Connecticut News & Current Events

United Way of Connecticut's latest ALICE report found 39% of residents live below the ALICE income threshold necessary to live and work in the state. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 9, 2024

CT group helps residents with pandemic’s lingering impacts

Connecticut groups are still addressing the pandemic's aftermath. Along with connecting residents to vital services, United Way of Connecticut is …

Despite many Connecticut counties ranking poorly for air quality, Hartford was the only city to improve enough to move off the list of the worst 25 cities. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT counties rank poorly for air quality

Several Connecticut counties rank poorly in the latest State of the Air report by the American Lung Association. Four counties measured for ozone …

Connecticut's 2011 paid sick leave law was the first in the nation to require private-sector employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave. (Adobe Stock)

CT paid sick days bill passes House, heads to Senate

A Connecticut bill would expand the state's paid sick leave law. The initial 2011 law requires 40 hours of paid sick leave for workers at employers …

Some places with camping bans preventing people from sleeping in public areas include Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, and the cities of San Diego, Calif., and Portland, Oregon. (Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS homelessness case can have ripple effects in CT

The Supreme Court case Grants Pass v. Gloria Johnson could upend homeless populations in Connecticut and nationwide. The case centers around whether …

Though Connecticut's benefits cliff persists, there are other programs helping people maintain benefits of some kind when their income pushes them over the limit. (Adobe Stock)

CT Day of Action raises awareness on 'benefits cliff'

Today, groups working with lower-income families in Connecticut are raising awareness about the state's "benefits cliff" with a day of action…

People should consider finding someone to be their spokesperson in health-care decision planning. This would help someone ensure their care wishes are carried out if or when they cannot speak for themselves. (Adobe Stock)

Health care decision planning important for CT residents

With Alzheimer's cases on the rise in Connecticut, experts say people should consider early health care planning. A new report shows around 77,000 …

Shore Line East train service in December 2023 was 50.5% of what it was in 2019. (Adobe Stock)

CT lawmakers consider bills to boost public transit

Two pieces of legislation in Connecticut could bolster public transportation if they make it through the General Assembly. Senate Bill 277 would …

Nearly 60% of Connecticut's almost 113,000 undocumented immigrants do not have access to any form of health insurance. (Adobe Stock)

Day of action focuses on CT undocumented residents' health care needs

Today, Connecticut health care advocates are holding a student day of action. They will speak to state lawmakers about raising the age limit for …

Governor Ned Lamont's budget proposal advocates using $5.75 million in ARPA funds to support statewide resiliency and climate preparedness. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: CT General Assembly must act on climate bills

Connecticut's General Assembly is weighing several climate change bills. It comes after what advocates describe as detrimental inaction on the …

Older Americans are more able to save than younger ones. Surveys show people younger than 35 have an average of $5,400 saved. Meanwhile, adults 65 to 74 have an average of $13,400 saved up. (Adobe Stock)

America Saves Week: CT groups teach money saving techniques

Today is the beginning of America Saves Week, and Connecticut groups are hosting events all week. Each day is correlated to a different aspect of …

A new report from Connecticut Voices for Children found Connecticut's film industry tax credit mostly benefits the state's high-income and wealthy households and households outside of Connecticut. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT should consider eliminating costly film tax credit

A new report found Connecticut might be better off without its film industry tax credit. The Connecticut Voices for Children report showed the film …

Research shows inpatient emergency services drop by 70% after a stay in a peer-run respite center. (Adobe Stock)

CT bill creates mental health peer-run respite centers

A Connecticut bill under consideration in the Legislature would establish peer-run respite centers to help people with mental illness. Senate Bill 37…

Insurance rates on plans offered in the Connecticut Affordable Care Act Exchange rose on average around 9.4%, reduced from the requested 12.4%. Small-group plan rates increased on average 7.4%, reduced from a requested increase of 14.8%. (Adobe Stock)

CT insurance committee fails to advance legislation

Connecticut's Insurance and Real Estate Committee failed to advance any bills by its legislative deadline. Almost 40 bills were brought before the …

Should Connecticut's Child Tax Credit be enacted, 550,000 children, or 74% of children would be eligible. (Adobe Stock)

New maps show CT child tax credit’s statewide impacts

New data show the impacts of Connecticut's proposed child tax credit. Broken down by town, and state House and Senate districts, 268,000 eligible …

In Connecticut, Alzheimer's caregivers provide 201 million hours of unpaid care, which is valued at $4.2 billion. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates for Alzheimer's patients seek more help from CT lawmakers

People who support those with Alzheimer's disease are in Hartford today, asking Connecticut lawmakers to do more for families facing the brain …

Some states are taking action to end legacy admissions. In 2021, Colorado banned legacy admissions at its public universities, and a similar bill was passed earlier this month in Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

CT legacy admissions bill to be voted on by state Senate

Connecticut's State Senate will take up a bill that would address legacy admissions at its public and private colleges and universities. Senate Bill …

