An AM radio station covering Bridgeport and Fairfield County. This podcast will focus on the communities, people and news of the area.
Friday's "Connecticut Today" featured former Bridgeport Democratic State Rep. Chris Caruso (00:41) and host Paul Pacelli (11:52) both lamenting the continued inaction from the General Assembly on any major absentee ballot reforms in the wake of the 2023 Bridgeport election scandal. CBS News legal analyst Thane Rosenbaum broke down the day's major decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court (25:13). Travis Kennedy, author of, "The Whyte Python World Tour: A Novel," dropped by to talk about his new book (31:50) Image Credit: iStock / Getty Images Plus
Norwalk is celebrating a major milestone for Manresa Island: the demolition of three 7.5-million-gallon steel oil tanks. The removal reportedly marks the first major physical step in transforming the abandoned and polluted industrial site into a vibrant community park, unlocking 76,000 square feet of new park space. We talked about it with Jessica Vonashek, executive director of Manresa Island Corporation. For more information: Manresa Island Park Image Credit: Getty Images
Governor Lamont signed a bill into law dubbed the Fallen Heroes Fund. It's an expansion of the Fallen Officer Fund, which provides survivor benefits to the families of fallen police officers. This modified law now expands its availability to include the families of all first responders, including firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics. Comptroller Sean Scanlon spearheaded the legislation and talked about the impact of the expansion now. Image Credit: Melissa Sheketoff
Host Paul Pacelli kicked off Thursday's "Connecticut Today" wondering if a startling primary win in New York City earlier in the week should worry the Democratic Party establishment here in Connecticut and Governor Ned Lamont (00:45). Connecticut State Republican Party Chairman Ben Proto talked about the latest political news and a pair of controversial vetos from Gov. Ned Lamont (12:41). GOP State Senator Dr. Jeff Gordon detailed the latest controversy surrounding the state's Public Utilities Regulatory Authority - PURA (22:47), while CBS News military analyst U.S. Army Col. (Ret.) Jeff McCausland discussed the ongoing intelligence reviews of last weekend's U.S. military strikes in Iran (29:54) Image Credit: iStock / Getty Images Plus
Following the governor's decision to veto House Bill 5002, addressing the housing crisis in Connecticut, Governor Lamont wants to hear from local officials, P&Z Commissions and both parties about better solutions to fix the bill. Specifically, he called out Republicans being at the table ahead of September's special session ONLY if they bring solutions and not just “no's.” We talked about those solutions with Senate Minority Leader, Steve Harding. Image Credit: Getty Images
Bridgeport Public Schools has secured $74 million in state funding to construct a state-of-the-art special education center, the first of its kind in the state. This is just one of many good news headlines coming out of the city and we got a check-in with Dr. Royce Avery, Interim Superintendent of Schools, for all thing parts in the district. For those interested in a district teacher position: https://www.bridgeportedu.net/ Image Credit: Getty Images
We spoke with State Senator Tony Hwang about a major vote today with the CT Siting Council regarding proposed UI monopoles impacting Fairfield and Bridgeport. We also talked about the controversy surrounding a proposed sale of Aquarion Water Company to the Regional Water Authority. Image Credit: Drew Carrano
After two months away, we played catch up with show fan favorite, Dr. Fred Browne of Griffin Health. We talked about changes to vaccine recommendations as well as potential summer issues Connecticut residents should avoid involving insects, oysters or the water. IMAGE DETAILS: Dr. Fred Browne / Griffin Health
Host Paul Pacelli opened Wednesday's "Connecticut Today" wondering if an election result just a few miles away in New York City signals a major shift in the Democratic Party (00:43). Southern Connecticut State University Political Science and Urban Affairs Professor Dr. Jonathan Wharton joined us to talk about that Big Apple race, along with the latest on Gov. Ned Lamont and President Trump (15:37). Hearst Connecticut Media Senior Editor and Columnist Dan Haar dropped by to chat about a couple of controversial vetoes by Gov. Ned Lamont and rumors of another possible GOP gubernatorial candidate (26:37) Image Credit: iStock / Getty Images Plus
This week, Governor Lamont decided to veto two pieces of legislation that passed both chambers during the 2025 session. Senate Bill 8 which would have provided benefits to striking workers after two weeks on the picket line and House Bill 5002 to address the ongoing housing crisis. We got his feedback about these decisions from the governor and what happens next. Image Credit: Reuters
The National Transportation Safety Board hosted a hearing to address a scary situation involving a door flying off a Boeing aircraft in 2024. Thankfully, no one died in this mid-air disaster but put a target on the backs of Boeing and the FAA. What went wrong and how can the problem be avoided in future? We got perspective from retired airline pilot, Paul Zielinski ((00:00)) as well as Senator Richard Blumenthal ((8:39)). Image Credit: Reuters
