Chris Polansky

Hartford

reporter @wnpr / Trout Fishing In America the dog / one-time Bart Harley Jarvis of the Oklahoma press corps / CUNY guy, Jersey guy / he/him

Articles

XL Center no more: Downtown Hartford’s arena has a new name

5 days ago | ctpublic.org | Chris Polansky

Published June 2, 2025 at 5:06 PM EDT First, it was the Hartford Civic Center. Then, it was christened the XL Center. Now, the downtown Hartford multi-use arena has yet another new name: PeoplesBank Arena. At a Monday press event held on the arena floor, dignitaries and executives feted the purchase of the naming rights by Massachusetts-based PeoplesBank. Bank CEO Tom Senecal said the decision was spurred on by a rising Hartford.
'He still has that stain': Friends, critics react to Trump pardon of former CT Gov. John Rowland

1 week ago | ctpublic.org | Chris Polansky |John Henry Smith |JOhn Smith

Connecticut Public Radio | By Chris Polansky, Published May 29, 2025 at 4:10 PM EDT Connecticut politicians current and former continue to weigh in on President Donald Trump’s Wednesday pardon of twice-convicted former Gov. John Rowland. Mike Lawlor is a former Democratic state lawmaker, who served on an impeachment committee during Rowland’s first corruption scandal in 2004. He said Rowland had left an “indelible stain” on Connecticut.
Electric Boat strike averted

2 weeks ago | ctpublic.org | Chris Polansky

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.
Hartford is interviewing for a new police chief. Residents want someone with ties to the city

3 weeks ago | nhpr.org | Chris Polansky

The Hartford community is speaking out about what they want in a new police chief. Residents packed the room Tuesday night at a summit hosted by the North Hartford Public Safety Coalition, which has released a new report based on community input into the search. Pastor A.J. Johnson of Urban Hope Refuge Church opened the night by recounting recent acts of violence in Hartford, including a quadruple shooting last week and a funeral shooting at a church.
'Really tough': AmeriCorps cuts hit Connecticut nonprofits, volunteers

4 weeks ago | nhpr.org | Chris Polansky

Trump administration cuts to the federal community service agency AmeriCorps are having major impacts on nonprofits and corps members in Connecticut. According to the Connecticut Commission on Community Service in the state Office of Higher Education, 183 AmeriCorps members have had their service terminated, impacting 46 organizations reliant on their help. Their missions range from disaster relief to health care access, from academic mentoring to environmental conservation.
A pesar de los recortes federales, IRIS sigue ayudando a los inmigrantes: “Lo estamos logrando”

4 weeks ago | ctpublic.org | Chris Polansky

Published May 9, 2025 at 2:16 PM EDT Read in EnglishEn la Iglesia Congregacional de South Glastonbury, Judy Doering conversa sobre su labor de voluntaria en beneficio de quienes acaban de llegar al país. “Es como un llamado para mi”, explica Doering. Esta tarde se ha dedicado a ayudar a una familia afgana con su solicitud para obtener beneficios del programa WIC.
CT bill aims to make it easier for the incarcerated to vote

1 month ago | nhpr.org | Chris Polansky

A bill making its way through the Connecticut General Assembly would streamline the process of voting for those behind bars who haven’t lost their right to vote. In Connecticut, only those convicted of felonies who are currently confined to a sentence of imprisonment lose their voting rights. Those convicted of certain election-related felonies lose the right to vote until the discharge of their probation or parole.
CT's IRIS forges ahead in helping new arrivals, despite funding cuts

1 month ago | ctmirror.org | Chris Polansky |Connecticut Public |Gabby DeBenedictis

At the Congregational Church in South Glastonbury, Judy Doering is discussing her volunteer work on behalf of new arrivals to the country. “It kind of is a calling for me,” Doering says. She’s just spent her afternoon helping an Afghan family apply for WIC benefits. Doering’s group of church volunteers helps new arrivals with everything — finding housing, grocery shopping, English lessons, trips to the mosque.
'We're getting it done': IRIS forges ahead in helping new arrivals, despite federal cuts

1 month ago | nhpr.org | Chris Polansky

At the Congregational Church in South Glastonbury, Judy Doering is discussing her volunteer work on behalf of new arrivals to the country. “It kind of is a calling for me,” Doering says. She’s just spent her afternoon helping an Afghan family apply for WIC benefits. Doering’s group of church volunteers helps new arrivals with everything – finding housing, grocery shopping, English lessons, trips to the mosque.
New Haven nonprofits team up to keep ‘vital’ food pantry open

1 month ago | ctpublic.org | Chris Polansky

Published April 23, 2025 at 2:41 PM EDT Two New Haven nonprofit organizations are collaborating to ensure a Fair Haven food pantry stays open, operating – and expanding. The Hamilton Street food pantry has been operated by Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services, or IRIS, since 2022 and serves up to 650 families each week, the nonprofit says.