Connecticut News & Current Events

Volunteer Charlotte Meucci and consultant David Juros unbox fruits and vegetables at the hospital's Food Resource Center. (Courtesy of Hartford Healthcare)

Friday, May 27, 2022

'Food As Medicine' Facility Opens for Patients in Hartford

One of Connecticut's largest health systems launched a new resource in Hartford this month, aimed at helping patients access healthy and nutritious …

Connecticut's National Estuarine Research Reserve is expected to provide economic benefits as well. Long Island Sound is responsible for about $9.4 billion annually in economic impact in the region, according to a study. (Adobe Stock)

CT to Commemorate Securing First National Estuarine Research Reserve

Connecticut is celebrating its first estuary reserve, which will help identify environmental threats to waterways and natural resources. …

In 2020, Connecticut had 219 firearm deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Hartford Launches Hospital-Based Gun-Violence Intervention Program

With firearm deaths in Connecticut and across the country on the rise, a new initiative in Hartford aims to interrupt gun violence through a …

According to the Guttmacher Institute, 26 states are certain or likely to ban abortion if the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case Roe v. Wade is overturned. (Adobe Stock)

CT Gov Signs Law Protecting Medical Providers, Patients Seeking Abortion Care

Gov. Ned Lamont and Connecticut lawmakers held a ceremonial bill signing Tuesday for a new law protecting doctors who provide and patients who seek …

Recent data show the number of young people in Connecticut admitted to juvenile-detention centers dropped 87% between 2005 and 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Youth-Justice Advocates Concerned as Crime Bill Heads to Gov's Desk

A youth crime bill passed by the Connecticut General Assembly has been sent to Gov. Ned Lamont's desk, even as some youth-justice advocates view the …

A 2020 survey found 81% of older Connecticut residents say if they ever need long-term care, they'd prefer to receive that care at home. (Adobe Stock)

New State Budget Helps CT's Older Residents Age at Home

The Connecticut General Assembly has passed a $24 billion state budget this week, which now awaits Gov. Ned Lamont's signature. It includes multiple …

Reproductive Freedom Defense Act Heads to CT Governor's Desk

Connecticut lawmakers, state officials and pro-choice advocates gathered at the state Capitol on Tuesday, one day after a leaked draft opinion …

The Gallup-Lumina report also found the financial cost of college is an important reason some students don't continue their education. The average student debt for Connecticut residents is $35,000. (Adobe Stock)

College Students Who "Stopped Out" Want to Return, But Face Challenges

In the wake of disruptions and losses due to COVID-19, research shows the majority of college students in Connecticut and beyond who left school over …

According to research from the Center for American Progress, 44% of Connecticut residents live in a "child care desert" where there are not enough options. (Adobe Stock)

Children's Trust Fund Proposal an Investment in CT Families

A proposal in Connecticut would create a Children's Trust Fund, to support a state Child Tax Credit and early child care initiatives. Advocates said …

If passed, Connecticut would join Oregon as the only other state to have legislation on the books that bars employers from making so-called "captive audience" meetings mandatory at workplaces. (Adobe Stock)

CT Bill Would Protect Workers in 'Captive Audience' Meetings

A bill making its way through the Connecticut General Assembly would protect workers from attending employer-led meetings about politics, religion or …

To kick off this week of action, the Husky 4 Immigrants coalition held a rally in front of the State Capitol in Hartford. (Husky 4 Immigrants)

CT Week of Action Calls for Health Coverage for Undocumented Residents

Connecticut advocates are hosting a week of action, asking Gov. Ned Lamont and legislators to expand HUSKY Health, the state's Medicaid program…

Reforms that advocates say helped lower youth incarceration rates include the state raising the minimum age for which adolescents could be charged with most crimes as an adult to 18 in 2012. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Number of Youth Incarcerated in US Much Higher Than Documented

Young people in the U.S. were incarcerated in juvenile facilities 240,000 times in 2019, according to a new report, and current methods significantly …

The Connecticut Health Foundation report suggests local public health departments can play a bigger role in addressing disparities. In a 2021 survey, 86% of respondents said they had a great or fair amount of trust in local health officials and health-care workers. (Adobe Stock)

