WICC The Voice of Connecticut

More than 80 new laws took effect in Connecticut on July first. Major changes include new zoning rules for housing. We did a deeper dive into this with Renee Dobos of Connecticut Housing Partners.

Image Credit: Eric Urbanowicz

A new report highlights the consequences of infectious diseases extending beyond the acute phase of the illness. We spoke with Dr. Fred Browne of Griffin Health about illnesses like the flu, covid and pneumonia being linked to more long-term issues like stroke and how we can have more control over increasing our risk. We also talked about the latest with cyclospora cases in Connecticut.

Image Courtesy of Griffin Health and Dr. Fred Browne

The U.S. Department of Education released a warning to the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System, claiming that it responded inaccurately to assault allegations against school staff. We asked our legal expert, Attorney Bill Bloss, about the federal investigation and key takeaways in the case. *NOTE: Attorney Bloss has no connection to this case *

New research suggests a future where primary care physicians could use a highly accurate blood test to help diagnose—or rule out—Alzheimer's in people experiencing memory and thinking problems. We spoke with Kristen Cusato of Alzheimer's Association (Northeast chapter.)

For more information: https://www.alz.org/ct

What can we do about rising home prices in Connecticut? Are too many people being priced out of the market? That was the prime topic on Monday's "Connecticut Today" with host Paul Pacelli (00:22). We also welcomed Yankee Institute blogger Meghan Portfolio as well (14:51)

Host Paul Pacelli took a look at the crass, vile, and degenerative tone of our politics and debates on Monday's "Connecticut Today" (00:30). Stonington GOP State Rep. Greg Howard - an active-duty police officer - talked about an op-ed he penned for the Hartford Courant (15:50), while columnist and blogger Terry Cowgill dropped by as well (28:05)

The growing debate and discussion about the use of automatic license plate readers was at the core of Friday's "Connecticut Today" with host Paul Pacelli (00:26). Also joining the show, CT Inside Investigator reporter Marc Fitch (15:19) and International Affairs expert and University of New Haven Prof. Matthew Schmidt (25:02)

Host Paul Pacelli took a look at legal gambling on Thursday's "Connecticut Today," as we just passed the 40-year anniversary of the opening of the Mashantucket Pequot high-stakes bingo hall (00:29). GOP State Rep. Karen Reddington-Hughes talked about a recent bear encounter in the town of Warren (15:03), while former GOP state Senate Leader John McKinney dropped by for his weekly chat (24:26)

Host Paul Pacelli started Wednesday's "Connecticut Today" looking at a new University of New Hampshire poll on just how many state residents would leave Connecticut or are thinking about it (00:36). New Canaan / Darien / Stamford GOP State Rep. Tom O'Dea discussed coming efforts to change Connecticut's current regulations concerning transgender athletes (14:29). Hearst Connecticut Media Senior Editor and Columnist Dan Haar dropped by for his weekly chat (24:47)

Host Paul Pacelli opened Tuesday's "Connecticut Today" wondering if the growing buzz regarding Democratic socialist candidates around the U.S. will take root here in Connecticut (00:36). Financial expert, analyst, and regulator Gerson Gibbs explained those new "Trump accounts" that are now available. Are they worth it? (15:03). Yankee Institute blogger Meghan Portfolio dropped by for her weekly spot (22:55), while Quinnipiac University Civil Engineering Professor Ari Perez talked about a midtown building in New York City showing some instability (30:46)

It may be summer vacation time but teachers across Connecticut are very focused on a major decision that could impact public education in our state. The state’s teachers' unions are pressing Governor Lamont to reject a federal education tax credit. To understand this better, we checked in with Fran Rabinowitz, Executive Director at the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents.

There has been a lot of noise surrounding the emergence of an AI-generated actress starring in an upcoming film called Misaligned. We don’t know when that movie will be showing in theaters, but we have opinions already. We spoke to Bryan McElwee, AI Consultant and Technology Strategist, about this.

During our monthly check-in with Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli, we talked extensively about locksmith scams. How do they work and what can you do to avoid being duped? We also discussed Military Consumer Month and avoiding scams tied to the military this month. Cafferelli is the commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection.

For more information/verify a licensed professional: https://portal.ct.gov/dcp/verify-a-license?language=en_US

It's no secret that there is a lot of confusion and concern surrounding the conflict with Iran. Many people in America really don't know what the future looks like for our wallets and how long higher prices will stick around. We spoke to financial news expert, Keith Reed, to get a better perspective on what's happening now and predictions for the rest of 2026. 

