WICC The Voice of Connecticut

Registration is open for the annual CT Trails Day. Chuck Toal gave us the scoop on what's happening this year and how the event keeps growing year after year across the state.

To sign up for a Trails Day event: https://trailsday.org/

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Host Paul Pacelli kicked off Friday's "Connecticut Today" wondering if a controlled bear hunt - primarily in Litchfield County - is on the way from state officials (00:25). Quinnipiac University Assistant Professor of Journalism Nick Pietruszkiewicz discussed the renewed Baseball Hall of Fame arguments for Pete Rose and "Shoeless" Joe Jackson (15:14)

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The Connecticut House of Representatives approved legislation that requires all school districts statewide to adopt a policy on the use of smartphones by students in K-12 public schools. It now moves to the Senate for a vote. But what kind of impact will this legislation have on all public schools in the state? We got perspective from Jordan Pinsky, a teacher at Joel Barlow High School and an educator who has dedicated time recently to studying the effects of smartphone use in and outside of school. 

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Former President Barack Obama will participate in the Connecticut Forum next month, hosted by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Obama's appearance is scheduled for June 17th at the Bushnell Performing Arts Center. But it’s certainly not the first time we’ve seen presidential visits to the state. How do they operate, from security to traffic mitigation and handling the media? We asked Bobbby McDonald, former secret service agent. 

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Thimble Island Brewing Company, one of Connecticut's most well-known breweries, will be closing its doors later this month. After initially opening in 2012, the Branford brewery will shut down May 24th. For a booming industry in the last decade, I want to know if such a beloved place doing local brewing right closing the doors for good is a sign of the time or a shift in the industry interest? We asked Scott Dolch, President and CEO of the Connecticut Restaurant Association.

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A new report highlights several critical failures in the case of a former Bethany elementary substitute teacher and parks and rec worker who allegedly sexually assaulted multiple young girls.  An independent firm hired to investigate these cases, and it really dives into the problems with people in power and potentially undermining the voices of residents. We spoke with law enforcement expert and Bethany resident, Gary MacNamara, about this. 

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Have you been feeling some stiffness or clicking in your thumb or finger recently? Your phone may be to blame! Jon Kamal has the full story.

Host Paul Pacelli opened Thursday's edition of "Connecticut Today" highlighting two members of the state's U.S. House delegation that will reportedly run for re-election, despite calls from many fellow Democrats to appeal to younger voters (00:47). Sacred Heart University Political Science Professor and Scholar-in-Residence Dr. Gary Rose dropped by to chat about whether or not Gov. Ned Lamont will run for re-election next year (15:39). CBS News legal analyst Thane Rosenbaum (24:22) and Landmark Legal Foundation Vice-President of Legal Affairs Mike O'Neill (30:06) broke down today's U.S. Supreme Court arguments on possible limits to "Birthright Citizenship."

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