Evangelical activist Shepherd Smith has spent more than three decades cultivating relationships with leading AIDS researchers and policymakers to promote abstinence-only sex education. Those connections now could influence government programs and funding within the Trump administration.
Religious conservatives’ ties to Trump pay off in AIDS policies, funding
Posted inPolitics
Lamont challenges Stefanowski to Sept. 5 debate in West Hartford
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ned Lamont challenged his Republican rival, Bob Stefanowski, on Friday to participate in a Sept. 5 debate at the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford.
Posted inHealth
State warns of increased West Nile virus risk, especially for elderly
While state experts are warning residents of an increased risk of West Nile virus infection right now, a UConn Health doctor is stressing that it’s rare for people infected with the virus to develop symptoms, let alone to develop a serious illness.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
An overdose outbreak could happen in Hartford and your town, too.
If you think what happened in New Haven can’t or won’t happen in your town or city, think again.
Here in Hartford, It’s not a matter of if but when.
While the massive drug overdose story in New Haven made for some shocking headlines, I am honestly surprised this hasn’t happened sooner.
Posted inMoney
IRS blocks Connecticut plan to bypass SALT tax deduction cap
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday issued new rules aimed at preventing taxpayers in Connecticut and other high-income and high-cost states from avoiding a new cap on the deductibility of their state and local taxes.
Posted inPolitics
Lamont: Property-tax relief possible, not income-tax repeal
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ned Lamont said Thursday he wants to restore Connecticut’s incredibly shrinking property-tax credit: Worth about $385 million in middle-class relief nearly 20 years ago, it now provides just $50 million annually and is limited to poorer property owners.
Posted inEducation
Murphy tries to block DeVos from using federal funds to arm teachers
WASHINGTON – The possibility the Trump administration would allow the use of federal funds to arm teachers prompted Sen. Chris Murphy on Thursday to try to block the move through legislation. It may be a long-shot effort, but it’s leading Democratic opposition to the plan.
Posted inEducation, Justice
Inmate education to continue in Connecticut, at least for now
Second Chance Pell Grants will continue in Connecticut until at least 2020, putting to rest recent concerns that federally funded inmate education programs would be ending this year.
Posted inPolitics
Q poll: Murphy’s job approval grows, would beat Corey 59-31
A new Quinnipiac poll of Connecticut voters gave Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy high job approval ratings and said Murphy would beat GOP challenger Matthew Corey by a 28-point margin if the election for the Senate seat were held today.
Posted inPolitics
Pick a poll: Lamont over Stefanowski by 13 points — or 4
Democrat Ned Lamont holds a 13-percentage point lead over Republican Bob Stefanowski in the race for governor, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday, while a Sacred Heart University/Hearst Connecticut Media poll has his lead at four points.
Posted inPolitics
First poll: Lamont leads Stefanowski in tight race
Democrat Ned Lamont holds a lead over Republican Bob Stefanowski that falls within the margin of error in the first public poll of the Connecticut race for governor, reinforcing an assumption long expressed by analysts: It’s a toss up. The poll of Sacred Heart University/ Hearst Connecticut is the first of two coming out today.
Posted inPolitics
Most CT Dems shun Trump-impeachment movement, for now
WASHINGTON – The political firestorm engulfing President Donald Trump because of the legal troubles of two close former associates has increased the temptation for Democrats to call for the president’s impeachment, but most of Connecticut’s lawmakers have joined their colleagues in holding back.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Barriers to sexual abuse lawsuits should come down
News of sexual abuse allegations has become so commonplace nationally that it no longer seems new, but to the victims of long-ago assaults on their bodies and their minds, emerging horror stories and recent revelations often spur an intense desire for justice. That may not be as easy as it seems, however, since statutes of limitations often hinder the victims from even getting into court, much less prevailing before judge and jury. As with the scandal that recently broke concerning Roman Catholic priests and the church hierarchy in Pennsylvania, many victims are prevented by archaic laws from seeking justice either criminally or through the civil court process.
Posted inNews
Chapman, an airman from Windsor Locks, awarded posthumous Medal of Honor
WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, about a dozen years after he died on a frozen Afghan mountain defending his teammates against an enemy attack, John Chapman of Windsor Locks received the nation’s highest military honor – the Medal of Honor.
Posted inPolitics
Waterbury faction wins control of Independent Party line
A judge has given the Waterbury faction of the Independent Party sole control of valuable political real estate: A line on the 2018 ballot that allows it to cross-endorse major-party candidates or choose its own nominees for statewide offices, including governor. The competing Danbury faction plans to appeal.