Recently, the U.S. State Department updated its travel advisory to St. Lucia, urging travelers to take extra precautions due to crime. We spoke with our law enforcement expert, Gary MacNamara, about being aware of advisory levels and doing research before you go anywhere.

Image Courtesy of Melissa Sheketoff

The FBI is sort of a mystery to the average person; how do FBI operations work? When do FBI agents get deployed out of state? What cases are deemed non-negotiable for FBI involvement? We got a behind-the-scenes look at the FBI from PJ O’Brien, Special Agent In-Charge, PJ O’Brien, and Public Affairs Specialist, Christine Jeltema, both from the FBI New Haven office.

Image Credit: Eric Urbanowicz

In the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham, we spoke with a dear friend and colleague to him, US Senator Richard Blumenthal. The Connecticut senator talked about his personal and professional relationship with the late Senator Graham and a piece of legislation they worked on together that still needs passage.

Image Credit: Reuters

As we celebrate the 250th birthday for America, we reflected on the Declaration of Independence. Imagine if that document was being worked out now in 2026...how complicated would that process be? We looked at how information gathering and sharing has changed over the decades and how it pertains to law enforcement and journalists. 

Bridgeport operated with an Ethics Commission under the city charter. The commission primarily handled ethics complaints, issued advisory opinions, and reviewed applicants for city boards and commissions. However, it had limited authority and was often criticized as being ineffective or inactive. That’s why in the last election, voters overwhelmingly approved charter revisions creating a significantly expanded municipal ethics system. The reforms, including a seven-member independent Ethics Commission. Apparently, the process of appointing those members has been less than successful. We got more insight why the process is broken and what happens next from Bridgeport City Council President Jeanette Herron.

The Better Business Bureau has launched an online heatmap that lets users see scams reported across the country, including in Connecticut, where people reported losing more than $40,000 to scammers in just the last month. We got more details on this from Kristen Johnson of the Better Business Bureau serving Connecticut.

For more information: Scam Heatmap | Better Business Bureau

After months of planning and a randomized statewide selection process, the Connecticut Citizens' Assembly on Property Taxes met for the first time to begin work tackling one of Connecticut’s biggest policy issues. Some 100 Connecticut residents came together in a deliberative session that will lead up to the delivery of recommendations at the sixth and final weekend session on September 26. We spoke with Joe Delong, Executive Director & CEO of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, about key takeaways from the first meeting.

For more information: https://ct-citizens-assembly.org/

Keith Hassell, the Executive Director of Graduate Admissions & Recruitment at Sacred Heart University, joined Melissa on Melissa in the Morning to talk about why it's never too late for grad school.

Keith Hassell is the Executive Director of Graduate Admissions & Recruitment at Sacred Heart University, where he leads initiatives to connect prospective students with more than 40 master's, doctoral and graduate certificate programs. With more than 15 years of experience in higher education, career development, and enrollment management, Keith is passionate about helping students identify academic pathways that align with their professional goals and the evolving needs of today's...

Right now, there are ongoing debates between Connecticut lawmakers and lake communities regarding wake surfing regulations. Meanwhile, many boaters, in general, are looking for clear guidance on how to safely and responsibly enjoy the water this summer. We spoke about all of it with Chris Perry, Connecticut Industry Expert & Manager for Candlewood East Marina.

Black Rock Theater announced it will retire its name and officially fall under the Fairfield Theatre Company umbrella. It comes as BRT enters its second season as a residency at FTC. We spoke with Patsy Fox, Executive Director of Fairfield Theater Company and Connor Deane, Executive Director Black Rock Theater about the collaboration and future of FTC.

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

New research found that Stamford, Connecticut recorded the highest confidence levels among the 10 major US cities surveyed. It showed residents linking their optimism to visible progress, innovation, and quality-of-life improvements. We spoke with Marian Salzman, SVP Corporate Development & Senior Advisor to the U.S. CEO, PMI U.S, about the survey and key takeaways.

To read the survey findings: Americans Are Losing Patience with Innovation That Doesn't Make Life Better, New Poll from PMI U.S. Finds

Connecticut is now one of several states with confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis. What is it and how can we prevent getting sick? We asked Dr. Browne about that. We also talked about the latest with Legionnaires Cases reported in New York and how we can prevent having issues similar to Manhattan.

Image Courtesy of Griffin Health and Dr. Fred Browne

It’s official: mosquitoes trapped in Milford on June 29 tested positive for West Nile virus. results represent the first WNV positive mosquitoes identified in the state by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station this year. We spoke with Dr. Philip Armstrong, Chief Scientist at the CAES about mosquito bite prevention and concerns.

