Connecticut News & Current Events

One of AARP Connecticut's Livable Communities Grants will help build a new parking lot at the flat portion of the Air Line Hiking Trail. It will make a more accessible entrance for hikers of all abilities including the Senior Hiking Club. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

AARP awards grants for ‘Livable Community’ projects

AARP Connecticut is awarding funds to seven groups through its Livable Community Grants program. Some projects awarded funding include the new …

A child's public education costs $19,000 annually in Connecticut, but it can cost $274,000 to imprison a child. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, November 18, 2024

Youth justice reforms a top 2025 priority for Connecticut group

As it advocates for changes to the youth justice system in 2025, a Connecticut group says the state needs to do more to examine and address the root …

In Connecticut, 818,000 electric vehicles are registered per 100,000 people. Nationally, between 2020 and 2023, EV sales grew from 300,000 to 1.6 million. (Adobe Stock)

Misconceptions keep CT drivers from getting EVs

Misinformation about electric vehicles is keeping more of them from being on Connecticut roads. Owners of the state's more than 31,000 registered …

There were 938 attempts to censor books across the United States in 2023. Of the 9,021 titles challenged, the most targeted book was

CT, U.S. librarians worried about Project 2025’s implementation

Librarians in Connecticut and nationwide are worried about the ramifications of Donald Trump's second term as president. Some are concerned elements …

Passing an amendment on no-excuse absentee voting makes Connecticut the 28th state to enact it. (Adobe Stock)

CT voters pass no-excuse absentee voting amendment

Connecticut voters approved an amendment enshrining no-excuse absentee voting in the state's constitution. Passing by a little more than 57% of the …

A poll from the National Alliance to End Homelessness showed a candidate's stance on homelessness could be a defining factor when people decide who to vote for. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Homelessness is important issue for CT, US voters

A new poll shows homelessness is an important issue to voters in Connecticut and nationwide. The National Alliance to End Homelessness' latest poll …

A new survey found 64% of Americans believe an AI deepfake robocall could be convincing enough to affect the outcome of the 2024 election. (Adobe Stock)

CT residents should beware of election-related scams

With the election one day away, people in Connecticut should beware of scammers using the election to steal their personal information. Some …

A Connecticut Education Association survey found as unhappy as teachers are with the Bridgeport superintendent's work, 92% are fearful of retaliation if they speak out. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Bridgeport teachers dissatisfied with superintendent’s work

A new survey found Bridgeport teachers lack confidence in the district's superintendent. The Connecticut Education Association's survey comes amid …

Out-of-pocket medical expenses were the largest contributor to poverty in Connecticut in 2022. It kept 81,700 of the state's residents in poverty. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT poverty, child poverty rising from various factors

A new report re-examines how to measure Connecticut's poverty rates. Some findings show Supplemental Poverty Measure-based rates rose more than 12% …

More than a quarter of working-age households in 2022 couldn't afford basic needs such as health care. But this is worse than in 2019, since wages didn't keep up with rising costs. (Adobe Stock)

CT residents must carefully consider health-care plan needs

With Medicare's open-enrollment ongoing, Connecticut experts are advising people on what to look for in an insurance plan. The state's rising cost of …

A total of 8,873 people voted early during Connecticut's first primary election where people could take part in early in-person voting. (Adobe Stock)

AARP CT educates voters for November election

As early voting begins today, AARP Connecticut is educating voters about this year's election. This is the first election the state has had early …

New report offers solutions for CT's 'disconnected' youth

A new report offers some solutions for at least 119,000 young people in Connecticut who are described as being "disconnected" from work or school…

If a person filed their 2021 taxes but did not claim any enhanced tax benefits, their tax return can be amended to claim those benefits. (Adobe Stock)

CT groups help people get unclaimed COVID-era relief money

Several Connecticut groups are partnering to help people claim COVID relief money. The Get Your Refund Campaign aims to help more than 45,000 …

The Iroquois Pipeline expansion proposal could multiply the pressure on a three-decades-old pipeline if approved. (Adobe Stock)

Study: CT residents to face effects of compressor station expansion

A recent study from the Sierra Club found people in Brookfield, Connecticut, could face severe effects from a proposed compressor station expansion…

In 2022, 563,512 or 39% of Connecticut's 1.4 million households were below the ALICE threshold. (Adobe Stock)

New data show CT families struggle to afford the basics

New data show many Connecticut residents can't afford daily life. This year's ALICE update shows the number of asset-limited, income-constrained …

Although Connecticut has a low prevalence of mental illness among its residents, Mental Health America gives it a poor ranking for access to care. (Adobe Stock)

CT garners funding to address mental health equity

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., is introducing federal legislation to boost mental health equity. The Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act …

The Center for Research on Disability reported of the 444,000 people with disabilities in Connecticut, only 114,000 (25%) of them were employed. (Adobe Stock)

