Posted inEducation, Justice

Fate of state’s school integration efforts rests with federal judge

BRIDGEPORT — A federal judge will soon determine whether his court should get involved in how the state awards enrollment to students in high-performing magnet schools located throughout Connecticut. At issue is whether the lottery’s algorithm – which is designed to limit enrollment of black and Hispanic students in a school to 75 percent – is discriminatory, and therefore a violation of the U.S. Constitution.

Posted inPolitics

Himes uses war chest to help other Dems, Arora raises less than $9k over summer

WASHINGTON – Democratic Rep. Jim Himes is spending more money on the races of other Democratic candidates than he is on his own, while his Republican challenger Harry Arora, raised less than $9,000 in campaign cash this summer. Himes donated to the campaigns of more than 70 House Democrats in the last quarter, the latest filings with the Federal Election Commission show.

Posted inCT Viewpoints

What happened in Kansas is a cautionary tale for Connecticut

Imagine, if you will, a state that was unable to draw itself out of the deep recession of 2008. Neighboring states fared better and were chugging along at a nice clip. Talking about Connecticut? Well, it could be, but, actually the state I was referring to is Kansas. There is a reason why some candidates for governor here talk about Kansas.

Posted inCT Viewpoints

Raise the age limit to purchase tobacco and e-cigarettes

The Connecticut Department of Public Health is right to be concerned about the increased number of high school students vaping. Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in our nation, and e-cigarettes offer youths an opportunity to begin a harmful and lifelong addiction to tobacco, newly fueled by attractive devices and kid-targeted flavors. While we are glad to see that the FDA is being more transparent about the potential dangers of e-cigarettes, it’s clear that we must act quickly and decisively on the state and local levels to protect our children from these products.

Posted inCT Viewpoints

Pistone: ‘We need an outsider to challenge the status quo.’

After careful deliberation, I have decided to pursue a run for the United States Congress in the 5th Congressional District of Connecticut as an Independent Conservative WRITE-IN Candidate. My decision came as a result of receiving numerous emails and the outpouring of support from our citizens asking me not to give up, but instead continue to run and fight. Over and over I have heard, “we need an outsider who is willing to challenge the status quo.”