Harwinton was one of the hardest hit towns in the state following the wicked July Fourth storm. Despite a tour with the governor, Congresswoman Hayes and Senator Blumenthal, there is still NO declaration for a state of emergency. We spoke with First Selectman Michael Criss about the devastation and frustration in the aftermath.

We are heading into month four for investigating the mysterious death of a 12-year-old girl in Enfield. Eve Rogers was found dead in her family home back in March; her stepfather is facing sexual assault charges. And now new evidence shows a lethal dose of Benadryl in the little girl’s body. What does this new discovery mean for the investigation? We asked law enforcement expert, Gary MacNamara.

I don’t have an exact tree count, but I do know the July 4th storm caused more than 100,000 electric customers to lose power at its peak, largely because falling trees and branches brought down power lines. News reports consistently describe thousands of downed trees across the state, despite not having a verified statewide total. We spoke with Ricky Garner with K&J Tree Services about the importance of assessing trees on your property before the next storm hits.

For a free tree risk assessment: https://www.kjtreeservice.com/

A new survey conducted by the University of New Hampshire shows a lot of unhappy people living in our state. According to the findings, only one in six residents describe Connecticut as very or somewhat affordable. Four in ten residents say they are likely to move out of the state within five years, and even more want to move out, higher than any other surveyed New England state this month. We asked Senator Jeff Gordon about the findings.

To read the survey: "More Than Four in Ten Connecticut Residents Want to Move Out of State," by UNH...

Today is National Video Game Day, acknowledging the impact of video games on entertainment, culture and technology. Unless you are a gamer at heart, not everyone is keen on the idea of their kids getting into it. We spoke with Jack Wesson, assistant teaching professor of game design and development at Quinnipiac University, about the myths surrounding gaming hate in America. We also talked about what careers can come out of gaming.

Image Credit: Eric Urbanowicz

On July first, more than 70 laws took effect in Connecticut. One of those laws tackled affordable housing; a snippet of the law having to do with parking requirements. Ahead of the July first date, some P&Z Commissioners in Fairfield efforted to put protections in place for the commercial district in town but it failed to get enough support to pass. We got more perspective on this from Commissioner Peter Capozzi. 

A new article highlighted how often (or not often) American workers take all their vacation time. Why do we have such guilt taking time off and do we actually maximize our vacation time when we clock out? We talked about all of this with career strategist, Julie Bauke. 

For the full news article: https://www.hrdive.com/news/vacationmaxxing-may-not-be-for-everyone/824272/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:%202026-07-06%20HR%20Dive:%20Talent%20%5Bissue:86661%5D&utm_term=HR%20Dive:%20Talent

The July Fourth storm knocked down trees and cut off power for thousands of Connecticut residents. That’s just one storm. Connecticut residents know, especially during hurricane season, that the worst could still be coming. Hopefully not, but just in case, AAA is reminding residents of the increased risk of storm-related property damage in the heat of the summer. We spoke with Greg Smolan, AAA Northeast VP of Insurance Operations, for advice on keeping your property protected.

For more information: Hurricane Preparedness - Your AAA Network

At the beginning of the month, Eversource closed on its deal selling Aquarion. Now that RWA officially operates the water utility impacting thousands of Connecticut residents, what does that mean? We asked Senator Tony Hwang about water bills, tax implications for municipalities, oversight woes and environmental investment following the sale. 

Melissa and Gary created the phrase "own your space." What does it mean and why is it relevant for crime prevention and empowerment during daily routines? Find out during this episode of The Beat and the Badge.

Millions of people living across the eastern two-thirds of the country, including Connecticut, face hazardous extreme heat blasting their communities from now through the holiday weekend. We talked about heat and swimming safety with Richard Branigan, CEO of the American Red Cross Connecticut & Rhode Island Region, for tips to stay safe this summer.

For more information: redcross.org/apps

Following the story of the 2,000-page CSCU report last month incorporating a lot of artificial intelligence use, we wanted to talk to our AI expert, Dr. Vahid Behzadan, about the use of AI at work. Specifically, how can we tell how much AI is used; when is it appropriate to use it and do we need more AI literacy curriculum for students starting in elementary school?

There is a pitch to build a bridge over Long Island by Fairfield County developer, Steve Shapiro. We wanted to check back in with Shapiro with an update on the proposal, starting with the possibility of funding a study.