Coming Up! May 21 to 25, 2012

Here’s what we have this week, including a LIVE debate on Thursday morning at CCSU!

Also to note: Tuesday night! Colin McEnroe is taking his turn hosting *the ear cave*… I have a feeling it will be packed in that little coffee shop, so come early to get a seat.

AND John Dankosky will be hosting Science Friday again this week – so be sure to tune in at 2PM.

MONDAY: Chris Donovan
Chris Donovan is the outgoing speaker of the house in Connecticut – and now he’s the party’s endorsed candidate for the 5th district seat.That race has made a lot of news in just the last week alone – with candidates criticizing each others’ campaigns – and the likelihood emerging of an August primary filled with choices from both parties.In some ways, Donovan came into this race for the open seat as the front-runner, building on big support from labor and the Democratic establishment. But he’s been criticized in the last few days as well, for letting a popular “jobs bill” die in the legislature because of his push for a hike in the state minimum wage.Today, where we live, our Where We Vote series continues with Chris Donovan.

TUESDAY: Community Courts
When young adults commit minor crimes, the punishment can derail opportunities chance for success. It doesn’t have to be this way. Join Judge Raymond Norko of the Hartford Community Court as we explore the concept of neighborhood-focused courts that harness the power of the justice system to address local problems, and Debra Barrows of Community Partners in Action, who works with outside stakeholders such as residents, merchants, churches and schools to help offenders form more positive relationships within their communities. We’ll also examine how a community’s perception of the legal system influences future behaviors.

WEDNESDAY: “Integrated” Communities As The Key To Prosperity?
Fair housing advocates say that “integrated” communities with various racial, ethnic and economic groups are the key to prosperity.  In fact, administration officials says that President Obama has the “desire to see a fully integrated society.”  This has led to battles in places like Westchester County, NY, where federal housing officials are fighting with local authorities over housing, zoning, and what “fully integrated” really means. Meanwhile, we read this week that more than half of all babies born last year were members of minority groups, the first time in U.S. history.  Within a few decades, minority groups will make up the majority of Americans. So, here’s a question: Is the push for “integrated” communities part of plan that some towns embrace and others resist – or will “integration” an inevitable consequence of changing demographics?   We’ll hear more about the fight over federal affordable housing mandates in Westchester, and take a look at the integration of Connecticut towns.

THURSDAY: Senate Debate Special
Chris Murphy and Susan Bysiewicz are heading toward an August primary that will determine the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate. WNPR and Central Connecticut State University present a unique debate between the candidates as part of special Election 2012 coverage on Where We Live. John Dankosky and Colin McEnroe will kick things off at 9:00 a.m. with a “pre-game” show, featuring the Connecticut Mirror’s political reporter, Mark Pazniokas. Then, at 9:15, Bysiewicz – a former Secretary of the State, and Murphy – a congressman representing the 5th district, will sit down for questions from two veterans of Connecticut politics. Democrat Ned Lamont is a distinguished professor at CCSU and a former candidate for governor and senate; Republican Oz Griebel is head of the Metro Hartford Alliance, and a former candidate for governor. They’ll ask questions in a debate moderated by John Dankosky – host of Where We Live, and the Vance Chair in Journalism and Communications at CCSU. Following the debate, Colin McEnroe and Mark Pazniokas will provide analysis and commentary. The debate will be held at Torp Theatre in Davidson Hall on the campus of CCSU in New Britain. The two-hour program will be rebroadcast that evening at 7 p.m.

FRIDAY Creativity Magazine
Not all young people are leaving Connecticut. Some have become pioneers in their own communities. Coming up, we’ll look at “Connecticut Creates”, a new initiative that profiles and connects the movers and shakers in our state. And we’ll catch up with the American Mural Project’s Ellen Griesedieck.

Coming Up! May 14 to 18, 2012

Have a great weekend! Here’s what’s on the air next week:

MONDAY: Civic Transparency
From small towns to cities, states to the feds, it seems more important – and more possible – to find out how and why your government does than ever before. But then why does it seem like so much of the process is far from “transparent.” We’ll look into how cities like Hartford and Bridgeport set their budgets and how they explain it to their citizens.

