Where We Live

This hour: As Black History Month draws to a close, we draw attention to a Connecticut native who was integral in the campaign for civil rights -- Judge Constance Baker Motley . Coming up, we take an in-depth look at Judge Motley's life and talk about her legacy both inside and outside of the courtroom. Plus: Suzan-Lori Parks’ Father Comes Home From the Wars Parts 1, 2 & 3 opens at Yale Repert...

Where do gender disparities exist for women and girls in our state? And how do we address them? Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the past decade, the amount of money that students owe for education has more than doubled to almost $1.4 trillion, and tuition for college has increased nearly 400 percent in the last 30 years.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eleanor Roosevelt was a woman with a huge historical footprint—First Lady, first U.S. delegate to the United Nations General Assembly. She was dubbed “The First Lady of the World” by Harry Truman.  But how much is known about Eleanor’s personal life beyond the politics and activism? This hour, we sit down with Connecticut author Amy Bloom. Her new book,  White Houses , is a fictional nov...

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk made history in February when his Falcon Heavy rocket launched a red Tesla convertible into outer space. In the driver seat is a dummy astronaut dubbed “Starman” who’s now flying through space, orbiting the sun. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The nation is waking up to another devastating tragedy—this time, a school shooting in a Florida high school. Police say 17 are dead, more than a dozen others have been hospitalized. The shooter, a former student, is in custody. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour: a lesson in public history. How are towns and cities across Connecticut and the Northeast engaging residents with the past? We check in with a team of experts and historians. We look at examples of locally driven projects and initiatives, and consider their impact on community building and sense of place. Do you feel a strong tie to your community’s history? We want to hear from you.&nb...

Who should be able to build casinos in Connecticut? Plans by the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes to build a third gaming facility in East Windsor have stalled, and lawmakers in southwestern Connecticut are now pushing a bill to scrap that plan in favor of a new casino in Bridgeport. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know 75 percent of animals in the ocean glow? Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The state Supreme Court ruled last month that the way Connecticut funds public schools doesn’t violate the state’s constitution. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour: " the search for William Grimes ." We talk to author and film producer Regina Mason about her quest to find her great-great-great-grandfather -- a New Haven resident and runaway slave.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the  Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center  in Southeast Connecticut. Coming up, we tour the 300,000-plus-square-foot facility. What makes its exhibitions so critical today?  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the deadliest drug crisis in our nation’s history and communities in Connecticut are coming together to talk about solutions. This hour, we listen back to a recent opioid panel recorded at Gateway Community College in New Haven. What’s the best way to support individuals and families battling substance abuse -- especially when one size does not fit all? Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donat...

Catherine Smith is Commissioner of Connecticut's Department of Economic and Community Development. This hour, she stops by for an update on the state's economy and manufacturing workforce. Later, we also check in with Goodwin College President Mark Scheinberg. How is his school training the next generation of manufacturing employees? We find out and we also hear from you.  Support the show: h...

Tonight, President Trump will deliver his first State of the Union address to Congress—and to America. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour: a decision in the shooting death of Bridgeport teenager Jayson Negron . Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Xhenet Aliu is a native of Waterbury, CT, a city that once hosted a strong brass manufacturing industry. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we hear the words “autism diagnosis” it’s common to imagine a young child or adolescent. But what about those who receive their diagnoses at a later stage of life -- in the midst of successful careers or long, happy marriages? Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Home DNA kits like 23andMe or Ancestry are a fun way to learn about your family and your own body. But what happens when exploring your genome uncovers disturbing information about your health? Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when a river fills with ice? Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour: following reports of abuse by staff at Connecticut’s maximum-security psychiatric unit -- news of an order separating Whiting Forensic from Connecticut Valley Hospital.  Coming up, we discuss the significance of the split -- including what it means for the safety and oversight of patients. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are many questions a young woman will face as she matures. Among them: What is her timeline for building a family? And how many kids does she expect to have? But not all women want to become mothers.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For someone with food allergies, a taste of peanut butter or a bite of shellfish could be life-threatening. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been declared a national public health emergency. In the United States, the annual number of deaths from opioid overdose has surpassed the number of deaths during the height of the AIDS epidemic in the ‘90s. But opioid users aren’t the only victims of this crisis.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour: the origin of the Connecticut Valley Railroad . Author and historian Max R. Miller takes “along the valley line” -- sharing stories from the railroad’s past. But first: on the heels of last month’s devastating Amtrak derailment in Washington state -- a look at what lies ahead for the nation’s aging transportation infrastructure .  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnyst...