Where We Live

The baby formula shortage has families scrambling. The crisis began after Abbott recalled some powdered baby formulas in February, following investigations into a whistleblower’s tip off in October last year. Four infants were hospitalized with bacterial infections and two have died. This hour on Where We Live, we’ll talk with a researcher of feminist economics about how U.S. maternal leave policies impact a baby’s access to breastmilk, and why formula milk is promoted in low-income...

More than $100 million in federal infrastructure funds will go towards protecting and preserving Long Island Sound. Hear from Soundkeeper Bill Lucey about spending plans, Save the Sound's priorities, and why oysters are so unique. Plus, Norm Bloom of Copps Island Oysters explains why conservation is his business; and Tessa Getchis with the Connecticut Sea Grant and UConn Extension Program provides an update on the Shellfish Restoration Project. GUESTS: Bill Lucey - Long Island Soundkeeper,...

Campaign season is underway in Connecticut. This hour, we speak with incumbent Governor Ned Lamont about his first term and his reelection campaign. The recently-signed state budget delivers $660 million in tax cuts, but The Mirror's Keith Phaneuf reports "about $364 million or 55% of the tax relief offered in the latest budget expires after this fiscal year." We'll discuss the budget, bills still to be signed from the recent short session, including the "captive audience" bill, and more....

Sy Montgomery has authored over 30 books about animals. Today, she joins us to talk about her latest book, The Hawk’s Way: Encounters with Fierce Beauty. We learn about Sy’s lessons in falconry and what it takes to handle these incredible creatures. Later, we hear from A Place Called Hope Rehabilitation Center, a raptor rehabilitator located in Killingworth. If you’re a lover of birds of prey, we want to hear from you. What questions do you have about falconry? GUESTS: Sy Montgomery - Author...

Microbeads were banned in the U.S. in 2015, but tiny bits of plastic known as microplastics, and another manmade family of chemicals called PFAS, are turning up in our environment and in our bodies. The Connecticut Sea Grant identified both materials as contaminants of emerging concern this year. This hour, we hear about the efforts to track the prevalence and impact of PFAS and microplastics in Connecticut. Experts at Connecticut Sea Grant and the State Department of Public Health join us...

A new report on hospital costs by Hearst Connecticut shows widely different prices for the same procedure at hospitals statewide. And insurers are negotiating astoundingly varied prices for – say – a C-section or an hour of critical care. To a consumer, the hospitals would appear comparable in quality and are located just miles apart. Certainly, shopping for healthcare is different from shopping for a toaster. The price is dependent on the type of insurance plan, and the billing codes are...

The Republican and Democratic state conventions have concluded and today, Mark Pazniokas joins us to break down the state conventions. The Republican convention endorsed socially moderate Themis Klarides for the U.S. Senate. Democrats have endorsed a diverse pool of candidates for several state positions. Later, we hear from Andrea Comer of the Social Equity Council and get an update on cannabis in our state. Election season is fast approaching. Who do you want to see on the ballot in 2022?...

When you head to New York, do you ever take a break from the city and get lost on a trail in Central Park? This hour, we take a look at the life of the man behind that beloved and iconic city park: Connecticut native Frederick Law Olmsted. Although best known for his work designing New York’s Central Park, Olmsted was also a journalist and abolitionist. And he shaped landscapes here in Connecticut and across the country, changing how we think about the role of nature in the process. This...

If you experience headaches, fatigue or gastrointestinal issues during difficult times, you’re not alone. Today, we explore the link between our physical and mental health. Doctors typically treat these areas of health separately, but there is a lot more connecting these two areas of health than you might think. Dr. Julian Ford, clinical psychologist and professor in the department of psychiatry at the UConn School of Medicine joins us to talk about the physical consequences of chronic...

Warmer winters in Connecticut are helping to welcome invasive ticks, and the diseases they can carry. Nearly half of the ticks in Connecticut are carrying one pathogen, according to Dr. Goudarz Molaei, head of the state's tick surveillance program; and at least three invasive tick species are being tracked. Mary Beth Pfeiffer joins to touch more on the link between climate change and the spread of ticks. Plus, diagnosing tick-borne diseases is tough enough, but Chronic author Dr. Steven...

