Where We Live

The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized the first-ever federal limits on a class of chemicalled known as PFAS, or "forever chemicals," in drinking water.

This hour, we discuss what these enforceable limits mean for how Connecticut monitors and regulates PFAS. Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani joins us, plus Connecticut Mirror investigative reporter Andrew Brown.

Plus, Attorney General William Tong touches on the lawsuits he filed against chemical manufacturers of PFAS.

GUESTS:

• William Tong: Connecticut Attorney General

• Dr. Manisha Juthani: Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Public Health

• Andrew Brown: Investigative Reporter, Connecticut Mirror

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During the last fiscal year, the army alone missed their recruiting goal by 25%. All branches of the military are struggling to recruit new cadets.

With an all-volunteer service, the military relies on recruitment efforts to get more people to serve. But fewer Americans than ever are eligible to do so. And attracting the next generation of cadets has been a challenge.

Today, we talk about the military recruiting crisis. We will hear from Captain Benjamin Keffer, Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Recruiting Command.

Later, we hear how some extremist groups are working to get veterans and others with tactical experience into their organizations.

GUESTS:

• Dr. Nora Bensahel: Professor of the Practice at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a Contributing Editor, War on the Rocks

• Captain Benjamin Keffer: Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Recruiting Command

• Sonner Kehrt: Investigative Reporter at the War Horse and Coast Guard Veteran

Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Cat Pastor contributed to this show which originally aired on October 6, 2023.

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Nearly one in four adults who contracted COVID-19 have developed long COVID symptoms, according to the latest Census report.

This hour, Dr. Akiko Iwasaki, an immunobiology expert at Yale who is focused on researching long COVID, joins us to share what we know and don't know about the illness, and the many ways it can manifest.

The Patient-Led Research Collaborative has authored several seminal surveys and studies. We also hear from co-founder Lisa McCorkell about this bank of patient-led research. She says, "We need a moonshot for long COVID: at least a billion dollars a year in research funding to adequately address this crisis."

Plus, Yale American Studies professor Dr. Daniel HoSang has written about the “twin pandemics” of COVID-19 and racism. He joins us to reflect on the four-year mark of the virus, and the links he sees to the long COVID response.

GUESTS:

• Dr. Daniel HoSang: Professor of American Studies, Yale University; Co-Author, Under the Blacklight: The Intersectional Vulnerabilities that the Twin Pandemics Lay Bare

• Dr. Akiko Iwasaki: Co-Lead Investigator, Yale COVID-19 Recovery Study; Sterling Professor of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine; Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

• Lisa McCorkell: Co-Founder, Patient-Led Research Collaborative

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Although church attendance has dwindled across all faiths, 39% of Catholics say they attend services at least once a week.

The Archdiocese of Hartford includes over 400,000 Catholics across the state of Connecticut, and is now being overseen by a new Archbishop.

After years of service, Archbishop Leonard Paul Blair will be succeeded by the newly appointedCoadjutor Archbishop Christopher Coyne, who recently served as a Bishop in Burlington, Vermont.

Today, we talk about the future of the Catholic Church, serving the Catholic population in Connecticut and a recent document published by the Vatican and its statements on gender identity and gender affirming surgery, surrogacy, and human dignity.

GUESTS:

• Coadjutor Archbishop Christopher Coyne: Archdiocese of Hartford
• Joshua McElwee: News Editor of National Catholic Reporter

Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Throughout history, our state has made some big contributions to aviation technology. Today, we’re talking about the history and future of aviation in our state. We hear from some aviation enthusiasts who’s love of all things plane is going to make you soar.

The New England Air Museum houses some unbelievable vintage aircrafts. We hear from them. And we hear from someone with experience flying in some of these vintage aircrafts.

If flying in a vintage plane is not your speed, there are more ways you can tap into your inner pilot. There are many model plane clubs here in all four corners of Connecticut. We learn how you can get involved.

GUESTS:

• Stephanie Abrams: President & CEO of the New England Air Museum

• Mike Thornton: Curator of the New England Air Museum

• Edward Deming: President of the RC Propbusters of Salem, CT

• Bob Creter: crew chief and docent for D-Day Squadron in Oxford, Connecticut

Cat Pastor contributed to this episode which originally aired on February 2.