A new report from Connecticut Voices for Children suggested one of the best ways to improve Connecticut's tax system would be by providing increased tax transparency for residents. (Adobe Stock)

Report: State tax system leaves CT residents struggling

A new report brands Connecticut's tax system as "regressive" for low- to middle-income residents and uses a report from the state to make its point…

Religion is an important part of Black LGBTQ+ youth's lives, with 77% being raised with religious values. But the report notes most respondents said their religion was

Report finds Black LGBTQ+ youth hardships easing a bit

A new report said Black LGBTQ+ youth are seeing more equality, in Connecticut and the U.S. but it does not always mean greater opportunity. The …

The Environmental Protection Agency finds neonicotinoids could jeopardize more than 200 plants and animals protected by the Endangered Species Act. (Adobe Stock)

CT lawmakers water down bill addressing toxic pesticides

A Connecticut bill would have restricted toxic pesticides called neonicotinoids - or so it seemed. The bill's newest iteration, some experts feel…

Online shopping scams might have been the most common scam reported in Connecticut, but the average loss of $341 was far less than investment and employment scams. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Cryptocurrency and investment scams rising in CT, US

A new report finds scams in Connecticut and nationwide are rising. The Better Business Bureau's 2023 Risk Report noted 762 scams were reported in …

The Annie E. Casey Foundation finds Connecticut's 13% child poverty rate in 2021 was 4% lower than the national average. (Adobe Stock)

CT lawmakers considering state child tax credit bill

Child tax credit legislation is being considered in Connecticut. The state is one of several without such a credit, though a child tax rebate was …

The State of Reentry report finds 93% of people with sentences ending in six months had a substance use problem and 81% had a moderate to serious substance use problem. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT formerly incarcerated people face reentry challenges

A new report finds Connecticut's recently released prison population is facing reentry challenges. The State of Reentry report found resources and …

The United Way's 2024 Child Care Snapshot shows Marlborough has the most child-care spots available in Connecticut with more than 44%. (Adobe Stock)

New tool examines CT child care access, plans of action

A new tool is examining child care availability in Connecticut. United Way of Connecticut's tool shows the actual number of offered child care …

The CDC reported kids ages 5-19 from low-income families are twice as likely to have cavities as kids living in higher-income households. (Adobe Stock)

CT dentists share new trends in kids' oral health

During Children's Dental Health Month, Connecticut pediatric dentists are advising the best habits for their young patients. The Centers for Disease …

A University of Michigan poll finds only 43% of older adults think they are

CT senior advocates host series about scam prevention

Today is the first day of AARP Connecticut's new series addressing scams and fraud. As scams become more complex, it can be harder to notice the …

Research shows older veteran populations make up the bulk of suicide deaths, although experts say it is due to the size of this group. (Adobe Stock)

CT mental-health pros seek ways to reduce veteran suicides

Connecticut and U.S. mental health professionals are working to address suicide among military veterans. Research shows a 95% increase in veteran …

The U.S. Energy Information Administration finds Connecticut natural gas prices have risen steadily since the late 2000s, peaking in August 2022 at $31.68 per thousand cubic feet. (Adobe Stock)

Public hearing for CT gas companies' proposed rate hikes

Today is the final public hearing for Connecticut ratepayers to comment on two proposed rate increases for gas utilities. Connecticut Natural Gas …

More than 700,000 people in Connecticut receive Social Security benefits. (Adobe Stock)

Lawmakers rally for Social Security, federal budget

Lawmakers and union leaders are calling on Congress for fiscal changes during the year. Along with conversations about the budget and fair pay…

Legislation will be brought before Connecticut's legislation to provide financial aid to immigrants seeking healthcare in Connecticut. A 2022 Universal Healthcare Foundation of Connecticut survey found 57% of respondents support expanding the state's Medicaid program to all immigrants. (Adobe Stock)

CT group fights deadly disparity in healthcare

A Connecticut group wants to work with the General Assembly on improving health equity. A 2023 Health Equity report from the nonprofit group …

A 2021 Yale School of Public Health report found energy security is a top priority for low-income communities facing climate change effects, which also affects such other priority areas as food security and health. (Helen Humphreys/CCAG)

Advocates want CT General Assembly to maintain climate goals

As Connecticut's legislative session begins, advocates want the General Assembly to tackle climate action. The state established climate goals in 200…

The United Way of Connecticut's latest ALICE report showed almost 40% of families in the state struggle to make ends meet, due to high rents and low wages. (Adobe Stock)

Expanded Child Tax Credit to pull more CT families out of poverty

In Congress, the second expansion of the Child Tax Credit is expected to provide some Connecticut families with much-needed help and one local …

An American Public Transportation Association report found the average purchase price of a new car has increased 30% since 2019. The average price for a used car rose 40% in the same period, figures which may prompt more people to use public transit. (Adobe Stock)

CT advocates want public transit investments in state budget

In honor of Rosa Parks' birthday, Transit Equity Day is today. Connecticut advocates are calling for greater investment in public transit. In …

