Two investors speaking at a forum on green jobs Wednesday said that a wholesale change in approach will be required for tiny Connecticut to attract some of the billions of investors’ dollars available for clean energy projects. Kevin Walsh, managing director of renewable energy for the Stamford-based GE Energy Financial Services, and Old Lyme-based Liddy […]

As legislators and education officials grapple with questions of how to get the best returns on taxpayers’ investment in public colleges and universities, a new report released Wednesday shows the community colleges have one of the worst “success rates” in the nation. “The biggest concern that comes out of this [report] is that Connecticut invests at […]

NEW HAVEN–On the day his nomination was confirmed by the House, the new commissioner of environmental protection told a green jobs conference Wednesday that he does not see alternative energy as economically viable in the near future. “I don’t see an alternative source that meets the test of economic viability,” Daniel C. Esty said. But […]

WASHINGTON–Municipal leaders from across Connecticut made a plea to the state’s congressional delegation Wednesday: Push back against domestic spending cuts that will hit their cities and towns hard. “Please, do no harm,” Cindy Mangini, an Enfield Town Councilwoman, said of her pitch to the state’s five House and two Senate members. “We’re trying to hang […]

MERIDEN — House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan scribbled notes Tuesday night in the front row of a packed school auditorium as his constituents repeatedly assailed Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, demanding higher taxes on the rich and relief for the middle class. Donovan, a leading progressive in the legislature, has yet to voice such strong disagreement […]

WASHINGTON–Despite the unfolding nuclear crisis in Japan, Connecticut’s congressional delegation expressed continued support for nuclear power, even as they called for more scrutiny of the industry. Lawmakers walked a careful line between raising questions about how to improve the safety of U.S. nuclear reactors and voicing confidence in the long-term viability of an energy source […]

WEST HARTFORD–Braeburn Elementary School’s fifth-grade teachers commandeered the brick conference room off Principal Natalie Simpson’s office the week before winter break. Graded papers full of circles partially colored in and open-ended problems like ’23/3=?’ spilled out of manila folders and littered the table. Shannon Mlodzinski, the statistician of the group, announced the results of the […]

Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, a team of researchers confirms that a pint of Guinness really does go down better in Ireland. For years Guinness drinkers have debated whether the famous Irish stout, originally brewed in Dublin, is as enjoyable elsewhere in the world.  The question came up several years ago, Anna Davison […]

Freshman Democrat Richard Blumenthal used his first Senate speech to relay the personal stories of Connecticut families who are “still hurting and still struggling” in the weak economy. In his maiden Senate speech on Wednesday, Blumenthal said his major focus in the coming year would be on spurring job growth, ferreting out government waste, and […]

Judge Lubbie Harper Jr. received legislative approval to join the state Supreme Court Wednesday. The House voted 124 to 16 and the Senate voted 24 to 7 to confirm Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s first nominee to the high court. Lawmakers from both parties praised Harper before the votes. Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney, D-New Haven, […]

Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, really doesn’t want any Husky fans to miss out on Thursday night’s UConn men’s basketball game against Bucknell University. So he’s asking the head of CBS to air the match-up on network television. In a letter to Leslie Moonves, the CEO of CBS, and Mark A. Emmert, of the NCAA, […]

The General Assembly’s committee on energy unveiled a bill Tuesday that would replace a controversial surcharge on electric customers and a raid on energy conservation funds with a huge new tax on Connecticut’s two active nuclear power plants. The bill, raised by the Energy and Technology Committee, is patterned partly after the controversial windfall profits levy […]

On the eve of a key vote on Gov. Dannel P. Malloy‘s proposal to merge Connecticut State University, the 12 community colleges and the state’s on-line college, the co-chairs of the legislative committee reviewing the measure are sharply split on it merits. “Higher education is the land of steady habits. You know, it needs a […]

With the support of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, officials of the state’s two largest public higher education systems are backing a proposal that would grant undocumented students in-state tuition. “Access is our core mission in public higher education,” Lousie H. Feroe, acting chancellor of the 36,600-student Connecticut State University System, told state lawmakers on the […]

BRISTOL–The sound systems are better. The rooms are bigger. And the crowds, well, they seem to be mellowing just a bit. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy says his traveling budget show is evolving night to night. “It was the biggest crowd we’ve had–and relatively little yelling,” Malloy said Monday night as he walked backstage at Bristol […]