State leaders and advocates praised Gov. Dannel P. Malloy for his reforms of Connecticut’s criminal justice system on Wednesday as the working group charged with recommending ways to improve housing re-entry for former inmates met for its last time.
CTMirror Contributor
Posted inHealth
Access Health: open enrollment higher than this time last year
NEW HAVEN — With just over two weeks left in open enrollment, Access Health CT CEO James Michel said Friday the health insurance exchange has already seen a roughly 2 to 3 percent higher turnout of customers than it had at this point last year.
Posted inJustice
Advocates place gun storage measure among top legislative priorities
A measure to tighten Connecticut’s firearm storage law is expected to be on a shortlist of gun reform bills tackled in the upcoming legislative session. The proposal will likely come amid advocates’ attempts to shepherd other legislation banning untraceable ghost guns and 3D-printed plastic guns through the legislative process.
Posted inPolitics
Democrat wins after recount in 33rd state Senate District race
Democrat Norm Needleman is the winner in the 33rd state Senate District after a district-wide ballot recount, defeating East Haddam Republican state Rep. Melissa Ziobron.
Posted inPolitics
Recount called in 33rd state Senate District race
State election officials said a recent correction to a reporting error in Essex has put the contest for the 33rd District within a margin that requires a recount.
Posted inPolitics
Republican Logan declared State Senate seat winner after recount
State Sen. George Logan is the winner in the 17th state Senate District after a district-wide ballot recount, defeating Democratic challenger Jorge Cabrera of Hamden.
Posted inPolitics
Democrats cite their priorities after General Assembly gains
Democrats say they took 24 seats in the state Senate and 92 in the state House of Representatives on Election Day, giving them overwhelming discretion in setting the General Assembly’s agenda after previously struggling to work with a slim majority.
Posted inPolitics
Obama-endorsed 22-year-old seeks to flip GOP state senate seat
Will Haskell, a 22-year-old Democrat, is attempting to flip the 26th Senate District seat held by Republican incumbent Toni Boucher. She has served in state office for Haskell’s entire life. The race is one of several that will determine which party has control of the senate.
Posted inPolitics
Candidates disagree on whether CT needs an activist attorney general
During the final debate this week between candidates for state attorney general, the contenders were asked a question that defines the race: How would they decide whether to join other attorneys general in filing multi-state lawsuits against businesses and the federal government?
Posted inPolitics
Cook battles to keep her seat in a swing district that will help decide if Dems keep control of House
TORRINGTON – Michelle Cook, a Democrat, is battling to keep her 65th House District seat from being taken by Republican Molly Spino. Cook represents one of the state’s few key swing districts, which means both parties are eyeing it hungrily to help secure the state House majority on Nov. 6.
Posted inPolitics
Senate Democrats underscore spending by national Republican PAC
Connecticut Senate Democrats on Wednesday criticized spending by a national Republican-funded Super PAC focused on influencing specific state senate races ahead of the midterm election.
Posted inJustice
Lawyers for Henning, Birch argue DNA testing should spur another trial
Two men convicted of a grisly, 1985 murder asked the Connecticut Supreme Court on Friday to either exonerate them or grant them a new trial in light of new DNA testing that places an unknown female at the scene of the crime.
Posted inJustice
Cheshire Correctional Institution participates in livestream prison reform conference
CHESHIRE — Standing inside a century-old maximum security prison auditorium as cameras live-streamed a conference on Connecticut’s prison system reforms Wednesday, Corrections Commissioner Scott Semple told those assembled that the event reminded him of watching the ripple effect from throwing a stone in a still pond.
Posted inEducation
CSCU likely to seek boost in state aid, explores tuition policy options
Connecticut’s public college and university system may need to seek additional state funding next year to maintain the programs it currently offers students, administrators warned Wednesday. At the same meeting, administrators explored potential new tuition and fee policies in an effort to incentivize students to complete their degrees.
Posted inPolitics
Lamont urges Stefanowski to take a position on Kavanaugh
A day after Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh vehemently denied sexual assault accusations during a heated and tearful hearing, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ned Lamont called on Republican Bob Stefanowski to state whether he supports the nominee or agrees with demands for an FBI investigation.