On Sunday, May 8th, Americans across the country said thank you to their moms with flowers, cards, and phone calls. This week, as we celebrate National Women’s Health Week, there’s another way you can show your appreciation for the women in your life: make sure they know about the important new protections and benefits for […]
May 12, 2011 @ 12:00 am
Tuition break for illegal residents advances–but how many will use it?
The state House of Representatives Thursday approved a bill to give undocumented residents in-state tuition at public colleges and universities, but advocates say they fear eligible students may be scared off by the requirement that they admit their illegal status. The bill, approved 77-63 by the House, would require students to sign an affidavit confirming […]
Rumors fly about concession talks; both sides say no deal yet
Rumors flew around state offices this afternoon as some state employee unions told their members a concession deal with the administration of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is virtually complete, while others warned that nothing is final and significant work remains. Union and administration spokesmen said the two sides continue to talk and no deal has […]
An early salvo in 2012 Senate battle is fired over Afghanistan
WASHINGTON–In an early skirmish in what is likely to be a tough fight for the 2012 Democratic U.S. Senate nomination, Susan Bysiewicz and Chris Murphy squared off this week over the war in Afghanistan–an issue on which their differences appear to be largely a matter of degree. Bysiewicz opened a debate on this hot-button issue–which […]
Well, that’s one way to define a ‘captive audience’
Who says irony is dead? The House of Representatives began debating “An Act Concerning Captive Audience Meetings” at 2:08 p.m. Wednesday, only to be held captive by a Republican filibuster until 1:07 a.m. today. The bill passed, 78 to 65. House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., R-Norwalk, said the GOP talkfest was the result […]
Negotiators quit for the night without concession agreement
Negotiators for state employees and the administration of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy quit for the night late Wednesday without a concession deal that would halt the issuance of more than 4,700 layoff notices. Talks resume Thursday. “Both sides are continuing to work hard,” said Roy Occhiogrosso, senior adviser to the governor. “These are tough issues.” […]
Higher education leaders anxious over lack of merger specifics
Two weeks after agreement was reached at the Capitol on merging much of the state’s higher education system, officials of the affected institutions are anxiously awaiting word on just what the reorganization will entail. “We don’t know how this is all going to play out,” Louise H. Feroe, the acting chancellor to Connecticut State University System, […]
Changing the age gap in kindergarten, 50 students at a time
In an effort to narrow the age range in the lowest elementary school grades, the state Senate has overwhelmingly approved a bill that would require most children to start school when they’re 6 years old. But this shift alone is not likely to narrow the wide age gap that currently exists in kindergarten classrooms across […]
High Court: Tax on utility bills may remain
The State Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the utility tax added to resident’s utility bills to help close the state’s deficit last year. If the court had ruled in favor of the lawsuit brought by state Sen. Joe Markley, the state would have had a new $432.5 million budget hole to close. Markley said […]
Mike Williams to announce in the 5th CD
Nothing like an open seat to inspire the ambitions of politicians, new and old. Mike Williams of Southington, who has a Ph.D in economics from the London School of Economics, has a web site saying he will announce his candidacy Thursday for the Democratic nomination in the 5th Congressional District. He enters the race dropping […]
A day in the life of a Chinese student
When bemoaning the United States’ comparatively low scores on international assessments, some are quick to point to one factor that sets Chinese students apart from their American peers: the length of the school day, Sarah Butrymowicz says at The Hechinger Report. How long? Eight hours a day for most students, plus up to four hours […]
DeLauro denounces GOP budget allocations
Washington’s 2012 budget fight moved from the realm of ideas and outlines to specifics on Wednesday night. House Republicans released their so-called “allocations,” the amount of money each Appropriations subcommittee will get to divvy up for various programs as they begin drafting the 2012 spending bills. The spending caps set out on Wednesday aim to […]