The Full Story

A new report from Audubon says two-thirds of bird species in North America are at risk of extinction because of climate change. Researchers say birds are an indicator species. That means what happens to the birds could be a precursor to what happens to people. We'll discuss the report and its findings with guests: Ana Paula Tavares, executive director, Audubon New York and Audubon Connecticut Corrie Folsom-O’Keefe, director of bird conservation, Audubon Connecticut Aaron Virgin, vice president,

The cost of an undergraduate education is well into the five figures. Some say making college free is the answer to exorbitant tuition. New York State has its Excelsior Program and UConn says it will make tuition free for low-income students next fall. Is it working? Is free tuition the answer? Our guests: Alan Singer, Ph.D., professor of teaching, learning and technology, Hofstra University Amir Khafagy, freelance journalist Will Haskell, Connecticut state senator, D-Westport Tony Hwang,

The governors of Connecticut and New York, as well as New Jersey and Pennsylvania, are working together on a unified approach to addressing the vaping crisis and legalizing adult use of recreational marijuana. We'll discuss the ideas with guests: Karen DeWitt, capitol bureau chief, New York State Public Radio Christopher Keating, capitol bureau chief, The Hartford Courant Mary Daugherty Abrams, Connecticut state senator, D-Meriden Vincent Candelora, Connecticut state representative, R-Branford

Several times a year the West Side treatment plant in Bridgeport dumps raw sewage into Black Rock Harbor. It happens when rainwater overwhelms the system, and it's not going to stop anytime soon. Meanwhile, on Long Island, a lake is a test site for a new technology to get rid of toxic algal blooms. We'll explore water quality issues with guests: Christine Woodside, journalist, Connecticut Health Investigative Team Roger Reynolds, senior legal counsel, Connecticut Fund for the Environment/Save

Connecticut State Senator Cathy Osten wants to know how many people in the prison system are dealing with mental illness. We speak with her, and prison reform advocates, about the role mental health plays in the prison system and what’s being done to address it. Our guests: Cathy Osten, Connecticut state senator, D-Sprague Randy Braren, director of re-entry programs, Family ReEntry Crystal Hayes, Ph.D., clinical assistant professor of social work, Sacred Heart University Abby Anderson, executive

A mysterious lung illness related to vaping has killed more than 20 people and sickened more than 1,000 across the country. And many of the victims are young. The vape industry blames black market marijuana products. The Centers for Disease Control reports that most of the sick have used THC vape products, but has not yet identified a cause for the illness. Should states ban vaping products or is that government overreach? Our guests: Lane Filler, columnist and editorial writer, Newsday John

Fall weekends in our region are made for apple or pumpkin picking. But some growers say the season is changing. There’s also buzz about bees and the honey they produce. Beekeepers say they are more than just livestock — without them agriculture is in trouble. Our guests: Gregory Sandor, executive director, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County John Lyman, executive vice president, Lyman Orchards Ed Harbes Sr., owner, Harbes Family Farm Dan Beardsley, owner, Beardsley Cider Mill and

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont’s disapproval rating is lower than Dannel Molloy’s was in his first term. That’s the finding of a recent Sacred Heart University/Hartford Courant poll . More residents, particularly young people and Republicans, say their quality of life has declined in the state. On national issues, the poll shows mixed reviews of key issues leading into the 2020 presidential primary and general elections. Our guests: Lesley DeNardis, Ph.D., associate professor and executive

New York and Connecticut are looking to upgrade their port infrastructure to make way for offshore wind projects. New York is reaching out to coastal municipalities and developers about the construction and management of wind turbines. In Connecticut, the redevelopment of the State Pier in New London is moving forward in anticipation of offshore wind. Our guests: Doreen Harris, vice president for large-scale renewables, NYSERDA Paul Pallas, administrator, Village of Greenport Steve Englebright,

AIDS was predicted to kill millions in the U.S. To date, more than 650,000 Americans have died from the virus. Now New York says it’s on track to end the epidemic in the state by 2020. We’ll discuss the decline in new infections, the rise of HIV prophylaxis and the roles of needle exchange programs and public education campaigns, with guests: Anthony Santella, Dr.PH., associate professor of public health, Hofstra University Santino Dunham and Rafael Rivera, care navigators, Project Safety Net