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For adults on the autism spectrum, getting services can be a challenging task to navigate.

A new bill passed last year means that more autistic adults could receive services from the state from the Connecticut Autism Waiver.

But services still remain limited. There is currently a ten year waiting list to receive the waiver leaving thousands scrambling for services. Today, we talk about the Connecticut Autism Waiver program.

Later, we hear about businesses working to make their establishments more accommodating to neurodiverse clientele.

GUESTS:

• Jimna Miller: Co-Chair of Autism Advisory Council and Volunteer

• Jennifer Twachtman-Bassett: Autism Clinical Specialist and Research Coordinator at Connecticut Children's Hospital

• Emma McKeever (left): resident of Glastonbury who is currently on the Autism Waiver Waitlist

• Pam McKeever: resident of Glastonbury and parent of autistic adult

• Sarah Spear: CEO and Founder of Empowered Together

Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Connecticut, the Asian American and Pacific Islander community is vast and varied, with more than 170,000 AAPI people in the state.

And with a diversity of AAPI cultures, there is also a diversity of New Year traditions and celebrations that span across months. We’re just days away from the Laotian New Year and Thai New Year, as well as a Khmer New Year event hosted by the Cambodian Buddhist Society of Connecticut in Bristol.

This hour, we’ll discuss the diversity of Lunar New Year celebrations where we live, and unpack some of the debate around terminology.

GUESTS:

• Quan Tran: Co-chair, Asian Pacific American Coalition of Connecticut; Senior Lecturer on Race, Ethnicity and Migration, Yale University

• Sounthaly Thammavong: Board Member, Asian Pacific American Coalition of Connecticut

• Mike Keo: Senior Communication Officer, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving; Founder, #IAMNOTAVIRUS

Connecticut Public intern Sajina Shrestha contributed to this report.

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Starting with the class of 2027, all Connecticut high school students are now required to take a financial literacy course.

April is National Financial Literacy Month, and today, we hear from those that advocated to get this course work in schools.

For many, personal finance is just that - it’s deeply personal.

Later, we hear about efforts to offer financial literacy courses to adults, and the opportunities to learn about financing beyond high school.

GUESTS:

• Nan Morrison: President and Chief Executive Officer of the Council for Economic Education
• State Representative Corey Paris: Stamford State Representative
• Barbara Angelicola-Manzolli: Business Education Teacher at Lewis S. Mills High School in Burlington
• Sabrina Acosta: Connecticut Money School Program Manager

Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Connecticut is expected to enjoy a partial solar eclipse, the most intense since 1924. That’s according to local astronomer and Wesleyan professor Dr. Meredith Hughes. Still, the Federal Highway Administration says 5 million Americans could be traveling to the path of totality.

This hour, we discuss the science of the eclipse, and how to safely enjoy it, with Dr. Hughes. Plus, "umbraphile" or eclipse-chaser Kate Russo explains why these natural phenomena are such a unifying social event.

Wesleyan University is prepared to host hundreds of onlookers, with four solar telescopes in operation. We'll hear from one astronomy student who’s helping to ensure the event is accessible to Spanish speakers.

GUESTS:

• Dr. Meredith Hughes: Associate Professor of Astronomy, Wesleyan University

• Carlos Ordoñez: Astronomy Student, Wesleyan University

• Kate Russo: Author, Being in the Shadow: Stories of the First-Time Total Eclipse Experience; Psychologist

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Five percent of bridges in Connecticut are in “poor condition.”

Today, we talk about what needs to be done to update the bridges and roads in our state, and we talk about the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. We hear from The Accountability Project from right here at Connecticut Public.

And later, we hear about the infrastructure workforce and the training needed to staff these jobs.

We’ll also talk about the future of green infrastructure, a small solution to increased rainfall and subsequent flooding.

GUESTS:

• Jim Haddadin: Editor for the Accountability Project, Connecticut Public’s investigative reporting team
• Ron Harichandran: Dean of the Tagliatela College of Engineering at the University of New Haven
• Michael Dietz: Extension Educator at UConn and Director of the Connecticut Institute of Water Resources
• Chris DiPentima: President and CEO Connecticut Business & Industry Association.

Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.