WASHINGTON – Connecticut Democrats on Tuesday said the conviction of Paul Manafort, and the plea deal of Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney, is proof of “criminality” in the White House, while the president continued to call special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation “a witch hunt.”
CT Dems say Manafort conviction, Cohen plea, proof of ‘criminality’ in White House
Posted inEducation
New GOP-driven effort looks to further school safety reform
With pressures inflicted in part by social media shaping a distinct, rapidly evolving generation of students, a largely-Republican group of lawmakers is looking to update the school safety reforms implemented in the wake of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
Posted inMoney
Democrats line up to take a swing at Stefanowski’s tax pledge
Connecticut Democrats stepped up their campaign Tuesday to fill in the gaps of Republican gubernatorial nominee Bob Stefanowski’s promise to phase out the state income tax over eight years — arguing it would come at a steep cost to local schools, municipalities and property taxpayers.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Connecticut is not properly structured for economic growth
Just about everyone accepts that after an unusually vigorous national economic expansion and housing boom, Connecticut remains in the doldrums. It is a national poster child for egregious fiscal and economic mismanagement on a scale rarely seen in post-war America. Jobs are below pre-2008 Recession levels. A major exodus of firms, jobs and residents is underway. By some estimates 20 to 25,000 residents are leaving annually. Most ominous is the unprecedented post-war decline of property values in the fabled Gold Coast where a few hundred thousand wealthy residents provide a third of the state’s revenues serving its 3.5 million inhabitants. People are voting with their boots.
Posted inEducation
Final report on DCF under Malloy and Katz cites progress
Connecticut received Monday what is likely to be a federal overseer’s final assessment of the progress made by the Department of Children and Families during the tenure of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Commissioner Joette Katz, saying the state is closer than ever to ending nearly three decades of federal supervision. But not before the next governor takes office.
Posted inMoney
White House approves disaster aid for towns hit by May storm
WASHINGTON – The White House on Monday agreed to provide some, but not all, of the money the state requested to help the victims of May’s severe storms and tornadoes.
Posted inMoney
CT has a surplus – for now
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration announced Monday that state finances have been running almost $138 million in the black since the fiscal year began on July 1.
Posted inHealth
Trump drug czar nominee meets with CT officials after K2 crisis
President Donald Trump’s nominee for “drug czar” visited New Haven on Monday, prompted by the massive medical emergency caused by the synthetic cannabinoid K2, to discuss the ongoing and deadly addiction epidemic that continues to grip Connecticut.
Posted inTransportation
Malloy keeps up the pressure for transportation rebuild — and tolls
Undaunted by a lack of interest from state legislators and most gubernatorial candidates, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy continues to try to keep Connecticut focused on rebuilding its aging, overcrowded transportation system.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
The Bells of Balangiga are going home!
The Bells of Balangiga are going home!** The announcement by Secretary of Defense Mattis about the bells last Friday, on the eve of the last weekend before the most exciting statewide primary elections in some time, was overshadowed by last minute local campaign media blitz and political punditry.
All across Connecticut, chances are you never heard or read about this news, and if you saw it, you probably could have cared even less about it.
Posted inCT Viewpoints, Talking Transportation
Too hot to fly
Is it hot enough for ya? Even if you don’t believe it’s caused by humans, there is no doubt our planet is heating up. And as global warming increases, so will our travel problems. Meteorologists agree that thunderstorms, tornados and hurricanes are all getting stronger and causing greater damage. Hardly a summer passes without extensive flight delays caused by storm-fronts, let alone hurricanes like Harvey and Maria.
Posted inNews
Ned & Bob’s first week: Lots of Ned, not much of Bob
Ned Lamont aired the first general-election commercial the day after his Democratic primary win, staged his first public event the same morning, and has been campaigning daily ever since, backed by a unified Democratic ticket. His Republican opponent, Bob Stefanowski, has been off the air and off the trail since winning his primary last Tuesday. His campaign promises that Lamont will have company soon enough.
Posted inNews
Veterans group sues to block VA shadow rulers
A liberal veterans group is suing to block the influence of three outside advisers who have been secretly influencing the Department of Veterans Affairs from Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump’s private club in Palm Beach, Florida.
Posted inNews
One big story — for the next few months
There was one big story last week that will resonate from now until November 6 – the election of the candidates competing to lead state government for the next four years.
Posted inEducation
Its low-scoring schools made their days longer. It helped, new research finds
New research finds that a program lengthening the school day really did boost reading scores for students from low-income families. It’s new evidence that lengthening the school day, an approach being taken at schools across the country, can make a difference for students who stand to benefit the most.