TUESDAY: Those Kalamazoo Girls
Quinnipiac law professor and self described guitar geek John Thomas has embarked on the project of his life. He’s been producing an album at New Haven’s Firehouse 12 with musician Lauren Sheehan using World War II-era Gibson guitars made by women in Kalamazoo. Thomas interviewed several of the women who worked in the factory and is using the guitars to record songs from that time period. In addition to the album, he’s working on a book and documentary of his project.

WEDNESDAY: Andrew Roraback

State Sen. Andrew Roraback has been referred to as “the legislature’s Cal Ripken Jr.” after never missing a vote during his 17 years in office.  Now, he’s hoping to make Washington D.C. his regular commuting destination as he runs for the 5th Congressional seat. We’ll be taking your questions on the next episode of our “Where We Vote” series with State Sen. Andrew Roraback.

***Update: Lisa Wilson-Foley’s campaign cancelled her appearance on Where We Live. You can read more at The Register Citizen.***

THURSDAY: Elizabeth Esty
It’s “Where We Vote” with Elizabeth Esty, running for the 5^th district Congressional seat. She has the lead in fund raising, but the lawyer is up against former Speaker of the House Chris Donovan for the democratic nomination. Esty is the wife of DEEP commissioner Dan Esty, and has also focused on environmental issues during her campaign. She made news when she refused to accept “no negative campaigning” pledge early in the race. We’ll take your questions!

FRIDAY: DIY Cable
It’s a follow-up on our last conversation about cable TV. We learned that the average cable subscriber pays nearly 3 times as muchnow as they did in 2001. The average household now spends $86 a month, and that cost is expected to climb to $200 by 2020! Some TV enthusiasts are taking matters into their own hands – using Netflix, Amazon, iTunes, Hulu and Roku to watch their favorite shows and movies. But does that really take the place of cable? And how much money can you actually save? Today we’ll talk to some industry folks, and media consumers who will give us tips on DIY.

Coming Up! May 7-11, 2012

Excited about a few things this weekend. One being the SUPER MOON!

The other being the SUPER HOST! Tomorrow (Saturday) John Dankosky is hosting/moderating the Connecticut Forum “Our Fragile Earth”.  Don’t miss it!

We see it everywhere: the pace of human consumption is exceeding the earth’s resources. From frequent natural disasters, food crises, and rising incidence of illness, to water shortages and increasingly extreme weather, the evidence is all around us. Where are the answers? Do they lie in policy? Personal habits? New values? Is it too late to save our planet? What can we do today to protect our earth’s natural resources tomorrow?

MONDAY: Cashless Society (rebroadcast)
Do you ever wonder what the cash in your pocket is really worth? It might cost more than you know. According to the IRS, every year the U.S. government loses billions of dollars in tax revenue due to individuals underreporting, underpaying, or not filing their taxes. But, tax evasion is just one problem associated with a society awash in cash that can’t easily be traced. There is also the cost of making more money to stay ahead of counterfeiters, protecting the money we already have, and caring for those sickened by dirty money. In addition, cash props up illicit trade in weapons, drugs, and sex. Are you ready to go cashless? Not so fast. If we get to a “cashless society” – what happens to those who rely on tips? How about the poor – and those who can’t get credit? And do we really want banks knowing every single purchase we make? Today we’ll talk to David Wolman, who recently spent a year without touching cash, along with an economist and a finance journalist.

TUESDAY: Beyond the Extremes
Today we broadcast a panel discussion taped last week at the University of Hartford called Beyond the Extremes: Contemporary Narratives of Exploration. Tune in to learn about the history of exploration, hear about the intersection of exploration and art, and discuss the new frontiers that exist for us to discover in the new millennium. Panelists include snow leopard conservator and Himalayan anthropologist Shafqat Hussain, visual artist and expeditioner Adriane Colburn, University of Hartford historian Michael Robinson, and Coordinator of Maritime Studies at Uconn-Avery Point, Helen Rozwadowski.