CT Report: After 2 Years of COVID, Lessons Learned on Racial-Health Equity

March marks two years since COVID-19 first devastated the lives of people across the country. A new report aims to look at lessons learned in …

Since the law took effect in 1997, Connecticut has gone from charging people $31,755 a year for<br />their incarceration to $90,885, a roughly 280% increase. (Adobe Stock) — Since the law took effect in 1997, Connecticut has gone from charging people $31,755 a year for
their incarceration to $90,885, a roughly 280% increase. (Adobe Stock)

ACLU Class-Action Suit Challenges CT Prison Debt Law

The ACLU of Connecticut has sued the governor's and attorney general's offices, saying the state's prison debt law violates the excessive-fines …

According to the League of Women Voters, the redrawing of state legislative district lines has a ripple effect on the number and locations of polling places in Connecticut. (Adobe Stock)

Next Step in CT Redistricting Process: Voting Districts

With the once-a-decade redistricting process finalized in Connecticut, good-government groups say it is time to keep an eye on the next stage…

Connecticut advocates say HB 5310 complements President Joe Biden's nursing-home reforms announced in last week's State of the Union address, which include increased funding to support health and safety inspections of facilities. (Adobe Stock)

CT Bill Requires Nursing-Home Transparency in Medicaid Spending

Legislation in Connecticut's Joint Committee on Aging would require nursing homes to spend at least 90% of Medicaid funding they receive on direct pat…

CT Advocates: Addressing Social Challenges That Lead to Youth Crime is Key

Connecticut Senate Republicans have released a draft bill aiming to provide more work opportunities while also addressing a rise in crime among young …

Connecticut's Senate Bill 88 would allow patients diagnosed with a terminal illness and less than six months to live the option of medical aid in dying. They would first need to be diagnosed by two different doctors who could speak to their mental capacity to make the decision. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Voters Favor Candidates Who Support Medical Aid in Dying

As Connecticut considers legalizing medical aid in dying for people with terminal illnesses, a new poll reveals voters are more likely to back …

An estimated 470,000 households in Connecticut pay at least 30% of their income toward housing, according to Growing Together Connecticut. (Adobe Stock)

'Growing Together CT' Aims at State's Affordable Housing Crisis

A new alliance has formed to address Connecticut's affordable housing crisis, with a focus on its urban centers. "Growing Together Connecticut" is …

The legislation would allow terminally ill, mentally capable adults in Connecticut who have six months to live, as diagnosed by two separate physicians, the chance to administer lethal medication. (Adobe Stock)

Aid In Dying Advocates in CT Hope for Another Push This Legislative Session

As the legislative session in Hartford kicks off this month, advocates are hopeful that the General Assembly will pass a medical aid-in-dying bill …

With the expiration of the federal Child Tax Credit, the Recovery For All Coalition is calling for a state-level child tax credit of $600 per child for families earning less than $210,000 a year. (Adobe Stock)

CT Coalition Calls for Public Investments Ahead of Legislative Session

A coalition of Connecticut's labor and community organizations has sent a letter to Gov. Ned Lamont and lawmakers outlining public investments they …

A spokesperson for the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services says COVID outbreaks among staffers and patients have led to temporary halts to addiction-treatment admissions during the pandemic. (Google Maps)

Union: CT Must Address Staffing at Addiction Treatment Centers

A Connecticut health-care workers' union is raising concerns over what it calls a "staffing crisis" in addiction services that led the state to close …

Nearly 6% of Connecticut residents don't have health insurance, according to a report from Access Health CT. (Adobe Stock)

CT's Insurance Broker Academy Aims to Reduce Health Disparities

Connecticut's health-insurance exchange, known as Access Health CT, has launched a first-of-its-kind program for reducing health disparities and the …

The organizations that are part of the National League of Cities grant say they hope to engage with 200 to 300 young people in Bridgeport during the 18-month initiative. (Adobe Stock)

Bridgeport Initiative Aims to Break Down STEM Career Barriers

Bridgeport is one of six U.S. cities selected for an 18-month project kicking off this month, to create more education and career opportunities for …

