Students and their parents will soon begin taking surveys in several districts across the state to evaluate their teachers. These surveys — which can account for up to 15 percent of a teacher’s grade in the state’s new evaluation system — has drawn the ire of teachers and their unions and the praise of other […]

A state arbitrator has reinstated 40 of the 103 state employees who resigned, retired or were fired after being implicated in the improper receipt of disaster relief after Tropical Storm Irene. The reinstated employees must make restitution and serve suspensions ranging from 15 to 60 days, according to an announcement Wednesday by AFSCME Council 4. […]

Washington — If you are price shopping for a college education, you may want to avoid certain schools in Connecticut, the Obama administration says. In the 2010-2011 academic year, Connecticut College in New London was most expensive college in the country and Quinnipiac University in Hamden one of the highest-cost schools after grants and scholarships […]

Unless they are called back to override a gubernatorial veto, the tenures of 21 House members and three senators likely ended early Wednesday with the close of the one-day special session. Fifteen Democrats and six Republicans are not seeking re-election to the House this fall, an unusually high number that guarantees a 14 percent turnover […]

Shortly after being tapped as commissioner of the Department of Revenue Services, Kevin Sullivan insisted he was not Connecticut’s latest “tax man,” calling it a misnomer that represented only half of his job. Now one of the leaders of a new policy group expected to issue its first progress report next month, Sullivan will have […]

Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor said Wednesday he has no interest in handpicking Bridgeport’s next superintendent. Rather, he said, he intends to use a provision approved by the General Assembly Tuesday night to veto any finalists the local school board selects for the top spot if they are not of high enough caliber. Lawmakers Tuesday approved […]

Municipalities and small gasoline station owners would get top priority over large chains as state government scales back and phases out a controversial fuel pollution abatement program, according to legislation adopted late Tuesday and early Wednesday in a special session of the General Assembly. But while state lawmakers were prepared to offer many stations owners […]

With House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan sidelined by an investigation of his congressional fundraising, a somber mood settled over the State Capitol Tuesday as legislators trudged toward the inevitable passage of two massive bills. Lobbyists passively watched the proceedings, knowing that the two bills became untouchable once Democratic leaders and the administration agreed on their […]

The state is offering Bridgeport a $3.5 million loan to cover the school district’s budget gap, but in exchange, the city must agree that state Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor will choose the pool of up to three superintendent candidates. The board will select a candidate from the pool, who could serve in the post for three years. The […]

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced today that they have reached a multi-year agreement, ending a two-month dispute that led to uncertainty and confusion for many patients and their families. The hospital and the Connecticut Children’s Specialty Group had dropped the insurer April 16 after both sides failed to […]

The General Assembly adopted dozens of initiatives in special session Tuesday evening and early Wednesday including another job growth plan, controversial measures aimed at minimum state police staffing and licensing for tobacco shops, and a new phase-in option for municipal property revaluation. As majority Democrats in both chambers adopted scores of measures, Republicans cried foul, […]

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced today that they have reached a multi-year deal, ending a two-month-long dispute and uncertainty for patients and their families. The hospital and the Connecticut Children’s Specialty Group had dropped the insurer April 16 after both sides failed to reach an agreement after a […]

UPDATED 7:24 p.m. The administration of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and legislators agreed Tuesday morning to scrap legislation that would have given the executive branch wide discretion to withhold information tied to private companies seeking state economic development assistance. The governor’s general counsel, Andrew McDonald, distanced himself from the proposal, saying he agreed with a media […]

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The Council on Environmental Quality’s annual report on Connecticut’s environment in 2011 can be summed in one word: storms. Tropical Storm Irene and the October snowstorm hurt air, water, land, animal and human health — most notably in Long Island Sound. These catastrophic events caused more beach closings, lower oxygen levels, more pollution and fewer lobsters, […]