Where We Live

The pandemic has caused major disruptions for workers' careers, but the latest numbers show women have been hit particularly hard. Women, and especially women of color, are bearing some of the largest economic impacts of the pandemic, from facing higher rates of unemployment to holding the majority of frontline essential jobs. This hour: how will COVID-19 worsen gender inequality in the workplace? We talk about how societal expectations around child care duties affect parents’ careers...

Many Connecticut residents are used to spending a lot of time commuting, whether driving on a highway, riding on a train to the city or taking the bus across town. But the number of drivers and ridership across all modes of transportation have dropped dramatically with stay-at-home orders and the closing of non-essential businesses. This hour, with Connecticut beginning to reopen, what will the “new commute” look like? Telecommuting has grown. Will remote work likely continue to expand...

This hour, we are rebroadcasting our new program, Connecticut Conversations where we’ll talk about education during a pandemic. Whether students return to the classroom or learn online, how should parents and schools weigh concerns around health, equity, and students? Coming up we’ll hear from Connecticut’s Child Advocate, about the state’s responsibility to make sure each child receives an equitable education whether sitting inside a school or at home. We’ll also hear from an elementary...

How does a national teacher of the year - turned Congresswoman - view school reopening plans in Connecticut? This hour, we talk with Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, who represents Connecticut’s Fifth District in the U.S. House of Representatives. The freshman lawmaker is nearing the end of her first term in Congress. Hayes is a member of the House Education and Labor Committee--we ask her to weigh in what measures need to be in place for students and teachers to return to school safely. And how...

When we talk about going back to school, we usually focus on what will happen when k-12 students return to the classroom. But what about the students coming from across the nation to return to campus? This hour, Carl W. Lejuez, the University of Connecticut Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs will join us to answer our questions and yours about what university life will look like this Fall. What does social distancing look like in a residence hall or in a cafeteria? What...

The school year starts soon, and teachers and parents still ask: How will schools open safely? This hour, we talk with Jeff Leake, the president of the state’s largest teachers union, the Connecticut Education Association. The union says the state should only open school buildings if CDC and other safety guidelines are met. Some teachers worry that crowded classrooms won’t have sufficient measures to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks. And if schools become fully remote, how can districts ensure...

This pandemic has caused a lot of interruptions in our lives. It has put people out of work, and it is also keeping some people from starting a career. This hour, we hear how recent law school graduates are preparing for the Connecticut Bar Exam amongst the pandemic. The Bar Exam is a two day exam, normally taken at a testing facility. But because of the pandemic, students will have to take the exam entirely online. Without passing the Connecticut Bar, they are unable to practice and in some...

Inside our genomes, we carry information about our recent ancestors as well as ancient human history. This hour, we talk with science writer Carl Zimmer about his book, She Has Her Mother's Laugh: The Powers, Perversions, and Potential of Heredity. We ask him what our DNA can—and can’t—tell us about where we’re from and who we are. GUEST: Carl Zimmer - New York Times columnist and author of 13 books about science, including She Has Her Mother’s Laugh: The Powers, Perversions, and Potential...

It’s hard to believe that it has been nearly five months since Connecticut had it’s first coronavirus diagnosis in the state. This hour, Connecticut Department of Public Health Acting Commissioner Deidre Gifford joins us to discuss where we are now. Connecticut seems to be trending in the right direction, and steadily slowing the spread of coronavirus. One week ago, the Connecticut Department of Health announced that the Connecticut State Public Health Lab discovered false positive COVID-19...

State lawmakers in Connecticut’s House of Representatives have passed a major police accountability bill in the middle of a national conversation about police violence and racism. This hour, we check in with CT Mirror reporter, Kelan Lyons to learn more, as the bill heads to the state Senate this week. We also talk with poet and Connecticut resident Reginald Dwayne Betts, who is leading a new project to bring books to prisons and juvenile detention centers across the US. And later: millions...

On sweltering summer days, having a house or apartment with air conditioning is important not only for comfort, but also for safety. The need to cool down will only grow as climate change makes our world hotter. But air conditioning itself also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. This hour, we talk about how to make sure climate-friendly cooling options are available to everyone. Here in Connecticut, not all residents can afford to run air conditioners in the heat of summer because of...

Did you ever play the game Statues as a child? This is how you play: A person starts out as the Curator and stands at the end of a field. Everyone else playing stands at the far end. The Curator turns their back to the field, and the "Statues" attempt to race across and tag the Curator. Whenever the Curator turns around, the Statues must freeze in position and hold that for as long as the Curator looks at them. If a Statue is caught moving, they are sent back to the starting line to begin...

With the weather getting hotter and many indoor activities limited because of the pandemic, a trip to the water is a great way to cool off. But not every Connecticut community has a beachfront or river in town, and many wealthy communities with waterfronts have a history of limiting water access to residents only. Some of those restrictions have reappeared this summer in response to COVID-19. This hour, we talk about the implications of excluding access to our state’s natural waters,...

Governor Lamont promised free coronavirus testing for all Connecticut residents who want one. This hour, who’s footing the bill for coronavirus testing and how much does it really cost? Connecticut Public Reporter Patrick Skahill joins us to talk about his reporting on this. Later, how do University of Connecticut students feel about returning to college in the fall? A University professor and psychologist tells us what she learned after holding a focus group with students---their questions,...

We’re reaching the middle of the summer here in Connecticut. Although many of our favorite summer activities aren’t feasible this year, there are lots of ways to get outside. Connecticut has plenty of public gardens to explore. This hour, we talk with New England gardeners about places to explore here in our home state, and ways to make your backyard an oasis. How is your backyard looking this summer? Are you working on your victory garden? What questions do you have about making the most of...

It’s summer reading time! After spending the last four months quarantined indoors, it might be hard to find fun activities for your kids. Summer reading can be fun and it’s important for children, especially when you consider learning loss. This hour, join us for our next installment of our Pandemic Book Club to talk about making reading your new favorite family activity. Coming up we talk about some of our new and old favorite young adult and children’s books. Wondering how to connect with...

COVID 19 cases have dropped in Connecticut, but it’s still important for residents to stay home when possible to slow the spread of the disease. But what about residents who don’t have a home? This hour, we look at homelessness during the pandemic. We check in with Richard Cho, CEO of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness to learn how the state has avoided outbreaks in shelters that have plagued other cities and states. We also hear from Columbus House, one of the local homelessness...

Do you see bats where you live? These flying creatures play important roles in ecosystems around the world, from pest control to pollination. But bats in Connecticut are in big trouble. This hour: bats in our state have been devastated by White-Nose Syndrome. We learn more about this deadly disease and talk about why we should be concerned that populations in Connecticut have been so hard hit. Bats in China have made news because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We hear why scientists have looked...

College campuses across the country are preparing to reopen in the fall. But with the potential for a second wave of coronavirus infections, students and staff are being asked to be flexible. This hour, we’re speaking with students, faculty and leaders throughout the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities system on what it will take to reopen campus in the fall. What will a hybrid online/in person college class look like? How do you practice social distancing in a college dorm room? If...

COVID-19 has shown the Internet is more important than ever. From Google Classrooms for distance learning to endless Zoom meetings for some professionals, the Internet has become even more essential during the pandemic. But how many Connecticut residents still don’t have access to a high-speed connection? This hour, we look at Connecticut’s digital divide. How does the lack of broadband in communities exacerbate existing disparities in education and economic opportunity? We talk with experts...