Connecticut's National Estuarine Research Reserve is expected to provide economic benefits too. Long Island Sound is responsible for about $9.4 billion annually in economic impact in the<br />region, according to a study. (Adobe Stock) — Connecticut's National Estuarine Research Reserve is expected to provide economic benefits too. Long Island Sound is responsible for about $9.4 billion annually in economic impact in the
region, according to a study. (Adobe Stock)

CT's Estuarine Research Reserve to Focus on Preserving Long Island Sound

Connecticut has secured its first National Estuarine Research Reserve along part of the state's Long Island Sound. Conservationists applaud the news …

Doulas are trained to provide physical, emotional and informational support to pregnant people during labor, birth and postpartum. (Adobe Stock)

Grant Supports Doulas in CT Pushing for State Policy Changes

A coalition of doulas in Connecticut hopes to expand their participation in public policy discussions about the care they deliver with the support of …

An estimated 600,000 employees in Connecticut currently have no way to save for retirement. (Adobe Stock)

New CT Program Makes Saving for Retirement More Accessible

Half of all households in Connecticut are at risk of not being able to pay for everyday expenses in retirement. A new state-run savings program will …

Other recommendations in the report from Brown University include increasing the number of public hearings for bills, especially late in the legislative session. (Adobe Stock)

Report Unpacks Influence on CT's Climate, Energy Policies

Brown University researchers found in Connecticut's efforts to combat climate change, electric and gas utilities spent the most on climate and energy …

Other policy recommendations in the report include mandating that officers complete 40 hours of racial bias and youth-specific training prior to interacting with students. (Adobe Stock)

Report: School Officers Don't Make Students Feel Safer

A new report shows the presence of police officers in school settings contributed to more referrals to law enforcement, particularly for students of …

If passed, Build Back Better also would provide an above-the-line deduction for the first $250 of a worker's union dues. (Adobe Stock)

CT Labor Groups: BBB's Workplace Reform Policies Must Pass

The future of the Build Back Better Act may be in doubt in Congress, but Connecticut labor leaders say the bill would make key workplace reforms with …

Over the last 15 years, Connecticut has significantly reduced the number of children referred to the state's juvenile court system. (Adobe Stock)

Amid Car Theft Uptick, CT Advocates Want Youth Voices Heard in Solutions

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Officials are considering ways to handle an increase in car thefts and other crimes in Connecticut. Juvenile-justice advocates …

The new congressional, House, and Senate maps are expected to take effect by February, in time for the August primary elections. (Adobe Stock)

State Supreme Court Deadline for CT Congressional Redistricting Plan Looms

HARTFORD, Conn. -- As Connecticut residents await the release of a congressional redistricting map, some voting-rights advocates say the mapmaking …

The semipalmated sandpiper may not be one of the most common shorebirds in the Americas if its population continues to decrease, as it has for four decades. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT Can Play Key Part in Migratory Bird Conservation

GREENWICH, Conn. -- North America has lost three billion birds since 1970, and a new report shows how Connecticut, a major stopover for migratory …

From left, Andrea Comer, committee chairwoman, Connecticut Social Equity Council, and Carlton Highsmith, Joseph Carbone and Fred McKinney announce the Alliance for Cannabis Equity on Tuesday in Hamden, Conn. (The Narrative Project)

Alliance: Prioritize Racial Justice in CT Marijuana Industry

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Connecticut is among several states working on what its new recreational marijuana industry will look like, and a new coalition …

Only one-third of respondents said they felt that the needs of the LGBTQ community in Connecticut were represented in government programs and other services in the state, according to the survey. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: LGBTQ Community Health-Care Access Needs Improvement

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Advocates said a first-of-its-kind survey of the health and human-service needs of Connecticut's LGBTQ community, published this …

The CDC found drug overdose deaths increased by more than 28% over the past year ending in April compared with 2019. (felipecaparros/Adobe Stock)

CT Treatment Pilot Trains Providers on Addiction Stigma, Pain Management

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Drug overdose deaths across the country are on the rise, and a new pilot program kicks off this month in Connecticut to help …

For the Livable Communities grant, AARP Connecticut prioritized funding projects that enhance affordable-housing options for people age 50 and older and create safe public spaces for older adults as well. (Adobe Stock)

