State News

LEGISLATION TO BAN PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF BIG CATS

The Big Cat Public Safety Act was approved by the House earlier this year and now heads to President Biden’s desk for signature [WASHINGTON, D.C] – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Susan Collins (R-ME) issued the following statement after the Senate passed the Big Cat Public Safety Act, bipartisan legislation prohibiting the ownership of big cats like lions and tigers and outlaws public contact with cubs. The House passed the legislation earlier this year and it now awaits President Joe Biden’s signature.  “The Big Cat Public Safety Act will end the horrific exploitation of big cats and bolster public safety,” said Blumenthal. “These beautiful but powerful predators deserve to live in the wild, not be kept in captivity for people’s entertainment—even…

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BILL TO PROTECT CONSUMERS & WORKERS FROM CORPORATE CRIMINAL CONDUCT

The Hide No Harm Act increases jail time & fines for corporate officers who knowingly conceal information that may harm consumers & workers [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Bob Casey (D-PA) and U.S. Representative Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) introduced bicameral legislation to hold corporate wrongdoers accountable for knowingly withholding information that risked the lives or safety of consumers and workers. Under the Hide No Harm Act, a corporate officer who conceals information about an action or product that poses the danger of serious physical injury or death would face up to five years in prison as well as potential fines. The legislation would also safeguard corporate whistleblowers by protecting from criminal liability those who chose to…

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SHORT-TERM CUSTOMER RELIEF PLAN TO REDUCE THE COST OF ENERGY SUPPLY PRICES

Public-Private Partnership Identifies Ways To Help Lower Winter Energy Prices, From Electricity to Gasoline (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont announced that in response to calls from his administration and other Connecticut state officials – including the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Office of Consumer Counsel – to do more for customers in the state amid historically high electric prices, utility companies Eversource and United Illuminating (UI) have agreed to work with state leaders on a short-term/interim Customer Relief Plan to provide immediate relief to electric customers this winter. Connecticut state leaders have emphasized the importance of acting quickly and advancing options to reduce bill impacts for low and middle-income customers who are struggling to pay…

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ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG ANNOUNCES MULTISTATE SETTLEMENT WITH CARMAX OVER THE DISCLOSURE OF SAFETY RECALLS

(Hartford, CT) -- Attorney General William Tong today announced a $1 million multistate settlement with CarMax Auto Superstores, Inc. and 35 attorneys general that will require CarMax to disclose open, unrepaired recalls related to the safety of its used vehicles. Connecticut will receive a payment of $20,589.46 through the settlement to support consumer protection enforcement. A multistate investigation found that CarMax advertised that its cars underwent “safety” inspections, but did not ensure safety-related recall services were complete before selling a vehicle. The settlement forces CarMax to provide written disclosures both in writing and on the vehicle itself of any open recalls, and information on how to check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website to confirm any recalls. Further, CarMax…

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GOVERNOR AND MRS. LAMONT INVITED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN TO ATTEND WHITE HOUSE STATE DINNER ON THURSDAY

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and First Lady Annie Lamont today announced that they have been invited by President Joe Biden to attend the state dinner that is being held at the White House on the evening of Thursday, December 1, 2022. This is the first state dinner to be hosted by the Biden-Harris administration. It will highlight the long-standing ties between the United States and France and include invited guests President Emmanuel Macron and Mrs. Brigitte Macron of France. “It is an honor to be invited to this administration’s first White House state dinner and we are appreciative of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden for including Connecticut as part of this important event,” Governor Lamont…

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State Police Final 2022 Thanksgiving Weekend traffic stats

State Police Final 2022 Thanksgiving Weekend traffic stats: Calls for Service: 6,569 Speeding Violations: 265 Seatbelt Violations: 240 Other Hazardous Violations: 913 (to include unsafe lane change, following too closely, cell phone usage, etc.) DUI Arrests: 41 Accidents Investigated: 444 With Reported Injuries: 30 Serious Injuries: 2 Fatal: 3 - 4 total fatalities This press release was made possible by:

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CALLS ON EVERSOURCE AND UNITED ILLUMINATING TO CONTRIBUTE GREATER SHARE OF PROFITS TO RATEPAYER RELIEF DURING EXTRAORDINARY SPIKE IN WINTER ENERGY COSTS (Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement today calling on Eversource and United Illuminating to contribute a greater share of their profits to ratepayer relief to lessen the crushing burden of the extraordinary spike in winter energy costs. Attorney General Tong had been participating in rate relief negotiations with the two utilities and state leaders over the past week. He has asked Eversource and United Illuminating to contribute roughly 10 percent of their substantial earnings—or approximately $40 million for Eversource and $8 million for United Illuminating. Attorney General Tong has proposed to use those…

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ACCESS HEALTH CT WAIVES REQUIREMENT FOR CERTAIN SMALL BUSINESSES 

HARTFORD, Conn. (Nov. 23, 2022) — Access Health CT (AHCT) Small Business announced it will waive the minimum number of employees typically required to enroll in a small group health insurance plan now through Dec. 15. Small businesses can enroll in a group health insurance plan at any time of year. However, they usually need a certain percentage of employees to participate in the plan. During this period, any small business with 50 or fewer employees in Connecticut can enroll in a group health insurance plan regardless of how many employees participate. This opportunity, called the Employee Participation Waiver Period for small businesses, is only offered to new groups not currently enrolled through Access Health CT Small Business. “This period…

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State Police Thanksgiving Weekend Traffic Stats

12:00 a.m. Wednesday, 11/23/22 to 7:00 a.m. Sunday, 11/27/22 Calls for service: 5,649 Motorist Assists: 258 Speeding Citations: 247 Total traffic violations: 787 DUI arrests: 36 Motor vehicle accidents: 338 Serious: 2 (New Britain, Glastonbury) Fatal: 3 (Wallingford, West Haven, Milford) This press release was made possible by:

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SPECIAL SESSION FOR GAS TAX CUTS, FARE-FREE BUS SERVICE, INCREASED ENERGY ASSISTANCE AND PANDEMIC PREMIUM PAY, AND UPDATES TO BOTTLE BILL

Special Session Scheduled for Monday, November 28, 2022 (HARTFORD, CT) – In his first executive action since being re-elected to a second term earlier this month, Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is calling the Connecticut General Assembly into special session for the purpose of extending the duration of cuts on gasoline taxes, as well as the suspension of fares on all public transit buses. Additionally, he is asking the legislature to approve more funding for the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) and Premium Pay Program, and also modify the effective date of sections in the container redemption program, commonly known as the bottle bill. “I’m asking the legislature to extend for several additional months the suspension of Connecticut’s…

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