"Connecticut Today" host Paul Pacelli welcomed Yankee Institute blogger Meghan Portfolio on Tuesday's show to chat about the blowback aimed at Gov. Ned Lamont's veto of a controversial housing bill earlier in the week (00:35). Sacred Heart University Political Science Professor and Scholar-in-Residence Dr. Gary Rose discussed the Connecticut and national political scenes (10:36), while CT Inside Investigator reporter Marc Fitch talked about the latest chapter in an ongoing Bridgeport political investigation (19:45) Image Credit: iStock / Getty Images Plus
We checked in with Representative Kara Rochelle who represents parts of the Valley, including Ansonia. She shared her take on oversight for the city's finances and responded to claims by Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti. We also got her reaction regarding the governor's decision to veto both Senate Bill 8 and House Bill 5002. IMAGE CREDIT: Melissa Sheketoff
According to the Trump Administration, the 988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will stop providing tailored support options to LGBTQ+ youth starting July 17th. What are the impacts of eliminating the “press 3” option for that national helpline for this specific population of youth in America? We asked Aaron Almanza of the LGBT National Help Center. Image Credit: Getty Images
Monday's "Connecticut Today" featured host Paul Pacelli discussing the previous weekend's U.S. military strikes on Iran's three main nuclear sites with University of New Haven Professor of National Security Dr. Howard Stoffer (00:28) CT News Junkie columnist and Substack.com blogger Terry Cowgill dropped by to chat about those attacks and two controversial vetoes announced by Gov. Ned Lamont (10:19) Image Credit: iStock / Getty Images Plus
A surprise attack happened on three key Iranian nuclear facilities. Operation Midnight Hammer reportedly involved B-2 stealth bombers dropping massive bombs on the facilities. We're told no Iranian soldiers or civilians were hurt in the attack. Former FBI Agent, Ken Gray, joined the show to talk about the potential success of the mission and what it now means in the aftermath for the US. Image Credit: Reuters
As we enter the third day off Raul Valle's trial, what can the general public takeaway from this devastating case? Valle is accused of stabbing and killing Fairfield Prep student, Jimmy McGrath, outside of a house party in Shelton back in May 2022. We spoke with Gary MacNamara about laws on the books for people who host house parties and allow underage drinking. Image Courtesy of Melissa Sheketoff
Following the attack on Iran, US officials worry about Iran's counterattack; mostly with cyberattacks. We spoke with crime prevention expert, Jim Perez, about what to do to harden your online presence and avoid a cyber crime. Image Credit: Getty Images
Social media is flooded with advertisements for popular obesity medications. But how do consumers avoid being scammed into purchasing knockoff versions that may not be effective or even safe? Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration decided to prohibit mass compounding of some weight loss medications, but it could confuse people more than ever about their options. Dr. Andrew Wong of Hartford HealthCare Medical Group Primary Care gave us clarity on this. Image Credit; Getty Images
A possible veto of a controversial housing bill by Governor Ned Lamont was a big topic on Friday's "Connecticut Today" with Paul Pacelli. We welcomed 35th District GOP State Senator Dr. Jeff Gordon (00:47) and former Democratic State Rep. Chris Caruso (11:18) to chat about that bill. Fiona Firine, from the non-profit group "For Cameron," returned to the show to talk about the status of overdose deaths in Connecticut (21:03). Paul also had some thoughts early in the show about social media comments from Connecticut Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy regarding President Trump's impending decision on any American involvement in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict (32:33) Image Credit: REUTERS
The CT Hurricanes are performing for the Barnum Festival on June 28th. We spoke with three members of the team: Ethan, Delaney and Leslie. IMAGE CREDIT: Dan Staffieri
The murder trial for Raul Valle is set to resume in Milford Superior Court on Monday. Valle is accused of stabbing and killing Jimmy McGrath, a Fairfield Prep student, outside of a Shelton home in May of 2022. The second day of testimony happened Wednesday and as expected former students who were on scene that night took the stand and we got more clarity about what led up to the deadly violence. For perspective on the case, we spoke with our legal expert, Attorney Bill Bloss. Bloss is not involved in the case. Image Credit: Getty Images
With school out for summer, the shift from school schedules to summertime schedules can be a real challenge for kids to adjust, especially with balancing screen time. We spoke with Dr. Sheryl Veliz, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at Hartford HealthCare Medical Group. Dr. Veliz gave advice to strike a balance for both kids and adults with social media use and hours dedicated to screen time. Image Credit: Getty Images
