Where We Live

President Biden  declared  that the COVID-19 “pandemic is over.” But public health officials say not so fast – reminding Americans that on average, 353 people are dying daily from COVID-19 in the United States,  according  to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus continues to mutate, and vulnerable populations still exist despite the COVID vaccine and boosters. This hour on Whe...

The 5th District is considered Connecticut’s most competitive Congressional seat, and this year’s race is already  a "heated" one , taking on issues like inflation, education, abortion and race. This hour ,  we sit down with incumbent Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, who’s running for reelection against Republican George Logan. She touches on these topics, and takes your questions. George Logan is set...

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...

Connecticut resources are being rallied in response to Hurricane Fiona. This hour, we hear about the relief effort being overseen by Stamford-based non-profit Americares, mobilizing a team on the ground in San Juan. Plus, Sammy Vega with the Coalition of Connecticut Puerto Rican Parades & Festivals Relief Committee discusses the fundraising effort they're overseeing. You can support these reli...

As non-profit, tax-exempt institutions, colleges and universities are often seen as a source of public good. For example, a  recent New York Times Magazine article  celebrated a bustling New Haven arts scene that has arisen "both because of and despite its association with Yale." Author and historian Davarian L. Baldwin describes a "public good paradox," calling for a "broad examination of higher...

Why do some people live longer than others, and what’s different in the  Blue Zones ? How can we slow down aging? This hour, we look at genetic research to extend our lifespan. We also hear about ways to delay diseases and live our best life. And, a geriatric physician tells us why Medicare must redesign its annual wellness visit. Also, a  SuperAgers study  is now enrolling people 95 years and old...

This hour, we preview some of the must-see TV shows and must-read books ahead this autumn. NPR TV critic Eric Deggans joins us, plus we hear from Roxanne Coady, owner of R.J. Booksellers in Madison and Middletown. Deggans recently wrote about  "why Black characters in 'Rings of Power' and 'Little Mermaid' make fantasy better." Addressing racist criticisms of the new Amazon Prime Video series "Lord...

The business of cannabis is growing. Retail establishments are expected to open by the end of this year in Connecticut and there are efforts to mobilize cannabis workers into unions. Today, we explore how the cannabis industry continues to evolve. Inspiring cannabis entrepreneurs can take classes and learn about the industry from “seed to sale.” We hear from Skyler Frazer, from the Hartford Busine...

Absentee ballot eligibility was  expanded again  in Connecticut in time for the the November election, but the changes are temporary. This hour, we discuss what voters need to know with News 12 reporter John Craven, and check in on the Secretary of the State race. Voters can request an application for an absentee ballot from their town clerk or download an application  here  to return to their tow...

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...

Where We Live  is available as a podcast on  Apple Podcasts,   Spotify ,  Google Podcasts ,  Stitcher , or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode! Who supports the mental health of teachers and paraeducators? A  Gallup poll  in June found that four in 10 K-12 workers in the U.S. (44%) said they "always" or "very often" feel burned out at work, outpacing all other indus...

Tenant unions are on the rise in our state. Camila Vallejo and Ginny Monk, housing reporters for Connecticut Public and the Connecticut Mirror, found that  at least five tenant unions had formed  with help from the Connecticut Tenants Union (CTTU). This hour, we hear from Vallejo and Monk, plus organizers with CTTU. As Vallejo and Monk reported, "Tenants unions form as collective bargaining organi...

In 2018, New London was designated a "site of memory" on the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization's slave route project , an effort launched in 1994 to "break the silence" around the history of slavery. New London Landmarks held a ceremony in July to recognize the designation, installing a plaque at Amistad Pier. The site is considered the sixteenth stop on the New Londo...

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...

The gubernatorial race in Connecticut is heating up. Today, Governor Ned Lamont joins us to discuss his reelection campaign and what he wants to accomplish if elected to a second term. Lamont has led the state through 2.5 years of a pandemic; what are his plans to help residents in the current economy, bogged down by inflation and in a state where employers are still struggling to hire workers? We...

Where We Live  is available as a podcast on  Apple Podcasts,   Spotify ,  Google Podcasts ,  Stitcher , or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode! This hour on Where We Live, we hear from sickle cell disease experts at UConn Health and Yale on a successful transfusion therapy, and ongoing research that promises a full cure following a risk-reduced transplant. And, we h...

This hour, we sit down with Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski to discuss his plans for the final two months of the campaign, and to take your questions. This is Stefanowski’s   second time   running against Ned Lamont, after losing to the incumbent in 2018 by 3% points or around 40,000 votes. The former business executive has focused his platform on making Connecticut more afforda...

Steve Roberts launched the Push to Start Skate Program in 2017, using skateboarding "to create community, teach creative thinking, collaboration and self-confidence to youth in the Dixwell and Newhallville area" every Saturday. This hour, we hear from Roberts about his efforts to make skateboarding more accessible in his hometown, including the Scantlebury Park skate facility, which opened last su...

Making those student loan payments is among many Americans' monthly budgets. But with President Biden’s plan to wipe out student debt for some borrowers, what should people do with this new, discretionary income? Today, we talk about life after student loan debt, and how to set new financial goals. Kristin Myers, Editor-in-Chief of  the Balance , a personal finance website, joins us. And we hear f...

What role do taxes have in the habits of consumers? A  new Yale study  found that increasing taxes on e-cigarettes led to a decline in youth and young adults’ rate of daily vaping; but it led to an increase in cigarette use. The tobacco taxation in Connecticut is $4.35 cents per pack of cigarettes. The state also taxes e-cigarettes at $0.40 per milliliter. This hour on Where We Live, we hear from...

While Connecticut's craft beer industry has grown steadily over the  last decade , the pandemic posed challenges to taprooms and wholesale retailers alike. Nearly half of the state's 125 breweries received federal relief funding, according to the Brewers Association. This hour, we hear from the Connecticut Brewers Guild about how staffing shortages, supply chain snags and price hikes are still a f...

There’s a little more than 3 months until Election Day and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski has made big changes to his campaign team. Today, we get the latest in Connecticut’s governor’s race. Political Science professor Dr. Johnathon Wharton and Hearst CT columnist Dan Haar join us. Nationally, the Republican Party has split into distinct factions since Trump’s presidency. Comi...

Connecticut farms have experienced extreme drought and floods, finding it increasingly difficult to prepare for alternating extremes. While 2021 brought floods that devastated many Connecticut crops, farmers are again dealing with drought this summer. On Friday, federal officials declared New London and Windham counties "primary natural disaster areas" due to drought, while Hartford, Middlesex and...

With Roe v. Wade overturned, and abortion becoming less available, will we see more children placed in foster care and parents seeking adoption? This hour on Where We Live, we speak with experts and learn whether or not we should expect to see an increase in adoption. We hear from the Connecticut Department of Children and Family Services Commissioner Vannessa Dorantes. Later, we hear from Doris H...

South Asians have the highest death rate from heart disease in the U.S. compared to other ethnic groups. Globally, 60% of patients with heart disease are South Asians. Cardiovascular risk in South Asian Americans – Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi immigrant populations – leads to the early onset of plaque in arteries, compared to other groups. That’s what the 12-year long Mediators of Atheroscle...