WICC The Voice of Connecticut

Deck the halls with help from a Connecticut farm or two! We spoke with Department of Agriculture Commissioner, Bryan Hurlburt, about supporting the 5,500+ farms in our state for décor, gifts and food this holiday season. (0:00)

Senator Richard Blumenthal was back on the air. We talked about dropping RSV vaccine prices, avoiding more healthcare mergers and holding social media platforms accountable for child exploitation. (18:02)

Zoo Minute: We are welcoming a new feathered friend to the Beardsley Zoo campus. Gregg Dancho talks about a new crane and the health of this species’ population. (31:11).

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Wednesday's midweek edition of "Connecticut Today" with host Paul Pacelli continued our discussion of a delay in implementing an eventual end to gasoline powered vehicle sales in the state (00:29). Landmark Legal Foundation Executive VP Matt Forys also joined us to chat about a key Supreme Court case concerning federal tax collection (15:04). Hearst CT Media columnist and editor Dan Haar returned for his weekly update (28:03)

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An unknown and potentially deadly contagious canine respiratory illness has now been detected in dogs in 14 states, including Connecticut. Fairfield veterinarian, Dr. John Kristy, shares more on this mysterious illness, which dogs are more at risk and what dog owners need to look out for. (0:00)

As you know, Governor Lamont nixed the vote on an electric vehicle mandate proposal this week. So, what did the committee talk about instead and what does this mean for the 2024 legislative session? We asked Senator Kevin Kelly of Stratford, who’s one of the fourteen members on the bi-partisan committee. (7:51)

Science you may not Know: missing cicadas in Connecticut. David Mestre explains the mystery surrounding this insect and how Connecticut is responding. (23:32)

Toy stores are thriving despite online shopping trends. How is that possible? We asked Dan Onofrio from the BRBC about that. And we talked about changing the date for Giving Tuesday to better benefit non-profits in Connecticut. (38:07)

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Tuesday's "Connecticut Today" with Paul Pacelli took a closer look at the next phase in the battle over internal combustion engine vehicle sales in the state (00:32) while chatting with GOP State Sen. Paul Cicarella, a member of the State Regulations Review Committee (14:31). We talked to Stonington First Selectwoman Danielle Chesebrough who was reelected this year as a member of the "Forward Party" (25:56) and spent a few minutes with Yankee Institute blogger Meaghan Portfolio (34:21)

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There is an EMS worker shortage here and across the country. In fact, a federal study projected a need for 40,000 more full-time emergency medical personnel from 2016 to 2030. We checked in with Easton Volunteer EMS to hear about worker qualifications and got an update on the New Building Project. (0:00)

We are in the midst of a 16-day challenge addressing domestic violence. Deb Greenwood from the Center for Family Justice shared statistics on the problem in our state and shared how you can be part of the solution. (15:46)

Julie on the Job: What should workers do if management refuses to stop widespread harassment and misogynist behavior in the workplace? (31:13)

“Why you gotta be so rude?” Rudeness is a problem in our society and we want to curb that problem. Counselor, Julius Dudics, shares the impact of practicing humility. (43:54).

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"Connecticut Today" host Paul Pacelli returned from vacation and chatted with Greenwich GOP State Sen. Ryan Fazio about a controversial plan to prohibit the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles in Connecticut by 2035 (00:30). We also checked in with CTNewsJunkie and Substack.com blogger Terry Cowgill who had a few thoughts about a famous Connecticut resident with a national profile (14:20)

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One of the three Palestinian American students who were shot in a possible hate crime in Vermont is a student at Trinity College in Hartford. We spoke about the crime in one of the safest cities in the country with the top television news station in Vermont. Dom Amato, Assistant News Director with WCAX-TV, shared reaction from the state and the latest on the investigation. (0:00)

November 30th is Native American Equal Pay Day. But why the focus on Native American women specifically? And what, if anything, is Connecticut doing to address the disparity? We spoke with Spencer Hill from the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities about it. (9:35)

Tomorrow, Connecticut lawmakers will decide whether to ban gas-powered vehicles by the year 2035 in our state. It’s a controversial proposal prompting more questions than answers. Chris Herb with the Connecticut Energy Marketers Association weighed in on the conversation. (22:45)

Crime on the Mind : Shopping safety 101. Whether it’s in person or online, crime prevention expert, Jim Perez, shares how to avoid being a target of theft during the shopping frenzy season. (37:36)

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Did you know: cooking remains by far the leading cause of U.S. home fires, with nearly half (49 percent) of all home fires involving cooking equipment? Ahead of Thanksgiving and holiday celebration, what should you do to avoid house fires? We spoke with Bridgeport Fire Chief Lance Edwards and Lt. Louie Santiago. (0:00)

We have some nutrition and health tips for you ahead of holidays. Registered dietician and nutritionist, Melissa Keeney, shares valuable information if you are worried about your health while indulging throughout the most wonderful time of the year. (14:30)

Recently, Connecticut-based IBM decided to pull its advertising on X, formerly known as Twitter. IBM says the move comes amid concerns that its ads had appeared next to pro-Nazi posts. We got some business perspective from BRBC President, Dan Onofrio; should businesses follow this decision and is bad publicity always considered good news for companies in the end? (24:24)

Science you may not Know: the Connecticut River is clogged by a newly discovered invasive plant. What is it? Where did it come from? How can we stop it from spreading more? David Mestre explains why the answer is not that simple…(34:07)

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The Great American Vape Out is a different take on the annual Smoke Out set for this Thursday. We spoke with Fairfield CARES about this new campaign and the focus on vaping, especially with teens. (0:00)

Data of more than 100 thousand Connecticut patients was stolen in a cyberattack on hospitals in Waterbury, Manchester and Vernon.  The attack on Prospect Medical Holdings resulted in data stolen, including patient addresses, dates of birth, diagnosis and treatment plans, lab results and financial information. Our cybersecurity expert explained why hospitals should invest in full-time cyber experts to detect issues before it’s too late. (9:11)

Ahead of Thanksgiving, how do we live with a grateful heart? Counselor, Julius Dudics, shares perspective in practicing gratitude. He also gave us tips on handling difficult family members around the Thanksgiving table this week. (25:12)

Julie on the Job: Why are younger workers hesitant to become managers? Career strategist, Julie Bauke, shared a new survey’s findings and why more workers are concerned with their personal lives than making more money. (43:10)

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Across the country, we are dealing with a referee and umpire shortage, especially in high school sports. Why is that the case, what does the job entail and if you’re interested, how can you get involved? We spoke with Greg Horton, President of the Fairfield County Umpires Association. (0:00)

Too many questions, not enough answers…that’s what Senate Republicans are saying about the governor’s electric vehicle mandate. Find out solutions to the controversial mandate for 2035 from Senator Stephen Harding, ranking member of the Environment Committee. (16:33)

Crime on the Mind: Porch Pirates ahead of the Black Friday and online shopping frenzy. (35:15).

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