Brian Shactman interviews Austin Florian, an Olympic skeleton athlete from Southington, about his experiences and future plans. Florian describes the Olympic Games as a dream come true, highlighting the lack of interaction with other athletes due to different clusters. He shares his journey from skiing at Mount Southington to becoming a top skeleton racer, emphasizing the importance of physical combines and driving by feel. Florian discusses the challenges of funding and equipment in the sport, his offseason training routines, and his aspirations for future Olympic participation. He also mentions the support from his community and the importance of mental resilience in overcoming setbacks.
Brian Shactman interviews Larry Ward, President of the University of Hartford, and Vin Baker, NBA star and assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks, about a new outdoor athletics and recreation complex named after Baker. The facility, set to open in the fall, includes six basketball courts, six tennis courts (one for pickleball), and a lacrosse bounce back wall. Baker, who overcame addiction, emphasizes the significance of the honor, as it marks the start of his journey. Ward highlights the facility's integration of varsity athletes and the broader student and community experience. The project was fully funded by alumni.
Brian Shactman discusses with Megan Portfolio from Yankee Institute the issue of out-of-state residents exploiting Connecticut's bottle deposit law by redeeming bottles in Connecticut for a higher deposit rate than in their home states. Portfolio explains that the problem exists because Connecticut's deposit rate is higher than its neighbors, leading to fraud. She suggests that lowering the deposit rate to five cents could help, but notes that this would not completely solve the issue. Additionally, they discuss HB 5156, a bill that would create a climate super fund by charging polluters for environmental damage, which could increase costs for consumers.