State News Archives - Page 2 of 119

State News

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG BLOCKS FEDERAL CUTS TO SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH GRANTS

Aug 1, 2026 Alex

(Hartford, CT) Attorney General William Tong announced that a U.S. District Court judge granted a temporary restraining order blocking the U.S. Department of Education from terminating congressionally approved school-based mental health grants. The order in the case joined by Attorney General Tong and a coalition of 14 state attorneys general comes just days before the Department of Education would have begun terminating grants providing critical mental health services to Connecticut public school students at the end of July. Terminating the grants would have resulted in the projected loss of $3 million used to support social workers in Hartford, New Britain, Vernon, and Waterbury schools through 2029. “Another victory against the Trump administration. The court has once again stepped in to…

State News

GOVERNOR LAMONT, CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION ANNOUNCE $52.9 MILLION IN RECOVERY FUNDS FOR CONNECTICUT FARMERS

Aug 1, 2026 Alex

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Connecticut Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt, and the members of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation announced that the Connecticut Department of Agriculture has received a fully executed agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture establishing a $52.9 million Farm Recovery and Support Block Grant for eligible Connecticut farmers who experienced losses in 2023 and 2024 due to severe weather events. Under the Farm Recovery and Support Block Grant, farmers making at least $1,000 in farm income who have at least $500 in documented losses from weather events in 2023 and 2024 will be eligible. Payments may cover up to 95% of losses, not to exceed $1 million per year per category. Any…

State News

BLUMENTHAL PRESSES FDA & TAYLOR FARMS FOR ANSWERS ABOUT CYCLOSPORA OUTBREAK

“The outbreak and subsequent cover-up of its origins have eroded public trust in the food supply and created an unacceptable risk to public health.” [WASHINGTON, D.C.] — U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), today demanded answers from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Taylor Farms about the record-breaking cyclosporiasis outbreak and the backroom dealing by the Trump Administration that may have delayed the government’s response to this ongoing public health crisis. In letters sent today to FDA Acting Commissioner Kyle Diamantas and Taylor Farms Chief Executive Officer Bruce Taylor, Blumenthal sought records and information about the ongoing investigation into the outbreak and the influence of Taylor Farms on staffing and…

State News

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG FILES LAWSUIT CHALLENGING CONDITIONS ON FEDERAL COUNTERTERRORISM FUNDING

Jul 30, 2026 Alex

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 26 states in filing a lawsuit challenging actions by the Trump administration that would place new conditions on billions of dollars in federal counterterrorism and emergency preparedness funding. The lawsuit challenges decisions by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to impose conditions on federal funding appropriated by Congress for states to prepare for and respond to emergencies, natural disasters, and acts of terrorism. According to the lawsuit, the challenged conditions would require states to change the way they conduct elections, including transmitting lists of registered voters to DHS, and assist DHS in enforcing federal immigration law. The lawsuit also challenges a…

State News

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT REGARDING PURA DRAFT DECISION FURTHER DECREASING RATES FOR CONNECTICUT NATURAL GAS AND SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT GAS

Jul 28, 2026 Alex

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released a statement regarding draft decisions issued this week by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) further decreasing authorized revenue for both Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG) and Southern Connecticut Gas (SCG). The companies, which are owned by Avangrid, had collectively sought more than $60 million in rate increases in 2023. After reviewing the requests, PURA instead approved revenue decreases in 2024, reducing CNG's revenue by $24 million, or approximately 5.4%, lowering customer bills by an estimated $7 to $8 per month. PURA also reduced SCG's revenue by $11 million, or approximately 2.5%, lowering bills by about $3.50 to $4 per month. CNG had originally requested a $19.7 million increase, while SCG sought a…

State News

BLUMENTHAL INTRODUCES BILL STRENGTHENING SOCIAL SECURITY

Jul 26, 2026 Alex

Representative Larson introduced the bill in the House of Representatives last month [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced the Social Security 2100 Act, legislation to increase Social Security benefits and make the critical system financially stable throughout the 21st Century. As our nation’s bedrock social insurance program, Social Security is the most important source of retirement income for 4 out of 5 seniors and provides vital protections for disabled workers and families who have lost a breadwinner. U.S. Representative John Larson (D-CT) has introduced the bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. “Social Security is a promise that must be kept. The Trump Administration’s threats to Social Security and skyrocketing costs require common sense steps to expand benefits and…