The verdict is in: Karen Read was acquitted of the 2022 death of her boyfriend, John O'Keefe. What was the difference between trial one and two; do new lawsuits pop up now that Read has been cleared as the killer; and what does this case highlight when it comes to documentaries on high profile cases? We talked about this with CBS Legal Analyst, Thane Rosenbaum. Image Credit: Reuters
Wednesday's "Connecticut Today" with host Paul Pacelli jumped right into a tough decision facing President Trump: should the U.S. military take part in operations to cripple Iran's ability to produce a nuclear weapon? (00:38). University of New Haven Associate Professor of Homeland and National Security, Political Science, and International Affairs Dr. Matthew Schmidt dropped by to discuss that issue as well (14:49). Hearst Connecticut Media senior columnist and editor Dan Haar talked about covering former President Barack Obama's visit to Connecticut on Tuesday night (24:55) Image Credit: REUTERS
A new report revealed Connecticut is experiencing a surge in fatal and non-fatal overdoses across the state. Between May 16 and June 6, 2025, there have been 61 suspected fatal overdoses statewide, with noticeable clustering along the I-91 and I-95 corridors. We wanted to speak with Kids in Crisis. Connecticut Kids In Crisis provides emergency shelter, crisis counseling, and community education programs for children of all ages and families facing crisis. We spoke with Corina Restepo, assistant director for outreach and prevention services at Kids in Crisis. For the detailed report: CT-ORS-Spike-Alert-May-June_2025-Situational-Awareness-Bulletin-06-06-2025__FINAL.pdf Image Credit: Getty Images
A new Yale study suggests drinking harms women's brains faster than men's. Dr. Yasmin Zakiniaeiz, one of the study authors and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine, shared key takeaways from the study. For the full study: Alcohol Use Disorder Harms the Brain's Immune System Earlier in Women < Yale School of Medicine Image Credit: Getty Images
We had our monthly check-in with Dept. of Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli. We talked about new protections laws that passed during the legislative session as well as summer scams to look out for. Image Credit: Getty Images
Host Paul Pacelli opened Tuesday's "Connecticut Today" chatting about a union protest aimed at Gov. Ned Lamont's threatened veto of a bill making striking workers eligible for unemployment compensation after two weeks on picket lines (00:43). Yankee Institute blogger Meghan Portfolio also commented on that same bill and union reaction to a roving billboard supporting that veto (14:55). CT State House GOP leader Vin Candelora detailed the continuing efforts at the Capitol behind a controversial housing bill (22:51) Image Credit: iStock / Getty Images Plus
Kent Mawhinney pleaded guilty to interfering with police in the case surrounding the disappearance and presumed death of Jennifer Farber Dulos. Mawhinney is the former lawyer and friend of Jennifer's late, estranged husband, Fotis Dulos. We spoke with legal expert, Attorney Bill Bloss, about the lesser charge and what happens now with the case? Image Credit: Getty Images
A new report claims conspiracy theorist, Alex Jones, was hiding money to avoid paying the families of Sandy Hook School victims. Attorney Chris Mattei who represents the families gave us the latest on this. Image Credit: Reuters
Stamford's Superintendent of Schools has announced she will not extend her contract when it's up next June. Dr. Tamu Lucero has reportedly accepted an offer to serve as the director of a private school in Africa serving students from pre-K to 12th grade. What does this mean for the district, including plans to start block scheduling set to roll out in the fall? We spoke with John Corcoran, president of the Stamford Education Association. Image Credit: Getty Images
Senator Richard Blumenthal is calling for more research into genetic issues in veterans caused by exposure to toxins while they were serving in the military. In particular, Vietnam War veterans and their children, say exposure to Agent Orange caused lasting genetic damage they are still dealing with five decades later. We spoke with Senator Blumenthal about this. Image Credit: Reuters
Host Paul Pacelli kicked off a new week on "Connecticut Today" wondering if the thousands of anti-Trump "No Kings" protesters in Connecticut and the millions nationwide have a cogent plan when it comes to policy and messaging (00:37). We chatted with CBS News Correspondent Robert Berger live from in Jerusalem on the Iran-Israel hostilities (14:57). We also spent a few minutes with Adam Kissel, author of, "Slacking: A Guide to Ivy League Miseducation" (19:22) Image Credit: REUTERS
A Minnesota state rep and her husband were shot and killed in their home. That same morning, a Minnesota Senator and his wife were shot in their home and are still in the hospital. A suspect is in police custody and the investigation is revealing these were politically-motivated attacks. We got perspective on the case from former FBI agent, Ken Gray. Image Credit: Reuters
