Expect a lot of talk from Connecticut’s congressional delegation this coming week about Medicare. But the chatter might focus more on the House Republican plan to privatize the program, rather than the threats to Medicare’s long-term solvency. The issue takes on heightened relevance today, because the Medicare trustees issued a new report concluding that the […]

Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, said the Obama Administration’s decision not to release the photos taken of the deceased Osama bin Laden was the “right one.” He made that statement after getting a glimpse of the pictures himself. The congressman, who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, was among those invited to see the […]

“Talks continue. Sides met last night.” And that’s the morning update on the concession talks, as delivered in a text from a SEBAC spokesman, Larry Dorman. In a later phone call with another spokesman, Matt O’Connor, a few more details: Negotiators met until about 3 a.m. and will resume later this morning after a few […]

On Sunday, May 8th, Americans across the country said thank you to their moms with flowers, cards, and phone calls.  This week, as we celebrate National Women’s Health Week, there’s another way you can show your appreciation for the women in your life: make sure they know about the important new protections and benefits for […]

The state House of Representatives Thursday approved a bill to give undocumented residents in-state tuition at public colleges and universities, but advocates say they fear eligible students may be scared off by the requirement that they admit their illegal status. The bill, approved 77-63 by the House, would require students to sign an affidavit confirming […]

Rumors flew around state offices this afternoon as some state employee unions told their members a concession deal with the administration of Gov. Dannel P.  Malloy is virtually complete, while others warned that nothing is final and significant work remains. Union and administration spokesmen said the two sides continue to talk and no deal has […]

WASHINGTON–In an early skirmish in what is likely to be a tough fight for the 2012 Democratic U.S. Senate nomination, Susan Bysiewicz and Chris Murphy squared off this week over the war in Afghanistan–an issue on which their differences appear to be largely a matter of degree. Bysiewicz opened a debate on this hot-button issue–which […]

Who says irony is dead? The House of Representatives began debating “An Act Concerning Captive Audience Meetings” at 2:08 p.m. Wednesday, only to be held captive by a Republican filibuster until 1:07 a.m. today. The bill passed, 78 to 65. House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., R-Norwalk, said the GOP talkfest was the result […]

Negotiators for state employees and the administration of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy quit for the night late Wednesday without a concession deal that would halt the issuance of more than 4,700 layoff notices. Talks resume Thursday. “Both sides are continuing to work hard,” said Roy Occhiogrosso, senior adviser to the governor. “These are tough issues.” […]

Two weeks after agreement was reached at the Capitol on merging much of the state’s higher education system, officials of the affected institutions are anxiously awaiting word on just what the reorganization will entail. “We don’t know how this is all going to play out,” Louise H. Feroe, the acting chancellor to Connecticut State University System, […]

The State Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the utility tax added to resident’s utility bills to help close the state’s deficit last year. If the court had ruled in favor of the lawsuit brought by state Sen. Joe Markley, the state would have had a new $432.5 million budget hole to close. Markley said […]

Nothing like an open seat to inspire the ambitions of politicians, new and old. Mike Williams of Southington, who has a Ph.D in economics from the London School of Economics, has a web site saying he will announce his candidacy Thursday for the Democratic nomination in the 5th Congressional District. He enters the race dropping […]

When bemoaning the United States’ comparatively low scores on international assessments, some are quick to point to one factor that sets Chinese students apart from their American peers: the length of the school day, Sarah Butrymowicz says at The Hechinger Report. How long? Eight hours a day for most students, plus up to four hours […]