CT COVID-19 Update: State to Open Vaccinations to Ages 16+ on April 5

Gov. Ned Lamont announced plans to open vaccinations to all ages (16 and up) on April 5. The governor also noted that the funds are now available for rental assistance for another 25,000 state residents, and the program got under way Monday.

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Energy & Environment

Connecticut Bill Would Raise Bar For Permitting Facilities In Already Polluted Areas

A bill backed by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection would give the agency, as well as the Connecticut Siting Council, the authority…

by Lisa Prevost for Energy News Network March 30, 2023, 9:00 amMarch 30, 2023, 9:37 am

Editorial Cartoons

Congressional Smoking Lapel Pin

Editorial cartoon by RJ Matson. Thoughts and prayers not enough, Senate chaplain says after Nashville shooting. Black urges lawmakers to “try some different things.”

by R.J. Matson, Editorial Cartoonist March 30, 2023, 4:30 amMarch 29, 2023, 11:59 pm

Criminal Justice

The US Surpasses 125 Mass Shootings In 2023—Here’s Every Event Mapped

The Nashville Covenant School shooting, which claimed the lives of three 9-year-olds and three adults on March 27, marked the country’s 130th mass shooting of…

by Lauren Liebhaber for Stacker March 29, 2023, 10:00 amMarch 29, 2023, 10:15 am

Public Health

Public Health Committee Scales Back Safe Drug Use Site Proposal

Lawmakers on the legislature’s Public Health Committee said Monday they do not intend to move forward with a proposal to establish three safe drug use…

by Hugh McQuaid March 27, 2023, 1:51 pmMarch 27, 2023, 1:51 pm

Public Safety

Gen Z Lawmaker Proposes New Office To Prevent Gun Violence

On the same day and at almost the same time that two faculty members at a Denver high school were shot by a student, Connecticut’s…

by Robert Mayer March 23, 2023, 5:15 amMarch 23, 2023, 1:02 am

Public Health

Lawmakers Weigh Drug Use ‘Harm Reduction Centers’

Lawmakers considered legislation on Wednesday that would establish three Connecticut locations where individuals would be permitted to consume drugs in the presence of health care…

by Hugh McQuaid March 22, 2023, 2:30 pmMarch 23, 2023, 4:07 pm

Public Health

Flavored Nicotine Ban Stalls in Public Health

A proposal to ban the sale of flavored tobacco and vape products in Connecticut won’t advance this year after the Public Health Committee stripped the…

by Hugh McQuaid March 21, 2023, 2:14 pmMarch 21, 2023, 2:15 pm

Editorial Cartoons

Show Off Neighbors!

Editorial cartoon by Rivers, of Cagle Cartoons. Why are egg prices so high? The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that an outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian…

by Rivers, Editorial Cartoonist March 21, 2023, 4:30 amMarch 20, 2023, 5:13 pm

Opinion

OP-ED | Respect And Compromise Make Appearances In Discussion Over Aid-In-Dying Bill

Opinion writer Susan Campbell says the long and emotional public hearing and committee meeting on the medical-aid-in-dying bill was missing something that maybe it hadn’t…

by Susan Campbell March 16, 2023, 4:45 amMarch 15, 2023, 5:13 pm

Public Health

Public Health Committee Green Lights Aid-In-Dying Proposal

For the third time in as many years, the legislature’s Public Health Committee on Friday advanced a bill that would give terminally-ill adults an option…

by Hugh McQuaid and Christine Stuart March 10, 2023, 6:11 pmMarch 10, 2023, 6:14 pm

More COVID-19 Coverage

Transportation

Community Leaders Worry Reinstatement Of Bus Fares Will Be A Hardship For Many

Advocates say the impending return of fares for all buses and ADA para-transit on April 1 will mean people will have a difficult time getting…

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by Julie Martin Banks March 21, 2023, 5:00 amMarch 20, 2023, 10:45 pm

