Where We Live

How does a national teacher of the year - turned Congresswoman - view school reopening plans in Connecticut? This hour, we talk with Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, who represents Connecticut’s Fifth District in the U.S. House of Representatives. The freshman lawmaker is nearing the end of her first term in Congress. Hayes is a member of the House Education and Labor Committee--we ask her to wei...

When we talk about going back to school, we usually focus on what will happen when k-12 students return to the classroom. But what about the students coming from across the nation to return to campus?  This hour, Carl W. Lejuez, the University of Connecticut Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs will join us to answer our questions and yours about what university life wi...

The school year starts soon, and teachers and parents still ask: How will schools open safely? This hour, we talk with Jeff Leake, the president of the state’s largest teachers union, the Connecticut Education Association. The union says the state should only open school buildings if CDC and other safety guidelines are met. Some teachers worry that crowded classrooms won’t have suffici...

This pandemic has caused a lot of interruptions in our lives. It has put people out of work, and it is also keeping some people from starting a career. This hour, we hear how recent law school graduates are preparing for the Connecticut Bar Exam amongst the pandemic.  The Bar Exam is a two day exam, normally taken at a testing facility. But because of the pandemic, students will have to take...

Inside our genomes, we carry information about our recent ancestors as well as ancient human history. This hour, we talk with science writer Carl Zimmer about his book,  She Has Her Mother's Laugh: The Powers, Perversions, and Potential of Heredity . We ask him what our DNA can—and can’t—tell us about where we’re from and who we are. GUEST: Carl Zimmer - New York Times...

It’s hard to believe that it has been nearly five months since Connecticut had it’s first coronavirus diagnosis in the state. This hour, Connecticut Department of Public Health Acting Commissioner Deidre Gifford joins us to discuss where we are now. Connecticut seems to be trending in the right direction, and steadily slowing the spread of coronavirus. One week ago, the Connecticut Dep...

State lawmakers in Connecticut’s House of Representatives have passed a major police accountability bill in the middle of a national conversation about police violence and racism. This hour, we check in with CT Mirror reporter, Kelan Lyons to learn more, as the bill heads to the state Senate this week. We also talk with poet and Connecticut resident Reginald Dwayne Betts, who is  leadin...

On sweltering summer days, having a house or apartment with air conditioning is important not only for comfort, but also for safety.  The need to cool down will only grow as climate change makes our world  hotter. But air conditioning itself also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. This hour, we talk about how to make sure climate-friendly cooling options are available to everyone....

Did you ever play the game Statues as a child? This is how you play: A person starts out as the Curator and stands at the end of a field. Everyone else playing stands at the far end. The Curator turns their back to the field, and the "Statues" attempt to race across and tag the Curator. Whenever the Curator turns around, the Statues must freeze in position and hold that for as long as the Curator...

With the weather getting hotter and many indoor activities limited because of the pandemic, a trip to the water is a great way to cool off. But not every Connecticut community has a beachfront or river in town, and many wealthy communities with waterfronts have a history of limiting water access to residents only.  Some of those restrictions have reappeared this summer in response to COVID-19...

Governor Lamont promised free coronavirus testing for all Connecticut residents who want one. This hour, who’s footing the bill for coronavirus testing and how much does it really cost? Connecticut Public Reporter Patrick Skahill joins us to talk about his reporting on this. Later, how do University of Connecticut students feel about returning to college in the fall?  A University profe...

We’re reaching the middle of the summer here in Connecticut. Although many of our favorite summer activities aren’t feasible this year, there are lots of ways to get outside. Connecticut has plenty of public gardens to explore. This hour, we talk with New England gardeners about places to explore here in our home state, and ways to make your backyard an oasis.  How is your backyar...

It’s summer reading time! After spending the last four months quarantined indoors, it might be hard to find fun activities for your kids.  Summer reading can be fun and it’s important for children, especially when you consider learning loss. This hour, join us for our next installment of our Pandemic Book Club to talk about making reading your new favorite family activity. Coming...

COVID 19 cases have dropped in Connecticut, but it’s still important for residents to stay home when possible to slow the spread of the disease. But what about residents who don’t have a home? This hour, we look at homelessness during the pandemic. We check in with Richard Cho, CEO of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness to learn how the state has avoided outbreaks in shelters...

Do you see bats where you live? These flying creatures play important roles in ecosystems around the world, from pest control to pollination. But bats in Connecticut are in big trouble. This hour: bats in our state have been devastated by White-Nose Syndrome. We learn more about this deadly disease and talk about why we should be concerned that populations in Connecticut have been so har...

College campuses across the country are preparing to reopen in the fall. But with the potential for a second wave of coronavirus infections, students and staff are being asked to be flexible. This hour, we’re speaking with students, faculty and leaders throughout the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities system on what it will take to reopen campus in the fall.  What will a hybr...

COVID-19 has shown the Internet is more important than ever. From Google Classrooms for distance learning to endless Zoom meetings for some professionals, the Internet has become even more essential during the pandemic. But how many Connecticut residents still don’t have access to a high-speed connection? This hour, we look at Connecticut’s digital divide. How does the lack of broadban...

Do you know how to make an Election Cake? What about the history of the Connecticut Witch Hunters This hour, state historian Walt Woodward joins us to talk about his new book  Creating Connecticut: Critical Moments That Shaped a Great State  and answer all your questions about the Nutmeg state, starting with why do we call Connecticut the Nutmeg State?  We’ll talk about the or...

What would it have been like to see a huge, elephant-like mastodon roaming our state?  The earth has been home to some spectacularly large animals. A few of them still roam or swim our world today. This hour, we take a look at the biology of these giants.  From chunky island-dwelling birds to the enormous blue whale, what do we know about why these creatures evolved to be so big? An...

At the start of this year, Jericho Brown addressed the graduates of the Bennington Writing Seminars Class of January 2020.  He said, “If you can't imagine these last few days without trees, I know you can't imagine life without poetry. Literature fills needs we did not know we had. Poems and stories plant seeds for things we did not know we needed." Jericho Brown is this year’s Pu...

Have you noticed fewer sparrows or warblers flitting about your backyard? Bird populations in North America have been declining for years, but in 2019, the data was particularly grim. Two-thirds of bird species are at risk of extinction due to climate change and urbanization, according to recent studies . What does that mean for Connecticut’s birds? This hour, we talk to UConn professor Chri...

On May 1st, 1970, the eyes of the nation were on the Elm City. Students and others from around the country had gathered to protest the murder trial of Black Panther Party leaders Bobby Seale and Ericka Huggins. This hour, we take a look back at May Day in New Haven, 50 years ago this year. We talk with Huggins and hear from a former Baltimore mayor who was one of the Yale students who helped keep...

The academic school year has just ended, but parents, students and teachers are already wondering what next year will look like. This hour, Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona joins us to talk about the state's plan to reopen schools in the fall. How will school districts plan to make up for learning loss? What does going back to school mean for high risk students and teachers? What does social...

Protests against police brutality have put systemic racism in the spotlight. But how do the written and unwritten rules in communities perpetuate racial inequality? This hour we take a look at how town zoning rules keep out affordable housing and cause racial segregation to persist in Connecticut. Connecticut Mirror reporter Jacqueline Rabe Thomas joins us and we talk with  housing officials...

Pride Month is looking a little different this year. Traditionally, Pride is marked by big parades and celebrations. But social distancing and racial unrest means that celebrations won't look the same as they did years prior. This hour, we discuss how the Connecticut LGBTQ community is celebrating this year. We hear from activists about virtual Pride Month events and we talk about the intersection...