Lamont’s proposed budget diverged from some Democrats’ key priorities. It also included backfill for federal cuts to student loan programs.
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 inPolitics
Medicaid cost, DCF oversight among CT lawmakers’ 2026 priorities
Connecticut legislators have lofty ambitions to tackle major health and human services challenges during the 2026 legislative session.
Posted inHuman Services
New details emerge on faked DCF call in ‘Mimi’ Torres-García case
A 10-year veteran at DCF met with a 21-year-old woman she believed to be Jacqueline ‘Mimi’ Torres-García, court testimony revealed.
Posted inHealth
How will CDC vaccine schedule changes affect CT residents?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced updates to its recommendations for childhood vaccines. Here’s what to know.
Posted inHuman Services
ABLE CT program expanded to disabled veterans, others
The ABLE CT program will allow more people with disabilities in CT to save money without jeopardizing their access to benefits.
Posted inHuman Services
Autopsy confirms ‘Mimi’ Torres-García’s cause of death was starvation
The autopsy confirmed the 11-year-old’s death was caused by child abuse and starvation. She weighed only 27 pounds, the report said,
Posted inHuman Services
Whiplash in CT as Trump administration reverses mental health, addiction cuts
One CT provider was scrambling to avoid layoffs when the Trump administration reversed its cuts to mental health, addiction services grants.
Posted inHartford
After ICE protest, Hartford police launch investigation
Hartford police are investigating the hit-and-run and pepper spraying of people near a protest of ICE’s actions in the Renee Good death.
Posted inImmigration
Federal vehicle knocks down protester during Renee Good vigil in Hartford
At least one person was knocked down by a federal vehicle during a vigil for Renee Good in Hartford on Thursday, and many were pepper-sprayed.
Posted inImmigration
CT residents detained by ICE remembered at Hartford vigil
The vigil was the latest effort by Hartford Deportation Defense, Jewish Voice for Peace and others to draw attention to the ICE detentions.
Posted inHuman Services
Inside CT’s push to increase ‘kinship care’ placements for children
DCF wants to place more children in ‘kinship care’ — with a relative or other close family connection. But doing so has been complicated.
Posted inEducation
Capital Prep sues over CT charter school funding process
The lawsuit asks a New Britain judge to decide whether the power to fund such schools lies with the state Board of Education or not.
Posted inHuman Services
Mimi Torres-García estate accuses DCF of negligence, seeks $100M
The estate of Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres-García is seeking to sue DCF for alleged negligence and for allegedly failing to protect her sister.
Posted inEspañol
CT podría abordar el tema de las comidas escolares universales
Esto es lo que necesita saber sobre las comidas escolares universales en CT y por qué podría tratarse en la sesión legislativa del 2026.