Now that the medical marijuana bill has passed both houses of the legislature and the governor’s signature is certain, there will be an upsurge of horrified and negative comments. As a former practicing surgeon and a research analyst on drug policy at Central Connecticut State University, I know these concerns will be heartfelt and must […]
New marijuana measure is a model for the nation
Posted inNews
Malloy vetoes charter bill for a second time
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy vetoed his first bill of the 2012 session, a measure similar to a bill he vetoed last year over objections it would have limited the independence of charter revision commissions. “I continue to disapprove of this concept, because it unnecessarily restricts the independence and authority of charter review commissions,” Malloy wrote […]
Posted inEducation
No applause for implementation of education reforms
Only two hours after Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed into law a compromise education reform bill to near universal applause, a disagreement erupted at the State Department of Education over how to implement a provision on evaluating teachers. At issue is how much students’ performances on standardized tests will count when grading teachers. The new […]
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Connecticut Democrats spar with GOP over domestic violence law
Washington — Congress’ latest skirmish over what Democrats call “the war against women” has broken out over a law against domestic violence. Democrats and Republicans are divided on whether to extend special protections under the Violence Against Women Act to help undocumented immigrants and victims in the gay and transgender community. The Republican-led House will […]
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Controversy forgotten as education reforms become law
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy smiled and gave a thumbs up to Mary Loftus Levine, the leader of a teachers’ union that all but declared war on the governor over education reforms. She smiled back from her assigned seat in the second row. The brief, silent exchange at a bill-signing ceremony Tuesday spoke volumes about the […]
Posted inNews
Connecticut’s researchers decry Congress’ effort to kill census program
Washington — Congress’ move to abolish the American Community Survey, a U.S. Census program that reveals how Americans live, work and shop, has provoked an outcry from academics, researchers, local officials and even the business community who rely on the data. The amendment to abolish the survey — a measure expected to gain no traction […]
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Residents, environmentalists crowd hearing on Bridgeport coal plant
Listen To an audio version of this story from WNPR. Bridgeport — More than 150 people crowded into a room in the City Hall Annex Monday night to weigh in on Bridgeport Harbor Station’s request to renew its five-year operating permit, which expired earlier this year. Environmentalists have been trying for years to shut down […]
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Clark to endorse Roraback as he exits congressional race
Mike Clark will endorse Andrew Roraback as he exits the congressional race in the 5th District today, a casualty of his inability to raise money in a five-contest for the GOP nomination. Clark, a former FBI agent and Farmington councilman, is leaving the race two days before the Republican nominating convention, an admission he was […]
Posted inPolitics
Sen. Eileen Daily will not seek re-election
Sen. Eileen Daily, D-Westbrook, the co-chairwoman of one of the legislature’s key money committees, made a surprise announcement today she will not seek re-election this fall. Daily has been fighting cancer, but she had seemed to be set on another term. She passed up a chance to make her goodbyes from the Senate floor on […]
Posted inPolitics
Bysiewicz forces primary for Senate seat
It’s official: there will be a Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate. Susan Bysiewicz, who finished in second place at the Democratic convention, filed the necessary paperwork Tuesday that ensures her a place on the Aug. 14 primary ballot. “We’re excited about going forward,” the former secretary of the state told reporters. “Primaries are incredibly […]
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Donovan wins, but Esty and Roberti qualify in 5th CD
Waterbury — Democrats endorsed House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan of Meriden for Connecticut’s only open congressional seat Monday night, but former state Rep. Elizabeth Esty of Cheshire and Dan Roberti of Kent qualified for an Aug. 14 primary. Donovan, 58, who has been organized labor’s greatest ally in the General Assembly, starts the primary campaign […]
Posted inMoney
Connecticut selling itself with a $27 million campaign
Hartford — Three years after its tourism budget was reduced to $1, Connecticut is back with a two-year, $27 million marketing campaign to promote tourism and brand the state as “still revolutionary.” The state spent $500,000 on its new logo and other creative materials, with most of the remainder of the two-year budget going to […]
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Report: Babies, 18-year-olds still wrongly losing Medicaid coverage
One-year-olds and 18-year-olds are still wrongly losing Medicaid coverage because of administrative glitches and confusing notices, despite pledges from Department of Social Services officials to address the issues, according to the researchers who identified the problems. “[W]e want to bring to your attention the fact that the fixes agreed upon have not been implemented,” Mary […]
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Democrats endorse Chris Murphy for U.S. Senate
New Britain — U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy won an easy first-ballot Democratic convention endorsement for U.S. Senate on Saturday with 76 percent of the vote, but former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz vowed to force an Aug. 14 primary. The only question at the anticlimactic convention had been how much of a struggle Bysiewicz […]
Posted inPolitics
Oakes may abandon U.S. Senate bid soon, would back Murphy over Bysiewicz
Political newcomer Matthew Oakes, an East Hartford Democrat who’s been trying to petition his way onto the Democratic primary ballot for U.S. Senate, said at Saturday’s Democratic State Convention he may soon abandon that bid. Oakes, who already has collected about 9,000 of the roughly 14,600 signatures he needs, said he would decide shortly after […]