Fungi are among the most powerful yet overlooked climate allies. From storing vast amounts of carbon underground to breaking down pollutants and replacing plastic, fungi could be key to restoring ecological balance in a warming world. This episode of "Environmental Connections" explores how mushrooms and mycelium are contributing to climate solutio…

Despite increased gas prices and lower costs associated with buying an electric vehicle, drivers are still hesitant to make the switch. That’s due, in part, to charging anxiety: even though most daily trips are short, people still worry, 'what happens when you can’t find a plug?' A mandate from New York State that aims to have all new cars sold run…

A recent independent audit offered a scathing assessment of how RG&E has conducted its business. The audit concluded that the company puts corporate profits above customer service and demonstrates very little investment in the local community. But RG&E claims that the audit is out of date and ignores their efforts to make serious improvements over …

Local youth leaders are sharing their stories in an effort to help their peers. The Center for Youth has embarked on a new “Restoring Justice, Re-Engaging Youth” initiative in response to violence and other issues affecting young people in Rochester. The goal is to use restorative practices to connect youth back to school and community. This hour, …

Three-time Tony Award winner Patti LuPone shocked the theater world with a series of incendiary remarks in an interview with the New Yorker. Some of LuPone's fans have responded with ambivalence, saying they love her work, even if they don't love... her. So how should art consumers consider the creator of the art? Where should the line be drawn? Is…

Five years ago, AI was hardly a priority on higher ed campuses. Now it's becoming mandatory coursework. At the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship in Rochester, students now take 12 credits of coding, analytics, and AI. And the institute will be launching a new AI and Business program. For students who don't want to learn AI, will th…

Shoes have obvious benefits — but how would our thinking change if we walked barefoot in the woods? Lyanda Lynn Haupt is the author of "Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit." She's coming to Rochester as a guest of the Western New York Land Conservancy. We discuss her feelings about the disconnect that many people feel: dis…

We continue our series of conversations with candidates running in the Democratic primary for Rochester City Council. We've invited all of the candidates in that race to join us on the talk show to discuss their platforms and priorities and to answer questions from community members. This is part two in our series. In studio: Clifford Florence Jr.,…

Local advocates with the Healthi Kids Initiative and Common Ground Health and New York State United Teachers went to Albany to rally for what they call the Right to Recess. While many school districts in the state require 20 minutes of recess for K–6 students, enforcement varies — and access to play is often shaped by race, income, and neighborhood…

School board is an elected office that regularly flies under the radar, but boards are crucial: deciding district policies, allocation of taxpayer money, and so much of what shapes the environment where children learn. Newly elected school board members are stepping into one of the most high-pressure roles in local government and facing political f…

How can the arts help us heal? Experts say music therapy can help people cope with anxiety, depression, and even post-traumatic stress disorder. A program called Music for Veterans aims to leverage the therapeutic qualities of music to support and enrich the lives of military veterans. The head of that national program has ties to Rochester. He's i…

Some members of Rochester City Council contend that last year’s budget allocated funds that could have been used to study a potential public utility. For those who don’t love the service from RG&E, this has been a big issue for years. Rochester Mayor Malik Evans said last week on "Connections" that he is not trying to block a public utility, but he…