WICC The Voice of Connecticut

The CDC is warning of a syphilis resurgence nationwide with the highest number of cases since 1950.  The CDC says more than 207,000 syphilis cases were reported in the U.S. in 2022, an 80-percent increase since 2018, which continues a decades-long trend.  African Americans and Native Americans are the most impacted groups. A disproportionate number of cases are among men who have sex with men b...

It’s official: a general election redo is set for February 27th in Bridgeport to determine the next mayor. John Gomes made the announcement publicly and explained his reasoning exclusively on WICC. Hear what he had to say here. (0:00) Former State Representative, Jack Hennessey, served Bridgeport from 2005-2022. He fears corruption will continue in Park City politics and is pushing lawmakers t...

Thursday's "Connecticut Today" with Paul Pacelli featured "Only In Bridgeport" blogger Lennie Grimaldi's take on a fourth upcoming race between incumbent Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim and challenger John Gomes (00:24). CT Inside Investigator reporter Marc Fitch filled us in on the current "Right to Read" controversy in Connecticut (13:56) Image Credit: iStock / Getty Images Plus

The investigation into thousands of possibly falsified traffic tickets by State Police has found no evidence of widespread misconduct.  The investigation by a former federal prosecutor has found that sloppy record keeping, poor training and unintentional errors led to the issues. We spoke with the executive director of The Connecticut State Police Union, Andy Matthews, for reaction and goals mo...

Friday's "Connecticut Today" with Paul Pacelli looked at the latest immigration controversy in the tri-state area that's also making national news (00:31). Affinity Grow Managing Partner Ray Pantalena talked about the recreational and medical marijuana markets and industries in Connecticut, including new retail locations in New Haven and Bridgeport (13:08). Former Bridgeport State Rep. Chris Ca...

There is no such thin as tick season because ticks are around all year long in Connecticut. New health studies show that there is a strong connection between lyme disease and mental health issues. We spoke with Jessica Snajder of Partner in Lyme, Inc. about these findings and what we can do to bridge the gap between tick borne illnesses and mental health issues. (0:00) February is Teen Dating ...

Monday's "Connecticut Today" with host Paul Pacelli started a new week with highlights from Gov. Ned Lamont's New York City TV tour (00:22). CT NewsJunkie columnist and Substack.com blogger Terry Cowgill checked-in with his weekly update (13:16) Image Credit: REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Melissa welcomed special a very special guest into the WICC 600 AM and 107.3 FM studio today. Andre Swanston, a founding partner of the Connecticut Sports Group, came in studio today to talk about Major League Soccer's NEXT Pro's newest expansion team, which will be coming to Bridgeport in 2025. Get to know the man helped make this possible and what to expect in the coming years from Bridgeport...

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, and we want to know how to model healthy relationships to the next generation. Counselor, Julius Dudics, shares insight about generational differences with showing affection and how to normalize the conversation around dating with your kids. (0:00) It's shaping up to be a record year for spending this Valentine's Day. The National Retail Federa...

Tuesday's "Connecticut Today" with Paul Pacelli featured Yankee Institute blogger Meghan Portfolio talking about a major environmental bill headed for General Assembly that targets natural gas in new homes (00:27). Paul also had a few thoughts on the odd silence from progressives regarding the Senate immigration bill (10:25) Image Credit: iStock / Getty Images Plus

Avelo Airlines just announced another four flight options out of New Haven. Breeze announced more direct flights earlier this year up at Bradley Airport. So, what’s happening with commercial travel at Sikorsky Airport? We got some insight from Dan Onofrio of the BRBC. (0:00) The American Red Cross continues to experience an emergency blood shortage as severe winter weather has further impacted...

Wednesday's midweek "Connecticut Today" with host Paul Pacelli featured portions of Gov. Ned Lamont's 2024 State of the State Address (00:22) and reaction from State Senate GOP leader Kevin Kelly of Stratford (13:15). We also got analysis from Hearst Connecticut editor and columnist Dan Haar (22:46) Image Credit: REUTERS/Brian Snyder (UNITED STATES)

It was one of the biggest sports headlines to start the new year. The New England Patriots and Bill Belichick decided to part. Belichick said in a press conference last month that he is moving on from the franchise he spent 24 seasons with. Belichick, however, did have one year remaining on his contract. And now in the aftermath, not one NFL team has decided to offer him a head coach spot for n...

