Alex, Author at DoingItLocal

State News

GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES CONNECTICUT’S 2023 SALES TAX-FREE WEEK RUNS FROM AUGUST 20 TO 26

Aug 17, 2023 Alex

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that Connecticut will hold Sales Tax-Free Week from Sunday, August 20, 2023, to Saturday, August 26, 2023. During this one-week sales tax holiday, retail purchases of most clothing and footwear items priced under $100 are exempt from the Connecticut sales and use tax. The exemption applies to each eligible item costing under $100 regardless of how many of those items are sold to a customer on the same invoice. “This tax-free holiday is scheduled at the perfect time to help families stretch their dollars during the back-to-school season, while also giving businesses an extra boost to their bottom line,” Governor Lamont said. “I encourage everyone taking advantage of these savings to shop…

State News

GOVERNOR LAMONT SIGNS LEGISLATION PROTECTING SENIORS FROM FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION

Aug 16, 2023 Alex

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has signed into law legislation implementing procedures into state statutes that protect seniors from suspected cases of financial fraud, scams, and exploitation by a person who is taking care of an older adult. Specifically, this law authorizes financial institutions to temporarily suspend or hold transactions involving an account of an adult over the age of 60 if there is a reasonable suspicion of financial exploitation, which is defined as taking advantage of an eligible adult by another person or caretaker for monetary, personal, or other benefit, gain, or profit. When such cases occur, the financial institution should disclose the suspected abuse to the Connecticut Department of Banking or the Connecticut…

State News

STATE REPRESENTATIVES JENNIFER LEEPER, CRISTIN McCARTHY VAHEY, SARAH KEITT APPLAUD $162K GRANT FOR FAIRFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST

Aug 14, 2023 Alex

State Representatives Jennifer Leeper (D-Fairfield, Southport), Cristin McCarthy Vahey (D-Fairfield, Bridgeport), and Sarah Keitt (D-Fairfield, Trumbull) today applauded the $162,000 grant announced for the Fairfield School District for school mental health specialists. The funds will be broken up over three years, with the school district receiving $60,000 in 2024, $60,000 in 2025, and $42,000 in 2026. The competitive grant comes from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), and is meant to increase the number of mental health workers in schools. “As Vice-Chair of the Education Committee, I have heard firsthand from parents and educators how important mental health is to the success of our students,” Rep. Leeper said. “Funding for mental health specialists is critical for every school district…

Uncategorized

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG ANNOUNCES $470,000 SETTLEMENT WITH OPTIMUS HEALTH CARE OVER FALSE CLAIMS AND IMPROPER BILLING ALLEGATIONS

Aug 13, 2023 Alex

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong, the United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General today announced that Optimus Health Care, Inc., a federally-qualified health center (“FQHC”) based in Bridgeport, has entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments and has paid a total of $470,093.93 to resolve allegations that it submitted false claims to the Connecticut Medicaid program, and received overpayments from Medicaid for ineligible services. Optimus Health Care, Inc. (“Optimus”) has 23 locations in southwestern Connecticut. As an FQHC, Optimus receives patient revenues and grants from the federal and state governments. “Optimus Health Care repeatedly overbilled Connecticut’s Medicaid program,…

State News

Sen. Tony Hwang: CT Construction Industry Stands Ready to Build Transportation Infrastructure, Recruit Future Workers

Aug 12, 2023 Alex

Sen. Tony Hwang, the Ranking Senator on the Transportation Committee, on Aug. 7 met with Connecticut Construction Industries Association (CCIA) President Don Shubert and Tilcon Connecticut President Carolina Cavalcante to discuss the industry’s challenges, innovations in transportation infrastructure improvements and workforce recruitment efforts. “I wanted to hear firsthand from CCIA, which represents various sectors of the construction industry, and Tilcon, a business that has played a key role in building transportation infrastructure around the region,” Sen. Hwang said. “What I heard from these experts is this: The construction industry is not only hiring, but also anxiously looking to recruit and train the next generation of Connecticut workers. Tilcon, a division of CRH, for example, does business in my senate district…

State News

BLUMENTHAL, ESPAILLAT, & MURPHY INTRODUCE BICAMERAL LEGISLATION TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES FROM UNTRACEABLE GHOST GUNS

Aug 11, 2023 Alex

Loopholes in current statutes allow anyone – including felons, traffickers, & extremists – to manufacture or assemble untraceable firearms using a 3-D printer or do-it-yourself kit [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) led a group of 26 lawmakers including U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) in reintroducing the Ghost Guns and Untraceable Firearms Act, legislation to ban dangerous “ghost” guns. These weapons, which are easily assembled with a 3-D printer or a do-it-yourself gun making kit purchased from an unlicensed seller, can be obtained without passing a background check and have become the weapon of choice for criminals and extremists. Without a unique serial number, these guns are often untraceable and impede investigations…