WEDNESDAY: Susan Bysiewicz
We continue our “Where We Vote” series with Democratic U.S. Senate candidate and former secretary of the state, Susan Bysiewicz. She’s trying to bounce back from a rough election cycle in 2010 when she ran for governor and attorney general. She’s currently trailing Representative Chris Murphy in the polls but has vowed to stay in the race until the August primary. You can join the conversation and ask questions of Susan Byseiwicz on the next “Where We Vote.”

THURSDAY: Reporter Roundtable – Post Session
Today we’ll wrap up the legislative session with our crack team of local reporters.

FRIDAY: Google It
How do you find something on the internet? You Google it, right? We’ll be joined by search engine experts to talk about how the engine of a search engine works. We’ll also talk about the history of non-Google search engines like Yahoo, Bing and Ask Jeeves.

Coming Up! April 30 to May 4, 2012

Happy May!
First, some calendar business. Mark it down:
Thursday at 2PM:”Beyond the Extremes: Contemporary Narratives of Exploration“ 

The Hartford Consortium for Higher Education in Collaboration with WNPR and Drunken Boat, international online journal of the arts, invites you to a panel on “Beyond the Extremes: Contemporary Narratives of Exploration” moderated by John Dankosky for “Where We Live,” introduced by CCSU poet-in-residence and Drunken Boat Executive Director Ravi Shankar, and featuring snow leopard conservator and Himalayan anthropologist Shafqat Hussain, visual artist and expeditioner Adriane Colburn, University of Hartford historian Michael Robinson, Director of Trinity’s InterArts Program and poet Clare Rossini, and Coordinator of Maritime Studies at Uconn-Avery Point, Helen Rozwadowski.

Come learn about the history of exploration, see tools of the trade, and discuss what new frontiers exist for us to discover in the new millennium.

Where: University of Hartford’s Wilde Auditorium, Harry Jack Gray Center, 200 Bloomfield Ave (Rte 189) West Hartford CT 06117

Saturday 8PM:  The Connecticut Forum, ”Our Fragile Earth” moderated by John Dankosky

We see it everywhere: the pace of human consumption is exceeding the earth’s resources. From frequent natural disasters, food crises, and rising incidence of illness, to water shortages and increasingly extreme weather, the evidence is all around us. Where are the answers? Do they lie in policy? Personal habits? New values? Is it too late to save our planet? What can we do today to protect our earth’s natural resources tomorrow?

And here is what’s coming up on Where We Live this week:

MONDAY: Chris Murphy
As we head toward the state party conventions this election year – it’s time again for “Where We Vote.”Our regular series of conversations with candidates for office gets underway with Congressman and Senate Candidate Chris Murphy.He’s one of a number of candidates running to replace the retiring Joe Lieberman. And, by most accounts, he’s the front-runner for the Democratic nomination. A Quinnipiac University poll also has him with a wide lead over potential Republican challenger Linda McMahon, but only a slim lead over Chris Shays, who we’ll be talking to later this week.

TUESDAY: Minimum Wage Debate
Connecticut’s Minimum wage – now at $8.25 – may be changing. The state house has passed a bill that would hike it by 25 cents each of the next two years. Business groups hate the idea of a raise – workers groups love it. But does $10 a week really hurt…or help anyone? The policy and politics of the minimum wage – on the next Where We Live.

WEDNESDAY: Conflicts of Interest in Health Care
As the business of health care continues to boom, the drumbeat against so-called “conflicts of interest” in medicine and medical research has gotten louder. Does taking money from a drug company really affect how someone does their research or prescribes a drug to a patient? What are the safeguards in place against biased decisions in health care or medical research? WNPR reporter Neena Satija guest hosts

THURSDAY: Chris Shays
Republican Chris Shays represented southwest Connecticut in the U.S. Congress for 21 years, until he was unseated by Democrat Jim Himes in 2008. Now Shays is back as one of a number of candidates running to replace the retiring Joe Lieberman in the U.S. Senate. He’s taking on former WWE CEO Linda McMahon for the GOP nomination. Today we’ll continue our Where We Vote series.