CT disability rights advocates worry about employment barriers

Connecticut disability rights advocates are concerned about state and federal barriers to employment. At the state level, Medicaid is the only …

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., introduced legislation in 2019 to address the management and conservation of forage fish. Although the bill has been reintroduced in every session since, it has yet to pass either chamber of Congress. (Adobe Stock)

CT seeing sharp drop in forage fish population

Connecticut's forage fish population is disappearing. The newest Atlantic herring stock assessment showed aside from overfishing, the species is not …

If Project Maple goes forward, it will be in operation by November 2029. (Adobe Stock)

CT groups urge Gov. Lamont to reject fracked gas pipeline

Connecticut environmental groups want Gov. Ned Lamont to reject a fracked gas pipeline expansion. Their concerns revolve around Enbridge's Project …

Connecticut ranks in the top ten states for access to care in Mental Health America's 2024 State of Mental Health Report. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT, US college student mental health improves

A new Healthy Minds Study finds college students' mental health in Connecticut and nationwide is improving. In the last ten years, there have been …

Reports show states across New England have to upgrade distribution systems to accommodate a peak load in 2050, which will be double what New England historically experienced. (Adobe Stock)

CT governor pauses involvement in multistate offshore wind deal

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont is pausing the state's involvement in a multistate offshore wind development deal. Lamont cites the projects' potential …

A 2023 PEN America report finds Florida leads states for the number of books banned in prisons, at 22,825 different titles. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Tablets in CT, U.S. prisons don’t fill the void of books

A new report finds using computer tablets in prisons in Connecticut and nationwide isn't filling the void of books. The Prison Policy Initiative …

Connecticut data show men earn more than females regardless of whether they go to college, a gap widening over time. (Adobe Stock)

U.S. gender wage gap grows for the first time in a decade

New research shows the gender wage gap widened for the first time in two decades. The Census Bureau found full-time working women make 82.7 cents …

A new report found Connecticut still has massive gender, racial and ethnic wage gaps, both for low-wage and middle-wage workers. The issue is especially prominent in public-sector jobs, which also suffer from a lack of diversity. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT post-pandemic job growth still lags

A new report showed Connecticut's post-pandemic job growth lags behind the rest of the nation. The State of Working Connecticut report found …

Climate change harms Indigenous people's health. While it causes some health conditions, it is also worsening chronic illnesses to which they are prone. (Adobe Stock)

EPA awards climate grant to CT tribal nation

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation has been awarded a grant to cut climate pollution. It is part of the Environmental Protection Agency's Climate …

The Commonwealth Fund finds personal care attendants are facing nationwide shortages driven by low wages and retention, high turnover, and recruitment challenges. (Adobe Stock)

CT home health care workers still facing payroll issues

Despite a changing of the guard, Connecticut home health care workers still face payroll issues. Personal care attendants dealt with late paychecks …

By 2029, Connecticut's estimated share of enrollees benefiting from Medicare's out-of-pocket cap will be higher than 30 states and the District of Columbia. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Medicare cap helps reduce CT prescription drug costs

A new report found Connecticut residents will benefit from Medicare's new out-of-pocket cap. An estimated 49,000 people in the state would see …

Experts warn not to give in to an event organizer's pressure to participate in a festival or fair. Also, if they are pushy about getting payments but are not giving details, it could be a scam. (Adobe Stock)

Experts advise CT consumers about safe shopping at festivals

Experts are advising Connecticut consumers to be cautious with what they buy at late-summer fairs and festivals. As fun as the events can be…

A new survey found 64% of teachers and 67% of special education teachers in Connecticut would not recommend pursuing a career in teaching and 46% said they would not have become educators if they could start over. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: CT educators burned out from ongoing teacher shortage

As Connecticut's school year begins, the state is still dealing with a teacher shortage. Almost every subject area is facing a statewide shortage …

A University of Michigan survey found 54% of older adults have not completed an advance directive. Some reasons were they had not gotten around to it, they did not know about them or they did not like talking about it. (Adobe Stock)

CT senator’s federal bill could improve end-of-life planning

A new bipartisan federal bill could improve end-of-life care planning. The Compassionate Care Act creates guidelines for advanced care and end-of-…

Fewer than half of all high school students were able to fill out the FAFSA application in the past year, due to online issues. (Adobe Stock)

CT group provides clinics to help students with FAFSA

A Connecticut group is hosting an information clinic tomorrow about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid program, known as FAFSA. The Center …

Mental Health America's 2024 State of Mental Health report found close to 20% (54,000) of Connecticut young people have had at least one major depressive episode. (Adobe Stock)

CT doctors advise best back-to-school health practices

With Connecticut schools starting soon, doctors said healthy practices can help children heading back to the classroom. In the transition from …

Environmental groups say there is a need to reduce the use of such chemicals as PFAS and practice farming in ways that their use is no longer needed. (Adobe Stock)