Here are some of the top health stories we tackled with Dr. Browne: A team of researchers from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is announcing the finding of a new drug to help treat people who are genetically pre-disposed to Alzheimer's.  The drug could potentially prevent the disease in patients. The findings, originally published last month, show the drug targets a specific ge...

1. A local grocery store chain has recalled two food products in a matter of weeks for mislabeling. We asked the Department of Consumer Protection about the food label process ad how to file a complaint. We also talked about sports betting ahead of the Superbowl since the department also regulates gaming in the state. (0:00) 2. After an intense judiciary committee with the top social media CEO...

Thursday's "Connecticut Today" with Paul Pacelli kicked off with Paul's thoughts on another new poll regarding the 2024 White House race and what the GOP's ultimate goal might be (00:34). Sacred Heart University Political Science Professor/Scholar in Residence Dr. Gary Rose talked about the current trends in state and national politics (12:42), while Landmark Legal Foundation attorney and analy...

A piece of legislation is being discussed in Hartford during this legislative session. The bill focuses on pay for hospitality workers. A national coalition, One Fair Wage, says this legislation needs approval, while the Connecticut Restaurant Association reports the potential law would destroy wait staff and bartenders. Hear both sides of the argument right here featuring: Saru Jayaraman, Pres...

Melissa welcomed Waterbury native and Grammy Award winning jazz singer Nicole Zuraitis to the program to talk about her career so far, growing up in Connecticut and winning her first Grammy. Image Credit: Reuters

Host Paul Pacelli kicked off a new week on "Connecticut Today" with his thoughts on a controversial special counsel report regarding President Biden (00:24). We aired Connecticut U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy's appearance the previous day on CBS's "Face the Nation" (12:41) and we heard from CT NewsJunkie columnist and Substack.com blogger Terry Cowgill with his weekly update (19:53) Image Credit: REU...

February Is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Last week, we shared some shocking national statistics to help understand the importance of modeling and discussing healthy relationships with our kids. But how do we create healthier unions with our partners? Counselor, Julius Dudics, shared the details behind The Five Love Languages. (0:00) How important is it for employers to have high emoti...

Tuesday's "Connecticut Today" kicked off with host Paul Pacelli's thoughts on a recent church shooting in Texas (00:22). Commuter advocate Jim Cameron dropped by with an interesting thought and observation on school transportation (13:12), while Yankee Institute blogger Meghan Portfolio joined us for her weekly update (23:22) Image Credit: iStock / Getty Images Plus

Wednesday's midweek "Connecticut Today" with Paul Pacelli featured Hearst Connecticut Media editor and columnist Dan Haar talking about the possible sale of a state utility company that's currently embroiled in a legal battle (00:28). We were also joined by national law enforcement expert Lance LoRusso on the latest issues affecting local police officers (12:56) Image Credit: iStock / Getty Im...

Melissa spoke to Dr. Browne of Griffin Health about a multitude of topics. Some of which include the return of diseases like the measles and bubonic plague, as well as a new disease that recently claimed the life of an elderly man, Alaskapox. They also talked about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention easing up COVID-19 restrictions. Image Credit: Getty Images

It’s the third time in about a year; a shooting during a victory parade for a professional sports team. Kansas City Chiefs had their parade this week and gunfire erupted in the crowd killing one person and injuring dozens. Gary MacNamara joined the show to talk about attending these events and whether these sports parades should continue happening. (0:00) February 18th is National Battery Day ...

Thursday's "Connecticut Today" with host Paul Pacelli updated the latest on the investigation into a shooting that took place during the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl celebration the day before (00:32). Connecticut Catholic Conference Executive Director Chris Healy joined us to talk about legislative initiatives for the new General Assembly session concerning transgender issues (12:25), while ...

