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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

CT Small Businesses Survived Pandemic, Face New Challenges

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Friday, September 9, 2022   

Although many small businesses in Connecticut have weathered the pandemic, it has not been the easiest of circumstances. And how are they doing now?

Small businesses make up almost half of Connecticut's economy, and they needed more than $14 billion in support from the Small Business Administration to stay afloat.

Despite these tough years, said Catherine Marx, district director of the SBA's Connecticut district office, she's been inspired to watch how well they've dealt with this call to action.

"Small businesses deal with challenges every day," she said. "The pandemic just layered on such enormous challenges, and watching small businesses pivot was amazing. Watching a restaurant pivot from in-service dining to takeout and doing a spectacular job of it."

About 1,300 restaurants in Connecticut received SBA funding of more than $300 million to help them through the pandemic, but more than 3,300 applied. Marx said the SBA programs created to help businesses through that time are now being evaluated for their necessity in the future.

Labor shortages, inflation and lingering supply-chain issues are the latest challenges small businesses face. Marx said she is seeing some business owners selling their small companies and moving on to newer things. She said she finds it encouraging that so many people still have the entrepreneurial spirit.

"I think there was something really interesting that happened during the pandemic. Whether it was because more people had time at home, or they had a change in priorities, but many people today are still starting new businesses," she said. "So, they're willing to face all of those challenges as we move ahead."

She said the SBA sees every day that business owners are rising to meet the challenges, to remain part of the fabric of their communities and important pieces of the state's economy.


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The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

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Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

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Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

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Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

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Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

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New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Social Issues

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Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

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Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

 

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