Connecticut News & Current Events

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)

Monday, September 20, 2021

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 …

Connecticut gets 3% of the refugee population coming to the United States every 12 months, according to the Connecticut Immigrant and Refugee Coalition. (Adobe Stock)

CT Gears Up to Aid Hundreds of Afghan Refugees

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- As hundreds of thousands more people seek to leave Afghanistan after the U.S. withdrawal and Taliban takeover, Connecticut …

According to the Connecticut Audubon Society, the most common species with symptoms of the unidentified disease range from bluebirds to American robins and European starlings, to songbirds and hummingbirds. (Adobe Stock)

CT Bird Deaths Decrease; Cause of Illness Remains a Mystery

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Fewer wild birds are dying in Connecticut than earlier this summer, but experts are still trying to pinpoint the cause and are …

Workers across the I-95 Service Plazas have been organizing for a union for nearly two years to gain better working conditions, according to 32BJ SEIU. (Adobe Stock)

Union Asks CT McDonald's to Honor Worker-Recall Law

DARIEN, Conn. - A Connecticut labor union today is to deliver a letter to the owner of a McDonald's franchise, asking that workers be reinstated who …

The Reconnecting Communities Initiative would work to eliminate certain highways that dissect neighborhoods in cities including Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven and Waterbury. (Adobe Stock)

Infrastructure Bill Shortchanges CT Climate-Justice Program

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Connecticut is expected to see over $500 billion in federal funds to modernize roads, bridges, transit, broadband and more…

According to CWEALF, Connecticut's family and medical leave program is the strongest and most comprehensive in the country, from broadening the definition of "family" to a progressive wage replacement rate. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Privatization of Paid-Leave Claim Services Raises Red Flag

HARTFORD, Conn. -- The Connecticut Campaign for Paid Family Leave has been raising concerns about outsourcing of the state paid leave program's …

According to AARP Connecticut, 47% of family caregivers have had at least one financial setback, such as having less money for retirement or savings, or cutting back on their own healthcare spending. (Adobe Stock)

Federal Aid Could Offset Costs for CT Family Caregivers

HARTFORD, Conn. - In Connecticut, more than 460,000 people care for close friends or family members who can't manage on their own - and their …

On average, Black minors in the United States were five times more likely to be incarcerated than their white counterparts in 2015. The rate had fallen to 4.4 times by 2019. (Adobe Stock)

Racial Disparities in CT Juvenile Facilities Higher than US Trends

HARTFORD, Conn. -- While there has been a decline in youth incarceration overall, a report on data gathered just before the pandemic shows …

Between 2009 and 2017, when 'raise the age' laws were implemented, Connecticut saw an 85% decrease in the number of minors housed at its Mason Youth Correctional Institute. (Adobe Stock)

With Fewer CT Youths in Jail, Advocates See Path for More Reforms

HARTFORD, Conn. -- A new report shows Connecticut has been able to decrease the number of young people in its juvenile-justice system since …

About 1,000 children drown every year in the U.S., according to the Zac Foundation, and 7,000 more end up in emergency rooms because of a drowning scare. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — About 1,000 children drown every year in the U.S., according to the Zac Foundation, and 7,000 more end up in emergency rooms because of a drowning scare. (Adobe Stock)

A Reminder from CT Kids' Safety Expert about Summer Dangers

HARTFORD, Conn. -- COVID-19 remains a threat to many, including kids under 12 who can't get a vaccination, but a Connecticut children's safety …

Research from the International Review of Psychiatry indicates lesbian and bisexual female veterans are much more likely to report frequent mental distress, low satisfaction with life, and sleep problems compared to heterosexual veterans. (Adobe Stock)

VA Works to Educate LGBTQ Veterans about Healthcare Options

HARTFORD, Conn. -- LGBTQ+ veterans in Connecticut and beyond can get help learning about health services available to them, through a 10-week program …

According to the 2021 Kids Count Data Book, the number of Connecticut children ages 3 and 4 not enrolled in preschool has dropped in the last decade, from 38% in 2009-2011 to 34% in 2017-2019. (Adobe Stock)

