Where We Live

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...

At midnight, the Connecticut General Assembly ended its regular session on time--and with a new two-year budget. This hour, we look at what lawmakers accomplished and what’s still left on the table. Mark Pazniokas, Capitol Bureau Chief for the Connecticut Mirror, will join us with more. We also talk with a member of the ACLU’s Smart Justice initiative. Anderson Curtis was incarcerated...

This hour, we learn about efforts to construct a new casino in Bridgeport, Connecticut. We talk to Hearst Connecticut Media reporter Emilie Munson about a possible deal between the city and the state’s tribes, and consider the implications for MGM, which also has its sights on the Southwest region.  Plus, the Trump administration has threatened to impose new tariffs on Mexico, raising q...

This hour, guest host Ray Hardman takes you to Fidelco -- the guide dog school in Bloomfield, Connecticut where we meet some guide dogs in training.  And we talk with guide dog users about the impact these animals have on their lives. We also speak with author and poet Stephen Kuusisto, who’s written a memoir about his first guide dog, Corky .    Support the show: http://wnpr....

Whether it's same-sex marriage or laws prohibiting discrimination based on gender idenity, Connecticut has been near the forefront in advancing LGBTQ causes. Still, in the state's not-too-distant past, homosexuality was regarded as a mental health or personality disorder. A new research project, jointly undertaken by Central Connecticut State University and the Connecticut Historical Society, deta...

Though she is perhaps best recognized for her vast and vibrant flower paintings, the contributions of American artist Georgia O’Keeffe extend well beyond these works. This hour, join us as we tour The Beyond: Georgia O'Keeffe and Contemporary Art , a special exhibition at the New Britain Museum of American Art in New Britain, Connecticut. We meet up with the museum’s director and CEO,...

Maya Angelou, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks. These are three of the eight Black women whose experiences are recounted in Kimberly Wilson’s “ A JOURNEY: Musical One-Woman Show ”. This hour, Wilson, a Westport, Connecticut resident, joins us to talk about her experience writing and performing the show.  Later, we learn how a new project researched by local university students is...

Donald Collins first told his mom he was transgender when he was a senior in high school. His mother wasn’t totally sure what the word transgender even meant. From there, they began a difficult emotional journey as Donald began his transition. This hour, we sit down with Donald and his mother, Mary Collins. They have written about their experience in the book At the Broken Places: A Mother a...

Gilead, the biopharmaceutical company responsible for manufacturing Truvada, has come under scrutiny for its HIV drug pricing. This hour, we get the latest on this story. We also preview an upcoming Hartford rally, scheduled to coincide with AIDS Awareness Day. Plus, for various reasons, a couple might decide to have their embryos frozen. But what happens to those embryos after the couple divorces...

Investigators say that a devastating fire at the Diyanet Mosque in New Haven was the result of arson. This hour, we hear reaction from members of that mosque community. This fire took place during  Ramadan, a holy month of fasting that Muslims around the world are observing. Later, we talk with Connecticut Muslims about how they celebrate this religious tradition. Support the show: http://wnp...

Connecticut has parted ways with its "Still Revolutionary" slogan to the relief of some residents. Now many are left wondering: How will the state move forward marketing itself to tourists? This hour, we take an in-depth look at this question and we also hear from you. What local attractions or attributes would you like to see highlighted as part of a campaign to draw visitors to our state? ...

The idea of what a college education should be has changed over the years. This hour: what’s the value of a liberal arts degree in the twenty-first century? We hear why tech giant Infosys has teamed up with Trinity College in Hartford to train and recruit new hires. Later, we learn how some colleges are bringing together the best parts of a liberal arts program with a focus on the skills nee...

In their heyday, Willimantic's Hooker and Nathan Hale Hotels were considered among the most lavish accomodations halfway between New York and Boston. But they have long sat idle. Most residents know little about the Hooker's past other than that, by the 1980s and 1990s, the decaying structure turned into a  notoriously gruesome  boarding house for heroin addicts. A  settlement agree...