A Data for Progress poll finds 70% of voters, across party lines, feel colleges and universities shouldn't consider legacy status in admitting students. Only 22% said schools should be able to consider legacy status. (Adobe Stock)

CT General Assembly considers eliminating legacy admissions

Connecticut is considering ending legacy admissions -- the practice of giving preference to family members of alumni -- at all public and private coll…

A Brookings Institution report finds as part of a survey, 61% of people said voting is both a right and a duty. But, 34% sais it was a right not a duty. (Adobe Stock)

CT legislation could implement ‘universal voting’

Connecticut's General Assembly is poised to take up a bill to study universal voting. This is when voting isn't just a fundamental right, but …

The Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness finds, as of Jan. 15, 801 people are outside, unsheltered in cold temperatures, despite Connecticut recently implementing the Severe Cold Weather Protocol due to extremely low temperatures. (Adobe Stock)

CT takes action to keep homeless people safe in winter

Connecticut organizations are working to protect homeless people from winter's biting chill. This time of year poses severe health challenges for …

A report from The 74 Million showed Bedford Middle School in the Westport School District has the largest enrollment decline in Connecticut, at 40%. (Adobe Stock)

K-12 enrollment declining in Connecticut schools

School enrollment has declined statewide in Connecticut. State education data shows between 2018 and 2023, statewide enrollment was down more than 17…

Report: CT early childhood education needs improvements

Child advocates feel early childhood education must be a top-of-mind issue for Connecticut lawmakers. A new report found early learning in the state …

Too much political news can cause stress, which has been linked to a series of physical health impacts, including inflammation, a compromised immune system, digestive issues, heart disease and weight gain. (Adobe Stock)

Research: Too much political news can affect your health

As beneficial as it is to keep up with current events, too much political news can be detrimental to a person's mental health. Numerous studies are …

Report: More than 119,000 young adults in CT 'disconnected' or at risk

Connecticut has what one group sees as an overwhelming population of "disconnected" young people, from ages 18 to 26, who aren't in school and aren't …

In the last three months of 2022, healthcare providers wrote more than 9 million prescriptions for Ozempic and other similar weight loss drugs, according to a Trillian Health analysis. (Adobe Stock)

Ozempic scams increase with weight loss drug’s popularity

High-demand products are usually big targets for scammers, and weight-loss drug Ozempic is no exception. Scams across the U.S. are being reported …

A Forbes Health survey found almost half of all respondents said improving fitness was their primary New Year's resolution. (Adobe Stock)

Making New Year's resolutions realistic helps you keep them

If history is any indicator, many people are giving up on their resolutions even though 2024 is only one week old. Studies show 23% of adults in the …

The American Health Professionals Association has recommended a series of strategic measures to aid the public health community in improving civic participation, including adding voting and civic participation to the Healthy People framework, educating public health professionals and partners about the importance of inclusive voting policies, and advocating for policies to make voting easier. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Voting critical to improving U.S. health care

A new report concluded voting benefits your health as much as democracy. The American College of Physicians study showed poor election practices …

As of the 2023-2024 school year, Connecticut has 11.2% educators of color, teaching a population made up of 52.5% students of color. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT student diversity outpaces educator diversity

The latest report finds large diversity gaps between Connecticut students and teachers. The Diversity Gap Update finds there are more students of …

Energy data company EnergySage finds Connecticut residents spend around $288 per month on electricity. That's around $3,456 per year, 61% higher than the national average. (Adobe Stock)

CT electric companies' rates increase in 2024

Beginning in 2024, Connecticut ratepayers can expect an increase in their electricity bills. New electricity supply rates will go into effect …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds loneliness costs the U.S. economy around $406 billion a year, along with an estimated $6.7 billion a year in Medicare costs for socially isolated older adults. (Adobe Stock)

Loneliness, isolation on the rise around the holidays

As festive as the holidays can be, isolation and loneliness peak at this time of year. A 2022 survey finds 55% of Americans experience increased …

About 60% of adults with medical debt said they have cut back on necessities such as food or clothing, while more than half of adults from households with incomes below $40,000 reported they have used up their savings to pay for their medical debt. (Adobe Stock)

CT residents struggle with medical debt despite available financial aid

Health care advocates said too often medical patients in Connecticut who are eligible for financial aid to help cover the cost of their care are not i…

A report by DataHaven showed health inequities have led to around 14,000 deaths in Connecticut, predominantly among the state's Black population. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Discrimination rampant in CT, US health care

Despite efforts to the contrary, people across Connecticut and the U.S. experienced discrimination in health care. A DataHaven report found between 1…

Only 4% of adults feel the government is functioning properly, a Pew Research Center poll found. Discontent for both political parties is only growing, and most people equate negative sentiments with modern political debates. (Adobe Stock)

Tips for navigating difficult conversations this holiday season

As political divisiveness grows, holiday gatherings at home and work can lead to increased arguments and severe relationship damage. National …

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