Education

Chronic Absenteeism Improved With Home Visits

A Connecticut Education Department report released in December 2020 showed a sharp rise in absenteeism among students at the start of the pandemic so it… Keep reading

by Christine Stuart January 20, 2023, 12:00 pmMarch 24, 2023, 4:39 pm

Housing

Attorneys Report Successful First Year for ‘Right to Counsel’ Program

The state’s Right To Counsel program was not only successful in helping many tenants with avoiding eviction in 2022, but it also saved nearly $6… Keep reading

by Julie Martin Banks January 6, 2023, 10:00 amJanuary 9, 2023, 10:56 am

State Capitol

Capitol Reopens Completely, Masks Optional

While Wednesday’s opening day of the legislative session and inaugural events will be mask optional, Gov. Ned Lamont is asking people who are not feeling…

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by Christine Stuart January 3, 2023, 7:00 pmJanuary 4, 2023, 2:46 am

Public Health

Lamont Continues Public Health Emergency For Federal Funds

Connecticut will remain in a COVID-based public health emergency in order to continue receiving federal funds to offset the costs of supplemental food benefits and… Keep reading

by Hugh McQuaid December 20, 2022, 2:08 pmDecember 20, 2022, 2:08 pm

Health Care

Public Health Officials Concerned About COVID, Respiratory Illness During Holiday Season

The number of patients hospitalized in Connecticut with COVID-19 climbed this week to 515, its highest census since early February, prompting doctors and public health… Keep reading

by Hugh McQuaid December 16, 2022, 1:03 pmDecember 16, 2022, 1:03 pm

Education

See How Many School Counselors Are In Connecticut

School counselors are no exception to the nationwide shortage of school staff. It is not uncommon for students to attend a school with police on…

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by Stacker December 15, 2022, 8:00 amMarch 24, 2023, 4:39 pm

Health Care

Union Calls On Lamont To Make Good On Its Contract

Thousands of home care workers who risked their lives during the pandemic are pleading with Gov. Ned Lamont’s administration to make good on its promise… Keep reading

by Christine Stuart December 1, 2022, 11:00 amDecember 1, 2022, 6:53 pm

Special Session

Here’s The Skinny On Monday’s Special Session

The Connecticut General Assembly will convene today for a special session for a limited list of action items: extending the tax break on gasoline, boosting… Keep reading

by Hugh McQuaid November 23, 2022, 4:41 pmDecember 7, 2022, 3:34 pm

Public Health

Stefanowski and Fired Public Health Chief Accuse Lamont of Mismanagement

HARTFORD, CT — In a closing shot at Gov. Ned Lamont’s handling of COVID-19, Republican Bob Stefanowski stood Thursday with fired Public Health Commissioner Renee… Keep reading

by Hugh McQuaid November 3, 2022, 2:51 pmNovember 3, 2022, 3:03 pm

Criminal Justice

Former Democratic Lawmaker Pleads Guilty To Stealing COVID Funds

Former state Rep. Michael DiMassa pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing more than $1.2 million in COVID relief and other funds from the city of West… Keep reading

by Hugh McQuaid November 1, 2022, 2:48 pmNovember 2, 2022, 12:16 am

Public Health

Public Health Commissioner Encourages Vaccinations as Winter Approaches

Connecticut’s public health commissioner warned Friday of the onset of the respiratory viral season but said two of those ailments — influenza and COVID-19 –… Keep reading

by Hugh McQuaid October 28, 2022, 2:50 pmOctober 28, 2022, 2:51 pm

Election 2022

Candidates Clarify Their Position on Vaccines, Abortion & Crime

Gov. Ned Lamont and his Republican challenger Bob Stefanowski didn’t share a stage in a WFSB/ CT Insider taped, televised forum Thursday, but the candidates… Keep reading

by Christine Stuart October 27, 2022, 10:29 pmOctober 27, 2022, 10:29 pm

Election 2022

Gubernatorial Candidates Agree Not To Mandate COVID Vaccine For Kids

Neither Bob Stefanowski nor Gov. Ned Lamont seemed inclined to add the COVID-19 vaccine to Connecticut’s schedule of required childhood immunizations on Thursday as a… Keep reading

by Hugh McQuaid October 20, 2022, 3:17 pmOctober 21, 2022, 8:38 am

Public Health

Pandemic Pay Deadline This Saturday

The deadline for the COVID-19 essential worker relief program is fast approaching and has already received over 150,000 completed applications and more than 313,000 requests… Keep reading

by Christine Stuart September 26, 2022, 5:00 amDecember 7, 2022, 3:35 pm