Connecticut News & Current Events

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, 68% of extremely low-income renter households in Connecticut are severely cost burdened, meaning they spend more than half their monthly income on housing. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

CT Councilwoman Redoubles Focus on Housing, Public Safety

One Connecticut elected official is eager to begin addressing issues in focus at the National League of Cities' Congressional City Conference…

According to a report from Connecticut Voices for Children, Connecticut households are more likely to face housing-cost burdens than households across the United States as a whole. Data on evictions shows the high cost of rent relative to income is directly linked to the eviction filing rate in Connecticut towns. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Policy Options to Alleviate CT’s Eviction Crisis

A recent report examines Connecticut's eviction crisis and addresses some solutions to it. The report from Connecticut Voices for Children finds 39% …

A report from the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation found children and young adults will be disproportionately affected by the loss of pandemic-era Medicaid coverage protections. About 4.6 million of those who could lose coverage are Latino. (Adobe Stock)

CT Hispanic Population Faces Risk of Medicaid Coverage Loss

When the pandemic ends this spring, Medicaid's "continuous coverage" requirement will end with it. In Connecticut, the state will start checking …

As part of a new bill up for consideration by the Connecticut General Assembly, landlords would have to provide tenants with 90 days' notice before implementing a rent increase. (Adobe Stock)

CT General Assembly Considers Legislation to Aid Renters

Connecticut's General Assembly is considering legislation to establish fair and equitable housing opportunities. Senate Bill 4 aims to establish a …

According to a report from the Better Business Bureau of Connecticut, a total of 53 reports of employment scams from companies claiming to have headquarters in Connecticut came through on the BBB Scam Tracker. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT Consumers Lost $234K to Scams in 2022

A new report finds Connecticut consumers lost over 230-thousand dollars to scams in 2022. According to the Better Business Bureau of Connecticut…

According to data from the Connecticut Department of Transportation, ridership on CT transit took a sharp dive at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and remained low for some time, but as of summer 2022, ridership levels are returning to pre-pandemic levels. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Calling for CT Transit to Remain Fare Free

Transit advocates are calling on Connecticut's General Assembly to keep the state's public transit system free. In April 2022, Gov. Ned Lamont …

According to 2019 data from the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, of the 11 million people incarcerated yearly, about 15% have been homeless. Conversely, around 48,000 people going into homeless shelters each year come, nearly directly, from prisons or jails. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Public-Housing Policies Exclude People with Criminal Records

A new report calls for public housing authorities to change certain policies to prevent excluding people with criminal records. The Prison Policy …

According to analysis by the American Health Care Association, job growth for nursing-home employees slowed in 2022. It says if that pace remains, nursing homes won't return to pre-pandemic staffing levels until 2027. (Adobe Stock)

CT General Assembly Considers Nursing-Home Reforms

Connecticut's General Assembly is considering legislation to establish sweeping nursing-home reforms. Senate Bill 989 would establish minimum …

Connecticut's Education Cost Sharing Formula estimates it costs $11,525 to educate one public-school students. The goal of the ECS is to spread more than $2 billion across the state to fund education programs. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed Bill Would Speed CT Education Funding Plan

A bill in the Connecticut General Assembly could change how the state funds public education. The bill is designed to speed up fully funding the …

In Scotland, proposed legislation would seek to pardon the more than 3,800 people accused of witchcraft, with around 2,500 executed between 1563 and 1736. (Adobe Stock)

Legislation Seeks to Exonerate CT Witch Trial Victims

Proposed legislation would exonerate all people tried and convicted during the Connecticut Witch Trials more than 300 years ago. Between 1647 and 1697…

A bill in the Connecticut General Assembly calls for a $50 million investment into homeless and housing programs in the state, with more than $37 million to help chronically underfunded homeless response nonprofits. (Adobe Stock)

CT Legislation Would Fund Programs Addressing Homelessness

Proposed legislation aims to fund numerous programs helping Connecticut's homeless population. The bill would invest $50 million in the state's …

