Humane Society refuses legislative request to suspend euthanizing animals

The Connecticut Humane Society has rejected a request by state lawmakers to stop euthanizing animals for non-health reasons until it answers their questions about how and when animals are destroyed. At issue, according to the lawmakers, is who is administering the lethal dose of sodium pentobarbital, how it is administered and why so many animals […]

WASHINGTON — Congress has created a conundrum for Connecticut educators. Should they lobby for money to minimize teacher layoffs if it means diminishing another badly needed education program? For now, public officials and school advocates are refusing to choose, instead urging Congress to preserve both priorities, even as they acknowledge that is a tough sell. […]

Governor M. Jodi Rell today issued the following statement on the letter of resignation and stipulated agreement signed by former Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Joseph F. Marie: “My office was contacted by a person representing a DOT employee who had alleged inappropriate behavior by the Commissioner. Legal counsel for the Governor’s Office conducted a […]

Gov. M. Jodi Rell reversed herself and acknowledged Wednesday that she sought Joseph Marie’s abrupt resignation as state transportation commissioner after an allegation of “inappropriate behavior.” After admitting in an interview with The Mirror that Marie left under pressure, her administration released a document saying that Marie’s record would show he resigned in “good standing,” […]

Michael Jarjura said Wednesday he has raised the $75,000 in small contributions needed to qualify for the public financing of his campaign for comptroller. “This is fantastic news,” the Waterbury mayor said during a phone interview. He intends to file the necessary paperwork at the State Elections Enforcement Commission on Thursday, when the commission is expected […]

The front runner in the latest public Democratic gubernatorial primary poll, Ned Lamont, is refusing to participate in a live televised debate two weeks before the Aug. 10 primary, prompting withering criticism from his Democratic rival, Dan Malloy. “If this is an indication that Ned is going to refuse to meet me in any televised […]

The recession in Connecticut is lasting long enough to generate a grim new statistic: unemployment benefits expired this year for 15,687 jobless residents, a number that swells each week by an estimated 500 persons. “This is new to us,” said Nancy Steffens, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Labor. Fearing unrest as thousands began to […]

When it comes to the state’s funding of schools and towns, in Connecticut it is still 1999. Our funding formulas are out-of-date and do not reflect changes in personal income since 1999. State laws require that income data in grant formulas come from the decennial census long form. Census 2000 data is currently being used […]

BRANFORD — Democratic gubernatorial contender Dan Malloy wants Connecticut to upgrade its wastewater treatment plants, invest in public transportation, clean polluted sites and encourage alternative energy sources. Those wants and wishes face the same obstacle as many of Malloy’s other priorities:  the state budget deficit. Malloy, who presented his environmental platform Tuesday in this coastal town […]

BRANFORD — Democratic gubernatorial contender Dan Malloy unveiled an environmental protection plan today that emphasizes investments in clean water, public transportation and brownfield remediation and redevelopment. Malloy, who announced the plan in conjunction with his running mate, state Comptroller Nancy Wyman, also said that while he supports wind turbine-based technology, he opposes locating windmills in Long […]

Rosita Velez seems like just the sort of person federal lawmakers had in mind when they included a provision in the sweeping health reform law creating new high-risk insurance pools for people who are uninsured and have serious health problems. Velez has not seen a doctor since losing her health benefits after being laid off […]

After five years of running deficits, Connecticut’s down-sized probate system has reported a new budget that projects returning a modest $3 million to state government 12 months from now. The $30.4 million plan reported to the General Assembly and Gov. M. Jodi Rell last week marks the first budget reflecting the dramatic consolidation ordered last […]

A literature course featuring 20th-century female authors is not standard fare at most high schools, yet Maggie Court earned credit at Rocky Hill High School this year by taking the course on her home computer. “It was really cool for me,” said Court, 17, who will be a senior in the fall at Rocky Hill, […]

Waging an independent campaign for governor, Tom Marsh doesn’t have access to the funding, volunteers and other resources routinely available to major party candidates. But the Chester first selectman, who abandoned his bid for the GOP nomination three months ago, said there’s one advantage to not having to woo party insiders: He can tell voters […]

Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., has expressed serious concern about Connecticut’s decision to delay a decision on implementing a new high risk insurance pool for people with serious health problems. In a sharply worded letter to Gov. M. Jodi Rell, Dodd asked a series of questions about her decision to defer signing a contract with the […]