Connections Podcast

New York State has launched new, optional ID cards for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The goal is to help law enforcement and first responders better interact with people who may not be able to effectively explain the situations they are in. The cards come with mixed reviews, especially on how effective they may be. We explore the issue with our guests. In studio: Dalton Letta, autism ambassador Rachel Rosner , director of education and support services for AutismUp

A local church is weighing decisions similar to those faced by Spiritus Christi Church several decades ago. Asbury First United Methodist Church is considering breaking off from its denomination after delegates from the United Methodist Church voted to approve the church's so-called Traditional Plan. That plan involves a ban on same-sex marriages and LGBTQ clergy. What does that mean for Methodist congregations that oppose the ban? We're joined by Reverend Stephen Cady from Asbury First. Cady

We have a conversation about Medicare for All with Michael Lighty , director of public policy for National Nurses United. Lighty has written and spoken about Medicare for All for more than 25 years. He's in Rochester for a public presentation at the Fairport Library Thursday evening, but first, he's our guest on Connections.

The City of Rochester has released draft guidelines for neighborhood associations. Under the proposal, neighborhoods groups would be required to meet specific standards in order to be officially recognized by the city. Some neighborhood association leaders are in favor of the guidelines, saying they provide structure for current or future groups. Critics of the proposal say the requirements would exclude groups that do not fall within the guidelines, and would prevent them from participating in

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has questioned the premise of “New York Times Co. v. Sullivan,” the landmark case that help set the boundaries for how we consider libel. If that changes, what does it mean for journalists, and what journalists can expect to happen when they print news? Our guests weigh in: Chris Thomas , partner with Nixon Peabody Andrea Hickerson , director of the School of Communication at RIT

Students from the Rochester City School District recently met with President Barack Obama in relation to the Obama Foundation's My Brother's Keeper project. They join us to discuss what they learned, and we talk about the ongoing efforts to bring restorative practices to city schools, including the upcoming RocRestorative Conference . Our guests: Kit Miller , executive director of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence Ruth Turner , chief of student support services & social emotional

When an 18-year old decided to get vaccinated, against his parents' wishes, his story went viral. And it sparked questions beyond his family: What does the law say for younger children whose parents won't get them vaccinated? What rights do they have? What exemptions are appropriate, and which are not? Our guests explore the current national conversation on vaccines, particularly as it relates to rights and exemptions. In studio: Dr. Deborah Pierce , M.D., clinical associate professor of family

Congressman Joe Morelle invited Elizabeth Crothers to the State of the Union Address. It marked a significant step in a relationship that had been rocky over the last couple of decades. Morelle wanted to highlight the work that Crothers and her peers are doing with the Sexual Harassment Working Group . That's an organization seeking to change the culture of sexual harassment in New York State. We discuss that work with members of the organization. Our guests: Elizabeth Crothers , former New York

Several thousand people in Monroe County transition back into the community from the criminal justice system each year, but many face challenges that make the transition difficult. A mentoring program through the Judicial Process Commission seeks to remove barriers to housing, employment, education, and maintaining sobriety so participants have an opportunity at a new beginning. We're joined by Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter and members of the mentoring program to discuss its goals and

Weekend Connections is a collection of some of the most noteworthy moments from the week on Connections with Evan Dawson. This episode includes conversations about: Amazon scrapping plans to build a new headquarters in New York City, and if reactions to the decision represent a split in the political left; How we form beliefs and the value of doubting them; How language evolves.