FRIDAY: Magazine
Gabrielle Giffords is a Democrat who had represented Arizona’s Eighth Congressional District since 2007. She was one of 19 people shot at a meet-and-greet political event outside a grocery store in her hometown of Tucson, AZ. Today her husband astronaut Mark Kelly will join us today to talk about the shooting and how he and his wife are overcoming her traumatic brain injury. Kelly is in town to speak at Southern Connecticut State University.  (And more…)

Coming Up! April 23 to 27, 2012

Thank you Thank you Thank you to all of you who have pledged during our Spring Membership Drive. If you haven’t yet, no worries!! There is still a week left. You can see all of our awesome premiums here. 

There is so much happening this weekend, but tonight you should check out Mike +Ruthy at Billings Forge. 

And next Tuesday night don’t miss *the ear cave*.  A stripped down listening session, more info here.

That’s all the news I have, here’s what’s on the show next week. Have a great weekend!

MONDAY: Our Aging Body and Mind
Science shows that the best thing we can do to maintain good brain health is to stay active—both physically and mentally. The news is that it is never too late to get active or challenge our brains with something new. Research shows that the size of the brain increases, memory improves, and attention is focused when we learn and perform new tasks. And it is not just learning something new that helps our mind, body, and soul. An environment rich in opportunities to engage with other people, music and animals are an added boon to brain power. We’ll talk to several people who share their firsthand knowledge about the power of music, animals, and exercise to our aging brains.

TUESDAY: Funny but True: Blogging the 2012 Election
The race for president has taken us on a long, eventful and often amusing road. From gaffes on the campaign trail to bizarre exchanges on the debate stage, the candidates have given bloggers and late night talk show hosts a goldmine of material. Join reporters and bloggers from It’s A Free Country (IAFC), WNYC’s award-winning interactive politics site, and Comedy Central’s Indecision, the network’s digital extension of its politics coverage, for a whirlwind look back at the campaign so far – and some insight into what’s ahead. This program will broadcast highlights of a panel that took place at CCSU last week, as part of our Election Double Header coverage.

WEDNESDAY: Sex Trafficking in Connecticut
The Berlin Turnpike is lined with all kinds of motels and hotels. Some of these are rented out by pimps and sex traffickers to run their illicit businesses out of. We’ll be joined by the author of a book about sex trafficking on this 11 mile stretch of road about the problem, and new legislation that could crack down on it. We’ll also hear from the HartBeat Ensemble – they’ve got a new play based on the book called “Project: Turnpike.”

THURSDAY: Magazine
James Kwak co-wrote a book called 13 Bankers on the Wall Street takeover and what he says is the next financial meltdown. We’ll preview a discussion with him at the UConn Law School. (And more!)

FRIDAY: Freakonomics with Stephen Dubner
Stephen Dubner has been exploring “the hidden side of everything” since he wrote Freakonomics back in 2005 with economist Steven Levitt. This exploration has expanded into a follow-up book, a film and a radio series. The latest season of Freakonomics Radio looks at wine tasting, booing and lottery loopholes. Dubner joins us to discuss adapting the bestselling book into a radio show and he takes us through the latest season of Freakonomics Radio.

Coming Up! April 16 to 20, 2012

Buckle up, friends! We have our next big fund drive starting next week. Thank you for your support of WNPR and Where We Live.
Here’s what we have coming up next week on the show:

MONDAY: Environment
Earth Day is coming up, as is a Connecticut Forum conversation John Dankosky will be hosting, called “Our Fragile Earth.” Today we’ll be tackling a series of environmental issues, from greenhouse gases, to green college campuses, to a still percolating debate over climate change.

TUESDAY: Waste
How much food does your family waste? Jonathan Bloom says it’s as much as 25% of what we bring into our homes. He’s author of “American Wasteland: How America Throws Away Nearly Half of Its Food,” and he says that wasted food adds up to wasted money. But it’s not just food that goes to waste. Electronic waste is becoming a growing health risk for America and developing nations. In 2009, the EPA estimates that 2.4 million tons of computer equipment were thrown away – and only a quarter of it recycled. Coming up, we’ll dig into America’s wastebasket with Bloom and others to see just what we’re throwing out.