Report Suggests More CT Families Backslid Financially in Pandemic

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Connecticut ranks in the top 10 states for children's education and health, but its families rank lower in terms of economic well-…

An Emergency Broadband Benefit Program could help families who qualify for certain federal assistance programs get access to high-speed internet, and afford a laptop, desktop computer or tablet through participating service providers. (Adobe Stock)

CT Residents Without Internet Could Gain Access Through FCC Program

HARTFORD, Conn. - Even as economic recovery from the pandemic continues, more than 116 million U.S. residents had difficulty paying household bills …

The Affordable Care Act gives coverage to maternity care, prescriptions, mental health and substance-abuse treatment for folks with an individual plan in Connecticut. (Adobe Stock)

Supreme Court ACA Vote Continues Health Care for 400,000 CT Residents

HARTFORD, Conn. -- In a 7-2 vote yesterday, the Supreme Court upheld Obamacare for a third time, preserving health care for millions across the …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know "a little bit" or "nothing at all" about Juneteenth, the date that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. (DoDEA.edu)

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by …

Research from Harvard School of Public Health shows potential pollution reduction from the Transportation Climate Initiative would prevent 300 deaths a year in the Northeast. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Transportation Climate Bill Needs Vote in Special Session

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Connecticut environment and health advocates are pushing for the Transportation and Climate Initiative to get a vote in the …

Environmental experts suggest anyone traveling on the Connecticut River clean, drain and dry their boats when they take them out of the water to keep from spreading hydrilla. (Kelsey Wentling/CT River Conservancy)

Push is On to Combat Hydrilla in Connecticut River

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - Environmental groups say eradicating a growing amount of the invasive species hydrilla in the Connecticut River requires a team …

According to ACLU Connecticut, around 400,000 people are living with a criminal record in the Nutmeg State. If made law, the Clean Slate bill would expunge the records for more than half. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: CT Clean-Slate Bill Passage a Start, But More Work is Needed

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Advocates for criminal-justice reform are optimistic about the passage of a Clean Slate bill, which would clear criminal records …

A Feeding America study estimates 42 million Americans may experience food insecurity this year, down from 45 million people who may have experienced it in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

World Hunger Day Underscores CT Food Crisis Beyond COVID

WALLINGFORD, Conn. - Today is World Hunger Day, and as the U.S. recovers from the pandemic, food banks in places like Connecticut say there's greater …

The United States accounts for 35% of global firearm suicides, despite having only 4% of the world's population, according to the Giffords Law Center. (Adobe Stock

U.S. Senate Hearing Introduces Safe Gun Storage Act, Echoing CT Law

HARTFORD, Conn. -- A federal bill intended to curb gun violence would establish Consumer Product Safety Commission safety standards for firearm locks …

The Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness Point-In-Time count shows about 300 fewer homeless households in Jan. 2021 than Jan. 2020. The coalition says that is, in part, the result of federal aid that is still needed to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Coalition: New CT State Budget Slights People Who are Homeless

HARTFORD, Conn. - A coalition of service providers for people who are experiencing homelessness in Connecticut is asking state lawmakers and Gov…

According to a CDC survey conducted from August 2020 to February 2021, people who reported an unmet mental-health care need jumped from 9.2% to 11.7%. (Adobe Stock)

CT Group Seeks to Break Stigmas Around Mental Illness

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and groups in Connecticut are hoping to increase understanding and acceptance of the …

A New London peer-navigator program could aid first responders in mental-health emergencies. Only 30% of New London police officers have crisis-intervention training, according to the city's Human Services Department. (Mario Beauregard/Adobe Stock)

One CT City Makes Emergency Mental-Health Calls a Priority

NEW LONDON, Conn. - A first-in-the-state pilot program could soon offer a different approach to how agencies in Connecticut respond to emergency …

In Sept. 2020, opioid deaths in parts of the United States were 25 to 50% higher than in 2019, according to a GAO report about the effects of the pandemic on the need for mental-health and substance-use care. (Adobe Stock)

