House Bill 5004 would make changes to the CT Department of Children and Families, some intended to address issues raised by recent tragedies.
Laura Tillman
Laura Tillman is CT Mirror’s Human Services Reporter. She shares responsibility for covering housing, child protection, mental health and addiction, developmental disabilities, and other vulnerable populations. Laura began her career in journalism at the Brownsville Herald in 2007, covering the U.S.–Mexico border, and worked as a statehouse reporter for the Associated Press in Mississippi. She was most recently a producer of the national security podcast “In the Room with Peter Bergen” and is the author of two nonfiction books: The Long Shadow of Small Ghosts (2016) and The Migrant Chef: The Life and Times of Lalo Garcia (2023), which was just awarded the 2024 James Beard Award for literary writing. Her freelance work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, New York Times and The Los Angeles Times. Laura holds a degree in International Studies from Vassar College and an MFA in nonfiction writing from Goucher College.
Posted inImmigration
CT officials: ICE detention of Cheshire student is ‘un-American’
In 2025, ICE detained an Afghan interpreter and Cheshire resident, releasing him after 4 months. On Monday, ICE detained his 19-year-old son.
Posted inEducation
Advocates press for promised pre-K funding as CT surplus in doubt
The fund was supposed to rely on $300 million of surplus funds, but with that drying up, advocates want another way to secure $600 million.
Posted inEducation
Eve Rogers’ death in Enfield intensifies homeschool rules debate
Despite calls to regulate homeschooling to prevent abuse, opposition has been fierce, and many lawmakers have opposed the legislation.
Posted inHealth
UConn Health to take over DCF-run psychiatric facility
The UConn Health board approved a plan to take over adolescent psychiatric services at DCF-run Albert J. Solnit Children’s Center.
Posted inImmigration
Citizenship ceremonies in CT imbued with mixed emotions amid ICE crackdown
For many, going through naturalization now brings with it guilt and concern for foreign-born residents who have been shut out of the process.
Posted inJustice
Rev. Al Sharpton calls for accountability at Hartford man’s funeral
Rev. Al Sharpton called for justice for Steven “Stevie” Jones, a Hartford resident who was killed by a police officer in February.
Posted inHuman Services
Funds for signature pre-K endowment in peril as surplus dwindles
CT’s Early Childhood Education Endowment is projected to receive less than a tenth of what lawmakers pledged last June.
Posted inHuman Services
CT lawmakers advance nominations of major child welfare roles
A legislative panel voted to advance Elena Trueworthy for early childhood commissioner and Christina Ghio for the role of child advocate.
Posted inHealth
‘Unbelievably cruel’: Advocates decry threat to home care program
Lamont proposed ending Community First Choice, which provides at-home care to all who qualify. Families are confused, worried and angry.
Posted inEducation
CT bill draws homeschool families to Capitol in emotional hearing
The bill would require education officials to notify DCF when a family seeks to withdraw their children from the public school system.
Posted inEducation
CT advocates want $70M for Care4Kids from emergency fund
Advocates and child care providers are asking for $70M from an emergency fund created to address Trump administration cuts to programs.
Posted inHealth
CT’s new Medicaid prior authorization rule has advocates worried
New Medicaid prior-authorization rules have advocates in Connecticut concerned about patients losing access to their prescription drugs.
Posted inPolitics
Senate quickly votes to extend Lamont’s emergency power
The Senate voted 28-8 to extend Gov. Ned Lamont’s emergency powers to unilaterally draw on contingency funding to cope with federal cuts.
Posted inEducation
Lamont’s education budget diverges from Dems, backfills federal cuts
Lamont’s proposed budget diverged from some Democrats’ key priorities. It also included backfill for federal cuts to student loan programs.