The Connecticut Mirror and AARP Connecticut host their fifth Google Hangout of 2015 on fraud. Guest include Doug Shadel, State Director, AARP Washington, AARP Fraud Watch Network; Susan Wines, Assistant U.S. Attorney; and Sal Cannata, Principal Financial Examiner, Securities and Business Investments Division, State of Connecticut Department of Banking.
CT Mirror/AARP – Google Hangout: The Future of Fraud
Posted inEducation
U.S. Senate votes to leave many education reforms to the states
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate Thursday approved a sweeping overhaul of federal education law that would leave up to Connecticut and other states whether to continue with education reforms including the controversial Common Core standards and linking teacher evaluations to student test scores.
Posted inMoney, Politics
CT reaches tentative deal with unions on disability pay controversy
Negotiators for the state and its employee unions have reached a tentative agreement that could resolve a long-running controversy over state disability pension payments, the state’s chief labor negotiator said Thursday.
Posted inHealth
Day Kimball, Hartford HealthCare exploring affiliation
Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam could become the next hospital to join Hartford HealthCare, the parent company of Hartford, Backus and Windham hospitals, MidState Medical Center and The Hospital of Central Connecticut.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Lawmakers should override Malloy veto of ed commissioner qualifications
The Connecticut legislature was right to enact legislation which would require an education commissioner to have a minimum of five years of classroom experience and three years of school administration. In fact, the vast majority of states require some level of experience or background in order to be qualified to lead the appropriate state agency. The legislature should stand firm when it convenes on Monday for its veto session to ensure that Connecticut joins these ranks.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Climate change poses risks for Amtrak’s already vulnerable eastern CT rail line
The section of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor from New Haven to the Rhode Island border, which has hugged the state’s shoreline for more than 100 years, includes stretches of rail already vulnerable to storms and flooding. As climate change exacerbates the risks, just about that entire line is believed to be in some level of jeopardy. The second of two stories.
Posted inEducation, Politics
Murphy fails in attempt to boost civil rights protections in ed bill
WASHINGTON – Opposed by powerful teachers unions but backed by civil rights groups, legislation sponsored by Sen. Chris Murphy aimed at boosting school accountability in a proposed education overhaul failed in the Senate Wednesday.
Posted inHealth
New London, Westerly hospitals to join Yale New Haven system
The parent company of New London’s Lawrence + Memorial Hospital and Rhode Island’s Westerly Hospital has reached an agreement to join the Yale New Haven Health System, the two corporations announced Wednesday.
Posted inEducation, Politics
Looney, Sharkey hedge on overriding Malloy veto
The Connecticut General Assembly expects to convene Monday for a one-day veto session, but legislative leaders expressed uncertainty Wednesday about whether lawmakers would attempt their first override of a veto by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.
Posted inEnergy & Environment
Climate change threatens Connecticut’s vital shoreline rail
As the state invests in a multi-billion-dollar plan to upgrade the rail line, there are those who say the impact of climate change isn’t being considered carefully enough. They worry the plan will entrench the line in locations vulnerable to storms and flooding. But others say it’s too expensive to move the line, and there are other ways to mitigate the impact. First of two stories.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
CT Family Court reform might save some other baby’s life
We will never know with certainty what could have been done to prevent the killing of 7-month-old Aaden Moreno by his father earlier this month. But maybe, if we focus on making needed reforms to the Family Court system, we will be able to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Richard Gray, former UConn VP, named deputy state treasurer
A veteran state administrator and former chief financial officer for the University of Connecticut, Richard Gray, has been named deputy state treasurer. State Treasurer Denise L. Nappier also announced that her deputy since May 2012, Christine Shaw, now will serve as chief compliance officer for the treasury.
Posted inPolitics
CT lawmakers hopeful, but adopt wait-and-see stance on Iran deal
WASHINGTON — Reaction in Congress to the historic Iran deal ranged from condemnation to hope it will curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Most Connecticut lawmakers praised President Obama for negotiating with Iran and other world powers, although former Sen. Joe Lieberman helped rally opposition to the deal.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Connecticut’s new budget: Something painful for everyone
When the budget implementer bill was presented to the House chamber during the special session on June 29, we had mere hours to read it over and realize that despite some changes made for the better, this budget didn’t do nearly enough to steer Connecticut in the right direction. Much discussion has been focused on corporations and the unconscionable unitary tax placed upon them, but make no mistake; this budget does not discriminate in regards to its negative impact upon both businesses and residents.
Posted inEducation, Politics
Murphy hopes to amend education bill to address civil rights concerns
WASHINGTON – Sen. Chris Murphy hopes to amend a new federal education bill so that problem schools and under-performing students could be more clearly identified — and given the help they need. The new bill before the Senate would replace the controversial No Child Left Behind Act.