State News

GOVERNOR LAMONT AND COMMISSIONER RUSSELL-TUCKER ANNOUNCE EXPANSION OF CONNECTICUT’S FREE SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM

Aug 10, 2023 Alex

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker today announced plans to expand Connecticut’s free school meals program for the 2023-2024 school year, enabling more students to receive access to nutritious breakfast and lunch at no additional cost to them or their families. Under the plan, $16 million of funding the state received from the American Rescue Plan Act will be invested into the program. Funds will be utilized to support the provision of meals at no cost in the following ways: All students in non-Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools participating in the federal School Breakfast Program (SBP) will be able to receive breakfast meals at no cost, including day students within residential childcare institutions. Approximately…

State News

GOVERNOR LAMONT AND CONNECTICUT OFFICIALS RECOGNIZE BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS MONTH

Aug 9, 2023 Alex

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont, Connecticut Department of Administrative Services Commissioner Michelle Gilman, and Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Alexandra Daum are recognizing Black-Owned Business Month, which is celebrated nationally each August. The commemoration provides an opportunity to acknowledge the resilience, innovation, and economic impact of Black-owned businesses in Connecticut and across the country. “Our administration is proud to celebrate Black-Owned Business Month and acknowledge the many businesses across Connecticut that contribute to our communities and our economy,” Governor Lamont said. “By supporting small minority-owned businesses, we are strengthening our local economy and creating more job opportunities in our neighborhoods.” “The Department of Administrative Services is committed to promoting inclusivity and economic growth by providing resources,…

Stratford

Stratford Public Schools Awarded Grant Money to Improve Student Mental Health Services

Aug 9, 2023 Alex

HARTFORD, CT - Connecticut Senate Republican Leader Kevin Kelly (R-Stratford), State Representative Ben McGorty (R-122), and State Representative Laura Dancho (R-120) commend the State of Connecticut and the Connecticut Department of Education for awarding School Mental Health Specialist Grants to 72 districts across Connecticut. Stratford Public Schools is one of the recipients of the grant, which provides funding to increase the number of mental health workers in schools. Stratford Public Schools is slated to receive a total of $124,920.90 over the course of three years, with the funding allocated as follows: 2024 - $46,267 2025 - $46,267 2026 - $32,386.90 Sen. Kelly said, "All of Connecticut's children deserve quality mental health care. By having more mental health specialists and a support system…

Stratford

TOWN OF STRATFORD INITIATES COOLING CENTER PROTOCOL

Jul 27, 2023 Alex

STRATFORD, CT – Due to receiving an Extreme Warm Weather Advisory notice from the State of Connecticut, the Town of Stratford has initiated its Cooling Center protocol. This protocol is enacted from 8AM Wednesday, July 26th, to 8AM Sunday, July 30th. Mayor Hoydick is advising residents, particularly those who are most vulnerable, to take precautions ahead of the extreme temperatures that are forecast to impact over the next several days. For Overnight and long-term sheltering residents need to contact the 221 System by dialing 211. All cooling centers will be posted and updated under the State of Connecticut WEBEOC website. Stratford Center Availability:Birdseye Municipal Complex468 Birdseye StreetM-F 8:30 am to 5:00 pmStratford Library2203 Main StreetM-Thurs 10:00 am to 8:00 pmF-Sat…

GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES CONNECTICUT’S 2023 SALES TAX-FREE WEEK RUNS FROM AUGUST 20 TO 26

GOVERNOR LAMONT SIGNS LEGISLATION PROTECTING SENIORS FROM FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION

STATE REPRESENTATIVES JENNIFER LEEPER, CRISTIN McCARTHY VAHEY, SARAH KEITT APPLAUD $162K GRANT FOR FAIRFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG ANNOUNCES $470,000 SETTLEMENT WITH OPTIMUS HEALTH CARE OVER FALSE CLAIMS AND IMPROPER BILLING ALLEGATIONS

Sen. Tony Hwang: CT Construction Industry Stands Ready to Build Transportation Infrastructure, Recruit Future Workers

BLUMENTHAL, ESPAILLAT, & MURPHY INTRODUCE BICAMERAL LEGISLATION TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES FROM UNTRACEABLE GHOST GUNS

GOVERNOR LAMONT AND COMMISSIONER RUSSELL-TUCKER ANNOUNCE EXPANSION OF CONNECTICUT’S FREE SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM

GOVERNOR LAMONT AND CONNECTICUT OFFICIALS RECOGNIZE BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS MONTH

Stratford Public Schools Awarded Grant Money to Improve Student Mental Health Services

TOWN OF STRATFORD INITIATES COOLING CENTER PROTOCOL

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