After HB 5002 veto, the governor and lawmakers have worked to modify new housing legislation, to be taken up at next month’s special session.
Ginny Monk
Ginny, winner of the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for local reporting, is a member of CT Mirror’s investigative team and previously served as the outlet's housing and children’s issues reporter. Ginny grew up in Arkansas and graduated from the University of Arkansas’ Lemke School of Journalism in 2017. She began her career at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette where she covered housing, homelessness, juvenile justice, and investigations. Along the way Ginny was awarded a 2019 Data Fellowship through the Annenberg Center for Health Journalism at the University of Southern California. She moved to Connecticut in 2021 and covered housing for Hearst CT.
Posted inEducation
Mimi Torres-García case renews calls for CT homeschool regulation
In July 2024, Jacqueline ‘Mimi’ Torres-García’s mother told school officials she’d homeschool her child. Two months later, the girl was dead.
Posted inHousing
Windham rent caps order marks victory for mobile home parks
In its first case, the Windham Fair Rent Commission lowered rents for dozens of mobile home residents and limited increases for five years.
Posted inHuman Services
Child found dead in New Britain had not eaten for weeks, warrant says
Jacqueline ‘Mimi’ Torres-García was severely abused before she died, documents state, but DCF says it didn’t receive reports of the abuse.
Posted inHuman Services
Child posed as dead New Britain girl in meeting, DCF says
DCF says the girl’s mother had another child impersonate the girl during a wellness check early this year.
Posted inCrossing Connecticut
For this New Britain man, late summer is pigeon racing season
Wilberto Aponte, president of the Connecticut Classic Pigeon Club, has 200 homing pigeons. With racing season underway, the stakes are high.
Posted inHousing
Political challenges of CT HB 5002 depicted in Ned Lamont’s texts
The texts show how affordable housing has become a political quagmire for Democrats, with some urging him to sign it despite voting no.
Posted inHousing
CT fire officials voice opposition to single-stairway exit change
CT fire officials said they were ‘vehemently opposed’ to the change in the building code and one stairway exit could lead to safety concerns.
Posted inHousing
CT Municipal Development Authority opens door to new housing
CMDA announced plans to establish its first local relationship, offering support for building affordable housing near transit in Naugatuck
Posted inHousing
At YIMBYTown conference, discontent over Lamont veto of HB 5002
At national conference, attendees voiced frustration with Lamont as speakers from red states touted advancements in their zoning policies.
Posted inHousing
Homelessness rises in CT as federal funding remains in flux
There were 3,735 people living in shelters or outside in CT in January 2025, compared to 3,410 in January 2024. That’s nearly a 10% increase.
Posted inHealth
As kids return to school, mental health needs spike
The number of kids seeking mental health care at the emergency department increases at the start of a new school year.
Posted inHuman Services
Feds recommend performance improvement plan for CT DCF
In the latest Child and Family Services Reviews, Connecticut missed federal benchmarks in five of seven factors HHS reviewed.
Posted inInvestigations
DMV committee expands scope to study broader changes to towing law
The 10-member DMV committee will study how to make it easier for low-income residents to get their cars back.
Posted inGovernment
Beth Bye, CT early childhood commissioner, to retire
Bye, who became commissioner in 2019, is retiring from state service to pursue a career working with children and families in health care.