Brave man, Tim Larson. The Democratic state representative from East Hartford wants to mess with Halloween. Larson proposed today that the legislature designate the last Saturday in October as Halloween, so trick or treating never would take place again on a school night. “Halloween is fun night for the whole family, but not so much […]

A group of scientists known for their skepticism about climate change has concluded that there is valid evidence that the Earth is getting warmer, Michael Marshall reports at NewScientist. After reanalyzing two centuries’ worth of global temperature records, the scientists concluded that their questions about the accuracy of the data “do not significantly change the […]

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s budget office warned this week it is watching some negative fiscal trends that could threaten the modest surplus currently projected for this year. And the $75.6 million fiscal cushion reported Thursday by the Office of Policy and Management – in one respect – is already gone. That’s because Malloy and the […]

Among the items in Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s jobs package for next week’s special session is one on brownfields – those polluted properties that have become darlings of the environmental and economic revitalization sectors in recent years. The package earmarks $20 million to develop and market five to-be-determined state-owned brownfield sites, to review and ultimately […]

State employee unions insist they can make government more efficient without cutting vital services, but they are fumbling their chance to prove it. The labor-management panels that were to identify $130 million in efficiencies as part of last summer’s concession deal haven’t met yet. And with the fiscal year already 3-½ months along, Gov. Dannel […]

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s up-and-down relationship with labor unions dipped again Thursday when his administration introduced a proposal that seemed to open the door to privatizing some state functions as part of next week’s special legislative session on economic development. Union leaders and members representing thousands of public-sector workers balked at a proposal to give […]

The administration of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is sweetening its application for a $50 million federal grant under the Race to the Top program by pledging to expand preschool programs, something not required under the competition rules. Call it a bit of extra credit. “I am committed to fund one thousand new early childhood education […]

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration outlined a package of job-growth proposals Thursday that includes $516 million in bonding for business and infrastructure investments, a new tax break aimed at small businesses, and a plan to streamline state regulations. The proposal outlined by two key administration officials before the legislature’s Commerce and Labor & Public Employees […]

State Sen. Andrew Roraback of Goshen announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Congress on Thursday, becoming the ninth candidate to declare for the open 5th Congressional District seat. “I’m running because 18 years of service will allow me to hit the ground running,” he said, dismissing the head start enjoyed by four other […]

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced two judicial nominations Thursday: Judge Michael R. Sheldon of Canton to the Appellate Court, and Sybil Richards of Orange to succeed Sheldon on the Superior Court. The nominations are only the 3rd and 4th by Malloy since taking office in January, a recognition that the fiscal crisis has resulted in […]

The $291 million subsidy for a $1.1 billion genetics lab at UConn Health is dominating the run up to next week’s special session on economic development. But there is another, quieter struggle: fending off pitches for other projects and issues. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and the Republican minority may ultimately agree to disagree on the […]

Republican and Democratic leadership have reached agreement of what will be included in the upcoming special session on jobs, the Malloy Administration announced Thursday. While no bill has been released with the specifics, a powerpoint previewing some of what will be included has been released. It includes $50 million in small business loans, increases job […]

The sparse consumer presence on the Health Insurance Exchange Board is drawing a protest at today’s 9 a.m. meeting. Juan Figueroa of the Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut issued a statement in support: “The silent protest at the morning’s Health Insurance Exchange Board meeting shows that residents and small business are not going to […]