Danbury – once the Hat City – has parlayed a good location, population growth, a history of economic development efforts, a sturdy tax base and generally efficient administration into a city that is farther along in reinventing itself than a number of other Connecticut cities once dominated by single industries.
Fairfield County
Coverage of issues affecting residents in Connecticut’s southwestern-most county.
Posted inPolitics, Transportation
CT rebellion against federal rail plan grows — and may have impact
WASHINGTON — A rebellion that began in Old Lyme and has spread along coastal Connecticut is pressing the federal government to make big changes in an ambitious plan to bring high-speed rail to the Northeast, and to turn the proposal into merely “aspirational” recommendations.
Posted inHealth, Politics
FDA nominee Gottlieb says he’d challenge Trump on vaccines
WASHINGTON — Scott Gottlieb, a Westport doctor, calmly defused tough questions from Democrats during the confirmation hearing Wednesday on his nomination to head the Food and Drug Administration, promising to safeguard the agency’s rigorous review of drug and medical devices.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Westporter Gottlieb to face Senate scrutiny of his bid to head FDA
WASHINGTON – Sen. Chris Murphy will introduce Scott Gottlieb, a Westport resident and candidate to head the Food and Drug Administration, to fellow members of the Senate panel that’s key to his confirmation – but that won’t keep the nominee from having a bit of a rough ride among Democrats.
Posted inEducation, Money
Some momentum builds for changes to education aid formula
Legislators express support for studying how much it actually costs to adequately educate children, especially those in poverty.
Posted inEducation, Money
Education funding reform: More for the cities — or maybe less
As proposed, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s state budget would be a financial boon for Connecticut’s cities, but nothing in it ensures that any additional money headed their way will go to their troubled schools. Here are the major elements of the educational funding plan that state and municipal leaders must address in the weeks ahead.
Posted inTransportation
Feeling heat from CT, feds say they may alter high-speed rail plan
WASHINGTON — In the staredown between the Federal Railroad Administration and opponents of a part of its plan in Connecticut to bring high-speed rail to the Northeast Corridor, the federal government has blinked. It has agreed to consider additional input from those concerned about the route the plan would take in Connecticut, and more importantly, the FRA is willing to modify that plan.
Posted inPolitics
In Darien, residents hope Trump will bring economic growth
DARIEN — There is a cautious optimism about the next four years in much of lower Fairfield County. Many residents are hopeful that President-elect Donald J. Trump will usher in an era of economic growth not seen over the last eight years. This is the second in a series of visits to Connecticut towns leading up to the inauguration.
Posted inPolitics
Rail overhaul plan is both a winner and a loser in CT
WASHINGTON — Connecticut officials have been more critical than those in any other state of the Federal Railroad Administration’s plan to overhaul train service in the Northeast Corridor, yet some of its strongest critics admit they like much of the plan.
Posted inPolitics
Trump casts shadow on Himes-Shaban race
WASHINGTON — Democrats across the country are trying to tie their Republican opponents to Donald Trump, and it’s no different in the race for the 4th District congressional seat, where Republican nominee John Shaban is trying to unseat Democrat Jim Himes.
Posted inMoney, Politics
As Sikorsky proves in CT, states will pay for aerospace jobs
In the world of megadeals that states craft to attract and keep employers, the $220 million in incentives that the Connecticut General Assembly is expected to approve Wednesday for Lockheed Martin to produce Sikorsky’s new helicopter line in Stratford doesn’t crack the top 75 — nor is it the biggest subsidy ever obtained by Lockheed.
Posted inNews
CT beat out S.C., Florida, others for billions in helicopter work
WASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin was considering South Carolina, Florida and other states as places to build Sikorsky’s new CH-53K King Stallion helicopter – a Defense Department program expected to cost at least $25 billion – when the company and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy struck a deal to keep the work in Connecticut.
Posted inJustice, Politics
Bridgeport shootings bring Malloy to Ganim’s side
BRIDGEPORT — The body language seemed strained while photographers were briefly allowed in a room crowded with local, state and federal law enforcement called to talk to about street shootings. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy sat next to Mayor Joseph P. Ganim, never quite making eye contact with the mayor whose election he once opposed as an embarrassment to Connecticut.
Posted inMoney
State offers reassurances over its aid to Bridgewater hedge fund
The state Department of Economic and Community Development responded with reassurances Thursday to a recent news report that a major Fairfield County hedge fund — to which Connecticut just pledged $52 million in economic assistance — is slowing its hiring.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Bond panel OK’s $22M for hedge fund expansion; Lembo votes no
The State Bond Commission approved $22 million in financing to help one of the nation’s largest hedge funds expand in Fairfield County. But Democratic state Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo joined with a prominent Republican state representative to oppose assistance for Westport-based Bridgewater Associates.