According to the U.S. Environmental Information Administration, Connecticut's 13 hydroelectric facilities generate around 120 megawatts of electricity. (Adobe Stock)

Connecticut Weighs Pros and Cons of Hydropower

While Connecticut elected officials want to import hydroelectric power from Canada, one group said the option would not be as environmentally …

According to research from the American Federation of Teachers, there were 55,000 fewer registered nurses employed in the U.S. in 2021 than in 2020. This was the first decrease in five years. (Adobe Stock)

CT Groups, Unions Call for Public-Health Reforms

Health-care professionals and advocates in Connecticut have said it will take sweeping reforms to bolster the state's flailing public health system…

The American Teachers Act of 2022, filed in the U.S. House of Representatives in December, would make $60,000 the minimum salary for public school teachers. But it's sitting in a House committee. (Adobe Stock)

CT Educators Want Prompt Action to End Teacher Shortage

Connecticut, along with most of the United States, faces a teacher shortage. The shortage has caused class sizes to increase and teachers to …

According to the 2022 America's Health Rankings Report, one of the challenges with health equity in Connecticut is the state's high level of income inequality. (Adobe Stock)

Grant Funding Aims to Uncover CT Health Disparities

Several hospital systems and community health centers in Connecticut have been awarded grants to help fight health inequity. The Connecticut Health …

According to a report from the Rand Corporation, almost 60% of Connecticut's 113,000 undocumented immigrants lack access to health insurance. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Seek Expansion of CT Public Health for Immigrants

Connecticut lawmakers are being asked to expand HUSKY - the state's Medicaid program - to include immigrants, regardless of their status. Two years …

In his 2023 State of the State Address, Gov. Ned Lamont wants to take Connecticut energy into a more climate-friendly direction. He called for the expansion of the state's wind power, extending nuclear power, and continuing the push to get access to Canadian hydro power. (Adobe Stock)

Critics: CT State of State Address Not Bold Enough

Governor Ned Lamont's State of the State speech addressed numerous issues affecting the state, but some felt it did not go far enough. Lamont spoke …

According to financial website Bankrate, Connecticut is one of the <a href=

worst states in which to retire, with the biggest reason being its lack of affordability. (Adobe Stock)">

AARP Connecticut Outlines 2023 Legislative Goals

As the Connecticut General Assembly's 2023 legislative session begins, AARP Connecticut is eager to dive into key issues for seniors and consumers…

According to the Connecticut Fair Housing Center, evictions reached their <a href=

lowest points during the pandemic because of rent protections. During 2020 and 2021, evictions reached 6,429 and 9,356, respectively. (Adobe Stock)">

CT Facing Rise in Evictions

Connecticut is seeing a record high number of evictions. During 2022, the state recorded more than 21,000 evictions filed, despite a decline from 2017…

Of 53 bay segments monitored, 57% received grades of C, D or F because of high pollution levels, according to the 2022 Save the Sound Report Card. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Provides Grants for Long Island Sound Conservation Efforts

The Environmental Protection Agency is awarding more than $10 million in grant funding to aid conservation efforts in Long Island Sound. The 2022 …

Numerous members of Congress have sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, urging them to add $368 Million to the National Labor Relations Board's funding. (Adobe Stock)

Labor Advocates Want Congress to Approve NLRB Funding Boost

Labor advocates are asking Congress to better fund the National Labor Relations Board in its upcoming budget. The NLRB budget has declined 25% …

According to the Giffords Law Center, guns are the leading cause of death for Americans under age 18. (Adobe Stock)

A Decade after Sandy Hook, Assault-Weapons Ban Demands Continue

On the ten-year anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, a local organization is still working to see a national assault-weapons …

Connecticut has made progress in getting more climate-friendly policies in the states. One such policy, approved by Gov. Ned Lamont, expands the use of electric vehicles for public and private use. (Adobe Stock)

CT Sierra Club Looks Back on 2022, Ahead to 2023

As the year comes to a close, the Sierra Club of Connecticut is looking back on some of its accomplishments and challenges. The group focuses on …

