A legislative hearing on a renewed proposal to legalize keno raised old concerns Wednesday about expanding gambling in restaurants, bars and convenience stores and new ones about profit-sharing and technology.
Old questions, new concerns on keno
Posted inEducation
CSCU president: Meriden campuses will stay open
Heeding pressure from the state Capitol, the community college programs in Meriden will remain open after all, the college system’s president announced Wednesday. But he said he’s depending on the state to fund the campuses.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Despite reservations, CT senators join in approving ‘doc fix’ bill
WASHINGTON — While they had reservations about some provisions of the bill, Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy joined an overwhelming majority in the U.S. Senate to approve a bill preventing a 21 percent cut in Medicare fees for doctors.
Posted inPolitics
Blumenthal wants foreign worker visas boosted — and program reformed
WASHINGTON — Sen. Richard Blumenthal wants to expand a program that allows U.S. companies to hire workers with specialized skills, but after allegations of abuses the senator also wants the program investigated.
Posted inNews
Meeting education goals for child care teaching staffs in doubt
Concern is mounting that the requirements of a state law boosting educational standards for staff at state-funded child care centers are not achievable — and with a July 1 deadline fast-approaching, early childhood educators are scrambling for solutions to draw in qualified teachers.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Tesla: We want a level playing field and chance to compete
At a time when new tax revenue, economic development and job growth are urgently needed, Connecticut stands poised to welcome one of the most innovative and sustainability driven companies to the state. Allowing Tesla to compete and sell their vehicles to Connecticut consumers helps further the state’s desire to be home to new, innovative companies.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Connecticut should demand more disclosure by the police
Some key Connecticut legislators are telling us to compromise on how much the people can know about crime and punishment, how much we can know about how the police are protecting the public from alleged criminals. I am not sure how to compromise on the right of the people to know what their government is doing in their name.
Posted inEducation, Politics
House votes to strip Gray of power to close campus
In a clear show of displeasure with the leader of the state’s system of community colleges and regional state universities, the state House of Representatives voted 86 to 56 Tuesday to block the system from closing a campus without legislative approval.
Posted inNews
Senate approves making sexual assault nurses available at UConn
The state Senate Tuesday unanimously passed a bill making the services of special sexual assault nurses available at the University of Connecticut infirmary in Storrs. The nurses are trained to administer sexual assault forensic (SAF) exams to collect evidence in sexual assault cases.
Posted inPolitics
Murphy helps give Congress a say on Iran nuclear deal
WASHINGTON — After the White House reluctantly withdrew its objections, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy voted for a bill Tuesday that would give Congress a say in any agreement with Iran over its nuclear power program. The bill also bridges a disagreement between Murphy and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal over the role Congress should play on an Iran deal.
Posted inHealth, Money, Politics
Nursing home strike postponed at Malloy’s request
A healthcare union closely allied with Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced Tuesday it has acceded to a request by the governor for a postponement of a nursing home strike by 3,500 workers in 20 communities.
Posted inHealth, Politics
After providers complain, lawmakers consider changes to Medicaid audits
Legislators are considering changes to the way the state audits Medicaid payments to health care providers, who have complained for years that the process penalizes honest errors and can lead to costs dramatically higher than any identified mistakes. One independent pharmacist got involved in pushing for change after an audit of his drug store found $268 worth of problematic prescriptions — and he faced a penalty of $144,814.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Right fervor, wrong focus. More than Meriden campus at stake
The potential closing of Middlesex Community College’s Meriden Center is terrible news. Nevertheless, there is one very good thing that has come from the decision to close the campus: attention. Ultimately, the conversation that needs to happen is not about the Meriden Center; rather, it is about the necessity — and obligation — to properly manage and adequately fund Connecticut’s state colleges and universities.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
On Equal Pay Day, Connecticut women still short-changed
Today is the national observance of Equal Pay Day, a date that marks how far into the new year a woman must work to earn as much as a man earned in the previous year. According to the National Partnership for Women and Families, Connecticut women are paid approximately 78 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterparts.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Connecticut should ban flame retardant chemicals in kids’ products
There is a bill before the CT State Legislature which would ban some flame retardant chemicals from children’s products. Does this sound counter intuitive? It is not. An Act Concerning Toxic Fire Retardants in Children’s Products, is an opportunity for us to rectify this dangerous exposure of our children to toxic chemicals that are linked to many serious diseases.