Washington — Even before Democratic Rep. Elizabeth Esty completed her first 100 days in Congress, the GOP had begun a campaign to oust her from Congress. But even the Republican Party says Esty isn’t the best target they have in this election cycle, which ends in November 2014.
GOP targets Rep. Esty, but it may miss the mark
Posted inNews
UConn students (and parents) may be asked to foot bill for new athletic center
Storrs — When the University of Connecticut built a new indoor practice facility for the varsity football team nearly seven years ago, it had the state pick up $31 million of the cost. Since then, enrollment at the state’s main campus has steadily risen, and the 60-year-old rec center, used by all other students, has been struggling […]
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Mission of Mercy free dental clinic in Bridgeport this year
The annual Connecticut Mission of Mercy free dental clinic will be held at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport on Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8, and is expected to serve more than 2,000 people. This year’s clinic will include more than 110 dental chairs and 1,500 volunteers, according to Dr. Bruce Tandy, co-chairman of […]
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Lembo’s new site offers ‘build your own’ state tax plan
Think you could do a better job than the legislature does when it comes to setting taxes? Just how much would a top income tax rate similar to New Jersey’s cost Connecticut’s millionaires? Does it really save much money to shave a few points off the sales tax? With final negotiations on a state budget […]
Posted inEducation
More turnover at the Board of Regents
Two top officials at the state’s largest public college system have resigned. Bill Bowes, the budget chief for the 100,000-student Board of Regents system, plans to leave May 16 for a new position at the University of Arkansas’ medical school. Wendy Chang, the leader of the system’s information technology, will be leaving at the end […]
Posted inPolitics
State wants data on car crashes
With nearly 300 car crashes reported every day in Connecticut, state officials are working to identify trouble spots. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced Monday morning that the University of Connecticut is planning to launch a one-stop-shop for police officers to report car crashes. The university in turn will analyze the data and provide the state […]
Posted inPolitics
Malloy on undocumented immigrants and driving licenses
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Monday that he supports giving illegal immigrants the ability to get a driver’s license. “I want every driver in the state of Connecticut to prove that they are a safe driver, regardless of where they came from. You are visiting from Australia for an extended amount of time, you should […]
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Malloy, Sharkey endorse minimum wage increase
House Speaker J. Brendan Sharkey, D-Hamden, said today he will back Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s call for increasing the $8.25 minimum wage to $9 over the next two years. “I think I am in line with where the governor is, frankly. It is always a balancing act to recognize the needs of workers, while also […]
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Malloy: State must put any budget surplus this year in bank
State government may close the fiscal year with a small surplus, but Gov. Dannel P. Malloy made it clear Friday that lawmakers should make no plans to spend what’s left over. The administration notified the legislature this week that it wants any surplus dollars deposited into the emergency reserve, commonly known as the Rainy Day […]
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Hospitals working together to reduce surgical complications
Connecticut hospitals traditionally considered competitors have been quietly teaming up to share techniques to reduce surgical infections and complications. The idea is to improve patient care and efficiency in a landscape of skyrocketing health care costs and pressure from the federal Affordable Care Act to improve performance. On Friday, surgeons, hospitals, health plan providers, physicians […]
Posted inPolitics
As spotlight shifts to immigration, senators hope to renew gun debate
As the congressional spotlight turns to immigration reform following the Senate’s rejection of increased gun control measures, Connecticut’s senators are trying to draw out any remaining momentum for changes to gun laws. “If we stand still and do nothing, there is going to be another massacre. Someone else is going to walk into a crowded […]
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Lawmakers aim to blend charter and public school test scores
Hartford Public Schools — one of the state’s lowest-performing districts — has spent millions in recent years sending money to a nearby charter school, and in exchange the district officials get to use Achievement First’s high test scores when reporting their students’ progress. “We are basically buying their test scores,” said Robert Cotto Jr., a […]
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Anthem agrees to reprocess 28,000 claims to mental health providers
Anthem Health Plans has agreed to reprocess 28,000 claims amounting to $400,000 in additional payments to mental health providers following an investigation by the state Department of Insurance, the department announced Wednesday. However, it is unlikely that the agreement will prompt physicians’ groups to withdraw a discrimination lawsuit against Anthem on the same issue any […]
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Bike share programs are taking over the nation
By: Georgia Lobb If you don’t have a bike, get one now. The future of commuting seems to be standing on two wheels. According to Bikeshare.com, 2013 is the year of the bike. “In 2013, North America will likely see the addition of eighteen new bike share programs, growing approximately 50 percent from 2012. This […]
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Opposition grows to Bridgewater project; sweeteners added
Stamford — Gov. Dannel Malloy’s plan to pay Bridgewater Associates $115 million to move from Westport to his hometown’s waterfront has gotten a little sweeter for Stamford. The developer for the giant hedge fund’s new headquarters, Building and Land Technologies (BLT), recently agreed to pay for $5 million in improvements throughout the city. They include: Renovating a […]