on the early years of hip-hop and breaking (a.k.a. breakdancing) in Connecticut, and hear how some young people are learning and p...

After more than a week of mass protests, Puerto Rican governor Ricardo Rosselló says he will step down. This hour, we ask: what happens next? We hear the latest from on the ground in Puerto Rico, and talk with Connecticut residents with ties to the island.  Did you participate in the #RickyRenuncia protests? Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Hemp production. It's a growing field in Connecticut... and we mean that in the most literal sense. This hour, we learn about the state's newly seeded hemp industry and consider the challenges and opportunities of farming the plant on local land. Plus, it’s likely you have seen the letters “CBD” on packages of teas, cookies, or lollipop candies. They’re often accompanied by...

She’s been mayor of Connecticut’s second largest city since 2014. Now, Toni Harp is hoping voters in New Haven will give her a fourth term.  This hour, Mayor Toni Harp joins us in studio just days after she received the endorsement of the city’s Democratic town committee. Candidate Justin Elicker is a likely challenger--promising to collect enough signatures to appear o...