State News

DECLARATION ENABLING CRUCIAL FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR FOOD AND HOUSING DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC TO CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL MORE MONTHS

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont announced that he has renewed a declaration that will enable Connecticut to continue receiving federal support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This federal support provides funds for supplemental food benefits for households in need and non-congregate housing for individuals experiencing homelessness and survivors of domestic violence. The declaration will continue through June 28, 2023, or until the federal public health emergency ends, whichever is earlier. This declaration is an extension of the one he issued in June, which is set to expire on December 28, 2022. The governor reiterated, as he did in June, that he will not issue any emergency executive orders under this declaration. The purpose of the declaration is to ensure that…

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Connecticut State Police Christmas Holiday Traffic Stats 12/23 -12/25

The following are the 2022 Connecticut State Police Christmas holiday traffic statistics from Friday, 12/23/2022, at 12:00 AM to Sunday 12/25/22, at 8:00 AM: Calls for service: 2,897 Motorist Assists: 175 Speeding Citations: 43 DUI arrests: 9 Motor vehicle accidents: 171 Serious: 1 Fatal: 2 This press release was made possible by:

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Additional Heating Assistance Available

HARTFORD, CT – Governor Ned Lamont announced the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) will allow all participating households that heat with deliverable fuels such as home heating oil to receive an additional crisis assistance benefit worth $430 this winter season, above the amount they were already able to receive. Earlier today, Congress approved the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which includes an additional $1 billion for the national Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that will provide Connecticut with an estimated $20 million in additional funding for CEAP. This press release was made possible by: CEAP is administered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) in partnership with the state’s community action agencies and is normally funded entirely through…

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State Police Christmas Holiday Traffic Stats 12/23 -12/24

The following are the Connecticut State Police-2021 Christmas holiday traffic statistics from Friday, 12/23/2021, at 12:00 AM to Saturday 12/24/21, at 8:00 AM: Calls for Service: 1932 Speeding Violations: 23 DUI Arrests: 3 Accidents Investigated: 119 With Reported Injuries: 9 Serious Injuries: 1 Fatalities: 2 This press release was made possible by:

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Applications For Operation Fuel Now Open

Applications for Operation Fuel, which provides emergency energy and utility assistance to Connecticut households facing financial challenges, are now open and available at www.operationfuel.org. Applicants can receive grants of up to $1,000 to heating customers earning up to the state median income, which is currently $66,270 for individuals and $127,443 for households of four. Applicants can visit www.operationfuel.org/gethelp/ for aid, with applications available online or in-person at a fuel bank partnering with Operation Fuel. The program’s website says that applicants should gather proof of the last four weeks of income for all household members, the name of their fuel vendors for deliverable fuel customers, or their utility bill and payment history for electric/gas/water customers. This press release was made possible…

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GOVERNOR LAMONT ACTIVATES SEVERE COLD WEATHER PROTOCOL FROM FRIDAY TO MONDAY

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that based on a weather forecast indicating that Connecticut may experience below-zero wind chills over the weekend, he will be activating the state’s severe cold weather protocol beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, December 23, 2022, and remaining in effect through 12:00 p.m. on Monday, December 26, 2022. This is the first time the protocol is being enacted during the 2022-2023 winter season. The purpose of the protocol is to ensure that the most vulnerable populations receive protection from the severe cold conditions, which could be life threatening if exposed to the elements for extended periods of time. While enacted, a system is set up for state agencies and municipalities to coordinate…

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ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG URGES FCC TO CREATE ANTI-ROBOTEXT PROTECTIONS

(Hartford, CT) - Attorney General William Tong supported the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) proposal to help cut down on unwanted text messages by requiring mobile wireless providers to block texts from invalid, unassigned, or unused numbers, and from numbers on a Do Not Originate (DNO) list. Connecticut has helped lead the fight to reduce the number of robocalls that plague Americans. However, scammers are now shifting to using robotexts to run similar scams. Just like spam calls, spam texts can result in people losing millions of dollars through phishing texts, imposter scams, and links containing ransomware. In 2021, the FCC received more than 15,000 consumer complaints about unwanted texts and, in 2020, scammers stole more than $86 million through frauds…

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PRE-AUTHORIZATION WAIVED FOR FULLY INSURED CONSUMERS DUE TO COVID-19, INFLUENZA, AND RSV STARTING MONDAY, DECEMBER 12 ON A TEMPORARY BASIS Connecticut Insurance Department Commissioner Andrew N. Mais joins Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani and Department of Social Services Commissioner Deidre Gifford to announce that Connecticut consumers in a fully insured health plan will have pre-authorization requirements waived for short term post-acute care effective Monday, December 12 on a temporary basis. Connecticut is facing a potentially serious challenge in hospital bed capacity in the coming weeks. Connecticut hospitals are seeing sharp increases in demand for services due to the simultaneous occurrence of influenza, RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus), COVID -19, and Behavioral Health surges.   As a result, ensuring that hospital beds are available is…

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$32 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT TO SUPPORT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN PUBLIC HEALTH

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont announced that the Connecticut Department of Public Health has been awarded a $32,253,484 grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that will be used to support the state agency’s newly launched Office of Public Heath Workforce Development. The initiative was created by Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD, in August and is operating directly out of her office. It will have a broad focus on ensuring that the workforce development needs at state, local, and nonprofit public health agencies are met, specifically regarding future pipeline development academic and professional training, standards of practice, and workforce diversification. The federal funding was awarded through the CDC’s Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce,…

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GOVERNOR LAMONT AND CONNECTICUT STATE POLICE UNION ANNOUNCE TENTATIVE LABOR AGREEMENT

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and the Connecticut State Police Union NP1 today announced that they have tentatively agreed to the terms of a new successor labor agreement. The agreement covers troopers, sergeants, and master sergeants effective from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2026, covering wages, benefits, and working conditions. “Members of the Connecticut State Police are second to none, and this new contract recognizes their dedication, hard work, and sacrifice,” Governor Lamont said. “It is an investment in the future of public safety in our state by incentivizing the recruitment of top-quality candidates, as well as the retention of our current troopers. Additional education, training, and professional development benefits are provided under the terms of the agreement, while…

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