Senate Sends Traffic Enforcement Cameras to Governor
A package of roadway safety policies including a municipal option for automated traffic enforcement cameras is headed for the governor’s desk following a Tuesday night vote of the Senate.
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OP-ED | Apropos of Nothing: Of Civics, ‘Common Courtesy’ and the Ursine Menace
Opinion writer Terry Cowgill offers his thoughts on the teaching of civics classes in our schools, a new law requiring police officers to tell motorists why they were stopped, and what the government is doing to ease the friction between people and the state’s bear population.
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Voting Rights Act Wrapped Into Budget
Included in the 832-page budget is an effort to codify the federal Voting Rights Act into state law. The language was included because the House of Representatives was unlikely to vote on a separate bill to do the same before the legislative session comes to an end Wednesday at midnight.
Keep readingJimmy and Rosalynn Carter
A salute to Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. Editorial cartoon by Jeff Koterba.
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Senate Passes $51.1B Budget With Tax Cuts And Fiscal Guardrails Intact
The Senate overwhelmingly approved a proposed $51.1-billion two-year budget Tuesday.
Keep readingLamont Signs Bill Expanding Gun Regulations
Gov. Ned Lamont gave final approval to a sweeping update to Connecticut firearm regulations on Tuesday, signing into law a bill that expands the state’s assault weapons ban, restricts the open carry of firearms and raises the age to buy a semiautomatic rifle.
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House Approves Restructure of Municipal Retirement System
The House voted Tuesday to approve a proposal by the state comptroller to restructure an ailing state-run retirement system for municipal workers in 107 Connecticut towns and cities.
Keep readingOP-ED | No More FOI Carveouts For State Or Municipal Workers
Opinion writer Susan Campbell says Senate Bill 1157, which would have protected from disclosure via the Freedom of Information Act the home addresses of state and municipal employees, was a bad idea for a lot of reasons.
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Senate Backs Ban On Synthetic THC Products
The Senate Monday moved to tighten Connecticut’s regulated cannabis marketplace, banning the sale of synthetic THC and high-potency products that are currently sold by unlicensed retailers.
Keep readingGun Violence Awareness, Biden-McCarthy Buddy Movie & Apple Vision
Based on Gun Violence Awareness Day, Apple’s new augmented reality goggles, and the fallout from the debt ceiling negotiation. Editorial cartoons by John Darkow, R.J. Matson, and Rivers.
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House Requires Police to Inform Drivers of Reasons for Traffic Stops
Connecticut police officers would be required to inform drivers why they had been pulled over during traffic stops under legislation given final passage Monday by the House of Representatives.
Keep readingPattis Takes Aim At ’Open Carry’
Gun owners took aim at Gov. Ned Lamont Monday even before he wielded a pen to try to curtail gun violence.
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$51.1 Billion State Budget, Middle Class Tax Cuts Clear House
The House voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to advance a two-year, $51.1 billion state budget package containing significant reductions in the income tax and hikes in education funding while fiscal constraints tempered other spending priorities.
Keep readingIllegal Tire Dumping Plan Goes To Governor
The Senate Monday approved a bill requiring the tire industry to figure out how to prevent the tires from being illegally dumped instead of recycled.
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A Boon for Accountability, a Bust for Immediate Bill Reduction
“Accountability, transparency, value. This is what SB 7 is all about,” Rep. Jonathan Steinberg said when introducing a controversial proposal to change how utilities are regulated.
Keep readingOP-ED | All The Rainbows And Unicorns Fit To Print
Opinion writer Kerri Ana Provost counts 38 book challenges just in Connecticut this year, compared to nine last year. None of these book banning attempts prompt divisive debate. They merely reveal existing divisions caused by pure hatred of queer and trans folks.
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Secretary of the State: Budget’s Inadequate Early Voting Funding ‘Shortchanges’ Voters
The two-year state budget package expected to be adopted by the House on Monday “shortchanges” voters by failing to adequately fund Connecticut’s new early voting program, Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas said.
Keep readingDrone Attacks On Moscow, Putin’s Nightmare
These two cartoons seemed to go together, following the intense aerial bombardment of Kyiv by Russian missiles and drones last week and a drone attack on Moscow for which Ukraine has denied involvement. Editorial cartoons by Patrick Chappatte and Arcadio Esquival.
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Ritter: Deal To End Group Home Strike Up To Lamont, Workers
House Speaker Matt Ritter said talks over increased pay and benefits are now between striking group home workers and Gov. Ned Lamont, as lawmakers are set to approve a budget in the final days.
Keep readingKeep CT’s Climate Promise
Connecticut promised to cut climate pollution and protect our future. But our state isn’t on track to meet its obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Join us in calling on Connecticut lawmakers to pass meaningful legislation this year and Keep CT’s Climate Promise. Learn more at ClimateActionCT.org.
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Clock Runs Out on FOI Exemption For State, Municipal Employees
Debate on a bill that would prohibit the disclosure of state and municipal employees’ home addresses as part of their personnel files was halted Friday night after two hours of debate.
Keep readingGraceless Gospel & Pyramids Then And Now
The Associated Press reports that a Utah parent, frustrated by efforts to ban books from schools, convinced a suburban district that some Bible verses were too vulgar or violent for younger children. And Gatis Sluka offers his perspective on the world’s trash problem. Editorial cartoons by Randall Enos and Gatis Sluka.
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Update of Connecticut Gun Laws Headed To Lamont’s Desk
Gun regulations including a more expansive assault weapons ban, a prohibition on the open carry of firearms, and higher bail requirements for repeat offenders all won final passage in an early morning vote of the Connecticut Senate on Saturday.
Keep readingState Offers Help To Residents Who Want To Keep Their Medical Coverage Despite Potentially Losing Medicaid Benefits
State officials are trying to reach out to residents who may lose their Medicaid coverage because of changes in the federal rules.
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Senate Unanimously Green-Lights Bill to Tackle Rising Toll of Wrong-Way Driving Tragedies
In a significant move aimed at enhancing road safety, the Senate unanimously approved a bill addressing the rising incidence of wrong-way driving.
Keep readingUS Adds 339,000 Jobs In May, Well Above Expectations
Hiring surged last month across the nation as U.S. employers added 339,000 jobs, far above expectations, according to a Friday report from the Labor Department. The job gains for March and April were also stronger than previously reported. The April jobs figure was revised up by 41,000, while the March number was revised up by 52,000.
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Connecticut House Gives Thumbs Up To Bear Management Bill, Opponent Growls
The Connecticut House of Representatives gave final passage Friday to legislation banning the intentional feeding of bears and allowing Connecticut residents to kill the animals in limited situations like self-defense or protection of pets and livestock.
Keep readingNewtown School Board Votes Unanimously Against Banning 2 Books
The Newtown Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday to keep two books on the shelves of the Newtown High School library that some have called controversial after weeks of debate. The board was considering removing the books “Flamer” by Mike Curato and “Blankets” by Craig Thompson, each of which is LGBTQ+ themed. After weeks of intense book banning debate, the board voted unanimously to keep…
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