State Health-care Workers in Middletown Seek End to Staffing Crisis

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. -- A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) revealed there has been greater demand for behavioral health …

The Center for Family Justice says especially for children, abuse statistics are devastating; some 93% who experience this trauma are hurt by someone they know. (Adobe Stock)

CT Group: Child-Abuse Awareness Must Continue Beyond April

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - Today marks the last day of National Child Abuse Awareness Month, but advocates for children in Connecticut say it's important …

According to ACLU Connecticut, 10 states have ended prison gerrymandering. Connecticut could be among them if Senate Bill 753 passes in the General Assembly this session and is signed into law by Gov. Ned Lamont. (Adobe Stock)

CT Groups Push for Fair Redistricting; End to Prison Gerrymandering

HARTFORD, Conn. -- The League of Women Voters of Connecticut is working to promote greater awareness about the importance of drawing new legislative …

The American Public Health Association says 40% of gun-owning households with children store firearms unlocked, which contributes to the 2,700 children injured by gunfire and 110 fatal unintentional shootings every year. (Adobe Stock)

CT Cities Join Push for More Firearm Safety

HARTFORD, Conn. - Every year, 39,000 Americans perish from gun violence. A new Gun Safety Consortium is taking an unusual step to curb that number…

According to Environment America, 90% of wild flowering plants need the help of animal pollinators to survive, and declining bee populations are extremely dangerous for the ecosystem. (Adobe Stock)

"Bee-ing" an Advocate to Save Pollinators Beyond Earth Day

HARTFORD, Conn. - Even though Earth Day has passed, groups advocating for bees hope people will continue to take steps to save these pollinators…

According to the Connecticut River Conservancy, beverage cans and bottles are the top trash items found in the Connecticut River. A new bottle-return bill hopes to change that, by incentivizing people to redeem more bottles. (Adobe Stock)

On Earth Day, CT Environmentalists Rally to Modernize Bottle-Deposit Bill

HARTFORD, Conn. -- A coalition of Connecticut groups and lawmakers in support of new state bottle-deposit legislation are rallying in honor of Earth …

Only 2,050 refugees have made it into the United States this fiscal year, according to the latest report by the International Rescue Committee. (Adobe Stock)

CT Advocates Join Demands for Higher Refugee Cap in U.S.

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Advocates for refugees in Connecticut are calling on President Joe Biden to increase the new cap on refugees entering the country…

The group Compassion & Choices reports that one in five Americans did not know the wishes for end-of-life care of a family member who was ill or died during the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

CT Aid-in-Dying Bill: Facet of National Healthcare Decisions Day

HARTFORD, Conn. - Today is National Healthcare Decisions Day, and one organization is expanding its efforts to raise awareness about the importance …

According to Polaris, about 14,600 survivors of sex trafficking contacted the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline in 2019. That number is likely higher in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Sexual Assault Awareness Month: Human Trafficking Also a Focus in CT

HARTFORD, Conn. - A Connecticut group that aids victims of human trafficking is speaking out about the role that sexual violence plays in this crime…

According to a new report by the Marie Christie Foundation, one in five college faculty members has had one-on-one discussions with a student about that student's mental well-being. (Adobe Stock)

Report: For Mental-Health Concerns, College Students Turn to Faculty

HARTFORD, Conn. - Emotional distress among college students is on the rise, and a new report says faculty members want more mental-health training to …

The majority of the 4.5 million long-term care workers in the U.S. are frequently in close contact with their patients, which has put them at greater risk of COVID-19 infection. (Adobe Stock)

CT Lawmakers Urged to Adopt Long-Term Care Workers ‘Bill of Rights’

HARTFORD, Conn. - Connecticut home-care, group-home, and nursing-home workers want the state to commit to creating a better working environment for …

Connecticut will save about $12.6 million a year after closing Northern Correctional Institution in Somers this summer. (Adobe Stock)

Could Prison-Closure Funds Be Used to Expand Re-Entry Services?

