State News

Special Session For Legislators

HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont  issued a proclamation calling the Connecticut General Assembly to meet in special session beginning Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. to:   1.     Enact legislation to (a) temporarily expand absentee balloting for the August 2020 primary and November 2020 general election in response to the COVID-19 pandemic so that voters may lawfully cast absentee ballots because of the sickness of COVID-19; (b) temporarily alter statutes governing the administration of elections to ensure local officials may administer such absentee balloting in a secure and orderly manner; and (c) permit voters to register and vote on election day at more than one place per town and to do so as long as they are in line to…

Read More

MULTI-CITY AUTO THEFT AND URBAN VIOLENCE TASK FORCE STATISTICS

A task force created last winter and charged with fighting the theft of motor vehicles in Connecticut has recovered more than 150 stolen cars and arrested more than 20 juveniles.   Members of the Multi-City Auto Theft and Urban Violence Task Force have been working tirelessly to fight the rising trend of vehicles taken from the state's suburban and rural communities. The task force is composed of detectives from the following agencies: Connecticut State Police, Bridgeport Police, Hartford Police, and Waterbury Police. The task force is also charged with combatting the surge of violence related to the stolen vehicles in Connecticut's largest cities.   From the establishment of the task force on February 1, 2020, through July 12, 2020, the…

Read More

SUPPORT REMAINS AVAILABLE FOR TAXPAYERS TO FILE 2019 TAXES AND RECEIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENTS

HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today is reminding Connecticut residents that the deadline to file 2019 income taxes – a requirement for most people to become eligible to receive federal economic impact payments resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic – is July 15, 2020. Households with a total income at or below $56,000 can continue to receive free tax preparation support through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The service is administered by the Connecticut Association for Human Services, with financial support from the philanthropic organization 4-CT and the United Way of Connecticut.   Residents can access VITA services online at www.211ct.org/taxhelp or by calling 2-1-1.   “The federal government has made filing your taxes a key component of gaining…

Read More

Connecticut Apartment Association Partnering with American Red Cross

Partnership Helps Support the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign The Connecticut Apartment Association, based in Glastonbury, Connecticut, has partnered with the American Red Cross for the third year in a row. As part of the partnership, this year, the Connecticut Apartment Association has contributed in support of the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign and is entering their third year as a Ready 365 Bronze level supporter. “We are grateful to the Connecticut Apartment Association for their continued support of the Red Cross and for their commitment to support the Home Fire Campaign,” said Brandon Ponder, Chief Development Officer, American Red Cross Connecticut and Rhode Island Region. “The Connecticut Apartment Association’s partnership helps the Red Cross prepare communities for the largest disaster threat, home fires.” Every…

Read More

Free Online Tech Training For Veterans

Veterans and their spouses can take advantage of free virtual training and certification in technology skills from NPower. After four months of intensive training, mentoring and a paid internship, participants will have access to job placement and more. Apply online now for classes starting on September 8. https://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/76292/free-training-veterans-spouses-npower/

Read More

AG on Robocalls

Hartford CT-- Attorney General William Tong released a statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Barr v. AAPC, which upheld the federal robocall ban. Earlier this year, Attorney General Tong joined a coalition of 33 states in filing an amicus brief in support of the ban. Attorney General Tong’s statement is below: “Every day, our office is working to end the nuisance and threat that robocalls and scams present to Connecticut residents. I am pleased the Supreme Court left the Telephone Consumer Protection Act ban on robocalls intact, and my office will continue to work tirelessly to protect the people of Connecticut,” said Attorney General Tong. The Attorney General participates in a nationwide effort to track and trace…

Read More

Bill Requiring US Defense To Purchase 100% American Made Products

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, on Thursday introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021 that would increase the Buy American requirements on major defense programs to 100% domestic content. Currently, equipment that has only 50% of its content from U.S. suppliers is considered compliant with the Buy American Act. Requiring 100% of the products purchased by the Defense Department to be made in America will support U.S. manufacturers and create jobs. It will also protect our national security by defending the supply chain for our major defense programs against foreign disruptions.   Murphy’s amendment is endorsed by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM).  …

Read More

Tong On Tranny Accounts

Hartford, CT – Attorney General William Tong this week led a coalition of attorneys general, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Office of Consumer Counsel, and the Maine Ratepayer Advocate urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reject unnecessary and unjust incentive payments to transmission developers. FERC issued a draft rulemaking in March proposing a series of generous new transmission incentives, including extra payments for basic measures that transmission developers are already doing, such as joining mandatory regional transmission organizations. With a federally regulated transmission system already weighted toward traditional, carbon-intensive and outdated energy transmission methods, the coalition argues that any new incentives must be targeted to encourage the development of modern, zero-carbon renewable resources. The coalition…

Read More

Covid Insurance

Insurance Commissioner Andrew N. Mais wants to remind every front-line worker and volunteer who cares for COVID-19 patients and their families about two very important programs, Healthbridge and the Brave of Heart Fund. Healthbridge from Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) offers eligible front-line health care workers and volunteers up to $25,000 of life insurance at no cost. Cigna and New York Life established the Brave of Heart Fund to provide monetary grants of up to $75,000 to survivors of front-line U.S. healthcare workers who give their lives in the fight against COVID-19. “MassMutual filed Healthbridge to help front-line health care workers, volunteers and their families and this was quickly approved by this Department. Cigna and New York Life similarly stepped in to support…

Read More

DMV Openings

WETHERSFIELD, CT – The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles resumed road testing services for driver’s licenses as well as new vehicle registration services on June 30, 2020 at select DMV locations. Knowledge testing for motorcycle learner’s permits is slated to resume on July 7, 2020 at DMV’s Bridgeport and Waterbury locations. “We will continue to slowly reopen our doors and expand our service options,” said DMV’s Deputy Commissioner Tony Guerrera. “Safety remains our primary focus.” The DMV began collaborating with driving schools on June 23, 2020 in an effort to reduce its backlog, and was able to schedule nearly 1,000 road tests through June 30, 2020. Customers whose appointments were canceled due to the COVID-19 global health pandemic are encouraged…

Read More