The Hometown Foundation, Inc. is a national, non-profit charitable organization committed to raising money to support a broad range of programs that meet community needs, including emergency response personnel. This year, we found an entry very close to home at the top of the list for the foundation’s K9 grant. We met Easton police officer Tamra French and K9 TJ to learn why they applied for th...

Should Connecticut adopt an electric vehicle mandate? We ask auto expert, Paul Miller, about the findings from automakers and dealerships here and across the country. (0:00) Should Connecticut expand the paid sick leave program to all companies, no matter how many employees are on the team? It may sound like a slam dunk idea but is that the case? CBIA’s Ashley Zane shares why this could be a d...

Friday's "Connecticut Today" with Paul Pacelli opened with more of Paul's thoughts on the recent shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl celebration (00:35). Former Bridgeport Democratic State Rep. Chris Caruso checked in with his weekly update (13:04), and we talked rock-n-roll with David Hamilton Golland, author of, "Livin' Just to Find Emotion: Journey and the Story of American Rock" ...

Should smartphones be eliminated in Connecticut classrooms? A pilot program to nix smartphones from certain middle schools, including in Stamford, is set to roll out next school year. Senator Ryan Fazio is behind that move and explains what lawmakers are looking to accomplish. (0:00) We do a deep dive into absentee balloting with CT Mirror investigative reporter, Andrew Brown. Find out what he...

Tuesday's "Connecticut Today" with host Paul Pacelli started with a look at some disturbing stats regarding Bridgeport drivers who regularly pass stopped school busses (00:26). New State Senate GOP leader Stephen Harding of Brookfield stopped by to talk about his new post (14:04), while Yankee Institute blogger Meghan Portfolio offered her weekly Hartford update (27:16) Image Credit: iStock / ...

More and more Connecticut residents are spreading their wings and becoming bird enthusiasts. Miley Bull from CT Audubon Society shared tips on feeding birds in your backyard and which birds to keep an eye out for in our state. (0:00) The Goshen Public Library’s Board of Directors is scheduled to meet to discuss the decision to remove “Gender Queer,” a 2019 memoir that touches on gender issues ...

Wednesday's "Connecticut Today" with Paul Pacelli offered a few thoughts on a push at the State Capitol to possibly weaken the rights of landlords (00:25). GOP State Sen. Paul Cicarella talked about the current controversy involving school busses in Bridgeport (12:39), while Hearst Connecticut Media editor and columnist Dan Haar stopped by for his weekly chat (20:34) Image Credit: iStock / Get...

Taking antidepressants like Prozac while pregnant can hinder a child's brain development and possibly cause mental disorders later in life.  That's the findings in a new study published last week in the journal Nature Communications.  Experts say antidepressants that raise serotonin levels can influence how the brain learns and adjusts. How accurate is this study and what is the correlation bet...

The Norwalk Independent Party Chair is getting involved in the Bridgeport mayoral race saga. We spoke with Lisa Brinton about her choice to endorse John Gomes and what she wants to see at the state level with voting changes. (0:00) The US Secret Service has University of Hartford on their recruitment radar for the first time. We spoke with Uhart’s Career Services Department about the new effor...

"Connecticut today" host Paul Pacelli opened Thursday's show wondering why the apparent callous disregard for the safety of Secret Service personnel at the Biden white House is getting so little media coverage (00:37). University of New Haven associate professor of National Security, International Affairs, and Political Science Dr. Matthew Schmidt gave us his thoughts on the current situations ...

Should the kindergarten age cutoff change get delayed in Connecticut? We get perspective on the issue looming over the 2024/25 school year from Early Childhood Commissioner Beth Bye. Plus, Commissioner Bye shares the impact of the Parent Cabinet in our state. (0:00) We welcomed newly elected State Senate Republican leader, Sen. Steve Harding to the show. We talked about fiscal guardrails, chal...

Friday's "Connecticut Today" with host Paul Pacelli wrapped up a busy week with GOP State Senator Rob Samson updating us on the latest developments at the State Capitol (00:34). Pastor Mark Biltz, author of, "America at War 2024-2026: The Sons of Light vs. The Sons of Darkness" stopped by to talk about whether current world affairs and wars were predicted in the Bible (11:41). Former Bridgeport...

