Where We Live

Do you have credit card debt hanging over your head? Or maybe you've been thinking you should start saving for retirement, but you aren’t sure how to pay for it? This hour we sit down with NPR correspondent Chris Arnold, who covers personal finance and consumer protection. NPR’s new family of podcasts, Life Kit , gives listeners practical tips for navigating life challenges from parent...

It's been nearly two months since Ned Lamont was sworn in as Connecticut's 89th governor. Elements of his budget proposal, released last month, are being opposed by many segments of the state's population. Progressives in the General Assembly say low-income and middle-class consumers will suffer the most if Lamont's call to expand the reach of the state's sales tax goes through. They'd rather rais...

A nursing home’s role is to care for its patients, not compromise their health. Yet, across Connecticut, a number of facilities have come up short in fulfilling this most basic function. This hour, we take an in-depth look at this issue. We talk with reporters, regulators, and advocates, and we also hear from you.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for...

An estimated 20 percent of Americans reside in rural communities. What are the needs of this population? And to what extent are those needs being met? This hour, we take a closer look. We also sit down with Anne Torsiglieri, whose one-woman show "A" Train comes to Hartford this week.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Progressive lawmakers around the country have been rallying behind a call for a $15 minimum wage, and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has joined their ranks. This hour, what would increasing the minimum wage by almost 150 percent over the next four years mean for businesses and workers here in Connecticut? We hear from an economist and get the takes of several local business owners on Democrats&rs...

The 2019 tax season is here. Have you filed your forms? If so, good on you for not procrastinating. If not, you might want to reconsider waiting until the last minute... because the U.S. tax code has changed. This hour, we take an in-depth look at the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and find out what it means for those filing taxes this year. Later, Connecticut Public Radio’s Patrick Skahill takes us i...

This hour: the crisis in Venezuela. We take an in-depth look at the realities on the ground in the country and consider the future that lies ahead for its people. Plus: We learn how a New London, Connecticut-based nonprofit is opening residents’ eyes to the diverse cultures of Latin America.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Governor Ned Lamont did a lot of asking Wednesday, as he promised he would. A general plea for everyone to step up toward a budget solution is one thing. Specific requests, like the ones he made in his state budget address to lawmakers, will prove much more difficult to attain. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s it like to build a house, a family, a life…and then have a war take it all away?   This hour we sit down with West Hartford, CT residents Adeebah Alnemar and her son, Naji Aldabaan. They’re Syrian refugees who fled during the civil war, and came to Connecticut in 2016. Their family is the subject of a 2018 Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoon series in the New York Ti...

Whose responsibility is it to confront institutional racism in our country today? Good Faith: Four Chats About Race and the New Haven Fire Department is playing at Yale Reparatory Theatre this month. It revisits New Haven after a group of firefighters sued the city. The reverse discrimination lawsuit,  Ricci v. DeStefano , was decided by the U.S Supreme Court. Support the show: http://wnpr.or...

Have you ever looked closely at a squid? No, the calamari on your plate doesn’t count. A live squid? Sure, it might seem to have come from the pages of a science fiction novel. But squid are far from fictional.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Obituaries can capture the life and achievements of individuals, from local community members to the famous. This hour we talk with an editor behind the New York Times’ “Overlooked” obituary series , which highlights black men and women whose contributions were overlooked at the time of their deaths like actress Nina Mae McKinney and ragtime composer Scott Joplin. Support the show: http://wnpr.org...

When it comes to gambling addiction, what segments of the U.S. population are most affected? This hour, we look at a new report by Connecticut Public Radio and the Sharing America initiative, which shines a light on the issue of problem gambling within the Southeast Asian refugee community. Later, we discuss a new report on weight-based bullying and its effect on young members of the LGBTQ communi...

Their parents may have spent their golden years in vast 55 and older retirement communities, or remote cookie-cutter housing developments in the suburbs. But more and more, baby boomers are deciding that's definitely not for them. They want to live in walkable, vibrant neighborhoods where there's a mix of young and old, lots of dining options, and plenty of culture. Support the show: http://wnpr.o...

This month marks the 40th anniversary of the Iranian revolution -- that is, the revolution that gave rise to what is today known as the Islamic Republic of Iran. This hour, we look back on this historic time in Iran and consider its significance in 2019.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cities and towns have laws to keep people from engaging in behavior that may disturb others, like sleeping on park benches, drinking in public, or just plain “loitering”. What does it mean when just hanging out in a public space puts you in violation of these laws? Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Forensic scientist Dr. Henry C. Lee has been a well-known figure in Connecticut courtrooms for decades. His expertise led to high-profile work investigating famous crimes from the O.J. Simpson trial to investigating the murder of child beauty queen, JonBenét Ramsey. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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? Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystud...

A nursing home’s role is to care for its patients, not compromise their health. Yet, across Connecticut, a number of facilities have come up short in fulfilling this most basic function. This hour, we take an in-depth look at this issue. We talk with reporters, regulators, and advocates, and we also hear from you.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

When you sit down to watch a favorite TV show, do you check the program schedule for a weekly listing?  Or do you turn on Netflix or Hulu and start binging? This hour, we take a look at what the rise of internet-based streaming services means for the television industry. And we want to hear from you, too.  Have you cut the cord on cable? Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnys...

What happens when a community comes together to talk about issues of race and racism? This hour, we find out how one Southington, Connecticut group is helping facilitate conversations between residents and town officials. Erica Roggeveen Byrne, founder of Southington Women for Progress, joins us. We also sit down with Oliver Scholes of the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center in Hartford, Connecticut. And...

Connecticut purposely doesn't have a full-time legislature. But state lawmakers' jobs aren't considered part-time either, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures . They fall somewhere in between. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While the debate over a U.S.-Mexico border wall has been broadcast loudly across headlines, revisions to U.S. immigration policy have occurred quietly, with little notice. This hour, we take an in-depth look at these changes and consider their impact on current and future immigrants. Plus, when it comes to welcoming new immigrants, how willing are municipal leaders and residents to open their arms...

Black and Hispanic men and boys in the U.S. experience worse health outcomes than other groups. This hour we take a look at Connecticut’s first-ever report card on the health of men and boys of color in our state. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With each new year come the same old resolutions. Go on a diet. Join a gym... But what if this year, we vowed to try something different? Unplug from technology. Spend more time in nature. This hour, we consider ways to become better connected to the natural world. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.