“The state of education in some towns is alarming,” wrote the judge presiding over a recent five-month trial on state funding of failing schools. Whether the state is doing enough to educate children in poverty was at the core of the case, which explored the struggles of students in the state’s lowest-performing schools. First of seven stories.
Troubled schools on trial: When poverty permeates the classroom
Posted inMoney, Politics
With an eye on legislature, Bronin makes pitch to suburbs
It wasn’t necessarily the way Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin wanted to start a conversation with the suburbs about what it would mean to the region if the capital city goes broke. But the Metropolitan District Commission’s unexpected levy on its member communities for a reserve fund in case Hartford cannot pay its bills is getting Bronin invitations to the suburbs to talk about the city’s challenges.
Posted inHealth, Money
DDS group home privatization effort slows down — for now
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s plans to privatize 40 group homes and lay off nearly 500 Department on Developmental Services employees next year — as well as union efforts to block those actions — are temporarily on hold, but have not gone away.
Posted inHealth
Advocates give legislators a ‘mental health 101’
The dozen or so legislators who showed up heard personal stories and policy pitches. They got some advice and joking sympathy. It was one of the many ways lobbyists and advocates will try to make an impression on legislators in advance of next year’s session.
Posted inHealth, Money
More than 320,000 CT households need winter energy aid
While falling fuel prices offer some relief, more than 320,000 Connecticut households face the “crushing financial burden” of energy bills that outstrip their resources by almost $400 million, a new study reported Tuesday.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Donald Trump and arguments from ignorance
Most people, even very young children, have an intuitive sense that proof of the existence of something is required before that “something” is acknowledged as true. Kids say “prove it.” Adults understand that the burden of proof is almost always on the party asserting the truth of something. For example, in our justice system the burden of proof is on the state (in a criminal action) and the plaintiff (in a civil action). A defendant does not have to prove his innocence; the state must prove his guilt–beyond a reasonable doubt. For some reason, however, this very simple concept seems to get lost in the political realm.
Posted inPolitics
Malloy re-elected to a second term as DGA chairman
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy was re-elected Monday to a second one-year term as chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, which lost ground in the 2016 elections, at the group’s winter meeting in New Orleans.
Posted inPolitics
Blumenthal uncertain over confirmation vote for Mattis
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., a member of the Armed Services Committee, said Monday that he had doubts about waiving a rule barring President-elect Trump from naming former General James Mattis or any other military officer as defense secretary so soon after retirement.
Posted inHealth, Justice
Aetna, Humana defend merger plans in court
Updated at 4:57 p.m.
WASHINGTON — Opening salvos were fired Monday in the antitrust case against the proposed merger of Aetna and Humana, with Justice Department attorneys arguing the tie-up would mean sharp price hikes for Medicare Advantage plans and a disintegration of choice for people purchasing insurance on Affordable Care Act exchanges.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Larson’s tunnels and widening I-95 are wasteful pipe dreams
U.S. Rep. John Larson recently proposed a massive $10 billion project to drill through miles of shale, sandstone, and basalt under Hartford for two new highway tunnels without any traffic study showing it would reduce congestion. This is one of numerous frivolous proposals that would waste precious taxpayer dollars without meeting the 21st Century needs of hardworking families in Connecticut.
Posted inCT Viewpoints, Talking Transportation
Conductor, collect all the tickets, please
Imagine you’re in a store and you see somebody shoplifting. You’re embarrassed to say anything or to make a scene, but inside you’re pissed-off. You pay for your merchandise, so why should that guy get it for free? And if he’s ripping off the store, doesn’t the merchant actually make you pay more to make up for that loss? It’s morally wrong and it’s just not fair. Yet this is what happens every single day on Metro-North when conductors don’t collect all riders’ tickets.
Posted inCities & Towns
Bottling plant a wake-up call on state water
For decades, Connecticut residents have taken water for granted. But approval of a water bottling plant in Bloomfield, the coming of the state’s worst drought since the 1960s, and several other water controversies in recent years have put the spotlight on both the state’s lack of an overall water plan and questions about the transparency and accountability of the Metropolitan District Commission, the Hartford region’s big water and sewer agency.
Posted inPolitics
Defense hawks hope Trump keeps vow to boost military spending
WASHINGTON — The House has approved a $619 billion defense bill and the Senate is expected to follow this week, but there’s a push to add F-35s, Black Hawk helicopters and other military hardware to the Pentagon’s shopping list early next year, right after President-elect Donald Trump assumes office.
Posted inPolitics
Murphy tweets: Trump’s foreign policy pivots are ‘how wars start’
Updated Saturday at 11:45 a.m.
WASHINGTON — Kellyanne Conway, a top adviser to President-elect Donald Trump, attacked Sen. Chris Murphy for tweeting that Trump’s recent calls with foreign leaders, especially the president of Taiwan, are “how wars start.” Murphy lit up the twitterverse late Friday by attacking Trump for his overtures to foreign leaders.
Posted inHealth
Insurance Department will seek to liquidate HealthyCT
The Connecticut Insurance Department plans to seek a court order to liquidate insurer HealthyCT at the end of the year, after an appointed overseer’s report that the nonprofit company – created with federal funds made available through Obamacare – is insolvent.