Stamford-Norwalk rental market called the nation’s most expensive

A Hartford Superior Court judge cast doubt Tuesday on many, but not all, of Susan Bysiewicz’s claims that her duties as secretary of the state constituted the “active practice” of law. Judge Michael R. Sheldon heard final arguments in a case that Bysiewicz brought against her own office to resolve doubts about her eligibility to […]

To the alarm of environmentalists and applause of industry, a legislative committee Tuesday approved a bill aimed at speeding up the application and review process by the state Department of Environmental Protection. “We need to make the process more business friendly. And that’s not a bad thing, especially in this recession,” said Rep. Richard F. […]

If there’s a silver lining to the difficult task of closing the $726 million shortfall built into the next state budget, it’s that the job also could reduce a deficit five times its size looming less than 15 months down the road. But nearly three-quarters of the plan Gov. M. Jodi Rell offered Monday to […]

A budget fight with constitutional overtones escalated Tuesday as legislators pressured Gov. M. Jodi Rell to withdraw nine judicial nominations until the courts get increased funding. A majority of House members signed a letter opposing confirming any new judges, effectively holding the nominations hostage until Rell relents on budget cutbacks. The letter was circulated by […]

Gov. M. Jodi Rell Monday signed on to an idea proposed by legislative Republicans last week to offer another round of retirement incentives to state employees. The Republican governor confirmed late Monday that an early retirement incentive program–the second in two years– was among a package of budget-cutting options she outlined in closed-door talks earlier […]

The state legislature’s Appropriations Committee killed a bill Monday that would have allowed residents to register and cast ballots on the same day during the 2011 municipal primaries. The pilot program, which was rejected 39-11 with bipartisan opposition, also had been opposed by municipal registrars of voters, who saw it as the first step toward […]

Connecticut is missing out on millions of dollars in federal subsidies because too many of the state’s poorest children do not eat breakfast in school, state officials and anti-hunger advocates said Monday. Among low-income children in the federal school lunch program, only 39 percent receive federally subsidized school breakfasts – one of the lowest figures […]

Assistant State’s Attorney Brian J. Leslie dropped his bid Monday to become a Superior Court judge, one day after a newspaper columnist detailed a $725,000 payment that the state made to settle a wrongful prosecution complaint against Leslie. Leslie, one of 10 lawyers recently nominated by Gov. M. Jodi Rell to serve on the Superior Court, […]

Ask Jeff Vose, the former executive director of the Windham Mills Development Corp., and he’ll tell you he was lucky to take on the redevelopment of the American Thread mill complex when he did. “A lot of the funding was already in place, and I came in at the tail end of the demolition and […]

Legislative leaders insist they are committed to the state’s public campaign finance program, but advocates say repeated raids on the program’s funding-totaling $48 million so far-to balance the state budget is threatening its survival. Any more reductions to the program would be a “mortal blow,” says Nancy S. Nicolescu, spokesman for the State Elections Enforcement […]

If the Capitol seems quiet over the next two weeks, it could be because state officials are collectively holding their breath. Data compiled shortly after the April 15 income tax filing deadline traditionally have been a key indicator of how Connecticut’s economy, and its government finances, will fare over the rest of the calendar year. […]

Dan Malloy: The only gubernatorial candidate close to qualifying for public financing A byproduct of the John G. Rowland corruption scandal is that candidates who raise $250,000 in small amounts can qualify for $4.25 million in public financing to run for governor. But the Citizens’ Election Program, passed a year after Rowland’s resignation in 2004, […]

In a lengthy interview with New Haven Magazine late last year, Cheryl Norton talked about her goals as Southern Connecticut State University’s president. “Norton,” the magazine said when it published the interview in December, “is still kicking butt and taking names.” But by then, Norton had been notified that she was being dismissed from her […]

Fortunately for Rep. Andrew Fleischmann, his wife had the foresight to buy the Lexus of health care plans. But he soon discovered that meant little when he was diagnosed with cancer and later denied coverage at the hospital he chose for treatment. “All the bureaucrats on the phone said this is not covered in your […]