Test scores and ZIP codes: Educators say housing is a factor in achievement

If you want to predict children’s chances for success in school, the latest test scores tell only part of the story. You might want to check their ZIP codes, too. That was a key message at a forum Wednesday in Hartford, where a series of experts said the quality of children’s health and education is […]

State employee unions have rejected Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s call to offer the second worker retirement incentive program in two years, according to a written statement released late tonight by the administration. But the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition responded that it didn’t reject anything, but rather insisted that Rell first assess how a second […]

Just two weeks after raiding the next state budget to balance the current one, Gov. M. Jodi Rell unveiled a plan this afternoon to do the reverse – and thereby replace $1.3 billion in planned securitization with nearly $1 billion in more traditional borrowing. The odd back-and-forth maneuver still would place new burdens on residents […]

The state House voted Wednesday to lay the groundwork for what could be a complete overhaul of the state’s tax system by ordering a comprehensive study of the existing revenue structure–the first since establishment of the state income tax nearly 20 years ago. “There is precedent do exactly this the last time we faced a […]

It’s been three months since The Connecticut Mirror began news coverage of Connecticut’s government, politics and public policy. In that time we’ve published hundreds of stories viewed by a steadily-growing number of visitors to our website, CTMirror.org, as well as by readers of our newspaper partners. Now we’re starting a new opinion section, CTCommons, to […]

BRIDGEPORT – At a crowded gubernatorial forum today, Republican Tom Foley exempted the GOP from any responsibility for the state’s fiscal crisis, despite controlling the governor’s office for 16 years. Foley, the Republican front-runner, was immediately ridiculed by Democrats, who asked why he was running for an office he saw as powerless compared to a […]

The path to becoming a Superior Court judge eventually involves a public examination and vote by the legislature, but it begins in private at the New Haven Lawn Club. Once every month, the Judicial Selection Commission meets at the club to interview would-be judges, then votes up or down on their prospects. Without exception, as […]

One day after the legislature’s Black and Puerto Rican Caucus threatened to hold up her nominees for judgeships because of a lack of minority candidates, Gov. M. Jodi Rell came up with a compromise to get her choices approved by the Judiciary Committee. Three weeks after Rell threatened to veto a proposal by Democrats to […]

As the legislative session nears its end, proponents are pushing for passage of several bills they say will crack down on dangerous driving in Connecticut. “Most of them are ready to go,” said Rep. Antonio Guerrera, D-Rocky Hill, co-chairman of the legislature’s Transportation Committee. “Let’s look at the big picture, these are public safety bills.” […]

A program that removes health insurance companies from managing the care of low-income patients likely won’t be expanded statewide this year as proponents had hoped. Instead, the House voted to expand Husky Primary Care only to Putnam and Torrington. HUSKY Primary Care gives children and some adults in low-income families the option to have their […]

The House overwhelmingly passed a bill requiring that parents and childcare providers be given 30-days’ notice before enrollment closes or eligibility requirements change for the state’s daycare subsidies. Childcare centers say they lose money when the program closes unexpectedly because they are not reimbursed for the children they have been caring for. Sudden program changes […]

The legislature’s Judiciary Committee today recommended the confirmation of nine white judicial appointees whose nominations had been held up by the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus. The nominations now will be considered by the House and Senate, where their fate could be linked to ongoing budget negotiations. A promise Gov. M. Jodi Rell made Monday […]

Town leaders are beginning to worry their budget needs have been placed on hold as focus at the Capitol seems to be on fixing the state’s budget first. “We are disappointed. We have made it very clear our towns need help,” said Jim Finley, executive director of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities. With just one […]

Connecticut’s hopes of getting a balanced state budget for the next fiscal year may have been dealt a fatal blow by new warnings that nearly $366 million in proposed-but-not-approved federal aid is in jeopardy. Top legislative leaders from both parties conceded Monday any failure to receive the anticipated, expanded federal stimulus aid for health care […]