The Full Story

Suffolk County police are the highest paid officers in the U.S., but the department is having trouble filling its ranks. Why? A lack of interest among potential candidates and the high cost of living are a couple of reasons. And it’s not just Long Island. What’s being done in our area to attract applicants for civil service jobs? Our guests: Geraldine Hart, police commissioner, Suffolk County Peter Tesei, first selectman, Greenwich Michael Daly, founder, East END YIMBY Cristian Murphy, former

The infrastructure in many cities and towns in our region is in dire need of upgrades. Bridgeport, New London and several Long Island downtowns around Long Island Rail Road stations are a few. What’s being done to improve the quality of life in these communities? What about making them appealing to attract new residents? Our guests: Tami Zawistowski, Connecticut state representative, R-Suffield Michael Passero, mayor, City of New London Joe Ganim, mayor, City of Bridgeport Paul Pontieri Jr,

Connecticut lawmakers will consider criminal justice reform measures that would give non-violent ex-offenders a clean slate after a period of time. New York approved reforms that fell short of a full end to cash bail, but those suspected of non-violent offenses won't have to deal with making bail. Some lawmakers, however, worry the policy does not go far enough to prevent potentially dangerous people from leaving jail and going back on the streets. Do these criminal justice reform efforts really

Several state attorneys general have mounted lawsuits against painkiller manufacturers, including Stamford-based Purdue Pharma, which makes OxyContin. They want to curb the production and distribution of opioids that are to blame for hundreds of thousands of deaths nationwide. Recently New York and Connecticut expanded their lawsuits to include the Sackler family, who owns Purdue Pharma. But will this stop the opioid crisis, create policy change, or just lead to massive settlements that

We close out our week on the environment with three journalists who cover it. One’s a veteran columnist on Long Island. Another keeps tabs of environmental policy in Connecticut. The third is a young reporter on a research vessel off the coast of Iceland. Our guests: Erica Cirino, global environmental reporter and guest researcher, Roskilde University, Denmark Karl Grossman, investigative environmental reporter and professor of journalism, SUNY Old Westbury Jan Ellen Spiegel, energy, food,

Has the push for a "greener" world created "green" problems? The recycling industry is fighting regulations to cut back on bottles and plastic products they say will hurt their business. Towns want to go to 100 percent renewable energy with large solar arrays, but environmentalists say cutting down acres of trees is the wrong way to go green. Is there a right way? Our guests: Michael Vitale, owner, Great Northern Fibers Adrienne Esposito, executive director, Citizens Campaign for the Environment

Acres of ocean are carved out for offshore wind projects in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Long Island. The proposed energy projects are expected to power much of the Northeast. New York will decide soon what companies will be awarded projects. Orsted and Eversource are vying for a state award to make Port Jefferson the hub for all the companies' offshore wind projects in the Northeast. The federal government is proposing even more ocean for wind energy in the Atlantic, off Long Island's

Connecticut authorities have confirmed three cases of measles in the state since the beginning of the year. Lawmakers in Hartford say a growing anti-vaccination movement is to blame, and they’re considering legislation, admittedly contentious, to end religious exemptions for required vaccinations in schools. New York lawmakers have proposed similar legislation as a measles outbreak has sickened hundreds, primarily from Orthodox Jewish communities in Brooklyn, Queens and Rockland County. In

The first Earth Day was organized nearly 50 years ago after a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara led lawmakers, companies and scientists to support environmental protections. Now Earth Day is celebrated in more than 120 countries. But is our environment, and are we, any safer from climate threats and human intervention? We’ll discuss the legacy of Earth Day with guests: Adam Rome, Ph.D., environmental historian and professor of history, University of Buffalo Ralph Nader, former presidential

It’s the day after the release of the Mueller report and we’re still unpacking its key points. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont’s been in office for 100 days. How’s he doing? In New York Governor Andrew Cuomo makes tuition free for Gold Star families. We’ll talk about these stores and more with our guests: Meena Bose, Ph.D., professor of political science, executive dean of public policy and public service programs and director, Kalikow Center for the Study of the American Presidency, Hofstra

The Baby Boomers are going through a rough time. A rollercoaster economy and skyrocketing divorce rates have led to a depressed and self-medicated generation. But the worst of it is are those who have opted to take their own lives because of the stress. What can be done to save America's largest generation? Our guests: Wizdom Powell, Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry and director, Health Disparities Institute, University of Connecticut Jeffrey Deitz, M.D., psychiatrist and assistant

There is great debate in Connecticut and New York about the legalization, decriminalization and sale of recreational marijuana. Lawmakers expect large revenues from retail pot, but is it moral for the government to make money off it? What about other vices that lawmakers are pushing for, like additional casinos, not to mention more taxes on everything from e-cigarettes to sugary drinks? Our guests: David Lombardo, capitol reporter, Albany Times Union Susan Haigh, state capitol and political

U.S. Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut is making a case for college athletes to get financial compensation. He says universities and coaches make billions, while students don’t. But some worry that reimbursing students will hurt their academics and overall well-being. Should college athletes get paid? Our guests: Chris Murphy, U.S. senator, D-Conn. Dan Brechlin, sports editor, Hartford Courant Mark Conrad, associate professor, law and ethics, and director, sports business concentration,

State lawmakers are pushing for funding to update and expand worn-out railroad infrastructure. In order to fund it, at least in part, some in Connecticut want to reinstate highway tolls. Meanwhile, New York's budget includes congestion pricing fees for those entering southern Manhattan, with some of the revenue going toward improvements to the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North. But hasn't this been the case for decades? What is the future of our railroads? Our guests: Tom Meehan, chair, New

This week in Connecticut, gun maker Remington plans to appeal a state court ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court and hedge fund mogul Ray Dalio pledges to donate $100 million to help public education. On Long Island Governor Andrew Cuomo celebrates the property tax cap and Suffolk County clamps down on plastic pollution. Our guests: Ana Radelat, Washington correspondent; Keith Phaneuf, economic reporter, Connecticut Mirror Jack Kramer, reporter, CT News Junkie Brendan O'Reilly, real estate and