Connecticut lawmakers in 2026 have worked on a new budget deal, debated homeschool regulation and tossed around the political football that is skyrocketing energy costs.

There’s still more business to do with one more day of lawmaking at the state Capitol, followed by more business up ahead on the campaign trail.

Today on The Wheelhouse, local politics and the end of the 2026 legislative session.

Guests:
Susan Raff, Chief political reporter, WFSB News Ch. 3
Ebong Udoma, Senior reporter, WSHU
Harriet Jones, director, Connecticut Student Journalism Collaborative
Bruce Putterman, publisher and CEO, CT Mirror

Connecticut lawmakers in 2026 have worked on a&nbsp;<a href="https://ctmirror.org/2026/04/28/lamont-moves-quickly-to-tout-new-ct-budget-deal/">new budget deal</a>, debated&nbsp;<a href="https://ctmirror.org/2026/04/23/ct-homeschool-bill-hb-5468-approved-house/">homeschool</a>&nbsp;regulation and tossed around the political football that is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-wheelhouse/2026-04-08/how-fossil-fuels-shape-us-foreign-policy">skyrocketing energy costs</a>.
There&rsquo;s still more business to do with one more day of lawmaking at the state Capitol, followed by more business up ahead on the campaign trail.
Today on The Wheelhouse, local politics and the end of the 2026 legislative session.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.wfsb.com/authors/Susan-Raff/">Susan Raff</a>, Chief political reporter, WFSB News Ch. 3</li>
<li><a href="https://www.wshu.org/people/ebong-udoma">Ebong Udoma</a>, Senior reporter, WSHU</li>
<li><a href="https://ctcommunitynews.org/our-team/">Harriet Jones</a>, director, Connecticut Student Journalism Collaborative</li>
<li><a href="https://ctmirror.org/author/bputterman/">Bruce Putterman</a>, publisher and CEO, CT Mirror</li>
</ul>

If you’re a news junkie — or maybe just news curious, we’ve got your weekly dose of Connecticut politics, tackling everything from tax cuts to human composting. Amplifying important local and national voices, The Wheelhouse walks listeners through the most important political stories of the week.  You’ll hear from well-known political reporters, academics, and local journalists across Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.

If you’re a news junkie — or maybe just news curious, we’ve got your weekly dose of Connecticut politics, tackling everything from tax cuts to human composting. Amplifying important local and national voices, The Wheelhouse walks listeners through the most important political stories of the week.  You’ll hear from well-known political reporters, academics, and local journalists across Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.

Connecticut's best journalists come out of the political trenches every Wednesday to join us on WNPR's weekly news roundtable The Wheelhouse.

The Wheelhouse

What’s left on the final day of the CT lawmaking session?

Artificial intelligence is rapidly making its way into Connecticut’s classrooms.

Connecticut lawmakers recently passed Senate Bill 5, a sweeping new law that includes investments in computer science education and the creation of a statewide AI Academy.

Supporters say it prepares students for the future, while educators are also grappling with questions about ethics, academic integrity, and AI literacy.

This hour, we learn what Connecticut's new approach to AI could mean for the next generation of learners.

GUESTS:
Sen. James Maroney, Democrat representing Milford, Orange, West Haven, and Woodbridge
Irene Parisi, chief academic officer, Connecticut State Department of Education
David Bergman, associate dean for faculty and research, University of Connecticut School of Business 
Adam Nemeroff, assistant provost for innovations in learning, teaching and technology, Quinnipiac University

Artificial intelligence is rapidly making its way into Connecticut&rsquo;s classrooms.
Connecticut lawmakers recently passed&nbsp;<a href="https://legiscan.com/CT/text/SB00005/id/3375876">Senate Bill 5</a>, a sweeping new law that includes investments in computer science education and the creation of a statewide&nbsp;<a href="https://www.charteroak.edu/ai-academy/">AI Academy</a>.
Supporters say it prepares students for the future, while educators are also grappling with questions about ethics, academic integrity, and AI literacy.
This hour, we learn what Connecticut's new approach to AI could mean for the next generation of learners.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.senatedems.ct.gov/senator/james-maroney">Sen. James Maroney</a>, Democrat representing Milford, Orange, West Haven, and Woodbridge</li>
<li><a href="https://portal.ct.gov/SDE">Irene Parisi,</a>&nbsp;chief academic officer, Connecticut State Department of Education</li>
<li><a href="https://www.business.uconn.edu/person/david-bergman/">David Bergman</a>, associate dean for faculty and research, University of Connecticut School of Business&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.qu.edu/faculty-and-staff/adam-nemeroff/">Adam Nemeroff</a>, assistant provost for innovations in learning, teaching and technology, Quinnipiac University</li>
</ul>

AI is already being used in schools. Now, CT lawmakers hope to regulate it.

As America celebrates its 250th birthday, many of the ideas at the heart of the nation's founding — from freedom and representation to checks and balances — remain subjects of fierce public debate.

This hour, we explore America's official time capsule and the artifacts Connecticut is sending into the future.

What story are we telling about who we are in 2026? And what does that story reveal about who we hope to become?

GUESTS:
Tom Medema, special advisor to America 250 and project manager for America’s Time Capsule
Cyndi Tolosa, Director of Advancement, CT Humanities, project manager for America 250 Connecticut Commission
Sarah Atwell, Durham’s America 250 Committee leader 
Jason Hayes, First Selectman of East Granby

As America celebrates its 250th birthday, many of the ideas at the heart of the nation's founding &mdash; from freedom and representation to checks and balances &mdash; remain subjects of fierce public debate.
This hour, we explore America's official time capsule and the artifacts Connecticut is sending into the future.
What story are we telling about who we are in 2026? And what does that story reveal about who we hope to become?
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Tom Medema, special advisor to&nbsp;<a href="https://america250.org/">America 250</a>&nbsp;and project manager for America&rsquo;s Time Capsule</li>
<li>Cyndi Tolosa, Director of Advancement,&nbsp;<a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cthumanities.org%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ccwynne%40ctpublic.org%7C032d825a808648dbad6a08ded1f9e982%7C46f93d87c3a048d2834be99a572ddf32%7C0%7C0%7C639179068530145078%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=6cLwH%2FA7XyXAlFjRh5wXaHX3DS7wV1zjPXukj%2BsobIc%3D&amp;reserved=0">CT Humanities</a>,&nbsp;project manager for&nbsp;<a href="https://ct250.org/">America 250 Connecticut</a>&nbsp;Commission</li>
<li>Sarah Atwell, Durham&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.townofdurhamct.org/entities/america-250-committee">America 250 Committee</a>&nbsp;leader&nbsp;</li>
<li>Jason Hayes, First Selectman of East Granby</li>
</ul>

What belongs in America's time capsule?

B Seg

C Seg

From Hurricane Maria through this year’s Super Bowl, Bad Bunny, the “King of Latin Trap” continues to weave politics into his lyrics.

From Hurricane Maria through this year&rsquo;s Super Bowl, Bad Bunny, the &ldquo;King of Latin Trap&rdquo; continues to weave politics into his lyrics.

What’s left on the final day of the CT lawmaking session?

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