According to the Connecticut Audubon Society, American oystercatchers are making a strong comeback in the state. In the 2022 breeding season, they produced 61 fledglings, the highest number recorded since 2012. (Adobe Stock)

New CT Audubon Society Report Showcases Conservation

As its 125th anniversary nears, the Connecticut Audubon Society has released a report detailing the effectiveness of conservation efforts in the …

Experts say the best way to prevent losing money in an online shopping scam is by using a credit card instead of a peer-to-peer app, and using reliable trusted sellers this holiday season. (Adobe Stock)

BBB of Connecticut Warns of Holiday Shopping Scams

As holiday shopping begins, there are concerns about consumers running into online shopping scams. According to a 2021 report from the FBI's …

Since February 2020, more than 88,000 child-care jobs have been lost nationally. (Adobe Stock)

CT United Way Working on Family Child-Care Network Hub

United Way of Connecticut is launching a network hub for family child care providers. The new hub, created in partnership with the Connecticut Office …

According to the U.S. Elections Project, about 45 million people voted early in the 2022 Midterm elections. (Adobe Stock)

CT Voters Adopt Early Voting Amendment

A majority of Connecticut voters have elected to allow early voting in the state. Though a similar ballot initiative failed in 2014, this time 60% of …

It's been nine years since Aquarion last brought a rate increase case forward. The company says it is needed

CT Residents Against Proposed Water Rate Hikes

Some Connecticut residents may be looking at higher water utility prices over the next three years. The state's Public Utilities Regulatory Authority …

Despite its name, the Day of the Dead or 'Dia De Los Muertos,' is a celebration of life, not death. (Unidad Latina en Accion)

CT Group Hosts Day of the Dead Celebration

Although the official holiday passed earlier this week, a "Day of the Dead" celebration is being held this Saturday in New Haven. The 12th annual …

Earlier this year, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont signed Senate Bill 4, giving the state's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection the authority to expand public and private use of electric vehicles. (Adobe Stock)

New Federal Funding Helps CT Get Electric School Buses

Connecticut school districts and bus companies will be receiving more than $8 million in federal funding for electric school buses. The grant is …

According to a National Wildlife Federation report, the Clean Water Act was aimed at cleaning up urban waterways that were disproportionately impacting low-income communities and communities of color. Even after 50 years, these same demographics are overburdened by water pollution. (Adobe Stock)

Clean Water Act Subject of SCOTUS Case

As the Clean Water Act turns 50 this month, parts of it are the subject of a U-S Supreme Court case. Sackett versus E-P-A might let factories…

According to UCLA's 2022 Hollywood Diversity report, white actors made up the majority of film leads, 61.1%, in 2021. In that same year, Black actors were at 15.5% of all leads, Latino actors were 7.1% of leads, and Asian actors were 5.6% of all film leads. Multiracial actors made up 10.3% of leads, meaning they had the most proportional representation in film. (Adobe Stock)

Accent Bias Remains Prevalent in Pop Culture

As television and film have become diverse, there are still some areas people feel are not being addressed. Accent bias is one of them. Saadia Khan…

According to a 2022 report, the pre-tax income for median Black and Latino households in Connecticut is $49,000. Meanwhile, their white counterparts have pre-tax incomes of about $86,000. (Adobe Stock)

Weigh In at Online Forum: Make CT Tax System More Fair

A group that advocates for low- and middle-income families in Connecticut says there must be ways to make the state tax system more fair. A …

The recently passed CHIPS and Science Act is expected to provide major investments for infrastructure to build the semiconductors necessary for electric vehicles. (Adobe Stock)

CT Begins Transition to Electric Vehicles

The United States is seeing a national push from the federal government and car companies to pivot toward electric vehicles, and Connecticut is …

According to a data collected by Give.org, only 24 percent of donors feel disaster relief appeals are understandable. (Adobe Stock)

Better Business Bureau Warns of Charity Scams

Whether it's Hurricane Ian, Fiona or other weather disasters, people are being warned about donating to fraudulent charities. Scams have become …

