As the General Assembly considers reforms intended to divert younger defendants from prison, a national study concludes that Connecticut moved farther than nearly every state in embracing harsher punishment over a 30-year period marked by soaring U.S. incarceration rates.
Pew tracks sharp rise in ‘punishment rate’ in CT
Posted inHealth
Critics urge more transparency in Anthem-Cigna merger review
Saying that “all eyes will be on Connecticut,” critics of two pending mergers of major health insurers have asked the state’s insurance commissioner to take steps they say would increase transparency in the review of Anthem’s proposed acquisition of Cigna.
Posted inEducation
Tuition hike pitched for public college system
It’s almost certain to become more expensive to attend the Connecticut State Universities and community colleges. Board of Regents President Mark Ojakian on Wednesday recommended state residents pay $480 more to attend the four regional state universities — a 5 percent increase — and $347 more to enroll in community colleges.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Protect Connecticut’s state forests with a constitutional amendment
It is not an overstatement to say that most Connecticut residents believe that land designated as state parks and forests is protected from sale or development now and in the future.
Unfortunately, that is not the case.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
CT Mastery Exam Task Force has unique opportunity to fix assessment system
The Connecticut legislature’s Mastery Examination Task Force has a unique opportunity to design and determine a Connecticut Assessment System that can meet the needs of our students, satisfy their parents, and inform student learning for teachers while – at the same time – fulfilling the state’s obligations under the Every Student Succeeds Act.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Examining Clinton and Sanders on K-12 education
There has been no substantive conversation about K-12 education in the Democratic debates, town hall meetings, or candidate rallies. Perhaps that’s because Democrats want to walk away from the contentious education policies and practices of the Obama administration and focus, instead, on the many other noteworthy accomplishments of Barack Obama’s presidency. Whatever the back story, we voters deserve to know what the candidates will do as President about the education of our children. What follows are key topics about K-12 education and what the candidates have said about them so far.
Posted inEnergy & Environment, Politics
Nuclear power’s future in Connecticut is on the table
The economic viability of the Millstone nuclear station in Waterford, the largest power plant in New England and a crucial factor in Connecticut’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gases, is about to become a major issue in Hartford.
Posted inEducation, Money
Taxing Yale: An attack or fair game?
While officials at Yale University call legislation that would implement a new tax on the growth of its endowment an “attack on independent higher education,” legislative heavyweights backing the bill say its just forcing the Ivy League school to be a good neighbor.
Posted inNews
House approves Esty bill encouraging women entrepreneurs
WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a bill sponsored by Rep. Elizabeth Esty to encourage women entrepreneurs in the science, engineering, technology and math fields.
Posted inNews
U.S. House approves Coltsville National Park fix
WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to provide a fix to the legislation establishing the Coltsville National Historical Park in Hartford.
Posted inEducation, Money
Senate leader adds to calls for givebacks from state employees
The leader of the state Senate has joined the growing chorus of top state leaders calling for major givebacks from state employees to help close the state’s looming budget shortfalls.
Posted inEducation, Health, Money, Politics, Transportation
Struggle to balance current budget could help with future deficits
While legislators and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy scramble to close yet another hole in the current state budget, the exercise could help them solve a much larger problem. Depending on how they solve this fiscal year’s $220 million deficit — a task lawmakers have pledged to complete Tuesday — the $900 million hole built into 2016-17 finances could be whittled down by nearly one-quarter.
Posted inPolitics
Staff bolts again, but August Wolf says he’s still running
The troubled U.S. Senate campaign of Republican August Wolf is without a campaign manager for the second time in two months, but the Stamford businessman said Tuesday he is staying in the race and will announce a new team next week.
Posted inEducation
Session Notes: State college system freezes hiring
The president of the state’s largest public college system announced a hiring freeze Tuesday to cope with mid-year budget cuts to the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities system as the state closes its budget shortfalls.
Posted inHealth
Session Notes: Medical marijuana for minors bill advances
The Public Health Committee voted 20 to 7 Monday to move forward a proposal that would allow minors with certain medical conditions to use medical marijuana.