WICC The Voice of Connecticut

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.

Host Paul Pacelli launched Tuesday's "Connecticut Today" looking at a few more U.S. Supreme Court decisions, including one taking on transgender athletes and another regarding "birthright" citizenship (00:31). Quinnipiac University Law School Professor Wayne Unger commented on that birthright citizenship decision (14:00), while Yankee Institute blogger Meghan Portfolio dropped by for her weekly update, including a look at "ERIN's Act" (19:59)

Host Paul Pacelli (00:34), Quinnipiac University Law School Prof. John Martin (14:03), and Landmark Legal Foundation Vice-President for Legal Affairs Mike O'Neill (20:44) all chimed in on Monday's "Connecticut Today" regarding a key decision handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court. Columnist and blogger Terry Cowgill also dropped by to discuss taxes and data centers (28:30)

Host Paul Pacelli opened Friday's "Connecticut Today" dissecting a bill in D.C. for a $25/hr. national minimum wage - supported by CT Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy (00:31). We also welcomed Town of Orange Fire Marshal Jamie Vincent on fireworks safety (13:49) and GOP State Sen. Dr. Jeff Gordon to chat about a new report regarding Connecticut state colleges (22:11)

Companies across many industries are requiring employees to use AI. But questions are starting to emerge where employees say that the use of AI conflicts with their religious beliefs. What could this mean for the workplace? We asked employment attorney, Gary Phelan, with Hurwitz Sagarin & Slossberg in Milford. Phelan is also a law professor at Quinnipiac University.

There’s been a rash of serious crashes involving motor scooters in Bridgeport and police aren’t happy about it. Police Chief Roderick Porter told us what’s going on and the rules surrounding these vehicles.

A new Bloomberg article highlighted how many US workers decided to work from home last year despite “return to office” mandates. Why did that happen and what does it mean for middle managers in the future? We asked career strategist, Julie Bauke.

Host Paul Pacelli opened Thursday's "Connecticut Today" looking at assertions from Fairfield town officials that six speed cameras put in school zones are doing their jobs (00:25). We were also joined by former state Senate GOP Leader John McKinney to analyze and break down the latest Connecticut politics buzz (13:37)

Host Paul Pacelli opened Wednesday's "Connecticut Today" looking at the previous night's Democratic primary results in New York City for any clues into what's next for Connecticut and national Democrats as well (00:27). Hearst Connecticut Media's Dan Haar dropped by for his weekly update on all the big stories (14:31)

‘Just One Word’ is a movie concept based on a true story of a local Connecticut student who could not speak and how music played a pivotal role in personal growth. We learned about the story from Chris Kalafus, long time middle school music teacher, and why he wants to create a movie after it.  

For more information: Just One Word - Film and Storytelling | Seed&Spark

A 2,000-page report was released by the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system (CSCU). It was put together by former Chancellor Terrence Cheng. According to ChatGPT, the report was at least 80% was written by artificial intelligence. Some lawmakers are now calling for more accountability surrounding the initial P-Card misspending. We spoke with Senator Jason Perillo about this.

It may be summer vacation, but we are already looking ahead to the new school year and education spending. We wanted to focus on Bridgeport education spending. We spoke with State Representative Chris Rosario who represents the 128th district about spending as well as the latest on a permanent superintendent for Bridgeport.

Earlier this month, a man was electrocuted after climbing on top of a Metro North train car at the Southport train station. We spoke with Fairfield Police Chief Mike Paris about the case and security on trains. We also talked about the rollout of the speed enforcement cameras in town.

In a continued conversation stemming from our "delivery service concerns" episode, we talk more about vulnerability. When you have someone pull up in your driveway, how vulnerable are you to becoming a victim to crime? We break down what's called a crime triangle and how to apply it to really any case involving crime prevention. 

The latest massive donation to Feeding Families Foundation came from a local celebrity's phone number. We got the details from local artist, Michael Pollack, and FFF co-founder, Jeff Dorman. 

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

Thousands of drownings happen every year in the United States. During the summer months especially, it’s easy to take our focus off water safety especially in unfamiliar places or during occasions. That’s why we wanted to talk about getting our minds focused on swimming safety, not just for the adults but also the kids. We spoke with Karen Cohn, co-founder of the ZAC Foundation, an organization committed to creating a generational change in how water safety is viewed by parents and children.

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

Here in Connecticut, we have highlighted “the link” between animal cruelty and child abuse cases. Author Leslie Siegel wrote a book making a similar connection between exploitation of wildlife and fuel human trafficking cases. We learned more about the book The Animals Who Rescue Me.

Governor Lamont is donating $5 million to support Connecticut's Nonprofit Security Grant Program. What is the significance of these security grants for nonprofits and why aren’t federal funds enough to support security efforts? We asked Mike Butsch, regional director of Secure Community Network for the Northeast.

Governor Lamont proposed a new "fair share" healthcare policy aimed at large employers whose workers rely on Connecticut's Medicaid program. On the surface, this may sound like it makes sense, but from a business standpoint, is it actually UNfair and economically irresponsible? We asked CBIA president and CEO, Chris DiPentima.

Job hunters tricked into handing over thousands of dollars are being lured in with a new tactic: Task-based scams where they are offered high pay to “like” and “subscribe” to videos online. We got the details from Kristen Johnson of the Better Business Bureau and how to avoid being duped.

For more information: https://www.bbb.org/

After two months off air, we had Dr. Browne back on air. But that means a lot of catching up on infectious disease news. We talked about stories regarding measles, bird flu, screwworm, Ebola and more.

Image Courtesy of Griffin Health

Fairfield county housing developer, Steve Shapiro, has been the latest person to pitch a bridge over Long Island Sound idea. But recently, Jim Cameron who write “Talking Transportation” for CTMirror, outlined why the idea is broken, starting with the money needed for a proper study.

To read Jim’s article: https://ctmirror.org/2026/06/21/shapiros-folly-part-deux-the-bridge-that-wont-die/