Connecticut has a real problem with wrong-way crashes in recent years. This past weekend, four people in their 20’s died after a wrong-way crash along I-95 in West Haven. What can we do to avoid a wrong-way driver? Are the state’s new tactics to combat this working? We spoke with crime prevention expert, retired Lt. Jim Perez. (0:00) Lawmakers in Connecticut are considering a proposal to bolst...

Monday's "Connecticut Today" with Paul Pacelli kicked-off with Paul's thoughts about the suspect being held in connection with the death of a Georgia nursing student (00:30). Landmark Legal Foundation lawyer and analyst Mike O'Neill analyzed a major social media case at the U.S. Supreme Court (14:08), while CT NewsJunkie and Substack.com columnist and blogger Terry Cowgill stopped by for his we...

Jury deliberations are set to begin today in the trial of Michelle Troconis. The trial has been going on for weeks and it looks at Troconis who has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence and hindering the prosecution in connection to the disappearance and death of Jennifer Farber Dulos back in May 2019. What will the jury decide? And what happens next in the case...

Tuesday's "Connecticut Today" with Paul Pacelli opened with Paul talking about what must happen next after the four-round Bridgeport election fiasco (00:25). Columnist Chris Powell touched on a bill that could curtail the rights of Connecticut landlords (14:07), while Yankee Institute blogger Meghan Portfolio stopped by with the latest from Hartford (26:43) Image Credit: iStock / Getty Images ...

The Hometown Foundation, Inc. is a national, non-profit charitable organization committed to raising money to support a broad range of programs that meet community needs, including emergency response personnel. This year, we found an entry very close to home at the top of the list for the foundation’s K9 grant. We met Easton police officer Tamra French and K9 TJ to learn why they applied for th...

This month, a horrific wrong-way crash on I-95, claimed four young lives in an instant. It also puts our deadly wrong way crash data ahead of where we were in 2023, which is not where we want to be. How is Connecticut attacking this problem? We spoke with Josh Morgan of the CT Department of Transportation to hear how new pilot programs are going, what new technologies are in effect and what new...

This week, Stratford is hosting its annual Restaurant Week with an offer no other CT municipality offers. We asked BRBC President, Dan Onofrio, about the free childcare option added to Stratford’s event and if more places could adopt this. Also, we talked about a bill being debated in Hartford looking at wages for restaurant workers and a pilot program one fast food chain is rolling out next ye...

 Find out about The Housatonic Museum of Art and a new exhibit opening in March that will excite anyone who loves sports and photography! We spoke with Jennifer Kay-Reynolds, Director of the museum.

Wednesday's "Connecticut Today" featured audio highlights of Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim's fourth win over challenger John Gomes (00:30) and a chat with the mayor about his win (10:07). Only in Bridgeport" blogger Lennie Grimaldi broke down the Bridgeport mayoral election (16:36), while Hearst Connecticut Media columnist and editor Dan Haar dropped by with his weekly update (29:14)

In an effort to help homeless veterans and their families find permanent housing, The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) awarded $14 million in HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers to 66 Public Housing Agencies across the country. In Connecticut, three agencies were awarded $500,213 for a total of 44 vouchers. We h...

Age discrimination in the workplace continues to be a national discussion, especially ahead of this upcoming presidential election involving President Biden and former President Trump. But this month, the controversy emerged again here in Connecticut, specifically surrounding a local hospital. According to court documents, a former Waterbury Hospital executive filed a lawsuit against her ex-emp...

This week (Feb 26-Mar 3) is Eating Disorder Awareness Week and about nine percent of the US population struggles with an eating disorder in their lifetime. But what is the long term effect of an eating disorder on your body? Are there treatments that can help break the habits? Can your body ever revert back to the way it was before the disorder took over? We tackled all of those questions with ...

According to national statistics, an estimated 9% of the U.S. population will have an eating disorder in their lifetime. This week (Feb. 26-Mar 3) is Eating Disorder Awareness Week and there are a lot of misconceptions around the topic. We tackle the truth about the issue and how to get help with Quinnipiac associate professor, Clotilde Dudley-Smith. Dudley-Smith has presented at the National ...