EXTINCTION PREVENTION ACT TO PROTECT AT-RISK WILDLIFE
Blumenthal announced the legislation today at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo on the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) reintroduced the Extinction Prevention Act, legislation to provide much-needed funding for some of the country’s most imperiled yet vastly underfunded wildlife species, including threatened and endangered North American butterflies, various Pacific Island plants, freshwater mussels, and Southwest desert fish. Blumenthal announced the measure today during an event at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo to mark the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act. “This legislation recognizes that saving wildlife from extinction requires more than just rhetoric—real resources are essential,” said Blumenthal. “Endangered species and their habitats can be sustained,…
National Safe Boating Week
National Safe Boating Week is May 20-26, 2023. The Norwalk Police Department Marine Unit would like to remind boaters of several tips before the season starts to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable boating season. • Wear a life vest and have them readily accessible with enough for everyone on board • Do not exceed the stated capacity of your boat • Have a throwable floatation device such as a life vest • Have at least one fire extinguisher on board, more are required by the Coast Guard for larger vessels • Clearly display the registration numbers, if it is a canoe or kayak place a sticker with your name and phone number should it break loose and float…
Summer Energy Supply Costs Drop Significantly
Customers on Standard Service Rate to see up to $56 decreaseon total monthly bills BERLIN, Conn. (May 17, 2023) – As the price of energy continues to trend downward, Eversource today filed a new Standard Service rate with Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) which would go into effect from July 1 to December 31, 2023. This comes after energy prices hit historic highs in New England last year due to natural gas supply constraints related to the continued war in Ukraine and global demand. If approved by PURA, the new rate for residential customers who receive their energy supply from Eversource would change from the current 24.17 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 13.82 cents per kWh, compared to 12.19…
SENATOR GASTON VOTES TO INCREASE PROTECTIONS AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
State Senator Herron Keyon Gaston (D-Bridgeport) joined in the bipartisan and unanimous support of a 2023 Senate Democrats' public policy priority to increase protections for domestic violence victims by expanding GPS monitoring of violent offenders, increasing funding for victim services, and preventing people convicted of certain domestic violence crimes from ever collecting any alimony from their former spouse. Senate Bill 5, "AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE PROTECTIONS AGAINST AND RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE," passed the state Senate today on a 36-0 unanimous vote and now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Previously, the bill had received a 37-0 unanimous vote in the Judiciary Committee and a 55-0 unanimous vote in the Appropriations Committee. “I am proud to support legislation…
TARGETED STATE INVESTMENTS AND AGENCY COLLABORATION TO INCREASE SCHOOL STAFFING
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont, Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker, and Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo today announced the launch of several new multi-agency state initiatives designed to address educator shortages in Connecticut. The initiatives will support the creation of a new teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program, provide more investment to create paraeducator fairs, and expand existing high school “grow-your-own” programs, which recruit and train teachers from within communities where they live and work. Recent survey data shows a high number of certified educator and paraeducator vacancies in the state, particularly in shortage areas such as special education, math, and science. As of March 2023, school districts reported about 1,300 teaching vacancies and another 1,300 paraeducator vacancies. More than 60% of…
Social Media Data Privacy and Youth Usage Protection Legislation
Sen. Tony Hwang today applauded the Connecticut State Senate’s passage of online and social media data privacy legislation. The legislation, which now awaits a vote in the House, aims to strengthen Connecticut’s laws to better protect children and people of all ages by maintaining checks and balance against Controllers, a for-profit entity which determines the purpose and means of processing personal data. “Last year, Connecticut passed nationally recognized internet provider data privacy legislation (Public Act 22-15), and Connecticut must continue to lead the nation in the area of protecting people’s data and online privacy,” Sen. Hwang said. “This is especially crucial when it comes to controversial solutions to protecting our children on the internet and social media. Our children’s safety…
Governor: Covid Over
Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the public health emergency declaration he initially signed on March 10, 2020, in response to the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic will terminate effective May 11, 2023 – the same date that President Joe Biden has directed the related federal public health emergency declaration to expire. Governor Lamont’s declaration has enabled Connecticut’s executive branch to utilize certain emergency powers to address the crisis and provide more flexibility in a number of health-related areas, while also ensuring that federal resources in response to the pandemic could be delivered to the state. With the expiration of this declaration, the remaining policies enacted under it will also expire, and COVID-19 will be managed by state public…
BILL TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING FOR FUTURE TEACHERS
WASHINGTON–U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee,and John Kennedy (R-La.) introduced the Teacher, Principal and Leader Residency Access Act on Monday to improve access to training for college students who aspire to become teachers and leaders in America’s schools, and help build a diverse pipeline of experienced teachers and school leaders. More than half of all public schools in the U.S. reported being understaffed at the start of the 2022-23 school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This legislation would ensure students participating in teacher and school leader residency programs are eligible for the Federal Work Study (FWS) Program, a campus-based aid program that funds part-time employment opportunities for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in need…
Romance Scams
A new study shows Americans lost a record $1.3 billion to romance scams in 2022, up 138% from $547 million in 2021. This marks the largest single-year hike over the past five years. Connecticut ranks No. 26 with 159 victims losing $7.1 million in 2022. Connecticut has the No. 8 highest average loss per victim at $44,851. The 10 states that lost the most money were highly populated led by California, Texas, Florida, and New York but it was smaller states that saw the biggest increases in money lost year-over-year led by Arkansas (398% increase), New Mexico (268%), and Maine (216%). Four new states entered the top 10 in 2022 for total money lost -- Arizona, Ohio, North Carolina, and…