House Bill 5002, the massive housing bill, still hasn't gotten approval or nixed by Governor Lamont. Until something happens, we continue to talk to people about the bill and its impact on the state if it gets the governor's signature. Senator Herron Gaston was one of the only state Democrats to vote against the bill. We found out why and how it could be fixed to work better for Connecticut during our ongoing housing crisis. Image Credit: Getty Images
Governor Lamont signed Senate Bill 9 into law which includes eventually banning the use of neonics by the year 2027. Neonics are reportedly used on 300,000 acres of lawns, golf courses and other areas of turf grass across the state and are considered 7,000 times more toxic than DDT. We spoke with Tom Anderson from the CT Audubon Society about this legislation. For more information: Resources for understanding the importance of Public Act 25-33/SB 9 and its neonics provisions - Connecticut Audubon Society Image Credit: Getty Images
In the wake of the Minnesota tragedy, involving the shooting deaths of a lawmaker and her husband as well as the attempted assassinations of another lawmaker and his wife, we want to talk about being aware of political rhetoric and what to think about before engaging online. We spoke with Jim Perez, our crime prevention expert. Image Credit: Reuters
Host Paul Pacelli wrapped up a busy week on Friday's "Connecticut Today" with his thoughts on the timing of a social media statement posted by Connecticut Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy shortly after hostilities broke out between Israel and Iran (00:39). University of New Haven Professor of National Security and former State Department official Dr. Howard Stoffer stopped by to chat about the new attacks between Israel and Iran (13:14). Former Democratic State Rep. Chris Caruso joined us with his weekly take on the biggest state stories, including a controversial housing bill at the State Capitol (23:09) Image Credit: REUTERS
There is some updated technology being used by Connecticut State Police to train recruits. We spoke with Sgt. Luke Davis to learn how the simulator is helping recruits prepare for scary, but very real situations troopers find themselves in. Image Credit: Getty Images
A Hearst CT investigation which found that the Connecticut Department of Public Health didn't alert the public or health care systems about nurses with fraudulent degrees. We spoke with Doctor-Senator Jeff Gordon about the revelation and also explored whether the abrupt closure of Stone Academy is connected to the national scam. Image Credit: Getty Images
Have you come across a message when you're shopping online saying that your order could be delayed thanks to tariffs. Be aware, it could be a scam! We got the details from Kristen Johnson of the Better Business Bureau serving Connecticut. For more information: https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker Image Credit: Getty Images
Residents of the Success Village housing cooperative in Bridgeport and Stratford will be experiencing a fee increase. Court appointed attorney Barry Knott who has been managing the financially troubled complex says they have a million-dollars in new debt and six-million more that was inherited. We spoke with Attorney Knott about the findings and what it means for residents. Image Credit: Eric Urbanowicz
Host Paul Pacelli let loose with his thoughts on California Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla being detained during a briefing by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem (00:40). Greenwich GOP State Sen. Ryan Fazio (05:57) and Maria Weingarten of CT169Strong (16:05) both talked about some of the ongoing criticism connected to a controversial housing bill in Hartford. We also featured our monthly update with Connecticut blogger and columnist Chris Powell (21:26) Image Credit: REUTERS
Seven weeks of fun, seven weeks of travel and seven weeks of getting to know our communities personally, has wrapped up. Melissa wrapped up the 2025 WICC Brown Roofing Melissa In The Morning Diner Tour with a few words and of course, a see you again next year! Image Credit: Logo by Meghan Boyd, Edit by Eric Urbanowicz
It's coming! We welcomed the ring master of the Barnum Festival, Greg, to the WICC Brown Roofing Melissa in the Morning Diner Tour! Image Credit: Logo by Meghan Boyd, Edit by Eric Urbanowicz
"Hey! Phil? Phil? Hey! Phil Connor!" No he's not a weather man he keeps reliving Groundhogs Day over and over again, he's the Membership Director at Bridgeport Regional Business Council and he's also, at the WICC Brown Roofing Melissa in the Morning Diner Tour! Image Credit: Logo by Meghan Boyd, Edit by Eric Urbanowicz
They're one of the groups that's on the frontlines for scams, they're also on of the sponsors of the WICC Brown Roofing Melissa In The Morning Diner Tour, John Wilson from AARP - Connecticut joined the tour to talk about what's going on with AARP. Image Credit: Logo by Meghan Boyd, Edit by Eric Urbanowicz
They keep us safe everyday, they put out the literal fires that happening in the city and they give us important announcements when it pertains to the city of Bridgeport. The Bridgeport Fire Chief and Police chief joined the WICC Brown Roofing Melissa in the Morning Diner Tour to talk about some safety tips as the summer inches closer. Image Credit: Logo by Meghan Boyd, Edit by Eric Urbanowicz