Connecticut lawmakers passed legislation strengthening reproductive rights, making the state a “place of refuge” for people seeking abortions. This hour on Where We Live, we talk about this measure – which has become more important in light of the leaked Supreme Court documents — indicating a decision to overturn Roe. V. Wade. The Guttmacher Institute reports that nine states have enacted a total of 33 abortion restrictions as of April 15. More states are writing restrictions into law....

The journey to comprehensive content moderation on Twitter has been a long one, but the tech giant might be changing course. Today, we're talking about what Twitter might look like under Elon Musk and if free speech and content moderation can coexist together. Georgia Wells, Tech Reporter from Wall Street Journal, breaks down what we’re seeing and hearing from Elon Musk. Later, we hear from Evan Greer, Director for Fight for the Future, to talk about balancing free speech while making the...

Union election petitions are up 57% over the last year, and "Starbucks petitions account for nearly a quarter of all petitions filed since January," reports NPR labor and workplace correspondent Andrea Hsu. This hour, we hear from Hsu about this momentum, and from one Starbucks employee and union organizer in West Hartford. The Corbin's Corner location was the first in our state to file for a union election last month. Teachers at Common Ground High School in New Haven voted 62-8 to unionize...

Weight loss surgery has become more accessible, but there are still concerns and stigma around these procedures. Today, we talk to surgeons in our state, about the pros and cons of bariatric surgery. We hear from a local Connecticut resident who had bariatric surgery in 2021. Did you know minors starting at age 10 are eligible for bariatric surgery? Drs. Melissa Santos and Christine Finck at Connecticut Children's unpack that for us and we learn about the type of conversations specialists...

How does craft deepen your understanding of your history, your community, or yourself? And how can predominantly-white craft spaces better welcome diverse experiences? Textile artist and printmaker Jen Hewett threads the needle on these questions in her latest book, This Long Thread: Women of Color on Craft, Community and Connection. The book includes interviews with 19 fiber artists, and surveys hundreds of creators of color, all of whom draw on their relationship with making. This hour, we...

Stanley Black & Decker, Xerox, and Otis Elevator are among a growing list of Connecticut companies exiting or reducing ties with Russia, as a result of its war in Ukraine. This hour on Where We Live, we hear from a Yale School of Management researcher who is compiling the global list, on whether and how the corporate exodus – as well as pull backs by state pension funds – could impact decisions by the Russian leadership. We look at how corporate exits helped to end apartheid, and how...

Last week, President Biden announced a new program for Ukrainian refugees. United States citizens can now apply to sponsor Ukrainian refugees seeking asylum. Today, we learn more and talk to immigration lawyer Dana Bucin about her work aiding Ukrainian refugees. Later, we hear from, Gaye Hyre, a resident of West Haven who is currently hosting a Ukrainian family. Will we soon see more Ukrainian refugees coming to Connecticut? GUESTS: Dana Bucin - Immigration Attorney and Honorary Consul of...

As Connecticut’s short legislative session winds down, the "budget battle" is heating up. We’ll get the latest from CT News Junkie editor-in-chief Christine Stuart, along with House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, and House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora. Plus, we learn more about the recently-approved SEBAC agreement, promising pay increases for some 46,000 state employees. What can we expect in the final eight days of session? How has the upcoming election affected policymaking priorities?...

There are many ways to shrink your carbon footprint, but it’s not always accessible to everyone. Green and eco-friendly products are more expensive. Today, we talk about sustainability, privilege and environmental justice. We hear from Leticia Colon de Mejias, President of Connecticut nonprofit Green Eco Warriors. Later, we learn how “green gentrification” has changed neighborhoods and who gets access to green amenities. How can we make going green accessible and affordable to all that want...

"Maintaining and bolstering trust in science has never been more critical," writes Connecticut College chemistry professor Marc Zimmer. His latest book, Science and the Skeptic: Discerning Fact from Fiction, explores the impact and "origins of fake science." Written to help young readers "distinguish between science and fake science," Zimmer offers tips and tricks to help "detect science misrepresented for political gain and quackery." Read Marc Zimmer's "Twenty Rules" here: Plus, Mark Ruede...