Where We Live

In 1999 the Columbine shooting shook the country and made everyone aware of the threat of gun violence in schools. As a result, schools made an effort to implement lockdown procedures as a way to keep students and staff safe. But with the rates of shootings only continuing to rise, these threats of mass shootings are feeling too real, and the lockdowns that were meant to keep students safe are ins...

The number of people who became unhoused in Connecticut increased by 13 percent between 2021 and last year. And in most places around the country, cities rely on shelters to accommodate people who are unhoused. But those who’ve lived there say this model isn’t working. Families are separated. There’s a 90-day stay limit. There’s little to no security for personal belongings. And at dawn, everyone’...

23% of the adult U.S. population cannot read above a third-grade level.  Literacy isn’t limited to reading and writing, it can also refer to basic math, comprehension and critical thinking skills. According to  ProLiteracy, bringing reading levels up “would generate an additional $2.2 trillion in annual income.  Today, we get a deeper understanding of adult literacy in our country and across our s...

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have estimated that  more than half  of wheelchairs break down in a typical six-month period. Many Connecticut residents say those repairs can take months. This hour, we hear from local advocates with the  Connecticut Wheelchair Reform Coalition  about a recently-formed legislative task force and their goals for next session. In particular, they hope to...

Virtually all Connecticut residents engage in the arts, culture and humanities, either formally or informally,  a recent survey found . But attendance rates at many cultural organizations haven't quite returned to pre-pandemic levels. This hour, we get the latest from Connecticut Humanities executive director Jason Mancini, and hear about a recent push for a  "roadmap"  that would better fund and...

Across Connecticut's thousands of farms, spanning nearly 400,000 acres, the average age of farmers is 58, just under the national average. Over 90% of senior Connecticut farmers don’t have a younger person tapped to take the reins, according to an American Farmland Trust study. This hour, we dig into local and federal efforts to support new and young farmers with New Connecticut Farmers Alliance P...

Connecticut rolled out a Black and Latino history elective this past school year, the first of several recent curricular updates and mandates to go live statewide. This hour, we hear from social studies teachers Daisha Brabham and Julian Shafer about how they worked with the curriculum offered by the state. Plus, their students share their experiences. Students in Windsor recently led a push to of...

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, more than 280,000 Ukrainians have resettled in the United States. According to Integrated Refugee Immigrant Services , there is roughly 1500 Ukrainian refugees settled in Connecticut. Elected officials here in Connecticut have shown their support for Ukraine. Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal has traveled several times since the start of the war to meet...

Toys are occasionally marketed to "children of all ages." In recent years, market research has shown the number of toy-buyers over 12 years old is growing. The demographic, sometimes called "kidults," now comprises a quarter of the annual toy retail market, and an impressive 60% of the market’s growth in the last year, according to market research company NPD Group . Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a profe...

A Pew survey from 2018 estimated 13% of adults consult tarot card readers, astrologers or "fortune-tellers." But more recent market research shows sales for tarot card decks and psychic services are growing. This hour, we explore the art of divination and "card-pulling" in Connecticut. Hear from professional tarot reader Afton Jacobs-Williams, AKA Monty's Tarot Child. Plus, Chelsea Granger is a mu...

Since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan nearly two years ago, roughly 80,000 refugees have resettled in the country. According to the Connecticut Department of Social Services, "over 1,300 parolees, refugees, and Special Immigrant Visa Holders from Afghanistan have resettled in Connecticut since 2021." The New Haven-based non-profit, Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services, or IRIS, recentl...

For some, gardening can act as a love letter to our family history. The act of cultivating the same plants and herbs that your grandmother, or great grandmother might have grown, can keep us connected to our roots. It can also serve as a reminder of what people needed to do in order to survive - through history and the present. The act of gardening goes beyond working with the soil in our own back...

Wine country is often associated with California valleys, like Napa or Sonoma. There’s also a lesser-known wine country in Connecticut, made up of some 45 licensed farm wineries. This hour, we explore the flavors of New England with food journalist Leeanne Griffin, and wine expert and writer Anne Feiring. Plus, we hear from local vineyards, and discuss the role of "agritourism" in Connecticut. We...

