State News

Food Assistance Resources Are Available

With more than one in 10 Connecticut residents experiencing food insecurity, those who may be in need should know there are a number of resources available to the public intended to help. These include the Connecticut Foodshare schedule of mobile pantries, which drive around the state delivering food supplies to this in need; the food pantry locator at https://www.211ct.org/; and https://ctfoodshare.org/get-help/communityresources/ This news report is made possible by:

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Drive to Save Lives 2023 Campaign

Crash-related fatalities are ranked as one of the top causes of death in the U.S. Many of these crashes are caused by highly visible driver-related factors, including speeding, distracted driving, and impaired driving. The CT State Police is joining forces with other law enforcement agencies along the I-95 corridor in the “Drive to Save Lives” campaign. This campaign is a multi-jurisdictional, high-visibility traffic enforcement initiative to increase traffic enforcement presence along the I-95 corridor from Maine to Florida – including across Connecticut – from Saturday, April 1, 2023, to Monday, April 3, 2023. Motorists can expect to see Troopers working diligently to keep them safe as they travel throughout the state on I-95. This press release was made possible by:

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“Must Carry” TV Stations

In 2011 The Nielson company, you know the company that gives the ratings of TV stations was thinking of changing Fairfield County to be part of the broadcast market. Bridgeport, Fairfield, Stratford, etc. have all been considered the New York news and TV market since people were putting aerials up on their roofs to watch TV. It hasn't changed since the 1950s. "Must carry stations" for cable operators are determined by this. "Cable must-carry" stations are TV channels that cable providers are legally required to carry within a specific geographic area. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established these rules to ensure that local broadcast stations can reach their audiences through cable TV, which has become a primary means of delivering…

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CTDOT Releases Five-Year Capital Plan Focused on Safety, Sustainability, and Accessibility

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) released its five-year Capital Plan for fiscal years 2023-2027, outlining the implementation of funding, policies, and programs from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). CTDOT developed the Capital Plan with feedback from stakeholders, including the state’s Councils of Government (COGs). The historic federal investment and ongoing robust state-funded programs will move Connecticut forward in reducing transportation emissions and accelerating investments in a safer, more equitable, and sustainable transportation system that is easier to use for all residents. CTDOT will be presenting the Capital Plan at a public hearing with the Joint Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, Transportation Bonding Subcommittee, and Transportation Committee on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. Visit cga.ct.gov for meeting room and livestreaming information. “Connecticut’s residents…

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The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is launching a payment pilot program for all CTtransit and CTfastrak customers on April 1. The pilot program, launched in partnership with Token Transit, will allow customers to buy two-hour Adult, Senior/Disabled, and Youth bus passes for all local CTtransit and CTfastrak buses on their smartphones. To use Token Transit, customers can download the Token Transit mobile app or use Transit App, Moovit, Agile Mile, or Google Maps, which are all integrated with Token Transit. Here’s how it works: As buses approach, customers who purchased passes via Token Transit will be able to open their app and tap on the pass to activate it. The two-hour time period for which the ticket is available begins once the pass is…

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AMERICAN GAMBLING ASSOCIATION’S “RESPONSIBLE MARKETING CODE”

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the following statement in response to a new Responsible Marketing Code for Sports Wagering issued by the American Gaming Association (AGA), which includes a prohibition on college partnerships that promote, market or advertise sports wagering activity: “The American Gaming Association’s new sports betting code of conduct is a serious effort to protect young people from gambling addiction. I applaud AGA for seeking to set meaningful industry standards that specifically prohibit college partnerships that promote, market or advertise sports betting. Unfortunately, the benefits of this new code are limited given that not all sports betting companies – in fact, many of the largest ones – aren’t members of the AGA and don’t…

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CT’s Immigrant Community and HealthCare Advocates Demand Connecticut “Invest in Our Health”

Hartford, CT - Today on Monday March 27th at 5pm, immigrant’s rights advocates, community members, and healthcare providers gathered for Rally and Visibility Action demanding that our CT state legislators invest in the health and future of our state by funding an expansion of HUSKY Healthcare program for income eligible immigrants under 26 years of age, which according to estimates, will cost around $15 million or 1% of the total medicaid budget. During the event, immigrants and advocates called for Legislators to include funding in the state budget for an expansion of the HUSKY Healthcare program for income eligible immigrants under 26 years of age, conveying urgency by sharing their personal struggles of accessing healthcare - from having to rely…

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ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG CALLS FOR JUUL VAPING SETTLEMENT FUNDS TO BE DIRECTED TO REGIONAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ACTION ORGANIZATIONS

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong this week submitted testimony calling for funds received through the $438.5 million multistate vaping settlement with JUUL to be directed to Regional Behavioral Health Action Organizations (RBHAOs) to combat youth vaping and nicotine use. His testimony, in support of House Bill No. 6914, An Act Concerning the Use of Funds in the Opioid and Tobacco Settlement Funds and Funds Received by the State as Part of Any Settlement Agreement with a Manufacturer of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems and Vapor Products, addresses safeguards and reporting requirements for both opioid and tobacco settlement funds. Connecticut led 34 states and territories last year in brokering the settlement with JUUL, resolving a two-year bipartisan investigation into the company’s…

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INITIATIVE TO STRENGTHEN TEACHER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION EFFORTS

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker today announced details of a new state initiative that aims to strengthen Connecticut’s efforts to recruit and retain a strong and diverse educator workforce through the reimagining of teacher evaluations and the modernizing of teacher certifications. The initiative focuses on ensuring that teachers are evaluated on a fair and consistent basis, and that they receive the support they need to improve their skills and knowledge. The Connecticut State Department of Education’s Educator Evaluation and Support (EES) Council, codified in Conn. Gen. Stat. 10-151b as the Performance Evaluation and Advisory Council, has worked collaboratively over the past 20 months to develop an educator evaluation system based on research, best…

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Energize Connecticut℠ Accepting Submissions for 18^th Annual eesmarts™Student Contest

New contest prompts encourage students to show off their energy efficiency smarts; deadline March 31  NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – Energize Connecticut℠ sponsors, Eversource and AVANGRID, Inc. subsidiaries United Illuminating, Southern Connecticut Gas and Connecticut Natural Gas, announced today that the 18th annual eesmarts™ Student Contest is now accepting student submissions until March 31, 2023. Updates to grade-specific prompts have been made this year to foster students’ creativity and allow for new technologies and social media platforms to be used in responses. The contest is open to Connecticut students in grades K-12 and topics are focused on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability solutions. “For almost two decades, the eesmarts Student Contest has engaged students throughout Connecticut and has asked them to use their imagination and knowledge to come up…

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