Where We Live

Minor League Baseball’s Eastern League has its All-Star Game in two weeks. Fortunately, that game wasn’t scheduled to be held in Hartford where the Yard Goats baseball stadium is still not completed.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michigan is not the only state with a water crisis on its hands. Right now, communities in New York, New Hampshire, and Vermont are grappling with their own water contamination challenges . It’s just that for these states, the problem does not stem from corrosive water or aging lead pipes, but from a toxic chemical known as PFOA.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/li...

This hour, we talk about three different stories that touch various people in our state. First, a check-in on how the Department of Defense has followed through with exhuming the remains of 388 sailors and Marines who died during the attacks on Pearl Harbor. Some of their relatives, including a Connecticut man, had asked for to give their loved ones a proper burial at home. We have an update on wh...

Controversy is growing around state Insurance Commissioner Katharine Wade. She's in charge of reviewing a $54 billion health insurance merger between Anthem and Cigna, but she's also a former employee of one of the companies in question. Should she recuse herself from the case? And what has been the role in all this of Governor Dannel Malloy , who appointed Wade last year? This hour, we take...

Human trafficking is a global problem. But it's not something that just happens overseas. Minors are exploited throughout the United States, even in Connecticut. In recent years, the state and federal governments have passed legislation to increase penalties for people who use children as commodities whether for sex or labor. State agencies like the Department of Children and Families ha...

Advocates say recent budget cuts will have a negative impact on those seeking mental health services in Connecticut. The state's new $19.7 billion budget -- passed by lawmakers last month -- includes significant funding cuts for statewide mental health and substance abuse treatment programs.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

America's Asian population is growing faster than any other racial group in the country. According to the White House, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders will account for nearly ten percent of all U.S. residents by the year 2050 . So why, then, don’t we hear more about them in our communities?  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sunday is Juneteenth, a day to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. This hour, we reflect on this history and legacy of slavery with Alika Hope and The Ray of Hope Project . We hear music and talk with members of the group who are performing at Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new law aimed at combating Connecticut’s opioid and heroin epidemic will go into effect on July 1, 2016. The legislation, Public Act 16-43, has been described as one of the most comprehensive opioid laws in the country and includes several key provisions -- among them: a seven-day limit on all first-time, non-chronic pain opioid prescriptions.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See o...

Most of us know the Miranda rights -- our "right to remain silent" -- even if we've never been arrested. But do you know the full history behind them? This hour, we talk to a local public defender about the 50th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision Miranda v. Arizona . Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The country grapples with the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history after a massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida early Sunday morning left 50 people dead and wounded another 53. This tragedy brings together several big issues of the last few years: guns, gay rights, and terrorism. Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are many ways to experience the American landscape -- you can bike it, drive it, fly over it... even take trains across it. But there’s nothing quite as intimate or liberating as the experience you get while walking it.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Saturday, you have no excuse to say there's nothing to do in Connecticut. That's because it's the state's Open House Day for residents and visitors to explore the state -- from the smallest of historical sites to the largest of museums. This hour, we preview just a sliver of what is out there. What little gems exist where you live? Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/l...

An antibiotic-resistant "superbug" gene was discovered in the United States recently , triggering a media frenzy. Across the world, newspaper and television headlines warned of " nightmare bacteria ," " deadly " infections, and a looming " global health crisis ." But was the response warranted?  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The State of Connecticut operates a Veterans’ Home on 92 acres in Rocky Hill . Many of its residents were once homeless or in danger of homelessness. But a lot of the buildings are outdated and in need of major improvements. This hour, we find out what a recent consultant's report says about ways the state can better use the property to serve veterans.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donat...

For a century, Groton, Connecticut has been home to the Naval Submarine Base and Training School . It’s turned into an economic staple for the region with the presence of manufacturer Electric Boat. The state is celebrating one hundred years as the "Submarine Capital of the World." This hour, we discuss the history of the submarine industry and how it fares today. Even after all these years, the v...

Are you feeling overburdened by student loan payments or the growing stack of credit card bills on your kitchen table? If you answered "yes" to either of those questions, you're not alone (especially if you're a young American). Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're allergic to it, you might be cursing pollen in between sneezes right now. But the process of pollination is essential to plant, animal, and human life. All sorts of insects and animals can be pollinators including bats, bees, moths, butterflies, birds, and even lemurs! Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new report commissioned by two Connecticut organizations looks at the challenges children face when their parents are in prison. This hour, we check in with one of those groups -- the Connecticut Association for Human Services -- to see what they found and how they plan on using the results to guide future policy conversations. We also hear from a college student whose father spent nearly a deca...

Paid leave has been a hot-button issue on the campaign trail and in the Connecticut legislature. Earlier this year, state lawmakers considered a bill that would have established mandatory paid family and medical leave for private employees. That bill, however, died in the Senate.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few years ago,  a public outcry forced schools to re-examine their use of seclusion and restraints among students. This hour, we have a conversation with the Office of the Child Advocate about the use of restraints and seclusion in schools. We also hear from a parent of a developmentally disabled student about the challenges she faces in her child’s public school education. Support the show...

There's a debate in West Hartford over plans by a for-profit company to open an educational academy for Chinese students in town. The plan would include sending some students to the public high schools. What are the pros and cons in allowing international students into our public schools at a time when districts face declining enrollment and budget constraints? Is this a creative way to fund publi...

WNPR is launching a new series on the heroin epidemic gripping the state. This hour, we hear from one of the reporters leading the investigation. Also, the state's ongoing budget problems are causing problems for a lot more people than just number crunchers and policy wonks. We check in with two former state employees who lost their jobs in a recent round of layoffs. Support the show: http://wnpr....

It's John Dankosky's final episode before Lucy Nalpathanchil takes over as the new host of Where We Live . This hour, we remember some of our favorite moments -- and mishaps -- on the show. We also meet a longtime listener and caller, whose voice will probably sound very familiar to you... it's Derrick from Windsor, Connecticut!  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/lis...

Where We Live is much more than a show about place, it's a show about people -- about you, our listeners. Your stories, comments, and questions have meant so much to us over the past ten years, which is why we’re using this hour to get your feedback.  Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.