Two recent police shootings in Connecticut highlight, once again, tensions between police and the public. As lawmakers debate ways to hold police accountable, residents wrestle with trusting law enforcement. What issues need be addressed to mend relationships and build stronger communities? This hour, we listen back to a conversation we hosted with community members at the Arroyo Recreation Center...

When Rabbi Philip Lazowski was just eleven years old, the Nazis invaded his hometown and began the mass slaughter of Jewish residents. This hour we sit down with Rabbi Lazowski, a Holocaust survivor and longtime leader in the Greater Hartford Jewish community, to hear his story. After witnessing one of the worst sides of humanity, how did he maintain his faith and find the strength to help others?...

They live underground and gorge themselves in dumpsters. This hour, we’re taking a long, hard look at creatures you’d probably rather not think about: RATS! We hear about how the city of Hartford is fighting these unwelcome rodent residents, and we ask a researcher why are these scurrying creatures so successful at living alongside humans? And later, we take a look at another rode...

Sharks. They’re among the apex predators of the ocean, swimming with stealth and agility across our blue planet. But more than that, they’re sources of myth and fear, stirring imaginations with their serrated jaws and cutting dorsal fins. So what, then, does it take to photograph these -- and other -- awe-inspiring marine creatures? This hour, we talk with underwater photojournalist&nb...

Tens of thousands have died in Yemen as a Saudi-led bombing campaign continues to fuel a devastating civil war. And the U.S. has been fueling military efforts by Saudi Arabia in this four year conflict. This hour, we ask Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy what are the next steps to address this humanitarian crisis, now that the senate has failed to override the president’s veto of a resolution...

Searching for a majestic waterfall? There's no need to travel very far. Many are right here in Connecticut. There's gushers like Great Falls along the Housatonic River at Fall Village in the town of Canaan on the western side of the state. In the spring when it's at full power, it's been touted as the "Niagara of New England." Others, like Sages Ravine in Salisbury , are more pristine, but a littl...

Sometimes new technology, like the iPhone, comes to us in flashy, attention-grabbing presentations. But other times, it creeps up and changes our world... without us noticing! One technology that’s made its way into the headlines is artificial intelligence (AI). For some, those two words might stir up images of Ultron or HAL 9000 . But AI's role goes well beyond movies or books. In fact, it'...

Two recent officer-involved shootings have shaken communities across Connecticut. This hour, we take a look at these two stories. We hear from Connecticut Public Radio reporters who’ve been on the ground in New Haven and Wethersfield. We ask a lawmaker: Does Connecticut have in place strong enough laws for police accountability? And we take a look at de-escalation training for police. How ca...

Have you ever watched footage of Usain Bolt with a stupefied look on your face, wondering how one man could run... so fast? You're not alone. This hour, we consider the science behind high-speed running with a researcher at Southern Methodist University. We also check in with a couple of local runners, including Kiran Majmudar, who ran his first Hartford Marathon at... get this... age 65.  Su...

With the change in season, many birds that headed south over the winter are coming back to the northeast. This hour, we sit down with Connecticut’s state ornithologist.  It’s the time of year birds are finding mates and raising chicks. What behaviors should we be on the lookout for? We also learn about a citizen science project happening in the state: the Connecticut Bird Atlas ....

Spring has arrived, transforming Connecticut’s landscape into a vibrant canvas of yellows, pinks, whites, and greens. For gardeners, the season signals a return to the outdoors; a new opportunity to cultivate the soil and tend to rows of berries , herbs , and flowering trees . This hour, join us as we talk all things spring gardening with  Connecticut Garden Journal host Charlie Nardozz...

Bulimia. Anorexia. Binge-eating. You have likely heard of these eating disorders before. But what are they, really? And who do they affect? This hour, we talk with advocates and experts in the field, and we also hear from you. Have you or has someone close to you suffered from an eating disorder? Where did you turn for help?  Join the conversation on  Facebook  and  Twitter . G...