WEDNESDAY: Gary Knell

After several high profile resignations at NPR, including CEO Vivian Schiller, the organization needed a fresh start and some positive PR. Last October Gary Knell took over. Formerly President and CEO of Sesame Workshop, he’s been called “an extraordinary leader with extensive experience in public media, programming, and education.” So, how’s the job been so far? Coming up, Knell joins us for the hour to talk NPR and to take your calls.

THURSDAY: Young People, Don’t Go!
Connecticut has lost more of our 25-34-year-old population since 1990 than any state but Michigan. The demographic crunch as baby-boomers retire will affect the entire country – but Connecticut is poised for the most hardship, unless we turn this around quickly. Today we revisit the on-going conversation about how to get young people to stay in the state. Which means jobs, entertainment, affordable housing… We’ll check in with the Partnership for Strong Communities who have been running focus groups and held a recent forum on the topic. And, of course, we’ll hear from young people.

FRIDAY: Mike + Ruthy
Mike + Ruthy have been touring and recording together for thirteen years. A timeless original folk and blues duo from Woodstock, NY, they celebrate the soul of Americana through witty, spellbinding stories and songs featuring fiddle, banjo, guitar, ukulele and their hallmark, white-knuckle-tight harmony singing. On April 17th, they’ll be introducing THE NYC EP, a collection of six new songs which includes their newly re-crafted Woody Guthrie ballad “My New York City.” Coming up, Mike and Ruthy will play a few songs in WNPR’s Studio 3 – previewing a concert at Billings Forge.

Funny But True: Blogging the 2012 Election

A Panel Exploring the Presidential Campaign’s Most Memorable Moments to Date and an Insightful Look Ahead

WHAT: Funny, But True: Blogging the 2012 Election
WHEN: Wednesday, April 11 from 4:30 to 6pm
WHERE: Central Connecticut State University
Vance Academic Center 105
1615 Stanley Street
New Britain, CT 06050
TICKETS: FREE and Open to the Public.
Facebook users may RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/419336234747758/.
Free and Open to the Public

The race for president has taken us on a long, eventful and often amusing road. From gaffes on the campaign trail to bizarre exchanges on the debate stage, the candidates have given bloggers and late night talk show hosts a goldmine of material.

Join reporters and bloggers from It’s A Free Country (IAFC), WNYC’s award-winning interactive politics site, and Comedy Central’s Indecision, the network’s digital extension of its politics coverage, for a whirlwind look back at the campaign so far – and some insight into what’s ahead. During the lively conversation, panelists will present their picks for the funniest and most illuminating video highlights of the race and take questions from the audience. The event will be recorded for future broadcast on WNPR.

The event will be hosted by JOHN DANKOSKY, News Director and Host of Where We Live on WNPR, and the Robert C. Vance Endowed Chair in Journalism and Mass Communication at CCSU.

PANELISTS INCLUDE:

· ANNA SALE, Reporter, It’s a Free Country – Sale covers the 2012 election for IAFC, with a focus on voter voices. She appears regularly on WNYC’s Brian Lehrer Show and The Takeaway, and has also contributed to NPR, Marketplace, Slate, Current TV, and NY1. Follow her on Twitter at @annasale.

· MARY PHILLIPS-SANDY, Editorial Producer, Comedy Central’s Indecision –Phillips-Sandy started writing for Indecision in 2008 and became the site’s full-time editorial producer in 2011. She has also written for the Awl, the Daily, LIFE.com, Bundle, Yankee Pot Roast, the Portland Phoenix and other places. Follow her on Twitter at @maryps.

· JEFF YANG, Blogger, It’s a Free Country – Yang is the Pop and Politics blogger for IAFC and also writes the “Tao Jones” column for the Wall Street Journal online. Follow him on Twitter @originalspin.

· KAROL MARKOWICZ, Blogger, It’s a Free Country – Born in the Soviet Union and raised in Brooklyn, Markowicz is a public relations consultant in NYC and a veteran of Republican campaigns in four states. She blogs about politics at Alarming News and about life in the city with her husband and baby at 212 Baby.