WICC The Voice of Connecticut

Orchestra Lumos is welcoming more than 14-hundred Stamford Public School students to a dress rehearsal at the Palace Theatre tomorrow -- ahead of its upcoming concert. The experience gives students a behind-the-scenes look at a professional orchestra in action and an opportunity to engage with classical music firsthand. We spoke with Walker Beard, President and CEO of Orchestra Lumos, about the importance of music education for the next generation.  

Norwalk is moving to crack down on vape shops, with a proposal that would ban new standalone stores across the city. Existing businesses could remain open as long as they follow local regulations. A public hearing is scheduled for December second. We spoke with Norwalk Police Chief James Walsh to learn more.

Connecticut House Speaker Matt Ritter is reportedly staying put. Ritter announced he will serve a fourth term as speaker, ending speculation that he might leave the legislature to become interim president of UConn. For more post-election stories out of Connecticut politics, we spoke with chief political reporter, Mike Cerulli, from WTNH News 8.

Image Credit: Eric Urbanowicz

Milford’s Public Safety Technology Committee homed in on the city’s drone program. Members reportedly discussed preliminary recommendations for the city’s seven drones but tabled a vote to allow more time to address public concerns and questions about oversight. The committee plans to revisit drone recommendations November 23rd. We decided to do deeper dive into drone truths, half-truths and fallacy with former Chief Gary MacNamara.

Image Credit: Nicole Perelli

We spoke with Senate Minority Leader-Elect Rob Sampson about his new role in the legislature starting in 2027.

For WICC's 100th anniversary, we spoke with two important people who spent decades supporting and shaping what WICC is today: Chris Marker & Valerie Thompson.

We asked WICC listeners to record shoutouts for WICC on its 100th anniversary!

Dr. Bill Brendel is an assistant teaching professor at Sacred Heart University, where he teaches in the Ph.D. program in Organization Development, Change & Effectiveness. With more than 29 years of experience working with companies, nonprofits and health systems around the world, he focuses on how organizations can improve performance while supporting employee well-being. He joined Melissa to talk about why Some Workplace Change Succeed and Some Don't.

Picture Courtesy of Dr. Bill Brendel

Bringing America's military history to life right here in Connecticut. Manzi Military, based in Woodbury, hosts a U.S. Military Timeline Event featuring historical reenactments, military uniforms, encampments and vehicles spanning from the Revolutionary War to today. We spoke with Ray Manzi about his ongoing military collection and how people can experience the history preserved. 

For more information: Woodbury CT U.S. Military Timeline Event 2025 - Manzi Military

Louis Gill, CEO of Columbus House, a New Haven-based nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals and families experiencing homelessness find stability and permanent housing. Columbus House has a long history of serving veterans facing housing crises, helping those who served our country overcome barriers to housing and rebuild their lives.

For more information: https://columbushouse.org/

We spoke with Vince Santilli of Homes for the Brave, a non-profit helping veterans rebuild their lives, one step at a time. Homes for the Brave, based in Bridgeport, provides housing, meals and support services for veterans facing homelessness and other challenges.

For more information: https://homesforthebrave.org/

Image Credit: Eric Urbanowicz

We spoke with Brian Turco of Port 5 in Bridgeport, part of the National Association of Naval Veterans. Port 5 is a longtime community institution with deep roots in the city's maritime history and a strong commitment to serving local veterans and the community.

Image Credit: Eric Urbanowicz

A warning for Connecticut's veterans, active-duty military members and their families: scammers are increasingly targeting those who serve. The Better Business Bureau says military consumers are more likely to lose money to scams, and their median losses are often higher. Common schemes include fake job offers, rental listings and investment opportunities. We spoke with Kristen Johnson from The Better Business Bureau for more.

For more information: https://www.bbb.org/
For the BBB Scam Tracker: https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker

A major proposed change to school schedules in Trumbull has parents and educators sounding the alarm. The Board of Education is set to vote on a controversial three-tier busing system, which supporters say could save roughly $600,000 a year. But critics warn it could mean later dismissals, added childcare costs for families, and lost instructional time for students. Parents are asking the board to slow down and listen before making a decision that could impact thousands of households. We spoke with one of those concerned parents, Jen Melville, to learn more.

