Posted inCT Viewpoints

Reflections on synthetic marijuana outbreaks: our own local zombie apocalypse

Imagine chaos, a scene akin to a zombie apocalypse only footsteps away from an Ivy League institution of higher learning: people screaming, fighting, and then suddenly dropping to the ground in convulsions, limbs flailing in all directions. This became reality in downtown New Haven after over 100 people overdosed on synthetic marijuana, “K2,” leaving onlookers in awe and our hospitals in  crisis.

Posted inCT Viewpoints, Talking Transportation

Secret hacks of Grand Central Terminal

There is possibly no more beautiful railroad station in the world than New York City’s Grand Central Terminal. As the destination of over 55,000 daily rail commuters from Connecticut, it’s a place where many of us spend a fair amount of time. I’ve been riding in and out of Grand Central for over 50 years. So to help you maneuver the station’s labyrinth of tunnels, ramps and stairs, here are some of the “secrets” of Grand Central that I find most useful.

Posted inEducation

A pregnant teen dies, and DCF debates value of more transparency

Testifying at the state Capitol complex Wednesday about a spate of suicide attempts at the state’s psychiatric facility for children, the commissioner of the Department of Children and Families held up her right hand and promised to start publicly disclosing  when outside inspectors  deem the facility unsafe.

Posted inPolitics

Blumenthal, other Dems, demand Trump withdraw Kavanaugh’s nomination

WASHINGTON – Sen. Richard Blumenthal on Wednesday joined his Democratic colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee in demanding President Donald Trump direct the FBI to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct against Supreme Court candidate Brett Kavanaugh or withdraw the nomination. The president, who has escalated his defense of the nominee, is not likely to comply.

Posted inEducation

Independent reviews describe state’s failure to protect children at Middletown psychiatric facility

Two independent reviews of Connecticut’s residential psychiatric hospital for children in Middletown describe a staggering failure by multiple state agencies to protect children, and provide details about an environment so unsafe that seven other children attempted to kill themselves in the months surrounding the suicide of an 8-months pregnant teenager in June.

Posted inCT Viewpoints

More methane from Bizarro President

What do Americans want? Is it a good five-cent cigar or a chicken in every pot? More cowbell? Hard to say, but what we’re going to get, courtesy of our Bizarro President, is more methane. Whoopee, extra methane! Tell the children and grandchildren. You remember Bizarro Superman from DC Comics. He was the polar opposite of the Man of Steel. Superman was good; his breath was super cold; and his X-ray vision could see through anything but lead. Conversely, his Bizarro mirror image was bad —with hot breath and X-Ray vision that could only see through lead.
President Biazarro, in his administration’s fourth major rollback of environmental regulations this year, is making it easier for oil and gas drillers on federal and tribal land to let methane escape into the warming air we breath.

Posted inCT Viewpoints

Change the candidate debate format

Watching the most recent debate between the candidates for Connecticut’s next governor, CTMirror reported that there were a “few zingers” but little substance. The audience, although frequently admonished, added to the casual atmosphere, creating the feeling that we were attending an entertainment event rather than a political debate, by hooting, whistling, and applauding. Let’s face it, debates are forums in which each candidate tries to get the best, as the CTMirror puts it, “zingers” and hammer home one point whether it is factual or impactful or not.

Posted inJustice

Blumenthal, other Dems, reject scheduling of Friday vote on Kavanaugh

WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans have scheduled a vote on Supreme Court candidate Brett Kavanaugh for Friday morning, just one day after he and sexual assault accuser Christine Blasey Ford are due to testify before the lawmakers. The scheduling of the vote provoked Democrats on the panel, including Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., to accuse Republicans of a rush to judgment and of pressing for Kavanaugh’s confirmation with little regard to the allegations against him.

Posted inCT Viewpoints

Connecticut requires a governor committed to education

Congratulations to each gubernatorial candidate on gaining a place on the November ballot. The next governor will encounter many fiscal, structural, and social challenges in the state of Connecticut. In nearly every government sector, from social services to transportation to economic development, you will be faced with a series of challenges and decisions that will define your leadership as governor. I have listened intently to your campaign and debate commentary. Notably missing in your respective platforms has been any reference to education. The purpose of this letter is to inspire you to adopt education and educational attainment as the most important asset that any state governor can endorse.

Posted inCT Viewpoints

Connecticut should back this herring conservation plan

Regional fisheries managers are about to make a huge decision on Atlantic herring conservation that will reverberate across New England’s ocean and impact many species. You wouldn’t think such small fish could be such a big deal, but herring are a critical species, sustaining a huge range of wildlife, from marine mammals like humpback whales to sportfish like striped bass to birds like osprey. The New England Fisheries Management Council is set to vote on a new plan to manage herring at its meeting on September 25 in Plymouth, Mass., and the National Wildlife Federation supports strong action to conserve this important food source.

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