State News

Flags Lowered Sunday For Fallen Firefighters Memorial

Governor Lamont Directs Flags To Half-Staff Sunday For The National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is directing U.S. and state flags in Connecticut lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Sunday, May 3, 2026, in recognition of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service, an annual ceremony that serves as the official national tribute honoring all firefighters in the U.S. who have died in the line of duty. Accordingly, since no flag should fly higher than the U.S. flag, all other flags – including state, municipal, corporate, or otherwise – should also be lowered during this same duration of time. During Sunday’s ceremony, which is held at National Fallen Firefighters Memorial…

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Lamont Announces Progress on I-91/I-691/Route 15 Interchange Project in Meriden

GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES MILESTONES AND NEXT STEPS FOR I-91, I-691, ROUTE 15 INTERCHANGE PROJECT IN MERIDEN Governor Ned Lamont today announced major progress on the ongoing Interstate 91, Interstate 691, and Route 15 interchange reconfiguration project, including the on-time and on-budget completion of phase one, continued advancement of phase two, and the start of phase three. Phase two, which has been underway for two years, remains on track for completion by 2028, while the full three-phase program is expected to be complete by 2030. The announcement was made during a news conference held this morning at the newly constructed ramp to East Main Street from the new Route 15 northbound bridge over I-91 in Meriden, which is scheduled to open…

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GOVERNOR LAMONT ESTABLISHES COMMISSION TO REEVALUATE CONNECTICUT’S EDUCATION FUNDING SYSTEMS, IMPROVE STUDENT OUTCOMES

Governor Says Formulas for Funding Public Schools Need To Be Modernized To Reflect Current-Day Needs Governor Announces Substantial Investment in Education From $500M Affordability Fund (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has signed an executive order (Executive Order No. 26-3) calling for the development of a strategic plan to reform the funding streams used to support the operations of Connecticut’s K-12 public schools, saying that the existing methodologies – including the state’s main funding formula, known as the Education Cost Sharing (ECS) grant – were developed several generations ago, are outdated, and need updating to reflect school districts’ current-day needs. “Significant increases in investments made in our education system over the past seven years have made…

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DOJ Sues Connecticut Over Trust Act as CT Leaders Defend “Sovereign State” Rights

Attorney General William Tong, Governor Ned Lamont, and New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker released the following statements after the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit targeting Connecticut’s Trust Act. “This is the sovereign state of Connecticut, and it is my honor to be its Attorney General. The sovereign people of Connecticut have exercised our right to pass state laws like the Trust Act that prioritize public safety and ensure that all people can trust and rely on law enforcement to keep us safe. “It is our policy and the law of the state of Connecticut to respect and honor immigrant workers and families, and we welcome their contributions to our state. It is a shame that the President and…

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Connecticut Attorney General Joins Multi-State Lawsuit Challenging Federal Election Order

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER UNLAWFUL EXECUTIVE ORDER ATTEMPTING TO EXERT FEDERAL CONTROL OVER ELECTIONS Executive Order Threatens to Disenfranchise Eligible Voters and Violates States’ Authority to Administer Elections (Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general and one governor in suing President Trump in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, challenging his Executive Order that attempts to interfere with states’ authority to administer elections by restricting voter eligibility and mail voting to lists of voters pre-authorized by the federal government. On March 31, President Trump signed an Executive Order attempting to establish a national list of eligible voters and directing the U.S. Postal Service, an independent federal…

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ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG CHALLENGES ROLLBACK OF LIMITS ON DANGEROUS EMISSIONS OF MERCURY AND OTHER HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS FROM POWER PLANTS

(Hartford, CT) -- Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of # states and local governments in filing a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s repeal of the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) Rule and reversion to outdated standards that harm the environment and public health. The MATS Rule implements nationwide standards that limit emissions of toxic air pollutants from coal- and oil-fired power plants, including mercury, arsenic, lead and other toxic metals, in addition to acid gases, such as hydrogen chloride and formaldehyde. In 2024, following significant developments in the technologies used to control pollution, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) updated the standards for emissions of these hazardous air pollutants from power plants. Last month, the Trump administration rolled back…

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COMMITTEE PASSES BLUMENTHAL’S BILL TO EXPAND RESEARCH FOR CHILDREN OF TOXIC-EXPOSED VETERANS

Blumenthal bills, including measures to support children of toxic-exposed veterans and veterans who swore secrecy oaths, unanimously pass the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee today unanimously passed three veterans’ bills authored by Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), including his Molly R. Loomis Research for Descendants of Toxic Exposed Veterans Act—legislation to expand research on birth defects among descendants of toxic-exposed veterans. “Almost every member of this Committee has had a part in one way or another in one or more of these bills…I want to say a particular thanks to Senator Murray, who has worked with me on the Molly Loomis Research for Descendants of Toxic Exposed Veterans [Act], which requires research on the health effects…

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BLUMENTHAL & TRAN INTRODUCE BILL TO PROTECT VETERANS’ DISABILITY BENEFITS

Lawmakers’ Ingram Veterans’ Benefits Protection Act will ensure veterans who take medication for their service-connected disability receive their full benefits [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Derek Tran (D-CA) introduced the Carlton H. Ingram Veterans’ Benefits Protection Act—legislation to protect veterans’ disability benefits following an attempt from the Trump Administration to reduce benefits for veterans who rely on medications to manage their service-connected disabilities. Their legislation would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to award compensation benefits based on the true severity of veterans’ disabilities, particularly when evidence indicates claimed disabilities are more severe during fare ups or without the use of medication. “Veterans should never have to choose between taking life-improving medication or losing their earned…

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New Age-Progressed Image Released in Bianca Lebron Case

https://youtu.be/A2i4bcqwlQ0 Bridgeport officials on Wednesday released a new age-progressed image of Bianca Lebron, the young girl who vanished in 2001 while on her way to school near the former Elias Howe School. The updated image, created by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, is intended to show what Bianca may look like today and to generate new leads in a case that has remained unsolved for more than two decades. According to officials, Bianca was last seen waiting to go to school on the morning she disappeared. The National Center became involved the following day and has continued working alongside investigators to keep her case in the public spotlight. Authorities said age progression is a critical tool used…

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Blumenthal & Kelly introduce bill to Immediately Lower Gas Prices at the Pump 

[Hartford, CT] – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) introduced the Gas Prices Relief Act to lower gas prices by temporarily suspending the 18.4 cents-per-gallon federal gas tax through October 1, 2026, providing much-needed relief for families in Connecticut and across the country who rely on their cars to get to work, school, and run everyday errands. “This legislation temporarily suspends the federal gas tax, lowering high gas prices squeezing consumers and bringing much needed financial relief to American families,” said Senator Blumenthal. “Trump’s war of choice with Iran is driving up gas prices across the country—and Americans shouldn’t have to bear the additional economic burden of Trump’s reckless decision making. With the Gas Prices Relief Act, we address rising costs…

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