WICC The Voice of Connecticut

We are just a couple of days away from wrapping up the 2024 legislative session. Before the weekend, a couple of house bills passed and now head to the Senate for votes. We got the scoop on good changes made and bad language still in place for current legislation from CT169Strong. Maria Weingarten explains what’s being discussed in Hartford and what it would mean for you and your town. Learn more: https://ct169strong.org/

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Despite the many reports saying the Connecticut is one of the safest states in the country, crime prevention should still be a top priority for residents. What are some non-negotiables when it comes to training your brain with crime prevention knowledge? We asked our crime prevention expert, Jim Perez, about the importance of situational awareness and why being “the safest” can put a target on your back for potential threats.

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Only 50 percent of current licensed registered nurses in Connecticut are working as a nurse. So, while Connecticut has almost 90,000 RNs, there is still an acute shortage as many are no longer practicing. This week is National Nurses Week and Larry Slater joined the show to share some of the complex issues facing the nursing profession. Slater is the dean of the School of Nursing at Quinnipiac University.

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May is American Stroke Month and according to the CDC, every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. But more often than not, people will bypass stroke symptoms or calling 9-1-1, taking matters into their own hands. Dr. Joshua Marcus with Nuvance Health highlighted the importance of getting an ambulance in the event of a stroke. He also wrote an article called ‘Stroke 101’ to tackle ambulance costs, misleading symptoms, risks and more: Stroke 101 and Why it is Critical to Call 911 for Symptoms | Nuvance Health

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Friday's "Connecticut Today" with host Paul Pacelli featured Quinnipiac University Associate Professor of Civil Engineering Ari Perez on the demolition and planned reconstruction of Norwalk's Fairfield Avenue Bridge after an accident and tanker truck fire on I-95 (00:30). Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling also called in to chat about Thursday morning's I-95 accident and fire (10:04). Former Bridgeport State Rep. Chris Caruso also joined us with his  weekly update (15:15)

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month and did you know getting outside and moving your body can do a whole lot of good for your mental health? Wellness Coach, Joan Smeland, lives by this truth after losing her father years ago. She says getting out to walk with her dog changed her life and launched the creation of Walks with Buddy. We spoke to her about her organization and an upcoming event highlighting fitness and community. 

For more information: https://www.walkswithbuddy.com/

IMAGE CREDIT: Melissa Sheketoff

A new report out this week says elder fraud reports to FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center rose by 14 percent in 2023. Fred Scholl talked about elder fraud. He is an associate teaching professor and director of the graduate cybersecurity program at Quinnipiac University. Plus, he weighed in on the discovery made regarding United Health NOT using multifactor authentication to avoid a recent nationwide cyberattack.

For full elder fraud report: Elder Fraud, in Focus — FBI

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According to The leukemia and lymphoma Society, approximately every three minutes, one person is diagnosed with blood cancer. The organization has been focusing for years on raising money for research and better supporting blood cancer patients and their families. We spoke with Michele Terra, who continues to partner with the organization after caring for her mom who battled and miraculously survived blood cancer. Learn how she is raising money and why her mission matters.

The link to her donation page: Michele's Leukemia & Lymphoma Website - v2 (canva.site)

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More than 50 million American women have participated in the sisterhood of Girl Scouts throughout the years and one of these exceptional women is the new CEO of The Girl Scouts of Connecticut. We met Elicia Pegues Spearman, a Chesire attorney and new leader of the #1 girls’ non-profit, to hear her plans for the organization going forward.

IMAGE CREDIT: Alisa Picerno / Girl Scouts of Connecticut

As the legislative session winds down, we know there’s a big push for funding public higher education in our state. CSCU serves 85,000 students and 96% of those students are from Connecticut. The more than a dozen institutions in the system reportedly make an $11 billion annual impact on the state’s economy. CSCU Chancellor Terrence Cheng helps us understand the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system better and talk about the impact the state’s budget negotiations for local college students.

IMAGE CREDIT: Samantha Norton / Office of The chancellor of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system