A look at family — from family roots, family recipes, and family businesses to chosen families and more. We're joined by the team at CITY Magazine to explore "The Family Issue." Our guests:

• Leah Stacy, editor-in-chief of CITY Magazine
• Patrick Hosken, arts reporter for CITY Magazine
• Ryan Williamson, executive director of CITY Magazine and director of digital products for WXXI Public Media
• Flo Cardella, contributor to CITY Magazine
• Chris Ziogas, partner with Sagra Italia, Tapas 177, and Event 180
• Ava Bliss, director of events and marketing for Sagra Italia, Tapas 177, and Event 180
• Meili Shepard, contributor to CITY Magazine
• Patricia Roesch, editor of "Magic Dragon"
• Joanne Andrews, art director of "Magic Dragon"

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Connections is supported by listeners like you. Head to our donation page to become a WXXI member today, support the show, and help us close the gap created by the rescission of federal funding.

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Connections airs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter.

Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here.

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Brighton Town Supervisor Bill Moehle wanted to serve one more term, but he got challenged by a member of his own party — Brighton Town Councilman Nate Salzman. It set up a tense designation battle, which Salzman won by a slim margin. Now, Moehle is stepping aside to allow for new leadership. But some told Salzman he was running too soon and should have waited his turn. We discuss his decision to take on an established Democrat and the difficult designation that ensued. In studio:

• Nate Salzman, candidate for Brighton town supervisor

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Connections is supported by listeners like you. Head to our donation page to become a WXXI member today, support the show, and help us close the gap created by the rescission of federal funding.

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Connections airs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter.

Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here.

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In January, we welcomed a panel of Iranian Americans to discuss their hopes for the future of Iran. Now that the Ayatollah is dead, a range of possibilities is in play. They discuss their hopes and their fears, as war rages in Iran. In studio:

• Niaz Abdolrahim, Ph.D., associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Rochester
• Pouya Seifzadeh, Ph.D., associate professor of strategy at SUNY Geneseo and local business owner of Funtastic Adventure Park, Bounce Hopper, and Ontario Play & Cafe

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Connections is supported by listeners like you. Head to our donation page to become a WXXI member today, support the show, and help us close the gap created by the rescission of federal funding.

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Connections airs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter.

Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here.

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"We want the ones who's stealing the cars. We want the ones who's robbing. We want the ones who's failing with their schoolwork." That's what staff members at Teen Empowerment (TE) say about connecting with local young people. The nonprofit works alongside teens to foster peace, equity, and justice in the community. As reported by WXXI's Noelle Evans and Max Schulte, the center recently opened a new location at the corner of Magee and Dewey avenues — an area on Rochester's north side that has been the site of numerous deaths by gun violence in recent years. TE leaders say it an opportunity to offer young people a different pathway forward. This hour, we sit down with some of the teens and a Teen Empowerment leader to discuss their work, their goals, and what the new hub means for their mission. In studio:

• Shanterra Mitchum, program director at Teen Empowerment
• Sahiyra Dillard, program coordinator at Teen Empowerment
• Emerra Moore, Teen Empowerment participant
• Paul Ross Jr., Teen Empowerment participant

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Connections is supported by listeners like you. Head to our donation page to become a WXXI member today, support the show, and help us close the gap created by the rescission of federal funding.

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Connections airs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter.

Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here.

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It's our weekly news roundup with WXXI journalists. First, deputy editor Jeremy Moule explains proposed legislation that would enable employees to set aside pre-tax money for commuting expenses. Then, Gino Fanelli reports that the number of non-criminals held at the federal immigration detention facility in Batavia has soared in recent months. We talk about how that reflects national trends. And finally, some music. We're joined by local artists in advance of a concert featuring songs of peace and protest. In studio:

• Jeremy Moule, deputy editor for WXXI News
• Gino Fanelli, investigations and City Hall reporter for WXXI News
• John Dady, singer, instrumentalist, and musician with the Dady Brothers; and co-producer of the RiseUpROC concert
• John Kelley, musician in Kelley's Heroes, and co-producer of the RiseUpROC concert
• Paul Vincent Nunes, leader of The Occasional Saints and The P.V. Nunes Band, and co-producer of the RiseUpROC concert

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Connections is supported by listeners like you. Head to our donation page to become a WXXI member today, support the show, and help us close the gap created by the rescission of federal funding.

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Connections airs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter.

Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here.

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Families in rural areas of New York say it is increasingly difficult to find child care. According to a report from the Children's Agenda, seven rural counties in Western New York shows can be characterized as child care deserts, where there are more than three children under the age of five per licensed child care slot for children in that age group. Structural and funding issues are contributing to the challenges, and providers point to low child care educator pay as a critical factor in the availability of reliable care. So what can be done? Our guests discuss it:

• Pete Nabozny, director of policy for The Children's Agenda
• Rachel Bonsignore, executive director of Liftoff Western New York
• Kathleen Valley, executive board member for Praising Kids Child Care Center in Medina
• Taryn Moyle, child care resource center program manager for Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, Inc.
• Lindsey Dailey, parent

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Connections is supported by listeners like you. Head to our donation page to become a WXXI member today, support the show, and help us close the gap created by the rescission of federal funding.

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Connections airs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter.

Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here.

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OpenAI's Sam Altman recently said that artificial intelligence programs have become more energy efficient than human beings. Google's Larry Page said that it is absurd to think that AI can be stopped in any meaningful way. And Jack Clark of Anthropic said that new Claude models are developing characteristics that its designers do not understand. Artificial intelligence is moving very quickly, and we sit down with someone who works in that world to digest the changes. In studio:

• Max Irwin, president at Bonsai.io

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Connections is supported by listeners like you. Head to our donation page to become a WXXI member today, support the show, and help us close the gap created by the rescission of federal funding.

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Connections airs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter.

Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here.

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We continue the conversation about President Trump's State of the Union address. Our guests this hour are local Republicans who offer their perspectives on the president's message about a range of issues, including the state of the economy, immigration policies, health care, and more. In studio:

• Louis Sabo III, secretary of the Rochester City Republican Committee
• Marcus C. Williams, chairman of the Rochester City Republican Committee

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Connections is supported by listeners like you. Head to our donation page to become a WXXI member today, support the show, and help us close the gap created by the rescission of federal funding.

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Connections airs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter.

Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here.

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Do you have a story that needs to be shared? Pitch your story to Connections.