Connections Podcast

Climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe recently wrote that ending America's oil addiction will be a lot harder than many people think. Our panel discusses the practical challenges and possible solutions to creating a national infrastructure without oil. In studio: Sue Hughes Smith, member of Rochester People's Climate Coalition Suzanne Hunt, founder of Hunt Green LLC and director of strategic development at Hunt Country Vineyards Tim McGowan, founder and co-leader of Citizen's Climate Lobby of

A new study from researchers at Harvard estimates that nearly 5,000 people may have died in Puerto Rico as a result of Hurricane Maria. That's more than 70 times the death toll reported by the government, and more than twice the number of deaths from Hurricane Katrina. Faculty members and research fellows at the University of Rochester Medical Center were part of the response team in Puerto Rico, helping medical personnel on the island set up mobile medical units. Prior to the hurricane, the

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: The controversy surrounding chronic Lyme disease; How grassroots environmental groups can compete with corporations; The Libertarian Party's stance on guns.

Several nonprofit organizations are teaming up to help provide housing options for people in need, while reducing the number of so-called zombie homes in Rochester. Flower City Habitat for Humanity has launched its Vacant and Abandoned Homes pilot program with the City of Rochester. According to a report released last summer, there were about 600 vacant and abandoned homes around Monroe County, which contributed to a more than $11 million loss in property values. But the program goes beyond the

The retail giant Toys “R” Us has filed for bankruptcy and is closing its stores across the nation. The move is leaving more than 30,000 employees out of jobs, health insurance, and severance pay. It’s the latest retail chain owned by private equity firms to close its doors. Companies taken over by these firms are often shouldered with the firms’ high debt loads, pushing struggling companies to a faster decline. Progressive groups say the pattern is a reminder of the human cost on working class

Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce CEO Bob Duffy says the Rochester region has to adopt more of a can-do attitude regarding big projects. Duffy wrote a piece for the Rochester Business Journal outlining his concerns about the region self-sabotaging big efforts. But critics say skepticism is important in determining which projects are the right ones. Duffy joins us to defend his essay.

We discuss the current state of the Green Party. Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein raised more than $7 million to pursue a swing state recount from the election. This week, the Daily Beast reported that Stein has been spending that money on herself and her staff. It's a rough headline for a party that was hoping to use the 2016 election to grow its base, but local Greens say they are focused on local elections and the state. We talk about what could be ahead for the party in 2018

Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce CEO Bob Duffy says the Rochester region has to adopt more of a can-do attitude regarding big projects. Duffy wrote a piece for the Rochester Business Journal outlining his concerns about the region self-sabotaging big efforts. But critics say skepticism is important in determining which projects are the right ones. Duffy joins us to defend his essay.

We discuss the current state of the Libertarian Party, especially as we head into the midterms. The Libertarian Party had high hopes for the 2016 election season, but things seemed to collapse, at least at the polls. What happened? And what does the party need to do — at a local and national level — to build more support? We’re joined by local libertarians: Kevin Wilson , chair of the Monroe County Libertarian Party Phil Ricci , founding chair of the Genesee County Libertarian Party Lauren Hall

Experts say Lyme disease is spreading, and as we’ve learned, so has to the controversy surrounding it. Mainstream medicine rejects the idea of chronic Lyme disease, and some doctors who speak out against it are harassed or even threatened. But patients who say they have chronic Lyme disease emphasize the treatment they’ve received from “Lyme literate” doctors helps. So what does the science say? And how can humans protect themselves and their pets from Lyme disease? Our panel discusses it. Our