Despite 681 attempts to ban or restrict library resources so far this year, 71% of voters across the political spectrum oppose book bans, according to a survey by the American Library Association. (Adobe Stock)

CT Libraries Observe Banned Books Week

As "Banned Books Week" comes to a close, Connecticut libraries have been celebrating with great fervor - despite numerous book bans and challenges…

Child poverty ebbed and flowed after hitting 17% in 2009. Since 2017, it has been on the decline, falling to 5.2% in 2021, the lowest rate in history. (Adobe Stock)

CT Child Poverty Unchanged, Census Report Says

Connecticut's child poverty statistics have remained the same throughout 2021, according to the latest Census Bureau report. Nationally, child …

According to a 2022 report from Vanguard, older Americans are saving the most for their retirement. (Adobe Stock)

New Bill Aids People Planning for Retirement

A new piece of legislation in Congress will help people across the U.S. prepare for retirement with greater ease. The EARN Act - short for …

According to data from Connecticut's Public Health Department, one in nine adults in the state reported having poor mental health for 14 days or more in a month. Meanwhile, one in six adults in the state has been diagnosed with depression. (Adobe Stock)

CT Aims to Keep People Safe During Suicide Prevention Month

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, which spotlights the issues in Connecticut and across the U.S. Although suicide rates in …

The Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program brought in $10 billion in capital to Connecticut during the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

CT Small Businesses Survived Pandemic, Face New Challenges

Although many small businesses in Connecticut have weathered the pandemic, it has not been the easiest of circumstances. And how are they doing now? …

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, more than half of the contiguous United States is experiencing moderate to extreme drought. (Adobe Stock)

CT Farmers Work through Severe Drought Conditions

Since early May, much of Connecticut has been in a severe drought, leaving the state's 5,500 farms scrambling to adapt. Much of the Northeast is …

According to a 2020 Gallup poll, nearly three-quarters of Americans are in favor of medical aid in dying. Most of those polled were under 55 years of age. (Adobe Stock)

CT Woman Challenges VT's Medical Aid-in-Dying Law

A nonprofit group is suing the state of Vermont on behalf of a terminally ill Connecticut woman. At issue is Vermont's medical aid-in-dying law…

According to a 2020 Gallup poll, there's only been a five percent increase in the number of people who have a living will from 2005 to 2020. Most of those people are 65 and older. (Adobe Stock)

Procrastinators' Alert: Time to Start End-of-Life Planning

August is National Make-a-Will Month, one of many opportunities for Connecticut residents to begin end-of-life planning. Only around 46% of …

Victims of certain scams are urged to contact law enforcement to try to get their money back, which can make this impossible. (Adobe Stock)

CT Companies Used in National Car-Wrap Scam

Impostors have been using ads and images of legitimate companies headquartered in Connecticut as part of a scam to solicit money from people…

According to a report from the American Federation of Teachers, a flurry of high college costs, low salaries and high interest rates has led to new teachers facing an average of $58,500 in student loan debt. (Adobe Stock)

CT Educators Stretched Thin in Teacher Shortage

A new report confirms Connecticut isn't the only state where school districts are scrambling to cover a shortage of teachers and other school professi…

Part of the Inflation Reduction Act's $369 billion climate-change investment creates the Methane Emissions Reduction Program, which aims to reduce leaks from producing and distributing natural gas. (Adobe Stock)

Inflation Reduction Act is Law: What Next for Climate?

Although President Joe Biden has signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, he's getting pressure to declare a climate emergency to provide further …

An annual report shows Connecticut ranks highly compared to other states for children's health and education, but finds a lack of investment by the state has slowed this growth and even led to some decline. (Adobe Stock)

Investment Needed for CT Children to Thrive, Report Says

More investment is needed across Connecticut to support the economic well-being and education of children, according to a new annual report. The …

A survey done by Consumers for Quality Care finds 71% of Americans are unsure about their healthcare expenses because of the volatility of out-of-pocket costs. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Out-of-Pocket Healthcare Costs Too High

Backers of a bill now in the U.S. Senate contended it will address rising health care costs and could provide Americans with some relief. Part of …

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