Where We Live

1.5 million people filed for unemployment last week according to the US Department of Labor, despite states re-opening in the last month.  This hour, we look at unemployment insurance during the pandemic. Many Connecticut residents who have been laid off have been getting by with a combination of money from state unemployment insurance and a $600 weekly benefit from the federal government. Bu...

Today is Juneteenth, a holiday that marks the day that slavery finally ended in Texas-- two years after the Emancipation Proclamation . We don’t often think of Connecticut as a slave state, and often celebrate the role of Connecticut’s abolitionists. Yet American slavery was not just confined to the South. There were an estimated 5100 slaves who lived and worked right here in Connectic...

We have spent the last few months bringing you coverage on COVID-19. This hour, we’re going to talk to someone who was diagnosed with coronavirus, and recovered. For those that survive the virus, the recovery process is not easy. Many have long-lasting side effects from having the virus, including permanent damage to the heart and lungs. And later, we learn those who have survived the virus...

A greater portion of COVID-19 tests have come back negative in Connecticut compared with other states, which the Governor’s team says is a good sign. But who should be getting tested as the state rolls out its phase two reopening on Wednesday? This hour, we talk with Governor Lamont’s Chief Operating Officer Josh Geballe about this latest phase of reopening Connecticut's economy. And w...

Father’s Day is this weekend. How will you spend Father’s Day? Will you have a socially distant celebration with your Dad? What is it like being a dad in 2020? On the next Where We Live, we’ll talk about social expectations for fathers as caregivers, and the impact an involved father has on the entire family, emotionally and financially.   GUESTS: Brad Harrington -  Exe...

When your home becomes your new office, it can be hard to set boundaries between work and personal life. This hour, we continue our series on The Future of Work by discussing the benefits, and drawbacks, of working from home full time.  Coming up we’ll speak with some experts on the importance of setting work/life boundaries, managing flextime and what the future of the workplace might...

This is part of a series of shows from Where We Live about the future of work after the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has caused major disruptions for workers' careers, but the latest numbers show women have been hit particularly hard. Women, and especially women of color, are bearing some of the largest economic impacts of the pandemic, from facing higher rates of unemployment to holding the ma...

Essential workers provide much needed services to the general public but at what cost to their physical and mental health? This hour, we continue our series on The Future of Work by talking to people who never stopped going to their jobs.   Essential workers aren’t just healthcare professionals. They’re frontline workers like grocery store staff, your local delivery person, a...

This is the first part in a series of shows from Where We Live about the future of work after the COVID-19 pandemic. Many Connecticut residents are used to spending a lot of time commuting, whether driving on a highway, riding on a train to the city or taking the bus across town. But the number of drivers and ridership across all modes of transportation have dropped dramatically with stay-at-home...

There’s a few popular phrases being passed around right now: “You’re not alone.” And, “we’re all in this together.” They’re necessary sentiments. With the recent death of George Floyd, and the continuing COVID-19 crisis, people are feeling lonely. And for those living alone amid the pandemic, the isolation can be really difficult. This hour, we discu...

Residents across Connecticut continue to protest and speak out in response to the police killing of George Floyd by a Minnesota police officer. This hour, as residents demand police accountability, how should they also work towards dismantling systemic racism in our state? We talk with State Representative Robyn Porter, who has worked on police accountability legislation. We find out what more nee...

The beginning of the month means the rent is due. But what if you lost your job during the COVID-19 pandemic? This hour, we talk to a housing advocate about what protections exist for Connecticut residents who can’t afford housing costs right now. And we learn about the lasting consequences for residents who are at risk for eviction if the state and federal governments don’t provide ad...

May 20th marked the first phase of Re-open Connecticut. What conditions will need to be met before Phase 2 starts on June 20th? This hour, Governor Ned Lamont calls in to talk about what Phase 2 will look like.  Later in the hour, we talk to Rodney Butler, Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and executive for Foxwoods Resort Casino. Starting today, casinos in Connecticut are re-...

While swimming is a popular pastime for many Americans, a history of discrimination at pools nationwide in the 20th century has led to startling racial disparities in swimming abilities.  A 2017 USA Swimming Foundation report  found more than 6 in 10 African American children have low to no swimming skills. And that has deadly consequences:  Black and Latino children are statistical...

Last week marked the beginning of a phased reopening of Connecticut. Several businesses are permitted to reopen under Phase 1 of Connecticut’s reopening, including restaurants that are able to open for outdoor dining. This hour, we hear how restaurants have fared through the shutdown, and what reopening looks like.  Later, we hear how COVID-19 has disrupted the food supply chain and how...

As Connecticut and other states begin to reopen during the pandemic, data is more important than ever. Today, we talk about the role of statistics in shaping our understanding of the COVID-19. We hear from one of the researchers behind the How We Feel App, a volunteer system of symptom tracking. They plan to turn the symptoms users record into useful information about emerging hotspots. And l...

Last week we brought you a show about the New Haven’s Black Panther trials and the 1970 May Day rally, fifty years ago now this month, when tens of thousands of protestors gathered on the New Haven Green and the campus of Yale University--in  support of Black Panther Party leaders Bobby Seale and Ericka Huggins, who were on trial in New Haven. Many New Haven residents feared violence wo...

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance and a day to acknowledge those who serve our country. This hour, what is it like to serve in the military during the coronavirus? How are those deployed, and their families navigating the pandemic? Later, Commissioner Katie Dykes from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection joins us to discuss how to stay safe if you are heading to the...

Discrimination against Asian Americans has increased during the pandemic.  An Ipsos Poll in April found 6 out of 10 Asian Americans said they observed COVID-19-related bias against Asians . From rude comments to even violent assaults, anti-Asian racism is impacting many Asian Americans’ sense of safety, on top of the regular stresses of life during the pandemic. Today, Where We Live, we...

Donald Collins first told his mom he was transgender when he was a senior in high school. His mother wasn’t totally sure what the word transgender even meant. From there, they began a difficult emotional journey as Donald began his transition. This hour, we sit down with Donald and his mother, Mary Collins. They have written about their experience in the book At the Broken Places: A Mother a...

Daycares have continued to stay open throughout the quarantine, but many parents have opted to keep their children at home. When Connecticut starts to open up this week and more parents head back to work, many will need childcare. This hour, how are daycares taking care of kids in a pandemic? Later, going to camp can be the highlight of any child’s summer. How will Connecticut summer ca...

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. We talk with Huggins and hear from a former Baltimore mayor who was one of the Yale students who helped keep protests p...

As the school year winds down for students, universities and colleges across the state are starting to make a plan for the fall semester. This hour, we’re talking to college faculty and students about what their online learning experience has been like so far, and what their hopes are for the next academic year. How are universities preparing for an outbreak on campus? College isn’t ju...

Not only is Charles Ives a revered American composer, but he is also Connecticut's native son. This hour, we take an in-depth look at Ives’ life and profound musical output, and we ask: What is his legacy today?  Join the conversation on  Facebook  and  Twitter . GUESTS: Neely Bruce - John Spencer Camp Professor of Music at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut (...

What will Connecticut’s reopening look like?  The anticipated day is just a couple weeks away on May 20. In the lead up, the Governor’s administration has released a set of rules for businesses that will be allowed to reopen, including restaurants and hair salons. This hour, Governor Ned Lamont calls in to talk about the rules businesses will have to follow. We ask: is May 20 a fi...