Where We Live

Lawmakers are busy as public hearings are held on big issues at the General Assembly.  This hour, House Majority Leader Jason Rojas discusses racial justice and law enforcement issues at the General Assembly and in his district in Manchester, along with the significance of one legislator moving from the house to the senate, efforts to legalize marijuana, and more. Guests: Jason Rojas -- &nbsp...

Ridership on Metro North and the Hartford Line has plummeted as many residents suddenly stopped commuting by public transit during the pandemic. But as the federal government eyes infrastructure as a recovery priority, will Connecticut benefit? This hour, we talk to Senator Richard Blumenthal about what this could mean for our region’s rail system. And some proponents in our region see this...

In the pandemic, some residents have been working paycheck to paycheck to pay their bills, many have lost jobs and not everyone has a place to live. This hour, we talk about the state of homelessness in Connecticut and across the country. Many community organizations have been working on new and innovative solutions to reduce  homelessness.  How will leaders work to end homelessness in o...

Insects are the most abundant group of animals on the planet. There are an estimated 10 quintillion of them on Earth. But in recent years, scientists have found disturbing evidence that  insect populations are on the decline around the world . The environmental threats to insects are numerous: deforestation, pesticides, and climate change all seem to play a part in declining populations, a ph...

Our teachers have been teaching virtually for nearly a year. Starting this week, teachers and child care providers are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.  This hour, we speak with three teachers teaching in our state and hear about what this past year has looked like for them, and their students.  Teachers were already stretched thin before the COVID-19 pandemic, and now they are bei...

This hour, the expansion of State Pier in New London advanced with Friday's announcement of an agreement between the city and two companies taking part in the project. But at the same time, the quasi-public state agency overseeing the project faces ongoing scrutiny. The latest issue under investigation: the Connecticut Port Authority’s half-million-dollar payment to a company with ties to a...

The pandemic has put public health in the spotlight across the world. But in the United States local public health departments have been chronically underfunded, and Connecticut is no exception. This hour, we hear from a local health director about the challenges public health departments in Connecticut are facing, even as the state celebrates high vaccination rates compared with other states. And...

Venture Smith was enslaved when he was just a boy. He was eventually able to buy his freedom and the freedom of his family. His iconic story of will, perseverance and strength, is central to Connecticut’s history. This hour, we dive into to the biography of Venture Smith and the history of slavery here in Connecticut.   Connecticut Historian and  Connecticut Explored  pub...

The world of professional dance is competitive, ruthless and often reserved for a select few talented individuals.  But since the start of pandemic, many dancers and dance professionals are stuck at home turning to social media as a creative outlet. And this hour, we dance! Are you spending any time dancing at home? Are you or someone in your family addicted to the latest TikTok Dance Challen...

Grocery store employees and other essential workers had expected to soon be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Now, Governor Lamont says the state’s vaccination plan will focus on age groups. Today, we talk with Dr. Deidre Gifford, Acting Commissioner of the state Department of Public Health.  We ask: how does this new plan impact vaccine equity? Do you have questions about how this vac...

Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin discusses coronavirus’ impact on students and businesses in Hartford, and vaccination efforts.  What does the governor's plan to focus more on age in vaccine distribution mean for people of color and low-income people in Hartford? The mayor also has new responsibilities on his plate: Pushing for high speed rail in the region and leading the Connecticut Confere...

Preserving agriculture in our state is important. Farmers have the option to preserve their land as farmland in perpetuity. But this risks pushing potential new residents out of farming communities. This hour, we talk about how towns across Connecticut are working to balance keeping valuable farmland, while bringing in more affordable housing to farming communities. Farmland in our state is expens...

Earlier this month a Yale graduate student was murdered in New Haven’s East Rock neighborhood, leading to widespread media coverage. This hour, we ask: why do some shootings get media attention while others do not? We take a look at the way race and privilege shape gun violence coverage. And we talk with journalists and community members. What trends have you noticed in news coverage of viol...

Here in Connecticut, surviving long winters means getting plenty of sleep, extra vitamin D supplements and leaning into our favorite winter activities. This hour, we talk with author Katherine May about her book Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times and the act of wintering.  According to author Katherine May, the act of wintering goes beyond the season of winter. The ac...

Telehealth, Google Classrooms, and Zoom have become essential for daily life in the pandemic. This hour, we learn about the role of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to make sure all Americans have access to broadband internet. We talk with the FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, a West Hartford native. And later, we get perspective from a Wall Street Journal technology policy rep...

It was a long night for members of the General Assembly’s Public Health Committee, who conducted a public hearing on vaccine bills that was scheduled to go as long as 24-hours. Republican State Senate Minority Leader Kevin Kelly joins us to talk about the proposals, which would prevent residents from claiming religious objections to school vaccine requirements. We also discuss Governor Ned L...

Navigating pregnancy should be an exciting time, but new parents don’t have the same support system right now. This hour, we talk about pregnancy and birth during a pandemic. New parents need a lot of support leading up to and after the birth of a new baby. The zoom bridal shower is not the same as being in person to celebrate new mom and baby. Expecting mothers have a lot more decisions to...

Happy Valentine’s Day Weekend!  All you need is love, but navigating romantic relationships during the pandemic can be pretty tough. This hour, a look at pandemic love! Quarantining means that we are all spending more time at home, and more time with our partners. Maintaining a healthy relationship during a high stress situation like this, can be difficult.  And if you’re sin...

Plumbers and electricians are essential workers with well-paying jobs.  And yet skilled trades face worker shortages and struggle to recruit young people. This hour, we take a look at vocational education. We talk with a teacher and a student from one of Connecticut’s technical high schools. And we ask a national expert: what can the Biden administration do to build up a new generation...

In the first half of the show, Connecticut Mirror budget reporter (and budget guru) Keith Phaneuf previews Governor Ned Lamont's 2-year state taxing and spending plan. The proposal is being released later today. In the short term, things are better than they appeared back in the spring. But the state still faces a fiscal slog in the long term. In the second half of the show, UConn Professor Christ...

Over 40 million Americans have student loan debt owing an average of $36,520 alone, for federal loans. Connecticut Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona, and President Joe Biden's nominee to lead the Department of Education, says student debt relief would be a priority.  This hour, we talk about what cancelling student debt means for borrowers and lenders alike. Students of color and first ge...

More than a third of Connecticut votes cast in the November 2020 election were by absentee ballot.  Will ballot drop boxes and mail-in options become permanent? Today, we talk with Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill about the future of voting in Connecticut. And later: President Biden has been in office for less than a month. But he’s already setting records with his use...

Jill Snyder’s parents carried on a long-distance courtship through letters. After her mother’s death, Snyder found these letters, and compiled them into a book, called  Dear Mary, Dear Luther: A Courtship in Letters . This hour, Snyder joins us to talk about her family’s story. It’s a lens into the lives of African Americans in the Northeast before the start of World W...

Extreme heat, crushing air pressure, and toxic clouds. Venus may not seem like a hospitable place. But the discovery of a certain chemical, phosphine, in that planet’s atmosphere has raised new questions about the possibility of extraterrestrial life. Scientists wonder if a living organism could possibly be creating this unexpected chemical. This hour, we sit down Martha Gilmore, a Wesleyan...

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont addresses issues related to COVID-19 and vaccinations. Are the people most at risk getting the shots? What should the state do to ensure that people of color and people without much money have a fair chance of getting vaccinated? The Governor unveils his budget February 10. Can fellow Democrats make good on calls to shift some of the tax burden off lower-income and...