State News

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SECURES COURT ORDER REQUIRING IMPLEMENTATION OF LIFE-SAVING SOOT STANDARD

Jul 23, 2026 Alex

(Hartford, CT) — Attorney General William Tong announced this week that a federal court has ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) aimed at reducing fine particulate matter, commonly known as soot. The ruling from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted the states' motion for summary judgment and rejected the EPA's effort to block the lawsuit. In April, Attorney General Tong joined a coalition of 12 attorneys general in suing the EPA over its failure to implement a 2024 Clean Air Act rule strengthening national soot standards. Soot is produced by sources including motor vehicles, factories, and construction sites. Because the particles are extremely small, they can…

State News

GOVERNOR LAMONT SIGNS LEGISLATION MAKING RENEWABLE ENERGY MORE AFFORDABLE AND EASIER TO ACCESS

Jul 19, 2026 Alex

New Law Reauthorizes Renewable Energy Incentives That Were Soon Set To Expire, Ensuring That Solar Energy and Battery Storage Have a Renewed Focus on Affordability (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has signed into law Public Act 26-127, which contains several initiatives to make renewable energy, including solar energy and battery storage, an accessible and affordable option for homeowners, renters, and businesses in Connecticut, ensuring that the state’s renewable energy programs have a renewed focus on affordability at a time when costs are placing pressure on households. “As we transition to a cleaner energy future, we must make sure that every family, especially those struggling with high utility bills, can share the benefits,” Governor Lamont said.…

State News

GOVERNOR LAMONT REMINDS FAMILIES THAT NO-COST MEALS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL CHILDREN WHILE SCHOOL IS OUT DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS

Jul 17, 2026 Alex

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker today are reminding Connecticut families that during the summer months, nutritious meals are available at no cost to all children in the state, helping to ensure that students continue to have access to healthy meals while school is out. Any child age 18 and younger may receive meals at participating locations. No application, proof of income, or identification is required. To locate participating meal sites, use the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Meals Site Finder at www.fns.usda.gov/summer/sitefinder or call 2-1-1. Because locations and operating hours may change throughout the summer, families are encouraged to confirm location and meal service times before visiting. “Access to nutritious meals is essential…

State News

Attorneys General Urge FCC to Strengthen Fight Against Illegal Robocalls

Jul 12, 2026 Alex

HARTFORD, CT – Attorney General William Tong and 48 other attorneys general are calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to strengthen rules aimed at preventing scammers from obtaining legitimate telephone numbers used to carry out illegal robocalls and text message scams. The bipartisan coalition is urging the FCC to adopt stronger safeguards that would make it more difficult for scammers to purchase and misuse legitimate phone numbers. According to the attorneys general, limiting access to these numbers would significantly reduce scammers' ability to impersonate businesses and government agencies and deceive consumers. Attorney General Tong said that while spam filters block billions of robocalls each year, billions more still reach consumers, resulting in nearly $2 billion in fraud losses nationwide…

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG BLOCKS FEDERAL CUTS TO SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH GRANTS

GOVERNOR LAMONT, CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION ANNOUNCE $52.9 MILLION IN RECOVERY FUNDS FOR CONNECTICUT FARMERS

BLUMENTHAL PRESSES FDA & TAYLOR FARMS FOR ANSWERS ABOUT CYCLOSPORA OUTBREAK

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG FILES LAWSUIT CHALLENGING CONDITIONS ON FEDERAL COUNTERTERRORISM FUNDING

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT REGARDING PURA DRAFT DECISION FURTHER DECREASING RATES FOR CONNECTICUT NATURAL GAS AND SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT GAS

BLUMENTHAL INTRODUCES BILL STRENGTHENING SOCIAL SECURITY

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SECURES COURT ORDER REQUIRING IMPLEMENTATION OF LIFE-SAVING SOOT STANDARD

GOVERNOR LAMONT SIGNS LEGISLATION MAKING RENEWABLE ENERGY MORE AFFORDABLE AND EASIER TO ACCESS

GOVERNOR LAMONT REMINDS FAMILIES THAT NO-COST MEALS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL CHILDREN WHILE SCHOOL IS OUT DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS

Attorneys General Urge FCC to Strengthen Fight Against Illegal Robocalls

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