WICC The Voice of Connecticut

President Donald Trump signed the Laken Riley Act Wednesday afternoon, which requires that federal authorities detain immigrants who lack legal status and are accused of crimes even before they are convicted. We got a better understanding about the act and how it can lead to immediate deportation for people illegally living in Connecticut from Attorney Bill Bloss.

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Host Paul Pacelli opened Wednesday's "Connecticut Today" begging state officials to back off on some of the irresponsible rhetoric about ICE agents and the Trump White House crackdown (00:36). Hearst Connecticut Media columnist and senior editor Dan Haar discussed possible GOP gubernatorial candidates and the reported presence of some ICE agents in the state (14:55). CBS News Digital Reporter Aaron Navarro joined us to chat about the continuing Trump White House executive orders (23:01)

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Do smartphones lead to more aggression in teenagers? A new study says yes, they do! And not only aggression; the study published in the New York Post also highlighted more hallucinations and detachment from reality for teens as young as 13 using their smartphones too much. But how accurate is this new research? We spoke with Melissa Whitson, a professor of psychology at UNH, who says look beyond the headline before overreacting.

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Connecticut and 21 other states are suing to stop the implementation of a new Trump administration directive to freeze federal assistance. While there is still some confusion around the directive, what programs or people are truly impacted by this if the freeze goes forward? We spoke with CBS legal analyst, Thane Rosenbaum.

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‘Widely used insecticides found in Connecticut waters can kill our ecosystems and even impact human health.’ It’s a jarring headline from the Connecticut Pesticideoalition following a recent UConn report. We spoke with the head of the coalition, Louise Washer, to learn more about these harmful pesticides, “neonics.”

For the initial article: CT Pesticide Reform News Release: Widely Used Insecticides Found in Connecticut Waters Pose a Deadly Threat to Aquatic Ecosystems and A Risk to Human Health - Connecticut Audubon Society

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Starbucks chains are testing out ‘panic buttons’ across the nation to address people who linger around and become a nuisance to workers. Law enforcement expert, Gary MacNamara talked about the effectiveness of these buttons and why they are different from what you’d expect in places like banks.

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Tuesday's "Connecticut Today" opened with host Paul Pacelli looking at a new study pinning a possible expansion of the HUSKY healthcare program for migrants at up to $250 million (00:25). Yankee Institute blogger Meghan Portfolio stopped by to chat about state employee union negotiations for a 2027 contract renewal (14:45)

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A substitute teacher for Norwalk Public Schools faces charges for allegedly sending inappropriate text messages to middle school students. Police Chief James Walsh talked briefly about the case but also shared advice for families to protect their kids from being on the receiving end of these incidents. But also, how do we better detect a potential threat in our schools like a predatory teacher or coach?

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Connecticut residents deserve high quality, accessible, and affordable care. That’s why financial stability and transparency of Connecticut hospitals, health systems, and medical practices is a focus for Governor Lamont. A new legislative proposal looks at more oversight from the Office of Health Strategy. We spoke with Commissioner Dr. Deidre Gifford about the governor’s proposals and the state of our healthcare.

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A New Britain teacher was allegedly placed on leave after refusing to remove a small crucifix from the wall near her desk. According to the report, the school demanded she remove the cross back in December, or she would be disciplined for insubordination. The veteran teacher is now on administrative leave and the school is considering whether to terminate her. This story leads to a bigger conversation: is it appropriate to display your religious beliefs in the workplace? Career strategist, Julie Bauke, addressed this in Julie on the Job.

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