Áine Pennello
Report for America Environmental and Climate Change ReporterÁine Pennello is Connecticut Public’s environment and climate change reporter. She is a member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to cover underreported issues and communities.
In 2026, she won a first-place award from the Public Media Journalists Association for her story on how scientists track West Nile virus across Connecticut. The honor came in the Science/Technology Feature category for Division E, representing the country's largest public media newsrooms. That same year, she won second place for Best Radio Story from the Connecticut chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. The story was also part of Connecticut Public’s award-winning entry for Overall Excellence in the regional Edward R. Murrow Awards.
Before joining Connecticut Public, Áine worked as a reporter and Morning Edition newscaster at WUFT in Gainesville, Florida. Her reporting there covered education, health care and local government, earning two regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for stories on student protests at the University of Florida and local reactions to the war in Gaza.
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The natural gas release in Oxford is in the top 10% of all nationwide releases reported to the federal government since 2010. -
A reason for this year’s vibrancy? A fungal disease that causes leaves on maple trees to turn brown, shrivel up, and fall off early has been less prevalent this year. -
Trumbull's only data center, located at 80 Merritt Blvd., has been in operation for more than 50 years and is expected to be converted into a "high density, AI-ready" facility. -
UConn is looking to build a golf practice facility for its men’s team. The site will ultimately be smaller than a golf course and will not be open to the public. -
Rep. Geraldo Reyes Jr. said he will be joined by members of the state’s Environment and Energy & Technology Committees -
Environmentalists say the development could strain the island’s already limited access to water and hurt local agriculture -
While Hartford only has 375 documented trees-of-heaven, the tree often grows on private property and can sprout quickly, meaning the city likely has thousands more. -
The town is believed to be the first in Connecticut to install an wildlife escape ramp in a municipal pool -
Los funcionarios estatales probarán el programa en otoño y lo pondrán a disposición del público antes de que termine el año. -
State officials say they’ll pilot the program in the fall and have it available to the public by the end of the year.
