Where We Live

Listen live on Thursday at 9:00 am. Yale University has a $29 billion endowment, one of the largest in the world. The endowment invests in many things including fossil fuel companies. This doesn’t sit well with some Yale students and faculty who are concerned about climate change. They’ve called on the school to divest that money from oil, coal, and gas companies.  Their protests...

For some single adults and couples, the path to adoption can be winding and difficult. This hour, we take an in-depth look at the realities of open adoption in the U.S. We also learn about legislative efforts to improve adoptees' access to birth records in Connecticut. And we want to hear from you. Have you adopted, or were you adopted yourself?  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See o...

Yale University is offering a voluntary wellness program to some employees. The catch? You have to share your health data and there’s a financial penalty if you don’t participate. Now, Yale is now being sued by some of it workers over this program. This hour, we take a look at the legal questions surrounding employer-sponsored wellness programs. Does your job offer one? Later, we...

A new report paints a picture of the arts in Greater Hartford, a scene that’s both colorful and rocky. This hour, we learn about the  Greater Hartford Arts Landscape Study , and consider efforts to better support the region’s artists. We also look back on the early years of hip-hop and breaking (a.k.a. breakdancing) in Connecticut, and hear how some young people are learning and p...

After more than a week of mass protests, Puerto Rican governor Ricardo Rosselló says he will step down. This hour, we ask: what happens next? We hear the latest from on the ground in Puerto Rico, and talk with Connecticut residents with ties to the island.  Did you participate in the #RickyRenuncia protests? Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Hemp production. It's a growing field in Connecticut... and we mean that in the most literal sense. This hour, we learn about the state's newly seeded hemp industry and consider the challenges and opportunities of farming the plant on local land. Plus, it’s likely you have seen the letters “CBD” on packages of teas, cookies, or lollipop candies. They’re often accompanied by...

She’s been mayor of Connecticut’s second largest city since 2014. Now, Toni Harp is hoping voters in New Haven will give her a fourth term.  This hour, Mayor Toni Harp joins us in studio just days after she received the endorsement of the city’s Democratic town committee. Candidate Justin Elicker is a likely challenger--promising to collect enough signatures to appear o...

Want a spicy but refreshing mangonada to go with that enchiladas con carne? Head down to New Haven's Long Wharf Drive where a long line of food trucks serve up an eclectic array of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Central, and South American specialities. A little salsa music too. Long Wharf is one of the city's four recently established food vending districts , a program getting some mixed reviews from str...

Fifty years ago, man walked on the moon. But before that happened, millions held their breath at each stage of the Apollo 11 mission, starting with the launch. This hour we talk about the lasting impact of this historic moment--a feat of engineering, science, and political will. We also look at the pivotal role Connecticut technology played in spaceflight, and hear how engineers in this state help...

In the Farmington Valley, a nonprofit organization aims to break down silos and build bridges in the community through apartment housing. This hour, we learn about  Favarh  and its unique initiative to build a more integrated living experience for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Plus, at  Quinnipiac University , students can apply to live not in a dorm but wi...

For weeks, undocumented communities braced themselves for large-scale immigration raids targeting those who live here illegally. President Trump had announced these roundups would take place across the country over the weekend. This hour, we hear what actually happened.  We examine immigration policies under the Trump administration. As the president calls for major changes to the asylum-seek...

On July 6, 1944, the circus came to Connecticut's capital city and erupted into flames. Seventy-five years later, the Hartford Circus Fire is recognized as one of the greatest tragedies in American history. This hour, 88-year-old survivor Harry Lichtenbaum joins us to share his story. We also talk with the author of a book on the fire and learn about efforts to exhume the bodies of its unidentifie...

An accident at Bradley International Airport caused tens of thousands of gallons of firefighting foam to leak into the Farmington River in June. That foam contains PFAS, a group of chemicals linked to serious health risks.  This hour, we take a look at how this accident happened, and what threats it poses to our health and environment. Here in Connecticut, some lawmakers are just learning abo...

When it comes to the future of Connecticut's 12 community colleges, a great deal of uncertainty remains, especially on the issue of consolidation. Something certain, however, is the nearly $1.3 billion operating budget that was approved by the Board of Regents for the state's college and university system last month. This hour, the president of that system, Mark Ojakian, joins us in-studio to talk...

During the Arab Spring, young Egyptians took to the streets, calling for the end of dictatorship in their country. It worked: former President Hosni Mubarak would leave. But today, eight years later, Egypt is more repressive than ever. Connecticut resident Esam Boraey was one of those young Egyptians who led the movement for change, long before the revolution. His decision would eventually fo...

Where does your food come from? Most of us go to the grocery store to buy produce, dairy, and meat. And these items aren’t necessarily local; they may come from hundreds or thousands of miles away. This hour we hear how more people are getting involved in producing the food they eat. It’s called “modern homesteading.” We hear from two Connecticut residents who’ve trie...

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...

This hour, we take a deep dive into the realities of modern-day motherhood. We talk with a sociologist who spent years in the field interviewing working moms. We also get a local perspective, and we want to hear from you. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether it's same-sex marriage or laws prohibiting discrimination based on gender idenity, Connecticut has been near the forefront in advancing LGBTQ causes. But in the state's not-too-distant past, homosexuality was regarded as a mental health or personality disorder. A new research project , jointly undertaken by Central Connecticut State University and the Connecticut Historical Society , detai...

Electric scooters have taken over American streets from D.C. to Nashville, giving residents a speedy way to get around. But they're also causing headaches for drivers and pedestrians. Did you know Connecticut lawmakers have passed legislation regulating these zippy rides? This hour, we’ll check in with New Haven on its proposed scooter program and we’ll hear about how New London is thi...

The Women’s World Cup is underway in France, as national teams pit it out for women’s soccer’s top prize. This hour, we take a look at how the U.S. Women’s National Team has come to reign as an international powerhouse. And we talk about the battle women’s sports teams across the board have fought to gain recognition -- and pay. Are you tuning in to the Women’s...

" Will America Attack Iran Over One Dead Robot? " That is the question a Daily Beast headline asks in the wake of Iran downing an unmanned U.S. drone in the Gulf. This hour, we get the latest on this evolving story from reporter Adam Rawnsley and consider what it all means for the future of U.S.-Iran relations.  Plus, high school athletics is in the spotlight after a discrimination complaint...

What would you do with all that time if you didn't have to drive during your daily commute? This hour: like it or not, autonomous vehicles (AVs) will be a major part of our not-too-distant transportation future. We take a look at some of the promises and challenges of automating vehicles and ask what they will mean for the cities of our future. We find out what researchers in the UK are learning a...

Abandoned factories tagged with graffiti. Vacant properties marked by broken windows and overgrown lawns. This hour, we consider the impact of urban blight on communities and hear how some local municipalities are working to improve quality of life. We check in with the cities of Waterbury and Hartford, where significant strides have been made to survey and address blight. We also talk with Laura...

In 2017, nearly 40,000 people died from gun violence in the U.S. according to the CDC. Aswad Thomas is a survivor. A victim of a Hartford shooting outside a convenience store in 2009. He is also one of the people featured in the documentary The Sweetest Land , which looks at the epidemic of gun violence in the city of Hartford. This hour, Thomas joins us along with the documentary’s director...