The Full Story

Plans to revamp graduation requirements and possibly eliminate some standardized exams have social studies teachers worried. Federal law requires high school testing in English, math, and science, but there is no mandate for history. That means social studies could be the first to go. Our guests: Gloria Sesso, administrator, Patchogue-Medford School District, and co-president, Long Island Council for the Social Studies Alan Singer, Ph.D., professor of teaching, learning and technology, Hofstra

Connecticut has been slow to recover from the recession…slower than most of the country. Despite many challenges, the Lamont administration is taking an optimistic economic stance. A columnist says it’ll take more than just hometown spirit to bounce back. Our guests: Dan Haar, columnist and associate editor, Hearst Connecticut Media Jonathan Miller, president and CEO, Miller Samuel Real Estate Appraisers & Consultants Fred Carstensen, Ph.D., professor of finance, University of Connecticut

The federal government has chosen Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island as the site for a new particle accelerator that will allow scientists to see inside an atom’s core. Meanwhile, Connecticut’s chief manufacturing czar lays out his goals for bolstering industry in the state. Our guests: Abhay Deshpande, Ph.D., professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Stony Brook University Colin Cooper, Connecticut chief manufacturing officer Martin Cantor, Ed.D., director, Long Island Center

The estimated number of fatal drug deaths this year will be well over 1,000 in Connecticut. State health officials say a resident is more likely to die of an unintentional drug overdose than a car accident. What is Connecticut doing to stem the crisis, and what impact is it having on communities in the state? Our guests: Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., commissioner, Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services J. Craig Allen, M.D., vice president of addiction services, Hartford

Restaurants have typically been allowed to pay servers less than minimum wage. We’ll take a closer look at the rule changes in Connecticut and New York that will give some tipped workers the state minimums…and we’ll look at a popular college course that teaches the happier side of life. Our guests: Scott Dolch, executive director, Connecticut Restaurant Association David Wiczer, Ph.D., labor economist, Stony Brook University Laurie Santos, Ph.D., professor of psychology, Yale University Tracy

According to a 1997 court decision, Connecticut must ensure that juveniles in state detention get a good education. But 23 years later, that’s still a challenge. We’ll discuss why there are few quality educational programs offered in the criminal justice system, with guests: Marisa Halm, attorney and director, TeamChild Juvenile Justice Project, Center for Children’s Advocacy Maria Pirro, acting superintendent of schools, Unified School District #1, Connecticut Department of Corrections Joseph

The Shinnecock Indian Nation wants the town of Southampton to cease the development of property in an area the tribe has identified as sacred burial grounds. The trouble is: there is much confusion and few rules when it comes to the discovery of Native American remains. Our guests: Bryan Polite, chairman; Tela Troge, attorney; Shane Weeks, co-chair, Graves Protection Warrior Society; Rebecca Genia, representative, Inter-tribal Historic Preservation Task Force; Meesha Johnson, representative,

In vitro fertilization and fertility preservation services are now more accessible in New York. But not gestational surrogacy…New York is one of only three states where it’s still not legal. New Yorkers look toward Connecticut’s surrogacy-friendly policies for inspiration. The measures could help older adults and LGBT couples make a family. Our guests: James Stelling, M.D., fertility specialist, Stony Brook Medicine - Island Fertility Jen Rachman, outreach associate, Circle Surrogacy , and

Suffolk County wants to create a streamlined, regional recycling system on Long Island…and Connecticut wants to bring upgraded wireless technology to the state. We’ll discuss old trash and new 5G, with guests: Kara Hahn, deputy presiding officer, Suffolk County Legislature, D-Setauket Bridget Fleming, member, Suffolk County Legislature, D-Sag Harbor Ramesh Subramanian, Ph.D., The Gabriel Ferrucci Professor of Computer Information Systems, Quinnipiac University Patti Wood, founder and executive

Connecticut brewers say a federal tax break and updated regulations have fueled their craft beer industry. New York wants the same advantages for its craft brewers. We’ll discuss the surge in specialty suds with guests: Phil Pappas, executive director, Connecticut Brewers Guild Jeff Browning, owner, Brewport Brewing Co. Ben Gardener, brewmaster, Woodbury Brewing Company Dylan Skolnick, co-director, Cinema Arts Centre Paul Leone, executive director, New York State Brewers Association Larry

State lawmakers are not on the same page in the new year. Old problems, new issues and partisan politics have furthered a divide on policy that’s supposed to reflect what’s important to taxpayers. We’ll discuss the Connecticut legislative agenda with guests: Joe Aresimowicz, speaker, Connecticut House of Representatives, D-Berlin Kevin Kelly, Connecticut state senator, R-Stratford Vincent Candelora, Connecticut state representative, R-Branford Will Haskell, Connecticut state senator, D-Westport

State lawmakers are not on the same page. Old problems, new issues and partisan politics have furthered a divide on policy that’s supposed to reflect what’s important to taxpayers. We’ll discuss the New York legislative agenda, with guests: Phil Boyle, state senator, R-Bay Shore Mike LiPetri, state assemblymember, R-Massapequa Jim Gaughran, state senator, D-Northport Fred Thiele, state assemblyman, D, I, WF, WE-Sag Harbor Monica Martinez, state senator, D-Brentwood Michael Gormley, Albany

We talk about the role social and family services play in our region, with a focus on fathers, and later, a discussion about ending homelessness. Our guests: Susan Thomas, president, Melville Charitable Trust Anthony Gay, social work supervisor, Connecticut Department of Children and Families Ebong Udoma, senior political reporter, WSHU J.D. Allen, editor and producer, WSHU

Davis Dunavin joins The Full Story host Ron Ropiak to talk Dylan, Casablanca and Alice’s Restaurant, plus previews of upcoming stories and more.

As we close out the decade, we’ll look at some of the biggest stories from New York and Connecticut. Our guests: Joe Shaw, executive editor, Press News Group David Lombardo, capitol reporter, Albany Times Union Mark Harrington, reporter, Newsday Ebong Udoma, senior political reporter, WSHU Ken Dixon, state capitol reporter and columnist, and Dan Haar, columnist and associate editor, Hearst Connecticut Media Susan Haigh, political reporter, Associated Press