The Storyline

Millennials who are starting businesses and pursuing their careers and passions in southeastern Connecticut

The Day recently launched a series looking at millennials who are bucking demographic trends in Connecticut by staying to pursue their careers and passions in the southeastern part of the state. We talked to reporters how and why they chose individuals they featured. We also address concerns from some of the commenters on theday.com about the series.

Theater marquee draws lots of attention, a tale of two local businesses, Gold Star Bridge detours and more

On Wednesday, Dec. 20 we ran a story by Rick Koster about what was spelled out on the marquee of the Garde Arts Center, which read in all capital letters:

FINAL APPEARANCE: TRANSGENDER, FETUS, VULNERABLE, DIVERSITY, SCIENCE-BASED, EVIDENCE-BASED and ENTITLEMENT

It was a message in response to a report by the Washington Post about the list of words and phrases that the Department of Health and Human Services reportedly presented to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that should be avoided when preparing next year’s budget. The story on theday.com garnered a very big response from our readers - at the time of this recording, it had 165 comments, plus many more on our Facebook page. We respond to some of the comments from our readers about the accuracy of the news reports.

We also talk to reporters about recent and upcoming stories, including about the future of two local businesses, trash collection in Ledyard, Navy families dealing with day-to-day life while spouses are away, and the ongoing issues with repair work on the Gold Star Bridge.

A reporter transitions from the serenity of ballet to the snowy scene of a fatal shooting

This week Carlos Virgen talks to arts and culture writer Mary Biekert about a recent Saturday when she went from observing a sublime artistry of ballerina Sara Mearns at The Garde in New London to trudging around in cold, wet shoes on a slushy snow-filled  street in another part of New London trying to piece together what happened at the scene of a fatal shooting. It’s just one example of how journalists have to be able to quickly and confidently pivot at any given moment of a day. 

Stories from this week and the coming weekend that impact southeastern Connecticut

This week I talk to reporters about stories they are working on or have recently written and ask them to give us an overview and to tell us why the stories might have an impact on our communities.

The Day newsroom tackles issues of trust and transparency in journalism

This week on The Storyline we talk about a project called Trusting News that the newsroom is taking part in. It’s a project to help newsroom increase trust, transparency and accessibility with the communities they serve. I talked to The Day’s publisher Gary Farrugia about what differentiates The Day from other news organizations. I also spoke to reporter Erica Moser and Director of multimedia Peter Huoppi about what the newsroom plans to do to tackle the issues of trust and transparency.

Costco a no-go in East Lyme and controversial shellfishing in the Niantic River

Environmental reporter Martha Shanahan talks to us about a controversial commercial shellfishing project in the Niantic River and Kim Drelich gets us up to speed on the proposed Costco development in East Lyme.

Racial incidents in the Coast Guard Academy, Navy reviews it's training and we finally have a state budget

This week, we are joined by reporter Julia Bergman who talked to us about recent racial incidents at the Coast Guard Academy, and she caught us up on the recent Navy review of its training and basic seamanship following two deadly collisions involving Navy surface ships. Reporter Erica Moser also stopped by to give us an update on the state budget that was signed by Governor Malloy.

A police manhunt, following a home invasion and stabbing, closes part of a Norwich neighborhood

Reporter Lindsay Boyle joined the podcast to talk about her reporting on a massive manhunt in Norwhich connected to a home invasion and stabbing that occurred on Saturday, October 21. On Tuesday, October 24, Norwich police searched for Brandon Uzialko who was seen in the Greeneville part of Norwich. Uzialko was found dead later that night. Lindsay also gives a preview of a story she's working on about tactical training for K9 units from across the Northeast.

Also, on Wednesday, October 18, two people were killed in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 95 northbound between exits 70 and 71. One of the vehicles was a truck pulling an excavator on a trailer and another was a car, which caught on fire. The roughly 9-mile stretch of road, which makes up about 5 percent of Interstate 95 in Connecticut, has accounted for more than 17 percent of its fatal wrecks over the past almost two years.

We want to hear from you. What do you think law enforcement and state and local officials should do to improve the safety of that part of I-95 – between exits 70 and 76 in Old Lyme and East Lyme – and how they can reduce the number of injury and fatal car wrecks? Give us a call at 860-701-4308 to share your thoughts. Or email me a voice memo at c.virgen@theday.com. Make sure you include your name and the town you live in. We may use your comment in a future episode of The Storyline.

London officials invite Fitch High School students to London for parade

Westminster City Councilor Robert Davis, who also has the title of deputy lord mayor, came with Bob Bone, executive director of London’s New Year’s Day Parade and Festival, to present a formal invitation. Groton education reporter Erica Moser was at Fitch High School as the marching band and chamber choir got the invitation to perform in the 2019 London New Year's Day Parade and Festival.

What's it like to be a submariner? We spent 48 hours on the USS John Warner

Military and defense reporter Julia Bergman spent 48 hours aboard the USS John Warner and she talked to us about the experience and what sailors had to say about life as a submariner.