AARP CT Grants Support Enhancing Outdoor Rec, Community Spaces

HARTFORD, Conn. -- The latest round of an AARP Connecticut program will provide grants of up to $5,000 to organizations and municipalities improving …

The Great Meadows Marsh is an important habitat for horseshoe crabs, blue crabs and fish such as the Atlantic silverside and menhaden. (Audubon Connecticut)

Restoration Project at Great Meadows Marsh Aims to Invest in CT's Coastline

STRATFORD, Conn. -- A restoration project broke ground yesterday that will revive one of Connecticut's largest salt marshes thanks to a $4 million …

Connecticut's Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services says the state is closing Hartford's 10-bed mental-health treatment center because the building's lease was not renewed. (Adobe Stock)

CT Closing Mental Health, Addiction Facility for Young Adults

HARTFORD, Conn. - Connecticut plans to close a transitional living facility in Hartford next month for people ages 18 to 25, which means fewer …

Nearly 63% of 12- to 15-year-olds in Connecticut are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. (Adobe Stock)

CT Health Providers Preparing COVID Vaccine Rollout for Kids 5 to 11

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- During an interview with ABC on Sunday, Dr. Anthony Fauci said it's likely the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will be available for kids …

AARP's Veterans and Military Families Health Benefits Navigator is a one-stop resource that veterans and their caregivers can use to better understand their health-care options. (Adobe Stock)

AARP Creates New Tool to Make Accessing Health Benefits Easier for Vets

HARTFORD, Conn. -- There are more than 200,000 military veterans in Connecticut, and a new tool aims to make it easier for them to access health care …

The town of Simsbury plans to preserve the remaining tobacco barns on the Meadowood farmland, some of which have been lost to solar-farm development. (Kesha Lambert)

Town Purchases, Preserves CT Tobacco Farm Where MLK Jr. Worked

SIMSBURY, Conn. - A northern Connecticut town now owns a former tobacco farm where Martin Luther King Jr. spent some of his teenage years. More …

The proposed reserve includes a section of the Connecticut River, which contributes 75% of the freshwater found in the Long Island Sound. (Adobe Stock)

CT Close to Establishing Its First National Estuarine Research Reserve

OLD LYME, Conn. -- Connecticut soon will join a majority of East Coast states in having a federally recognized estuary, which could help identify …

Based on projections, Charter Oak Health Center thinks its community health workers could decrease asthma-related child hospitalizations by 32% and save $142,000 in health-care costs. (Adobe Stock)

Community Health-Workers to Address Childhood Asthma in CT

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Asthma is one of the major reasons why children miss school in Connecticut, and a new grant program will support improving asthma …

The $184 million that Connecticut has secured for long-term care workers is also supposed to solidify pension contributions for these workers. (Cloe Poisson for SEIU 1199NE)

CT Group-Home Workers Could Strike Over Wages, Insurance Costs

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Caregivers at group homes in Connecticut have sent strike notices to two agencies after failure to reach contract agreements to …

One of Connecticut's largest job sectors is government. The growth rate gap in that sector<br />has widened and is a contributing factor in the state's weak job growth. (Adobe Stock) — One of Connecticut's largest job sectors is government. The growth rate gap in that sector
has widened and is a contributing factor in the state's weak job growth. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Connecticut's Economic Growth Still Slowed by Great Recession

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Connecticut's economy has shrunk since the 2008 Great Recession, and combined with highly inequitable wage distribution, that has …

A new report says a 29 percent reduction in transportation emissions from 2014 is needed to meet a 2030 clean air target. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT Not On Track To Meet Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals

HARTFORD, Conn. - A new report reveals Connecticut is not on track to meet either of its 2030 or 2050 greenhouse gas emissions goals, and advocates …

According to the Connecticut Department of Public Health, fentanyl was involved in 85% of drug overdoses in the state in 2020. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — According to the Connecticut Department of Public Health, fentanyl was involved in 85% of drug overdoses in the state in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

CT Addiction-Prevention Groups Seek Aid to Lower Fatal Overdoses

NEW LONDON, Conn. -- Addiction-prevention specialists in Connecticut are pushing for investments in substance-use disorder programs to combat the …

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