Employee engagement in the U.S. has hit its lowest level in 15 years, according to a new Gallup report. Just 29 percent of workers say they're engaged on the job. The decline is especially sharp among remote and hybrid employees at companies adopting artificial intelligence. We spoke with career strategist, Julie Bauke. About the growing disconnect between workers, managers, and the workplace.

He’s just made Connecticut political history, winning a historic third consecutive term as governor, becoming the first Democrat in more than 70 years to accomplish that milestone. Now, with another four years ahead, there are plenty of challenges and big decisions facing our state. We spoke with Governor Ned Lamont about leadership roles, political shifts in Hartford and the ongoing affordability crisis in our state.

Connecticut is facing a growing debate over data centers and their impact on communities, energy costs, and the environment. State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, who once supported incentives to attract the industry, is now calling for a statewide moratorium on new AI data centers while lawmakers examine the potential consequences. We spoke with him further about this.

Easton officials are discussing plans for a new EMS building in town, as the community looks at ways to improve emergency medical services and provide better facilities for first responders. The proposal is expected to be part of ongoing discussions about the town’s public safety needs and future infrastructure. We spoke with Easton First Selectman Dan Lent.

For WICC's 100th anniversary, we spoke with former host of Connecticut Today, Paul Pacelli.

For WICC's 100th anniversary, we spoke with That Garden Guy, Lee Ganim, about his many years with the station and how his show still performs today. 

For WICC's 100th anniversary, we went back to the archives and met the man behind decades of legendary jingles for the station. We spoke with Jonathan Wolfert, President of JAM Creative Productions Inc.

For WICC's 100th anniversary, we spoke with Jim Crossan of the former talk show he co-hosted with his wife called Crossan and Crossan.

For WICC's 100th anniversary, we spoke with Chief Engineer, Ed Butler, about his decades of experience working at the station and managing the historic transmitters. 

For WICC's 100th anniversary, we spoke with former Chief Meteorologist, Bill Jacquemin. 

For WICC's 100th anniversary, we spoke with legendary news reporter, Becky Soukup, taking a look back at her journey on air. 

For WICC's 100th anniversary, we spoke with many behind-the-scenes key players to the stations' success, including Dee Young.

For WICC's 100th anniversary, we spoke with former producer of The Jim Buchanan Show, Chris Mancini. 

For WICC's 100th anniversary, we took a walk down memory lane with former news reporter & anchor, Sue Evans.

For WICC's 100th anniversary, we spoke with former news director of WICC, Tim Quinn. 

With the emergence of artificial intelligence, what is the impact on some jobs like cops and reporters? Gary and Melissa use real-life examples where AI has complicated their respective industries and how to identify ways to navigate forward for the public. 

Milford is putting new rules in place for police surveillance technology. The Board of Alders unanimously approved a resolution requiring board approval and public input before new public safety tools are added or existing systems are expanded. Police must also provide an inventory of current technology, vendors and costs within 90 days. The move comes after months of debate over privacy and Flock license plate reader cameras. We spoke with the Chairman of the Public Safety Review Committee, Jim Woyciesjes, about these new rules.

EMS staffing shortages are causing dangerous delays in Plymouth, where one patient waited 30 minutes for an ambulance Thursday — nearly four times the normal response time. Officials say the problem extends across Connecticut, with dozens of ambulance providers losing personnel as emergency calls continue to rise. We spoke with Jon Arnold, Chief of Service for Easton Volunteer EMS to get more perspective on this issue.

The defense has rested its case in the trial of a Connecticut man accused of killing his teenage girlfriend with his pickup truck. Prosecutors allege the 21-year-old man ran over his 17-year-old girlfriend in 2023 after she allegedly fell from the truck. But what’s fascinating about this case is the relevance of the tracking app, Life360. We asked our legal expert, Attorney Bill Bloss, about the case and how the court should weigh a “tech witness.”

Connecticut officials are warning parents about extremists using online games to target and recruit children. Authorities say groups like 764 build relationships with vulnerable kids before using threats, blackmail and manipulation to push them toward self-harm or violence. Experts urge parents to monitor online activity, know who their children are talking to, and keep conversations about internet safety ongoing. To talk more about this, we spoke with our law enforcement expert, Gary MacNamara.

Image Credit: Nicole Perelli