Study finds high levels of PFAS chemicals in many pesticides

CLARIFICATION: Neonicotinoids may contain PFAS chemicals, but PFAS chemicals are not neonicotinoids. (12:30 p.m. MDT, Aug. 11, 2024) A class of …

More than 425,000 people utilize services at hundreds of community health care centers throughout Connecticut. (Adobe Stock)

CT community health centers fill gaps in affordable, primary care

As Connecticut struggles with a shortage of physicians, community health centers are filling the gap. More than 400,000 state residents, many …

Connecticut voters don't want to repeal all the state's budget controls, but 46% of likely voters want to see

CT budget reserve could bolster much-needed social programs

Connecticut groups want Gov. Ned Lamont to use some of the state's budget reserve to fund social programs. The state has amassed a more than $4 …

A poll from the Connecticut Child Tax Credit Coalition finds 73% of Connecticut voters approve of establishing a state child tax credit, regardless of whether they are currently raising children. (Adobe Stock)

CT group’s petition ignites discussions on child tax credit

A Connecticut group is circulating a petition of support about the proposed child tax credit. United Way of Connecticut's petition has 540 signatures …

A Pew Research poll showed more than half of U.S. adults think the country's K-12 public education system is headed in the wrong direction. Voters across party lines aren't certain education isn't doing right by kids. (Adobe Stock)

Education remains strong CT voter priority in 2024 elections

Connecticut groups said education is a top priority in the 2024 election. Vice President Kamala Harris is vowing to continue and expand on Biden …

Black and Hispanic residents of Connecticut are less likely to both have insurance and a regular health-care provider compared with white residents. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates call proposed CT insurance rate increases too high

Connecticut insurance companies are requesting rate increases. Companies want a more than 8% increase for individuals and an almost 12% increase for …

Connecticut is the top state in the U.S. searching for Ozempic online, according to data from Google Trends. (Adobe Stock)

CT, US see rise in counterfeit medicine sales

Counterfeit medicine sales are on the rise, in Connecticut and nationwide. The state faced trouble with growing sales of counterfeit Xanax pills …

A new report from the University of Connecticut School of Public Policy found Hispanic men face the lowest pay equity of all new and long-term hires in Connecticut's government workforce. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT government pay equity, representation needs work

A new report finds Connecticut's state government can improve pay equity and representation. The University of Connecticut School of Public Policy …

Since 2018, AARP Connecticut's Livable Communities grant program has funded 38 projects across the state. (Adobe Stock)

AARP seeks ideas to make CT communities more 'livable'

AARP Connecticut is accepting applications for grants for community improvement projects across the state. The "Livable Communities" program awards …

Between 2018 and 2021, more than 1 million kids visited hospital emergency departments due to mental health challenges. (Adobe Stock)

CT '988' hotline services rank high in national report

A new report showed Connecticut's 988 crisis lifeline services rank highly. The report is from Inseparable, a national mental health advocacy group…

Although citywide bans on camping and other laws disadvantaging homeless people grew widely from 2006 to 2019, homeless encampments grew by 1,300% in all 50 states. (Adobe Stock)

CT advocates dismayed by SCOTUS homelessness decision

Connecticut advocates are distressed about the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Grants Pass v. Gloria Johnson. The ruling said public camping bans …

A Better Business Bureau report found home improvement and online purchase scams are two of the top five scams people fell victim to in 2023. (Adobe Stock)

CT residents should watch out for summertime scams

Amid the fun in the sun, Connecticut residents should be wary of summertime scams. Utility company impostor scams are prominent this time of year…

Connecticut has seen an economywide 14% decline in greenhouse gas emissions since 1990. Although emissions hit an all-time low in 2020, the data show the dip did not last. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Climate change must be addressed at CT special session

Connecticut environmental advocates want the General Assembly to address climate action in this week's special session, since lawmakers failed to act …

More than 520,000 bump stocks were circulating when an ATF ban took effect in 2019. (Adobe Stock)

CT bump-stock ban remains after SCOTUS ruling

Connecticut is one state not affected by a recent Supreme Court ruling. In Garland v. Cargill, the Court overturned a federal bump-stock ban the …

Connecticut's Blue Ribbon Panel on Child Care estimated the state loses around $1.5 billion yearly due to a lack of infant and toddler care. (Adobe Stock)

CT legislation helps reduce child care provider shortage

Legislation in Connecticut could help reduce the ongoing child care workforce shortage Reports show some 40,000 child care positions unfilled…

A new report shows Connecticut has reduced the number of children in poverty and the number of children whose parents lack secure employment, and has fewer kids living in households with a high cost burden. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT child education suffers in pandemic aftermath

A new report finds the well-being of Connecticut's kids is wavering in the pandemic's aftermath. The state ranks 8th in the Annie E. Casey Kids Count …

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