(Sen. Beth Bye is co-chair of the legislature’s Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee. She represents Bloomfield, Burlington, Farmington, West Hartford) For the last two months, as the public and legislators have debated Gov. Malloy’s proposed overhaul of our state university and community college system, I have been meeting with students, residents, business leaders and […]
March 16, 2011 @ 12:00 am
Paid sick days for workers keep us all healthy
Elizabeth is a restaurant worker. Wanda is a school bus driver. Rosa works in retail. Gloria works as a home healthcare worker. One thing they all have in common: They don’t get paid sick days at their job. If we could pass legislation to stop people from getting sick, we could probably all agree on […]
Higher ed reorganization will help state regain its educational edge
(Sen. Beth Bye is co-chair of the legislature’s Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee. She represents Bloomfield, Burlington, Farmington, West Hartford) For the last two months, as the public and legislators have debated Gov. Malloy’s proposed overhaul of our state university and community college system, I have been meeting with students, residents, business leaders and […]
Paid sick days for workers keep us all healthy
Elizabeth is a restaurant worker. Wanda is a school bus driver. Rosa works in retail. Gloria works as a home healthcare worker. One thing they all have in common: They don’t get paid sick days at their job. If we could pass legislation to stop people from getting sick, we could probably all agree on […]
Investors say state must find new approaches to compete for dollars
Two investors speaking at a forum on green jobs Wednesday said that a wholesale change in approach will be required for tiny Connecticut to attract some of the billions of investors’ dollars available for clean energy projects. Kevin Walsh, managing director of renewable energy for the Stamford-based GE Energy Financial Services, and Old Lyme-based Liddy […]
Report: Community college graduation rate lags
As legislators and education officials grapple with questions of how to get the best returns on taxpayers’ investment in public colleges and universities, a new report released Wednesday shows the community colleges have one of the worst “success rates” in the nation. “The biggest concern that comes out of this [report] is that Connecticut invests at […]
Esty: Alternative energy not a near-term solution
NEW HAVEN–On the day his nomination was confirmed by the House, the new commissioner of environmental protection told a green jobs conference Wednesday that he does not see alternative energy as economically viable in the near future. “I don’t see an alternative source that meets the test of economic viability,” Daniel C. Esty said. But […]
Municipal leaders ask delegation to fight cuts in federal aid
WASHINGTON–Municipal leaders from across Connecticut made a plea to the state’s congressional delegation Wednesday: Push back against domestic spending cuts that will hit their cities and towns hard. “Please, do no harm,” Cindy Mangini, an Enfield Town Councilwoman, said of her pitch to the state’s five House and two Senate members. “We’re trying to hang […]
No argument from Donovan as constituents confront Malloy
MERIDEN — House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan scribbled notes Tuesday night in the front row of a packed school auditorium as his constituents repeatedly assailed Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, demanding higher taxes on the rich and relief for the middle class. Donovan, a leading progressive in the legislature, has yet to voice such strong disagreement […]
Delegation remains cautiously bullish on nuclear power
WASHINGTON–Despite the unfolding nuclear crisis in Japan, Connecticut’s congressional delegation expressed continued support for nuclear power, even as they called for more scrutiny of the industry. Lawmakers walked a careful line between raising questions about how to improve the safety of U.S. nuclear reactors and voicing confidence in the long-term viability of an energy source […]
Performance data a crucial tool in bridging achievement gap
WEST HARTFORD–Braeburn Elementary School’s fifth-grade teachers commandeered the brick conference room off Principal Natalie Simpson’s office the week before winter break. Graded papers full of circles partially colored in and open-ended problems like ’23/3=?’ spilled out of manila folders and littered the table. Shannon Mlodzinski, the statistician of the group, announced the results of the […]
Another age-old question settled by science
Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, a team of researchers confirms that a pint of Guinness really does go down better in Ireland. For years Guinness drinkers have debated whether the famous Irish stout, originally brewed in Dublin, is as enjoyable elsewhere in the world. The question came up several years ago, Anna Davison […]
Blumenthal makes official Senate debut with trademark speech
Freshman Democrat Richard Blumenthal used his first Senate speech to relay the personal stories of Connecticut families who are “still hurting and still struggling” in the weak economy. In his maiden Senate speech on Wednesday, Blumenthal said his major focus in the coming year would be on spurring job growth, ferreting out government waste, and […]
Legislature confirms Harper for Supreme Court
Judge Lubbie Harper Jr. received legislative approval to join the state Supreme Court Wednesday. The House voted 124 to 16 and the Senate voted 24 to 7 to confirm Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s first nominee to the high court. Lawmakers from both parties praised Harper before the votes. Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney, D-New Haven, […]
Courtney asks CBS to air Husky game on network TV
Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, really doesn’t want any Husky fans to miss out on Thursday night’s UConn men’s basketball game against Bucknell University. So he’s asking the head of CBS to air the match-up on network television. In a letter to Leslie Moonves, the CEO of CBS, and Mark A. Emmert, of the NCAA, […]