HARTFORD, Conn. - Connecticut health workers and their allies are pushing for greater equity and investment in health services. They're backing …

About 30% of Connecticut households don't have access to a car. Legislation just passed in the Environment Committee aims to tackle transportation inequities, and to clean up the environment. (Adobe Stock)

Improved Transportation on Horizon for CT

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Strides to strengthen and modernize public transit are underway in Connecticut. The General Assembly's Environment Committee …

According to the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, over 1.1 million COVID-19 cases in the U.S. have been detected among people with disabilities living in congregate settings. Connecticut accounts for about 0.02% of that number. (Adobe Stock)

On World Autism Acceptance Day, Advocates Seek More Than Awareness

HARTFORD, Conn. - Today is World Autism Acceptance Day, and this year, advocates for people with developmental disabilities are raising awareness …

According to the Alliance Voice of Community Nonprofits, the pandemic has worsened the impacts of already inadequate funding for nonprofit groups, such as creating telehealth services, getting PPE, and providing hazard pay to essential workers. (Adobe Stock)

Frontline Housing Services Call for Adequate State Funding

HARTFORD, Conn. -- In the General Assembly, the Appropriations Committee has been getting an earful about the need for more funding for affordable …

According to Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, seven of the ten states with the strongest gun laws have background checks for all gun purchases, and the lowest rates of firearm deaths. (Adobe Stock)

State, Congress Feel New Urgency for Stronger Gun Laws

Correction: the Connecticut Lottery mass shooting occurred in 1998. An earlier version of this article incorrectly said that the event happened in 199…

A Connecticut Equity Study shows 47% of Connecticut women had an income loss due to COVID-19 near the start of the pandemic, and more women of color experienced loss of income. (Adobe Stock)

Women's Equal-Pay Day Underscores Need for Equity in Pandemic Relief

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Ahead of Women's Equal Pay Day Wednesday, there's an even greater emphasis in the pandemic to acknowledge and address the gender …

Connecticut has averaged 14 deaths from domestic violence each year since 2000, according to the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, but a spike in abuse cases amid the pandemic has likely changed that. (Adobe Stock)

In Congress, Domestic-Abuse Prevention Bill Takes Cue from CT

HARTFORD, Conn. - A new part of the Violence Against Women Act, passed in the U.S. House on Wednesday, would close a loophole that has allowed people …

Nearly six months after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's passing, women's groups gather this week to commemorate her birthday and celebrate her legacy. (Steve Petteway/Supreme Court of the United States)

On Justice Ginsburg's Birthday, CT Women Honor Her Legacy

Correction: Dori Dumas is a member of the Outraged Elders. An earlier version incorrectly stated she is the leader. (2:00 p.m. EST, March 15…

Some 83% of Black women report feeling "judged" on their appearance more than others in the workplace. Connecticut's new CROWN Act aims to change that. (Adobe Stock)

New CT Law Combats Hairstyle Discrimination

HARTFORD, Conn. - Legislation creating a respectful and open world for a person's natural hair - known as the CROWN Act - is now state law in …

The most recent count of Connecticut's homeless population saw a 4% decrease between January 2019 and January 2020, but that was before the pandemic, and numbers have likely jumped since then. (Adobe Stock)

CT Lawmakers Consider Bill to End Homelessness

HARTFORD, Conn. -- A landmark bill that would make housing a human right for all Connecticut residents is making its way through the General Assembly…

Power bill blues? The average U.S. retail price for one Kilowatt-hour of electricity is 10.54 cents. But in Connecticut, it's 18.66 cents, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. (Adobe Stock)

State Regulators Urged to Pump Brakes on Eversource Rate Hike

HARTFORD, Conn. -- A rate hike that amounts to more than $12 for the average monthly household power bill in Connecticut is getting some pushback…

State lawmakers are considering a bill to amend the state constitution to allow no-excuse absentee voting going forward. (Judy Lhamon/League of Women Voters CT)

No-Excuse Absentee and Early Voting in CT Sparks Lengthy Debate

HARTFORD, Conn. -- At a marathon hearing over Zoom on Monday, dozens of people put in their two cents on whether Connecticut should allow early in-…

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