Where We Live

This hour, how much power should a president have to take military action?

Coming up we speak with Connecticut Senator Christopher Murphy, who argues that presidents have accumulated too much leeway to take military action.

He wants to shift some of that authority to Congress.

And the latest on efforts to get an infrastructure bill through the senate.

Guests:

• Christopher Murphy -- Connecticut Senator
• Bilal Sekou -- Associate Professor of Politics and Government at the University of Hartford’s Hillyer College

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A fatal hit-and-run by a teen allegedly driving a stolen vehicle has led to more debate about Connecticut’s juvenile justice reforms. State Republican lawmakers blame policy changes in Connecticut for a rise in car thefts by teens.

This hour, we take a closer look at the data with the investigative editor of Connecticut Public’s new Accountability Project.

And later, we hear what a recent court ruling means for school districts which are required to provide special education to their students.

Does your child receive special education services in our state?

GUESTS:

• Walter Smith-Randolph - Investigative editor and lead reporter of The Accountability Project at Connecticut Public
• Kasey Considine - Supervising attorney at Disability Rights Connecticut
• Kate Farrish - Contributing writer for the Connecticut Health Investigative Team (C-HIT.org); also journalism professor at Central Connecticut State University

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Scientists have found that our brains contain what’s called ‘grandmother neurons,’ which light up when we see a familiar face, like grandmother’s face.

The discovery was made using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) that showed a select set of neurons located in the temporal pole of rhesus monkeys lit up each time the monkeys saw photos of their buddies, both monkey and human. The process could help explain how the brain identifies personally familiar faces, and what it could mean in our understanding of Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Autism.

GUESTS:

• Winrich Freiwald - Head of the Laboratory of Neural Systems at Rockefeller University. Credited for the discovery of the ‘grandmother neurons.’
• Dr. Robert Keder - Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician at Connecticut Children's, and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut
• Brad Duchaine - Chair, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Dartmouth, and co-founder of faceblind.org
• A.E. Gaupp - West Hartford attorney with prosopagnosia, or face blindness

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Nearly a month ago, the Surfside Condominium partially collapsed. A 2018 inspection found “major structural damage” to the building leading many to ask, what more could have been done to prevent this tragedy?

This hour, we’re asking, what are landlords and building owners obligated to do here in Connecticut to keep residents safe? If you live in a condominium, or rent an apartment, what are your rights?

Crumbling concrete is a problem for a number of Connecticut buildings. A 2019 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that at least 1600 Connecticut homes had confirmed pyrrhotite, a mineral that causes foundations to crumble overtime.

Later, we will hear from the Connecticut Foundation Solutions Indemnity Company that’s working to aid homeowners faced with crumbling foundations due to Pyrrhotite.

What questions do you have about building safety? We want to hear from you.

GUESTS:

• Shelley White - Director of Litigation and Advocacy at New Haven Legal Assistance
• Goli Nossoni - Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, University of New Haven
• Michael Maglaras - Principal with Michael Maglaras and Company and Superintendent of the Connecticut Foundation Solutions Indemnity Company

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Some birds in the Eastern United States have been dying of a new disease with strange symptoms, including crusty, swollen eyes.

Most of the affected birds so far are in the mid-Atlantic, but scientists and wildlife enthusiasts are concerned this disease could show up in Connecticut. This hour, we find out more about this mysterious illness and what you can do about it.

And later, we get an update on the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. An interpretation change by the Trump administration weakened the government’s ability to punish corporations that harm birds; we learn what’s happening now under the Biden Administration.

If you observe a bird in distress, you should contact a wildlife rehabilitator in your area. List of rehabilitators from Connecticut DEEP here.

If you find a dead bird in Connecticut, you can report it to the Wild Bird Mortality Database.

GUESTS:

• Brian Hess - Wildlife Biologist at the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
• Margaret Rubega - Connecticut state ornithologist and professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at UConn
• Juliet Eilperin - Senior national affairs correspondent for the Washington Post

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This hour, a conversation with the two leading candidates for mayor of New Haven.

Who has the best ideas to lead the city's recovery from the pandemic, and to help support students who have had two school years interupted by COVID-19?

Guests:

• Justin Elicker -- Mayor of New Haven seeking re-election, former New Haven alder and teacher
• Karen DuBois-Walton -- Challenger for the position of mayor of New Haven, longtime leader of the Housing Authority of New Haven

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This week, British billionaire, Richard Branson, launched himself into space on his company’s spacecraft. The Virgin Atlantic founder beat out fellow billionaire, Jeff Bezos, who is scheduled to travel to space on July 20, 2021 in his company’s spacecraft.

This hour, we take a look at the billionaire space race and the era of space tourism for the ultra-wealthy. With powerful private interests taking a prominent role in space exploration, what does this mean for the rest of us?

GUESTS:

• Marina Koren - Staff writer at the Atlantic
• Lisa Ruth Rand - Assistant Professor of History at Caltech

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This hour, voting is one of our most basic rights as Americans. But since the 2020 presidential election, it has become a hot-button issue nation-wide.

We speak with Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill.  She deals with voting issues on the state level.

Merrill recently announced that her current term will be her last.  

Also, New York Times Politics Reporter Nick Corasaniti explains a recent US Supreme Court decision striking down part of the Voting Rights Act.

Guests:

• Denise Merrill -- Connecticut Secretary of the State
• Nick Corasaniti -- New York Times Politics Reporter 

We want to hear from you.

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What happens to women’s bodies during menopause? This hour, a frank conversation with OB/GYN Jen Gunter about what your mother probably called “The Change.” Dr. Gunter is the bestselling author of The Vagina Bible and most recently, The Menopause Manifesto.

Why is menopause such a mystery? As a culture, we don’t talk about menopause. In fact, women get the message that this normal biological transition is somehow shameful: an ending to vitality and productivity. We dispel myths about menopause. What questions do you have?

Listen live Friday at 9:00 AM.

GUEST:
Dr. Jen Gunter - OB/GYN, women’s health advocate, and New York Times columnist. She’s the author of The Vagina Bible, and her latest book, The Menopause Manifesto was published in May. Visit her webiste for more information about her work. (@DrJenGunter)

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Digital downloads for mental health needs surged nearly 200 percent during the pandemic. Now, it seems this trend is here to stay. The market for mental health apps is projected to reach 3.3 billion dollars in the next six years. This hour, experts discuss how digital products are changing the way people care for their mental wellbeing, and the scientific rigor required from app developers to ensure successful outcomes. 

Coming up, we talk to industry experts on the future of apps in mental healthcare. Anecdotes versus evidence: What works, and what doesn't? 

GUESTS: 

• Briana Benn-Mirande - therapist at Art and Soul Art Therapy in Madison, CT.

• Dr. Paul Weigle - psychiatrist and Associate Medical Director of Ambulatory Programs at Natchaug Hospital, part of HartfordHealthCare’s Behavioral Health Services.

• Dr. Doug Nemecek -  Chief Medical Officer for Behavioral Health, Cigna.

• Karen Brown - Health Reporter at New England Public Radio.

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