Where We Live

What would you do with all that time if you didn't have to drive during your daily commute?

We find out what researchers in the UK are learning about the safety implications of having humans watching over mostly self-sufficient cars.  And we hear about the AV pilot programs already underway on the streets of Boston.

Do you want to see AVs on the streets of Connecticut?

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In southeastern Connecticut, a team of Recovery Navigators is offering a hand -- and a sense of hope -- to residents with opioid drug addiction. This hour, we take an in-depth look at the work this team is doing.

And finally, when it comes to Medicaid insurance, why are certified nurse midwives in Connecticut reimbursed at a lower rate than OB/GYN physicians? We take a closer look with Connecticut Public Radio health care reporter Nicole Leonard, and we also hear from you. 

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They are one of our most recognizable national symbols, but have you ever seen a bald eagle in the wild? This hour we head out of the studio and into the field to see these birds of prey in their natural habitat--right here in Connecticut! We take you along with us on a Winter Wildlife Eagle Cruise down the Connecticut River to view these majestic birds, who nearly faced extinction in this state just a few decades ago.  

And we learn about another fish-eating raptor that is thriving on our waters today. Have you ever seen an osprey on Connecticut’s shoreline?

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bulimia. Anorexia. Binge-eating. You have likely heard of these eating disorders before. But what are they, really? And who do they affect?

This hour, we talk with advocates and experts in the field, and we also hear from you. Have you or has someone close to you suffered from an eating disorder? Where did you turn for help? 

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

GUESTS:

• Claire Mysko - CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association (@clairemysko)
• Anahi Ortega - Latina who has recovered from an eating disorder; she resides in Portland, Oregon
• Dr. Sara Niego - Psychiatrist and Service Chief of the Eating Disorders Program at Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, Connecticut

READING LIST:

NPR: When It Comes To Race, Eating Disorders Don't Discriminate - "Mysko says 30 million Americans have struggled with an eating disorder at some point in their lives. And, that number's probably higher, because the stereotype of who has an eating disorder affects how we talk about them, who seeks treatment, who gets treatment and how they're treated."

Silver Hill: Let's Get Real About Eating Disorders - "When you think about eating disorders, you probably have an image in your head of a severely underweight young woman. However, eating disorders don’t discriminate; they can affect anyone, regardless of gender, age or socioeconomic status."

Catie Talarski contributed to this show.

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you have credit card debt hanging over your head? Or maybe you've been thinking you should start saving for retirement, but you aren’t sure how to pay for it?

This hour we sit down with NPR correspondent Chris Arnold, who covers personal finance and consumer protection. NPR’s new family of podcasts, Life Kit, gives listeners practical tips for navigating life challenges from parenting to healthy eating. Arnold hosts Life Kit’s podcasts about money. They are all about figuring out how to get your finances in order in a fun and approachable way.

We also talk with Marketplace’s Marielle Segarra about the psychology and history of tax refunds. Financial experts say getting back a big refund is not necessarily a good thing—so why do so many of us love getting that big check anyways?

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been nearly two months since Ned Lamont was sworn in as Connecticut's 89th governor. Elements of his budget proposal, released last month, are being opposed by many segments of the state's population.

Progressives in the General Assembly say low-income and middle-class consumers will suffer the most if Lamont's call to expand the reach of the state's sales tax goes through. They'd rather raise the state's income tax.

The governor's bid to reintroduce tolls on state highways has many motorists irate.

And his pick for economic development commissioner, David Lehman, is facing criticism for his ties to controversial activities by Goldman Sachs during the 2008 financial crisis.

We'll ask Gov. Lamont about those topics and much more as he joins us in our studio for the first time since being elected governor.

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A nursing home’s role is to care for its patients, not compromise their health. Yet, across Connecticut, a number of facilities have come up short in fulfilling this most basic function.

This hour, we take an in-depth look at this issue. We talk with reporters, regulators, and advocates, and we also hear from you. 

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An estimated 20 percent of Americans reside in rural communities. What are the needs of this population? And to what extent are those needs being met? This hour, we take a closer look.

We also sit down with Anne Torsiglieri, whose one-woman show "A" Train comes to Hartford this week. 

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Progressive lawmakers around the country have been rallying behind a call for a $15 minimum wage, and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has joined their ranks.

This hour, what would increasing the minimum wage by almost 150 percent over the next four years mean for businesses and workers here in Connecticut? We hear from an economist and get the takes of several local business owners on Democrats’ proposal to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2023.

We also take a look at the minimum wage landscape in our northeastern region. With dramatic increases already taking place in Massachusetts and New York, does Connecticut have to play catch up?

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2019 tax season is here. Have you filed your forms? If so, good on you for not procrastinating. If not, you might want to reconsider waiting until the last minute... because the U.S. tax code has changed.

This hour, we take an in-depth look at the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and find out what it means for those filing taxes this year.

Later, Connecticut Public Radio’s Patrick Skahill takes us inside a UConn lecture hall, where students are learning the science of cultivating... get this... cannabis. 

Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.