Jellyfish or simply “jellies”  have been around for more than 500 million years.  That means, jellies were here before dinosaurs! This resilient species has a simple, but astounding makeup. Jellies don’t have a brain or a heart. They have a single cavity for eating and expelling waste. This hour, we learn about the jellies off Long Island Sound and how climate change affects their population.  Hav...

Sturgeon have existed for millions of years. These prehistoric fish, often described as "hardy" and "charismatic," are largely endangered. Atlantic sturgeon were thought to have disappeared from the Connecticut River. In 2014, local researchers with the state discovered a hatchling Atlantic sturgeon up-river, marking the first time they'd seen this species alongside its river-faring cousin, short-...

Diamondback terrapins, a species of small turtle along the coastline and marsh of  Long Island Sound were once near extinction, but they’ve made a great comeback in our state. This special species was  once hunted to make turtle soup,  to the point that there were no terrapins left in Sound. Now that hunting the terrapins has become illegal, they have started to return. This tenacious little guy i...

Just off the coast, in Long Island Sound and Narragansett Bay, northern star coral flourishes. Scientists where we live hope this could be good news for its tropical relatives,  increasingly threatened  by warming waters. Clusters of this native coral, also known as Astrangia poculata, are being studied for their ability to survive winter through dormancy and thrive through what might be considere...

In 1999 the Columbine shooting shook the country and made everyone aware of the threat of gun violence in schools. As a result, schools made the effort to implement  lockdown procedures as a way to keep students and staff safe. But with the rates of shootings only continuing to rise, these threats of mass shootings are feeling too real and  the lockdowns that were meant to keep students safe, are...

Endometriosis is one of the most common diseases affecting those with uteruses. Despite its prevalence, proper diagnosis can take up to ten years, leaving many suffering without support or treatment. State Representative Jillian Gilchrest recently launched a  legislative working group  to advocate for better research and education policies across Connecticut. Arleigh Cole is a local public educato...

Author and teacher Chasten Buttigieg joins us to discuss his book. He is the husband of 2020 presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg in 2018. His book,   I Have to Tell You Something ,  was originally published in 2020 and has since been rewritten and republished as  I Have to Tell You Something - For Young Adults.   He joins us for a conversation over Zoom to talk about his book and his message to...

Connecticut author and lawyer Anne Howard is known for her work writing true crime, but her recent book is a departure from her prior work. Today, we talk about her new book that she worked to translate, entitled Escape from Mariupol: A Survivor's True Story. Anne first met Adoriana Marik through mutual friends. They exchanged letters, and Adoriana sent her hand-drawn cards and other artwork over...

Aisha Harris, co-host for NPR’s Pop Culture Hour , is out with a new book titled Wannabe: Reckonings With The Pop Culture That Shapes Me. Harris explores how early influences and cultural tropes shape her role today as critic, including her upbringing in Connecticut. Today, she joins us for the hour. Plus, we learn ways to slow down the fast fashion cycle. Lucianne Tonti, a fashion consultant and...

R.F. Kuang's works of historical fantasy, including The Poppy War series, have been racking up awards since she began publishing in 2018. Her novel Babel recently won the prestigious Nebula Award for science fiction and fantasy writers. The same day, her latest book Yellowface debuted. It is Kuang's fifth novel, and a shift from fantasy to literary fiction. The satirical thriller takes on the comm...

After collecting oral histories from generations of women in her family in "My Little Red Book," Rachel Kauder Nalebuff created Our Red Book , an extended project reflecting the experience of people of all races, ages and genders around the world. But there’s so much stigma and misinformation around periods. This hour, three Connecticut-based contributors featured in her book join us, breaking dow...

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have estimated that  more than half  of wheelchairs break down in a typical six-month period. Many Connecticut residents say those repairs can take months. This hour, we hear from local advocates about a recently-formed legislative task force, and their goals for next session. In particular, they hope to study and set limits on repair turnaround times. U...