The Full Story

This year there was a significant effort to get young people to vote. And that effort paid off. Researchers are still crunching the numbers, but the latest data suggests that around 50 percent of voting-eligible young people, ages 18-29, cast a ballot in the 2020 Presidential election. Today on The Full Story, we’ll explore how the youth vote can shape elections and how young people shaped one of the most historic Presidential races in recent memory.

It’s the end of a historic week on so many levels. More voters cast their ballots in 2020 than in any previous Presidential Election. There were also more mail-in ballots than ever before, and some races are still undecided. As if that's not enough, this drama is playing out as a pandemic - once again - spreads through our nation. Today on The Full Story, we check in with local political reporters for an update on local races. And we speak with Health officials about the rise in COVID-19 cases

A headless horseman roams a sleepy hollow. Unearthly sounds echo out of a small mountain in Connecticut. The spirit of a lovesick woman haunts a lake on Long Island, where she lures men to their deaths. Our region is rich with ghoulish tales of ghosts, horror, and unexplained events. Today on The Full Story, we dim the lights and huddle close (while socially distancing, of course) to hear these eerie local legends. And we check in with a folklorist to find out why telling tales of terror are not

What is motivating people to vote?

Can your race be bad for your health? Some cities and towns in our region say yes! Yes, it is! The outcry for racial justice following the death of George Floyd has caused municipalities, and even some states around the country, to officially declare racism a public health crisis. Racial disparities in our social and health care systems can compromise Black and Brown people's well-being in our communities. The Coronavirus pandemic has highlighted this imbalance. But what happens next? Today on

A new school year has begun. How are teachers, students, and parents managing learning during COVID-19? A conversation with guests: Dr. Donald Perras, Educational Consultant Jeff Leake, President of the Connecticut Education Association Gwen Samuel, parent and Founder of Connecticut Parents Union Professor Judy Falaro, Director of Special Education Programs at Quinnipiac University

What is an essential worker? When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit our region, we heard a lot about them. People who worked in Healthcare, sanitation, supermarkets, and the post office became essential. They risked their health to keep us all going. So what are we doing for them? What sectors of work are essential? Who decides? And how are essential workers compensated for putting themselves on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic? We also take a look at the history of how the pandemic

More than eight hundred thousand residents were left in the dark when Tropical Storm Isaias swept through Connecticut in August. Many blamed the big utilities saying they are not prepared to prevent the widespread outages. But others say it’s time to stop the finger-pointing and start planning for long term solutions! Today on The Full Story that’s what we’re going to do. We’re looking at what it would take to improve the electrical grid in Connecticut to endure future extreme weather conditions

The 2020 election season is in full swing but it’s like no election season we have ever seen.

The art of protest. Whether it’s street graffiti during the Arab Spring, yellow umbrellas of Hong Kong’s democracy movement, murals of George Floyd in the United States or slam poetry; art helps us make sense of events that can overwhelm us.

Cultural institutions, like museums, theaters, galleries, and music clubs, are gathering places for the masses. They are also some of the last venues to open up following the shut down in Connecticut and New York; getting together in large numbers is still not safe. But that doesn’t mean culture has stood still. The Full Story explores how the arts interpret, document and respond to life-changing events.

When people live through extraordinary times, they’re challenged to rethink the social structures and systems that they once accepted as normal. Criminal justice is one system that has been fiercely called into question. The death of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, and COVID-19 have many taking a closer look at how the justice system functions in our country.

How do ethnic communities in our region become targets of xenophobia? Today on The Full Story we consider two examples of how this happens in our region. First, up is WSHU’s series, The Virus of Hate . Reporter Cassandra Basler reports on how attacks against Asians in the US rose as the coronavirus spread. And a new podcast by WSHU’s Charles Lane, EveryTown , documents how a small town in the Hamptons played a role in evicting Latin American immigrants from their homes. Cassandra Bassler, Senior

New York and Connecticut are moving closer to completely reopening their economies. But are household incomes feeling the shift? Federal programs to help laid off workers are about to end. So are the holds placed on evictions for renters and mortgage grace periods granted to homeowners. Meanwhile, emergency food services in our region say they’re busier than ever. A conversation with guests: Andy Condon, director, Office of Research and Information, Connecticut Department of Labor Minerva Perez,

Four months ago Connecticut and New York went into lockdown to fight the spread of the coronavirus. No one expected it to last this long, but now both states are slowly rolling back restrictions and we’re getting a clearer picture of the economic impact. We'll discuss doing business during COVID, with guests: Ebong Udoma, senior political reporter, WSHU J.D. Allen, assistant news director, WSHU Eric Gjede, vice president, government affairs, Connecticut Business & Industry Assocation Martin