Where We Live

Conley Monk Jr. came home to Hamden in 1970 after serving in the Vietnam War. His discharge was prompted by a PTSD-induced altercation in Okinawa, and categorized within the military as "other-than-honorable." Mr. Monk spent decades trying to access basic benefits like disability coverage, until  his appeal in 2015  ultimately changed how these kinds of cases are heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals...

The pandemic led to a decline in the incarcerated population, and many states have been re-evaluating the purpose of prisons. In this hour, Bill Keller, Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Marshall Project, joins us to talk about his new book,  What’s Prison For? Punishment and Rehabilitation in the Age of Mass Incarceration. Keller details how the United States prison population became so massive and...

State Representative Quentin “Q” Williams died last week after a collision with a wrong-way driver. Today, we remember his legacy, his time in office and how he served his constituents. State Representatives Bobby Gibson and Christopher Rosario join us to share their experience working with the late politician. Later, we talk about what can be done to prevent wrong-way driving and how we might see...

Connecticut’s waste management crisis is already a top-ticket item for lawmakers. Before the latest legislative session began, newly-appointed Environmental Committee Chair State Sen. Rick Lopes  told the CT Examiner  he was focused on finding solutions. The State Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has been sounding the alarm  since 2020 , when Commissioner Katie Dykes said the dw...

Retailers can start selling adult-use cannabis on January 10th. Today, we breakdown what dispensaries might look like in our state and hear what retailers are doing to prepare opening up to the public. We hear from Skyler Frazer of the Hartford Business Journal who has been covering all things cannabis in our state. Have you seen any dispensaries pop up in your town? GUESTS: Jeffrey Marrero: Marre...

Emily Wicks with UConn's Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry noticed the pandemic-era disruptions to kids' social-emotional learning and development, and reached out to Sandy Chafouleas at the university's Neag School of Education. Together they developed  Feel Your Best Self , a puppet-centered program aimed at helping "strengthen the emotional well-being of elementary-aged children." This h...

The WNBA kicks off on May 19th. Today, on Where We Live, we’re talking about all things women’s basketball including and hear about what players to watch in 2023. We’ll also discuss how Brittney Griner’s imprisonment and subsequent release has impacted interest in the game and spurred more activism in the league. And later, we talk about the pay gap between men and women’s sports, and what can be...

With  spiking health insurance premiums ,  energy costs  and general "inflation" top-of-mind for many Connecticut residents, what are the top priorities for state lawmakers at the start of this legislative session? And what's most likely to be met with consensus? We'll discuss with a roundtable of experts. Plus, we hear from ACLU of Connecticut about their plan to renew a push for the Connecticut...

What are some issues with homestay services like Airbnb ? And what’s being done to address them? This hour, we hear from travelers about their experiences with short-term rentals. We'll hear from an attorney representing clients with complaints about Airbnb. And later, we learn how these short-term rentals impact the housing and rental markets in our state. What questions do you have about the saf...

Alexandra Horowitz is a dog cognition researcher, professor and the head scientist at Barnard College's Dog Cognition Lab. Her latest book,  The Year of the Puppy , follows her first experience raising a puppy. "Instead of following an instruction manual for a puppy, I wanted to follow the puppy," she writes. "By slowing down to observe the changes in our new charge from week to week, I hoped to m...

There are several protections for trans and nonbinary people in our state, including insurance coverage for health care services and, as part of Connecticut's new "safe harbor" law, legal protections for those seeking gender-affirming care from out of state. Still, an increase in anti-trans rhetoric has led to a troubling trend of legislation and litigation nationally. How does this affect trans a...

In his new book,  The Storm is Here: An American Crucible ,  longtime war correspondent Luke Mogelson explores the rise of right wing extremism in the U.S. Today, Mogelson joins us to talk about the events leading up to the Jan 6 insurrection and what he saw firsthand at the U.S Capitol that day. The Oath Keepers have been accused of having a large role in the Capitol riots, and are one of the far...

Dr. Randall Horton is a Professor of English at the University of New Haven. His new memoir,  Dead Weight  details the time he was incarcerated more than two decades ago. Today, we talk about his time on the inside, what led him to write, and the challenges he faced establishing a career in academia.  Horton says the “weight of felony convictions never dissipates.”  We want to hear from you. Have...

