State News

GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES $400,000 IN STATE GRANTS TO SUPPORT FINANCIAL WELLNESS AND EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, and Banking Commissioner Jorge Perez today announced the release of three state grants totaling more than $400,000 that will be used to support programs focused on improving the financial wellness of Connecticut residents with a priority focus on women and girls. The grants are being awarded through a competitive RFP process issued by the Connecticut Department of Banking that solicited proposals centered on the grant’s objectives. “These grants will be used to support programs that empower people to improve their own financial stability through education and training, with a particular focus on our underserved populations, including women and girls,” Governor Lamont said. “I appreciate the partnership of the organizations that are…

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Household Hazardous Waste Day

Saturday, April 13, 2024 RAIN or SHINE 9am – 2pm Greens Farms Railroad Station, Parking Lot #1, New Creek Road, Westport CT (Located between I-95 and Metro-North Railroad tracks) Household Hazardous Waste Day is a NO CHARGE regional program for residents of Westport, Norwalk, New Canaan, Darien, Stamford, and Greenwich to safely dispose of their household hazardous wastes. Products such as cleaners, gasoline and pesticides can pollute the environment and jeopardize public health when they are disposed of improperly. Residents of participating towns may safely dispose of the following types of hazardous waste: gasoline, kerosene, spray paint, paint strippers, paint thinners, solvents, paints, stains, turpentine, varnishes, wood preservatives, degreasers, fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, bleach, charcoal lighter, cleaning chemicals, drain…

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GOVERNOR LAMONT URGES LEGISLATURE TO PASS LAW PROHIBITING HIDDEN FEES ON EVENT TICKETS, LODGING, AND FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVICES

Governor’s Bill Approved by General Law Committee Last Week, Now Awaits Further Action by the Full Legislature (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont is urging the Connecticut General Assembly to approve legislation he proposed for consideration this session that will enact a new consumer rights law requiring upfront pricing on all event tickets, hotel and short-term rental accommodations, and food and beverage sale and delivery services, and accordingly prohibit the increasingly common practice of adding unexpected, mandatory hidden fees that are tacked on at the end of a consumer’s transaction. These hidden fees, frequently known as junk fees, are often vaguely labeled as a “service fee” or “convenience fee.” It is estimated that they cost Connecticut families thousands of dollars…

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CONNECTICUT DELEGATION URGES HHS SUPPORT FOR MEDICAL PROVIDERS IMPACTED BY CRIPPLING CYBERATTACK ON LARGEST U.S. HEALTH CARE PAYMENT SYSTEM

“We call on you to use all powers at your disposal to hold UHG responsible for this significant breach and guarantee the company offers accessible, robust financial assistance and frequent, transparent communication.” [WASHINGTON, DC] – Following a massive cyberattack on Change Healthcare, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT), and U.S. Representatives John Larson (D-CT), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Jim Himes (D-CT), and Jahana Hayes (D-CT) called on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support impacted care providers, and to hold the company accountable for the breach and ensure it provides necessary relief to those affected. In February, Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group (UHG) and the largest health care payment…

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CONNECTICUT CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION & GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $21.8 MILLION FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS

Federal funding will bolster local transit, road & pedestrian safety projects, as well as the Greater Hartford Mobility Study: River Gateway [HARTFORD, CT] – Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) and U.S. Representatives John B. Larson (D-CT), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Jim Himes (D-CT), and Jahana Hayes (D-CT) joined Governor Ned Lamont and CTDOT Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto to announce $21.8 million in federal funding for pedestrian and road safety projects in Connecticut. The federal funding comes from the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Neighborhood Access and Equity Program through the Inflation Reduction Act, and will fund projects in Norwalk, Stamford, Bridgeport, Hartford, Naugatuck and Western Connecticut.  “This unprecedented investment will make Connecticut’s…

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MURPHY, BLUMENTHAL, LARSON, COURTNEY, DELAURO URGE BREEZE AIRWAYS TO NOT INTERFERE WITH EMPLOYEE EFFORTS TO UNIONIZE

WASHINGTON–U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representatives John Larson (D-Conn.-01), Joe Courtney (D-Conn.-02), and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.-03) on Wednesday sent a letter to David Neeleman, the Chief Executive Officer of Breeze Aviation Group, Inc. cautioning him to respect workers’ rights as employees in Connecticut consider the decision to join a union. Earlier this year, flight attendants employed by Breeze Airways announced a campaign to form a union with the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO (AFA) and filed for an election with the National Mediation Board. “Breeze Airways employs nearly 600 flight attendants across the United States – including 99 based at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut. We are excited that Breeze is continuing to offer additional flights from Bradley International Airport. As you…

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Aquarion Water Company Offering Upcycled Rain Barrels

Water conservation opportunity available to Connecticut residents BRIDGEPORT, CONN. – March 11, 2024 – Aquarion Water Company announced today that it is offering upcycled rain barrels for sale as part of its ongoing water conservation efforts.  Connecticut customers can purchase a high-quality, 60-gallon upcycled rain barrel designed to fit under a downspout and catch rainwater running off the roof. Customers can collect and store water for use in a garden whenever it rains. It takes just one-quarter inch of rainfall on an average roof to fill the barrel and provide water during dry periods, even when restrictions are imposed on water usage. The usage of rain barrels can help conserve water and reduce water bills. Key Features: 60-gallon food-grade upcycled rain barrel with brass spigot A…

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Scam Alert!

On the morning of March 7, 2024, Connecticut State Police received two unrelated phone calls from victims with the same last name who both have out of state phone numbers but reside in Connecticut. In the first instance, the victim took a phone call from a male who appeared to have an accent and advised the victim that they were investigating text fraud. The caller then attempted to verify personal information of the victim. In the second instance, the caller also appeared to have an accent and identified himself as being a US Marshal working with CT State Troopers. He told the female victim that there was an arrest warrant for her. Both victims became suspicious and hung up on…

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CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES AND PUBLIC PROTECTION AND CONNECTICUT STATE POLICE ANNOUNCE EXPANDED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT TO REDUCE HIGHWAY FATALITIES AND RECKLESS DRIVING

ROCKY HILL -- Across the state, from Route 15 to I-84, I-91 and I-95 to rural roads, the Connecticut State Police have launched expanded efforts to reduce highway fatalities through targeted enforcement. These initiatives, which have already begun, include using police data to guide additional patrols and enforcement saturation along highways where crashes and fatalities have become more common. Gov. Ned Lamont joined Interim Commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Ronnell A. Higgins, Interim Col. Daniel Loughman, commanding officer of the CSP, and Department of Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto to make the announcement Thursday along I-91 in Rocky Hill. Connecticut has seen an unacceptable increase in driving and pedestrian fatalities as concern has grown about unsafe…

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