Where We Live

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...

The idea of what a college education should be has changed over the years. This hour: what’s the value of a liberal arts degree in the twenty-first century? We hear why tech giant Infosys has teamed up with Trinity College in Hartford to train and recruit new hires. Later, we learn how some colleges are bringing together the best parts of a liberal arts program with a focus on the skills nee...

From the bestselling author of Lilac Girls comes a new novel. It's called Lost Roses and it centers on Eliza Ferriday, a one-time Connecticut resident and mother of esteemed philanthropist Caroline Ferriday. This hour, author Martha Hall Kelly returns to our studios to talk about the book, and about her experience researching war and revolution in the early 20th century.  Join the conversatio...

What efforts are underway -- both locally and nationally -- to help improve individuals’ access to housing? This hour, we listen back to a panel moderated by Lucy Nalpathanchil in Hartford recently for the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness. We hear from policy and advocacy experts. Later, we also learn about a "Net Zero" affordable housing proposal in the town of Norfolk. Support the...

This hour we take a look at some of the environmental bills the Connecticut General Assembly passed this legislative session, including a new commitment to offshore wind power. We learn what this renewable energy source means for the state’s power grid—and its economy. And we take a look at one essential component behind offshore wind power, a group of special metals called “rare...

Sometimes new technology, like the iPhone, comes to us in flashy, attention-grabbing presentations. But other times, it creeps up and changes our world... without us noticing! One technology that’s made its way into the headlines is artificial intelligence (AI). For some, those two words might stir up images of Ultron or HAL 9000 . But AI's role goes well beyond movies or books. In fact, it'...