Where We Live

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...

Connecticut’s schools will stay closed for the rest of the academic year. This hour, we talk about what two more months of distance learning will look like and what needs to happen before students return to school in the fall. State Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona and Jeff Leake, the president of Connecticut’s largest teacher’s union, join us. Later: as we approach the end...

This hour, we take a look at bees. From the famous animals that make the honey we eat to lesser-known native “solitary bees” that nest in holes in the ground, there are thousands of species of bees, and hundreds of them have been found right here in Connecticut! We'll talk about the critical role these pollinators play in agriculture and learn about the threats they face. Later, we tal...

Stamford, Connecticut currently has the most residents diagnosed with coronavirus in the state. This hour, Mayor David Martin joins us to discuss the city’s recovery plan.  Later, who is eligible to vote by absentee ballot? Connecticut has the most restrictive absentee ballot laws in the country. The presidential primary has been pushed to August 11, 2020. Secretary of State Denise Merr...

Have you invited friends over virtually to visit your dream island home on Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons? Or maybe your weekly board game night has moved onto Zoom. This hour, we take a break from the heavy stuff and talk about the ways people are staying connected and having fun while isolated from friends and family. From multiplayer video games to Yahtzee over Skype, we le...

One day, we might view online learning as a normal part of any curriculum. But right now, it’s anything but that.  This hour, we discuss challenges faced with K-12 online learning, and homeschooling. What barriers are students running into when it comes to the Zoom classroom? Do school districts need to prepare for academic regression in the next school year?  We want to hear from...

Deaths related to alcohol have been rising over the past two decades, especially among women.  Today, we look at the impact of alcohol on public health. And in January 1920, Prohibition went into effect around the country, making it illegal to sell alcohol. One century after the beginning of this national experiment, we ask: what is a productive policy approach today to dealing with addiction...

Many Americans have lost their jobs or been furloughed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. More and more of them have turned to local food pantries to put food on the table. But food banks have struggled to acquire adequate food supplies for residents. This hour, we take a look at our country’s food system and the pandemic’s affect on food insecurity. COVID-19 has disrupted the food supp...

Spring is here! We might not be able to leave our homes, but this shouldn’t stop us from getting outside. Throughout history, many have turned to gardening during times of crisis. This hour, Charlie Nardozzi from Connecticut Garden Journal is joining to answer all your gardening questions. Whether you are just purchasing your first seed packet, or you’re adding another set of raised be...

As Connecticut approaches its peak in hospitalizations and COVID-19 cases, health systems continue to prepare so they can keep patients alive. Connecticut State Senator and intensive care doctor, Saud Anwar worries ventilator capacities may soon become overstretched. So he reached out to friends in the design and manufacturing communities to create a novel solution. This hour, we hear more from Dr...

How often do you buy new clothing? Stores like H&M and Forever 21 sell new styles at low prices, making it easy to constantly update your wardrobe. But, this hour: the environmental and social costs of " fast fashion ".  From  unsafe garment factories  to  pollution in rivers , we hear about impacts of the fashion industry from journalist Jasmin Malik Chua. We’ll...

Last month, the Connecticut Department of Labor received more than 300,000 unemployment claims. Last week, Governor Ned Lamont announced the formation of a multi-state council to get people back to work and restore the economy. This hour, we’re speaking with Governor Lamont to understand just what this means. What will easing COVID-19 restrictions look like? Later, we will hear from the Conn...

Many elderly residents depend on skilled nursing care. But as the number of cases of COVID-19 grow across the state, families are increasingly worried about their loved ones in facilities. Older adults are most vulnerable to the coronavirus, and in Connecticut, nearly 4 in 10 deaths from COVID-19 are people in nursing homes. This hour, we take a look at the COVID-19 pandemic in Connecticut&rs...

Now more than ever, it’s important to stay connected to the ones we love. Especially those that are feeling isolated during this trying time.  This hour, we learn how adults with disabilities, and their families, are getting through the pandemic. We’re talking to disability advocates in Connecticut and discuss how disabled community and their caregivers are navigating the coronavi...

Norwich, CT resident Tamara Lanier believes she is the descendant of two enslaved people—Renty and his daughter, Delia. They were photographed in 1850 for Harvard professor Louis Agassiz, as part of his research to advance the racist theory that Africans had different origins from Europeans. Lanier wants those early photographs , and has sued Harvard for “wrongful seizure, possession a...

COVID-19 has dominated our lives, but how much do you actually know about the virus that causes this disease? This hour, we talk with NY Times columnist and writer, Carl Zimmer about the science behind the coronavirus. We learn about how viruses work and how they’re different from other disease-causing germs like bacteria. A Yale immunobiologist also joins us as we learn about the strategies...

Mister Rogers said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” This hour, we’re going to do just that. We’re talking to volunteers, and those working to make our lives a little brighter during this difficult time. We want to hear from you. What are you doing to h...

The latest models from national public health experts say hundreds of thousands of Americans may die from the COVID-19 pandemic. As Connecticut and other states begin to reach the peak of infections and hospitalizations, will hospitals be able to keep up? This hour, we talk with US Senator Chris Murphy about what lawmakers should be doing to bolster the country’s healthcare capacity. The sen...

This hour, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont is calling in to give us the latest on the state’s response to coronavirus Over the last week, at least 8 inmates in Connecticut prisons have tested positive for COVID 19. Another 16 prison staff have the disease. Later in the hour we will talk to state lawmakers and advocates on how to contain the spread of coronavirus in Connecticut correctional f...

Health care workers in New England are facing incredible challenges on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic, from long hours and dangerous conditions to shifting public policies. Join us for an America Amplified live call-in special from the New England News Collaborative. We bring together voices from around the region — and we want to hear yours. New England health care workers: What...

Churches across the states have temporarily shut down. Easter, Passover and Ramdan are all rapidly approaching and many will not be able to gather and celebrate.  This hour, we talk to religious leaders and learn how they're navigating worship and virtual religious services. Are you finding a way to celebrate the holidays during the coronavirus pandemic?  Are you feeling the need for som...

Love is what most people are looking for in a spouse or life partner. But this hour, we take a look at marriage, an institution that for much of history had very little to do with love at all. We also talk about the right to end a marriage by divorce. And we want to hear from you, too. Join the conversation on  Facebook  and  Twitter . GUESTS: Stephanie Coontz - Author of Marriage,...

Cases of COVID-19 have grown in New Haven, and the mayor says “the spike” is beginning in the Elm City. This hour, we talk with New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker. As the number of COVID-19 cases rises across Connecticut, how can local leaders protect their residents? From hospitals to homelessness to jobs, what does the pandemic means for Connecticut’s second largest city? If you ar...

The coronavirus pandemic has closed schools across the U.S., affecting nearly 2 million public school students  in New England alone . What are the educational and social impacts of this sudden shift to remote learning? What about students with special learning needs? And how might the COVID-19 crisis widen the inequities in our K-12 educational system? On Friday, March 27, join us for an&nbs...

In the midst of the pandemic, it’s easy to keep the TV on all day. But it’s also the perfect time to take a step back and start a new book -- or even read an old favorite. This hour, we discuss what we’re reading while we’re stuck at home and how to make reading a daily habit. Also, we hear from the West Hartford Library and learn how to access books and other library mater...