Where We Live

We all need fresh water to survive, yet it's so ubiquitous most of us barely spare it a thought in our daily lives. This hour we take a look at the state of water in our country, from rivers and streams to the water that comes out of our taps.

We hear from an author who says our modern society in the US has taken clean water for granted; however, with global climate change, we are going to have to bring water back to the forefront of the way we plan our world and our lives.

We also hear about proposed changes from the EPA that could impact which waterways are protected from pollution.

And we get an update about Connecticut’s state water plan. We ask: what are some of the biggest challenges are for the future of water in our state?

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Just days after the U.S. Attorney General released his summary of the long-anticipated Mueller report, we ask: What does his sum-up do -- or not do -- to trust in the country's election system? We talk with a panel of reporters and election experts, and we also hear from you.

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Have you taken a ride on the bright red Hartford Line? The commuter rail service debuted last summer, a recent project of the Connecticut Department of Transportation.

But rail is just one mode of transportation in a state known for congestion and aging infrastructure.

This hour, we sit down with new DOT Commissioner Joseph Giulietti. Giulietti is a Connecticut native, who most recently served as President of Metro North.

We find out more about his plans to improve rail service for the thousands of residents who commute by train every week.  We also ask about tolls and find out what infrastructure projects will be a priority under the Lamont administration.

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We all know a working mom, clocking in and out of her job while also raising a family.

This hour, we take a deep dive into the realities of modern-day motherhood. We talk with a sociologist who spent years in the field interviewing working moms.

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From dying coral reefs to fires and coastal flooding, the effects of climate change are already being felt around the world. And it will only get worse.

A 2018 report from climate scientists from around the globe found that some of climate change’s disastrous consequences will be in full force if Earth’s temperature rises past 1.5 degrees--something that could happen as early as 2040 at current emissions rates.

This hour, we ask: besides reducing emissions, does the world need to look at ways to take carbon out of the atmosphere? From forests to machines that suck carbon out of the air, we learn more about “negative emissions” strategies.

And we also hear about another major climate change concern: the thawing of the permafrost. Researchers say the thawing of this polar ecosystem could be not only a consequence but also cause of worsening carbon emissions.

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Venture into one New London, Connecticut nonprofit and you will find yourself surrounded by art. Not just any art, either. Art inspired by the rich cultures of Latin America.

This hour, we go inside Expressiones Cultural Center. We meet up with one of the nonprofit's co-founders, and wander through the mind of its current artist in residence: a forestry engineer from Lima, Peru. 

Later, we learn about NH ChILD, a new early childhood initiative based in the city of New Haven, Connecticut. We talk with Allyx Schiavone, the program’s interim director, and we also hear from you.

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Today, there are 5.8 million Americans who are impacted by Alzheimer’s disease. That number is expected to grow by more than half.

Yet how do we know the right questions to ask to get a timely diagnosis in order to plan for the future? We hear from advocates who want to see additional training for primary care physicians so they recognize the signs of dementia earlier.

This hour, we talk with doctors, caregivers, and researchers. And we want to hear from you. Do you have an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, or are you taking care of a loved one with dementia?

African Americans and other minorities suffer from higher rates than white Americans, yet Alzheimer's researchers have far less data on minority patients. We'll talk with a researcher who is trying to help address the data deficiency and better understand this disparity.

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When it comes to sexual anatomy, not everyone is born with bodies that fit typical definitions of male or female. Like with other human traits, internal and external gentalia can come in different varieties. There's research that's found being intersex is about as common as having red hair.

Today, we talk with members of the intersex community seeking to pass laws in Connecticut and elsewhere to protect them from discrimination and to stop doctors from performing "normalizing" surgeries on intersex children until they are old enough to give their consent.

Many urologists and medical groups are urging against such a ban. What's "medically necessary" when it comes to such surgeries is complicated and needs to be considered on a case-by-case basis, they maintain.

But there are stories of intersex children never being told the real reason why they underwent surgery and only finding out later as adults. In some cases, even their parents didn't know.

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Do you remember high school history? The subject has the reputation of being “boring”, thick with names and dates that can be a chore to remember. But this hour we ask: How do the history lessons we learn in school shape the way we see the world around us?

In Connecticut, there are efforts by students of color to make changes to the social studies curriculum, requiring African American and Latino studies in public school.

We also talk with a panel of historians about some critical sides of American history that haven’t made it into history classes. How does the way we understand events from decades or centuries ago shape our views on race and inequality today?

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In her new book, author Susan Campbell transports readers through time, telling the story of Hartford's once industry-rich neighborhood, Frog Hollow.

This hour, we sit down with Campbell. We ask about her research for the book and learn about the realities of life in Frog Hollow today.

Do you have a personal connection to the neighborhood? We want to hear from you, too.

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