When we hear about the climate crisis, it can often be framed as a future or somehow distant dilemma. But environmental justice advocates point to the many ways present-day discriminatory practices and policies have resulted in stark instances of environmental racism here in the U.S. One acclaimed Connecticut author is using his latest work of science fiction to reframe the climate crisis as inher...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but the holidays can be a difficult time for a number of reasons. The pressure to buy presents, fear of missing out, and spending time with difficult relatives can make enjoying this time of year challenging. Today, we discuss navigating the holiday blues. Rabbi Debra Cantor and Pastor Shawn Fisher join us to discuss ways to maximize your self care during...

Trains may often be billed as a toy for tots, but there are locomotive-lovers of all ages where we live. This hour, go for a ride on the Naugatuck Railroad at the Railroad Museum of New England, and one holiday train tailored for children on the autism spectrum. Plus, Yale New Haven Children's Hospital is home to a toy train display that sparks joy in children and adults alike. GUESTS: Christine F...

Pay transparency is a growing movement across the United States. Connecticut adopted its own legislation in the form of “An Act Concerning the Disclosure of Salary Ranges” which went into effect on October 1st of 2021. Today we talk about the types of pay transparency, the challenges that come with it, and what companies are doing to lessen the anxiety of talking about pay. We hear from VP of Comp...

The story of the American Oystercatcher in Connecticut is "one of success and hope; however, because of the increasing threat from climate change and habitat loss, its future is uncertain," writes Audubon Connecticut Coastal Program Coordinator Beth Amendola. Whether the Oystercatcher, the Piping Plover or the Semipalmated Sandpiper, beach-nesting birds in Connecticut require "continual vigilance...

Numerous reports have said obesity in adults rose in the pandemic. Childhood obesity has risen starkly too, but for different reasons than you may think. Today, we explore how stress impacts childhood obesity. We hear from Julia A. Snethen, co author of article, “ When Pandemics Collide: The Impact of COVID-19 on Childhood Obesity. ” And later, we’ll learn how to have sensitive conversations about...

Half of the world’s population is made up of women. And by 2025, the number of postmenopausal women is expected to rise to 1 billion, according to the  North American Menopause Society . Despite the  $600 billion global market , menopause is still a taboo topic. But  new scientific research  on menopause on the heels of previous studies show how and where we  must invest  in women’s health. This h...

It’s been ten years since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Twenty students and six educators died. Today, we speak with a student who was a fourth grader at Sandy Hook when the shooting happened. And later, we hear from Elizabeth Williamson, author of  Sandy Hook: An American Tragedy and the Battle for Truth. We want to hear your thoughts, reflections, and prayers about this day. Call th...

"Maintaining and bolstering trust in science has never been more critical," writes Connecticut College chemistry professor Marc Zimmer .His latest book, Science and the Skeptic: Discerning Fact from Fiction, explores the impact and "origins of fake science." Written to help young readers "distinguish between science and fake science," Zimmer offers tips and tricks to help "detect science misrepres...

Bloomberg reported that a shorter work week experiment in Iceland found that workers maintained productivity and had improved well-being. Today, Alex Pang, author of Shorter: Work Better, Smarter and Less - Here’s How, about how some companies are navigating a shorter work week, while paying workers the same salaries. And later, we hear from Mike Melillo founder and CEO of the Wanderlust Group. He...

Neil Berro, a local amateur historian, is building a massive manuscript on the history of Connecticut oystering titled  Oyster Haven Lost . This hour, he previews this trove of information, spotlighting the state's once-booming oyster industry. Plus, the Sound School in New Haven was founded with a mission of centering hands-on curriculum, incorporating the harbor, marine science and oceanography...

Known as the seventh continent, Antarctica is much more than home for penguins! Today, we explore the least inhabited continent in the world. We hear about how climate change is impacting wildlife on Antarctica, and what life looks like for those that live and work there. What questions do you have about living in Antarctica? GUESTS: David W. Brown -  contributor to  the New Yorker  and author to...