In their heyday, Willimantic's Hooker and Nathan Hale Hotels were considered among the most lavish accomodations halfway between New York and Boston.

But they have long sat idle. Most residents know little about the Hooker's past other than that, by the 1980s and 1990s, the decaying structure turned into a notoriously gruesome boarding house for heroin addicts.

A settlement agreement reached between a developer, the state, and historic preservationists finally gives the community hope that the block on which they stand may soon be revived. Only it will be without the Hooker Hotel, which can be demolished under the agreement.

Today, we look at the compromise and what it means for blighted properties deemed historic in other Connecticut communities.

We also discuss a new report on school resource officers that finds Latino students are six times more likely to be arrested at schools where SROs have been assigned than at schools without them.

And we get an update on Gov. Ned Lamont's bid for a "global solution" in the state's ever-evolving casino expansion debate. Last week, Lamont hesitantly conceded that a deal between Connecticut's two tribal casino operators and MGM Resorts isn't likely to come before the end of this year's regular legislative session. What happens now?

In their heyday, Willimantic's Hooker and Nathan Hale Hotels were considered among the most lavish accomodations halfway between New York and Boston.
But they have long sat idle. Most residents know little about the Hooker's past other than that, by the 1980s and 1990s, the decaying structure turned into a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-2heroin.artoct21-story.html">notoriously gruesome</a>&nbsp;boarding house for heroin addicts.
A&nbsp;<a href="https://portal.ct.gov/AG/Press-Releases/2019-Press-Releases/AG-TONG-ANNOUNCES-SETTLEMENT-WITH-DEVELOPERS-FOR-REHABILITATION-OF-MAIN-STREET-WILLIMANTIC">settlement agreement</a>&nbsp;reached between a developer, the state, and historic preservationists finally gives the community hope that the block on which they stand may soon be revived. Only it will be without the Hooker Hotel, which&nbsp;<a href="https://thechronicle.com/stories/20190502HOOKERHALE.php">can be demolished</a>&nbsp;under the agreement.
Today, we look at the compromise and what it means for blighted properties deemed historic in other Connecticut communities.
We also discuss a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ctvoices.org/publications/policing-connecticuts-hallways-prevalence-and-impact-school-resource-officers-connectic">new report</a>&nbsp;on school resource officers that finds Latino students are&nbsp;<a href="https://ctmirror.org/2019/04/18/study-latinos-students-more-likely-to-be-arrested-at-schools-with-police-officers/">six times more likely</a>&nbsp;to be arrested at schools where SROs have been assigned than at schools without them.
And we get an update on Gov. Ned Lamont's bid for a "global solution" in the state's ever-evolving casino expansion debate. Last week, Lamont&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/governor-fumbles-tribal-negotiations-says-sports-betting-gaming-bills-likely-now">hesitantly conceded</a>&nbsp;that a deal between Connecticut's two tribal casino operators and MGM Resorts&nbsp;<a href="https://ctmirror.org/2019/05/08/lamont-sees-no-deal-on-gambling-in-19-session/">isn't likely to come</a>&nbsp;before the end of this year's regular legislative session. What happens now?

Produced by Connecticut Public, 'Where We Live' puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Where We Live is a call-in talk show about who we are in Connecticut and our place in the world.

Where We Live

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

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