COVID-19 has changed the way we live, at least temporarily. But how long will this last and what does the future look like -- for the sick, for the poor, for those in nursing homes, for the workplace, for students and teachers, and for doctors, nurses, and health care professionals? This past weekend, Hearst Connecticut Media published a series of articles across its various newspapers called The Road Ahead: Life After COVID-19 . Columnist and Associate Editor Dan Haar joined All Things

It’s official: K-12 education in Connecticut for the rest of the school year will be online only. Gov. Ned Lamont confirmed Tuesday that students and teachers will not return to campus because of the coronavirus threat. Connecticut Public Radio’s All Things Considered spoke with Miguel Cardona, commissioner of the state Department of Education, about the decision.

Joni Mitchell is a singer-songwriter from Alberta, Canada. In 1968, her debut album, Song to a Seagull , was released and since then, Mitchell has become one of the most influential, and greatest recording artists. Mitchell has won nine Grammys, including a Lifetime Achievement Award, countless musical awards, and her albums are considered as among the best ever made. We’re big fans. It turns out we’re not alone.

The impact of the coronavirus on sports is stark -- from golf’s Masters Tournament being postponed to the cancellation of the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournament. The COVID-19 pandemic has athletes scrambling to find competition and the fans who watch them struggling to find their fix.

On Thursday, we learned that the husband of 5th District Rep. Jahana Hayes was dealing with the effects of COVID-19 and that the family would self-quarantine for two weeks. The congresswoman joined John Henry Smith on All Things Considered to talk about how she and her family are doing.

These past few weeks have brought unprecedented strain for front-line medical workers in Connecticut’s hospitals and nursing homes. It’s also been a period of innovation in the health care industry, as facilities both try to support their staff -- and stretch them far beyond their previous clinical experience.

Given that Connecticut’s long-term care facilities house those most vulnerable to infectious diseases, the coronavirus has had a devastating impact. According to the CT Mirror , 57.6% of all COVID-19 deaths in Connecticut have happened in the state’s nursing homes, forcing facilities to take drastic measures to try to keep the disease out.

You’ve probably heard the old showbiz saying “The show must go on.” Well, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra is going ahead with its annual gala this weekend. Only, this year, people will be sipping cocktails in their tuxes and gowns and enjoying the music from the comfort of their own living rooms.

Colleges and universities around Connecticut are wrestling with what the country is wrestling with: how and when to get back to business amid a global pandemic.

I first grew amsonia or bluestar perennial flower years ago in a public garden. I was impressed with the size, stature and beautiful light blue flowers that it produced in early summer and gorgeous golden fall foliage. Bluestar is a native plant that should get more recognition. It was the Perennial Plant of the Year back in 2011, but I rarely see it in gardens.