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Connections Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Evan Dawson
Evan Dawson talks about what matters to you on Connections. Do you have a story that needs to be shared? For transcripts, please email our Move to Include team with a link to the episode.
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- Yesterday50 min
Roadblock: High prices, fewer techs
Car prices and servicing costs have both surged due to industry shifts, regulatory requirements, and rising ownership expenses. All that makes affordability a major challenge for many households.There's also an automotive technician shortage nationwide.What's being done in the Rochester region to train the workers needed to keep today's more sophisticated vehicles on the road?We sit down with local experts in the automotive industry to discuss the causes of these challenges, along with what it will take to make it more affordable to buy and own a vehicle.Our guests for the hour: Brad McAreavy, president of the Rochester Automobile Dealers Association Kevin Parker, owner of Parker Automotive in Webster Charlie Vita, chief lending officer at Canandaigua National Bank --Connections is supported by listeners like you. Head to our donation page to become a WXXI member today, support the show, and help us close the gap created by the rescission of federal funding.---Connections airs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter. Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here.---Do you have a story that needs to be shared? Pitch your story to Connections.
- 4 days ago51 min
Traffic cameras in Rochester? A plan to make city streets safer
What tools and technologies should be used to make Rochester's streets safer? Rochester leaders cite a new report that includes a survey of city residents. In that survey, residents said they want action to make streets safer. And a majority of respondents support speed cameras and red-light cameras “in specific circumstances.” It’s not the return of the same red-light cameras from a decade ago. Rather, the new technology would be part of a broader automated traffic enforcement strategy. This hour, we discuss the report, the possible solutions, and how technology would be deployed with safety and residents' concerns in mind. Our guest: Mitch Gruber, co-chair of the ROC Vision Zero Committee and member of Rochester City Council
- 5 days ago50 min
After 2024 gains, Republicans lose ground with Muslim voters
Why are Muslim voters leaving the GOP?Many American Muslims express culturally conservative views and would seem to be a natural constituency for Republicans. But the GOP saw its Muslim support collapse. The founder of Arab Americans for Trump in 2024 said that he was disappointed with how President Trump has governed. The slurs hurled at Muslim candidates like Abdul El-Sayed have also contributed to the rejection of the party. President Trump has called El-Sayed a terrorist and a jihadist. This hour, we discuss the impact of bigoted language and the decline in Republican support from Muslims. In studio: Sareer Fazili, past president of the Islamic Center of Rochester Louis Sabo, secretary of the Rochester City Republican Committee
- 6 days ago51 min
The election winners
Democrats expected a big night, and we discuss how it panned out. This hour, we talk to winners of races at various levels — local, state, and federal. It's a fast-moving hour to examine what happened and why voters made the decisions they did.Our guests: Rep. Joe Morelle (D, WF), projected winner in New York's 25th Congressional District Assemblymember Jen Lunsford (D, WF), projected winner in District 135 Assemblymember Josh Jensen (R, C), projected winner in District 134 Assemblymember Sarah Clark (D, WF), projected winner in District 136 Assemblymember Andrea Bailey (R, C), projected winner in District 133 Assemblymember Harry Bronson (D, WF), projected winner in District 138 Jenn Townsend (D, WF), Perinton town supervisor
- 1 weeks ago51 min
Cornell sexual assault allegations spark hard questions
What can we learn from the allegations of sexual assault at a Cornell fraternity? The legal case could take a long time, but the ripples of the allegations are already forcing new conversations about consent and assault across the country. We discuss how the varying claims could affect the legal investigation. We also talk about why inviting dozens of strangers to join a sexual conquest of a woman has its own ethical problems, regardless of how the legal side plays out.Our guests: Meredith Ouderkirk, director of public affairs for Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York Sharon Stiller, Esq., of counsel for Abrams Fensterman LLP
- 1 weeks ago51 min
Rochester is getting all the lasers
Rochester is becoming a national hub for laser science, thanks to the National Science Foundation and New York State. As reported by WXXI's Brian Sharp, the University of Rochester will take the initial lead on a laser program that's part of a nationwide project called the NSF STELLAR Engine. The work will be based in downtown Rochester's Sibley Square and is expected to expand to the Lake Avenue photonics hub. And speaking of photonics, there has been a slow buildup on jobs and activity. It’s not the next Kodak, but it amounts to thousands of jobs. We discuss what the lasers will do (and no, they will not be attached to sharks, Dr. Evil) and we explore what the research might accomplish. In studio: Sujatha Ramanujan, Ph.D., CEO of the NSF STELLAR Engine of the Rochester/Finger Lakes Region of New York Thomas Brown, Ph.D., director of the Institute of Optics and Wyant Professor of Optics at the University of Rochester Alexis Vogt, Ph.D., executive director of New York Photonics and Barbara and John H. Bruning Endowed Director and Professor of the Optical Systems Technology Program at Monroe Community College Leah George VanScott, executive vice president of business development and strategy for Greater Rochester Enterprise
- 1 weeks ago51 min
Journalist Greg O'Brien on living with Alzheimer's
What does it feel like to live with Alzheimer's? It's a question journalist Greg O'Brien has been answering for nearly two decades. O'Brien was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2009 at age 59. In his book, “On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s,” he chronicles his own disease. O'Brien will be in Rochester for an event at St. John's, but first, he joins us on "Connections" to tell his story and to share what he wants the public to know about living with the disease. We also talk with local neurologist Dr. David Gill about the latest in Alzheimer's research and treatment. Greg O'Brien, career journalist and author of "On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer's" David Gill, M.D., chief of the Division of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology at University of Rochester Medicine Tom Harner, director of marketing at St. John's *Note: WXXI is a media sponsor of the event at St. John's.
- 1 weeks ago51 min
Rochester's hotel desert; celebrating 'Open Turnings' host Scott Regan; 'You Can See Everything'
It's our weekly news roundup.The city of Rochester is short hotel rooms. That's according to Deputy Mayor Michael Burns. As reported by WXXI's Brian Sharp, the 2020 closure of the Rochester Riverside hotel and the more recent shutdown of the Wyndham has left a dearth of rooms. Meanwhile, the Hyatt Regency is slated for a $16 million renovation — a "positive note" amid the other hotels' uncertain futures, according to the Hyatt's general manager. What does the future hold? And how many rooms does Rochester need to support local travel and tourism? We talk to Sharp about the latest with downtown development. In studio: Brian Sharp, investigations and enterprise editor for WXXI News Then, we celebrate Rochester radio legend Scott Regan. The longtime host of "Open Tunings" on The Route will host his final weekday show on October 30. He'll continue to host his Saturday broadcast. Regan sits down with us to discuss his career, his music, and what he has loved and learned during his 22 years of "Open Tunings." In studio:Scott Regan, host of "Open Tunings" on The Route We end the week with a discussion about the most talked-about film currently on screen. "You Can See Everything" is a documentary about disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. The former CEO was convicted of defrauding investors and is serving an 11-year prison sentence. The film follows Holmes in the 34 days before that sentence began and has left audiences questioning what is fact and what is fiction. Our guests share their perspectives, and we invite you to weigh in as well. Our guests: Scott Pukos, director of communications for The Little Theatre Amy Adrion, filmmaker and assistant professor in the School of Film and Animation at RIT
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About Connections Podcast
Evan Dawson talks about what matters to you on Connections. Do you have a story that needs to be shared? For transcripts, please email our Move to Include team with a link to the episode.
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