Where We Live

This hour, we rebroadcast our audio tributes to the inspiring twentieth-century women -- the so-called " motor girls " and " Kalamazoo gals " -- who helped shape American history and American industry.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) , roughly one in five adults in the U.S. experiences a mental illness each year -- that’s approximately 20 percent of all American adults. But even as awareness increases, the stigma associated with mental illness persists. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the last 50 years, Sunday mass attendance in the Archdiocese of Hartford has declined 70 percent, and the number of active priests is down 65 percent. So it’s not a surprise that the Archdiocese is closing down and merging churches across the state -- from 212 to 127. This hour, we talk about the local mergers with priests and parishioners.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omn...

Chartwell Dutiro is a Zimbabwe native and leading authority on the mbira tradition. He is also an experienced collaborator. This hour, we hear about his recent partnership with Timbila -- a band co-founded by Afropop Worldwide producer Banning Eyre.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With spring comes a rise in the number of black bear sightings in Connecticut. This hour, we learn about a bear’s lifestyle and biology with author and scientist Dr. Benjamin Kilham. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Connecticut’s Sheff magnet system is back in the spotlight -- this time, for reports of questionable admissions practices. This hour: hand-picked or luck of the draw? We find out how some Hartford-area schools have been skirting around the state’s lottery process .  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Connecticut’s prison population is getting older, upping the demand for healthcare including hospice programs that serve inmates and ex-offenders. This hour, we find out what it means to die with dignity behind bars.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Khizr Khan entered a life in the public eye after he spoke at the Democratic National Convention last summer, challenging then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump to read the U.S. Constitution. This hour, we speak to the Pakistani American and Gold Star Father about life after that memorable speech , and why he continues to travel around the country to speak on behalf of religious and min...

This hour, we tackle issues involving race, policy, and U.S. democracy with Demos President Heather McGhee. Plus: a look at efforts to establish paid leave in Connecticut. If passed, how might new legislation impact the state's women of color? We find out and we also hear from you.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The tick population in Connecticut is on the rise, and so is the threat of Lyme disease — and other tick-borne illnesses. This hour, we hear the latest from medical professionals and policy makers about the need for new funding and research to battle a “growing tick problem” in the Northeast. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Battling lawmakers , a multi-billion dollar deficit , and the end of a gubernatorial era . April was -- without doubt -- an eventful month for state politics.  This hour, we hear from the man at the helm of it all: Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy. With less than two years left to go, how does he plan to round off his second -- and final -- term in office? We find out and also we also hear...

In a world of buzzing smartphones, endless meetings and persistent deadlines, how can we be more in-tune with ourselves and more creative in our endeavors? Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

State lawmakers are up against deadlines this week to settle on a budget plan — one that tackles a nearly two billion dollar deficit next year. But so far all we’ve seen is a logjam in Hartford . This hour, we find out what gridlock at the capitol could mean for the state’s future. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sleep. We all need it. Yet, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , roughly one in three U.S. adults does not get enough of it. Coming up, we consider the impact of this and other sleep-related trends with Dr. Meir Kryger. His new book is called The Mystery of Sleep . Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Connecticut U.S. Marine Michael Zacchea had a job to do in 2004: train and lead the first Iraqi Army battalion after the U.S. disbanded the country’s military post invasion. This hour, we revisit our conversation with Zacchea, and co-author Ted Kemp about their book The Ragged Edge which details the challenges Zacchea faced leading a diverse group of Iraqis.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org...

It’s been three months since the historic Women's March on Washington , and now D.C. is gearing up for another rally. A “ March for Science ” will transpire in the nation's capital Saturday, coinciding with marches across Connecticut and the globe.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A plan to consolidate operations within Connecticut’s State Colleges and Universities system — to save millions — has roiled staff and raised questions about how well the schools can respond to the needs of students in their communities. This hour, we talk about the Board of Regents decision and we want to hear from you. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. Nearly half of American adults have it according to a recent report from the National Center for Health Statistics. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s been nearly 50 years since a US Supreme Court decision put an end to state laws banning interracial marriage. This hour, we learn about the civil rights case, Loving v. Virginia. Have society’s perceptions really changed from that landmark decision in 1967? Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever since the Presidential election we’ve heard the buzzwords — “echo-chamber,” “facts,” “alternative facts.” More than ever our country is divided by how we get our information and what we see as the “truth.” Even reality itself has become debatable. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The mayor who wanted it is gone. The developer who built it is gone. And the plans to build around it are on hold. But finally, after a year of delay, Hartford’s new minor league baseball stadium is about to have its first minor league game.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Five-foot, ten-inch dancer Gloria Govrin reached unprecedented heights when she joined the New York City Ballet  nearly six decades ago. This hour, we take an in-depth look at her groundbreaking career -- including her work under choreographer George Balanchine ("Mr. B") -- and learn about the unique opportunity that brought her to Connecticut.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate S...

When we think of feminism, most people think of liberals and the Democratic party. But the Republicans were actually the first party to endorse the Equal Rights Amendment. And at that time, the GOP was more supportive of women’s right to vote than the Democratic party.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour, we listen back to our recent panel discussion at B:Hive Bridgeport , a coworking space in the Park City's downtown. There, we met up with Bridgeport  residents and lawmakers for a taste of the city's history, politics, culture… and even some locally-made gin!  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

April 6, 2017 marks 100 years since the United States officially entered the First World War — igniting the journey for thousands of young men to the deadly trenches of Europe. This hour, we learn about the soldiers and hear how Connecticut was one of just a few states with records that explained how some of these men viewed their service.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystu...