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State News

BLUMENTHAL DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AFTER INTERNATIONAL STUDENT VISAS REVOKED WITHOUT WARNING OR EXPLANATION

Apr 20, 2025 Alex

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) wrote Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Todd Lyons demanding an explanation for the Trump Administration’s seemingly arbitrary revocation of hundreds of student visas nationwide. Today’s letter follows reporting that dozens of students in Connecticut may have had their legal status terminated via email without warning or explanation. In today’s letter, Blumenthal demanded the Trump Administration provide information about what kind of notice and due process were provided to these students. “Connecticut has some of the top public and private institutions of higher learning in the country. International students gain access to our institutions and in return…

State News

AG RELEASES UPDATED REPORT ON CONNECTICUT DATA PRIVACY ACT

Apr 19, 2025 Stephen Krauchick

The CTDPA, which took effect in July 2023, grants important data rights to Connecticut residents and solidifies critical privacy obligations for covered businesses. Since our initial report, the Office of the Attorney General continues to take significant steps to prompt compliance with the CTDPA. This voluntary report provides updates on (1) the Office’s broader privacy and data security efforts; (2) consumer complaints received under the CTDPA to date; (3) several enforcement efforts highlighted in the Office’s initial report and (4) expanded enforcement priorities. Recommendations for strengthening the CTDPA’s protections are also included in the report. “Connecticut remains at the forefront of consumer data privacy,” Attorney General Tong states in the report. “Since the Connecticut Data Privacy Act took effect, our…

State News

GOVERNOR LAMONT, COMPTROLLER SCANLON ANNOUNCE ENHANCED CANCER SCREENINGS FOR FIREFIGHTERS

Apr 16, 2025 Alex

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Comptroller Sean Scanlon today announced that effective May 1, 2025, the State of Connecticut is expanding the benefits it provides to firefighters to include free, enhanced cancer screenings. This new benefit comes in response to evidence that firefighters, due to their repeated exposure to smoke, toxic chemicals, and carcinogens in the line of duty, have a greater prevalence of cancer diagnoses and cancer-related deaths than the general population. More than 900 firefighters enrolled in the state employee health plan and Partnership Plan, both of which Comptroller Scanlon oversees, will now have free access to a comprehensive, full-body scan once every two years. The screenings are designed to detect cancers early – often before…

State News

Connecticut Declines to Sign Federal Civil Rights Letter, Says It’s Already in Compliance

Apr 16, 2025 Alex

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker today announced that the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) has responded to a recent request from the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) regarding Title VI compliance and has opted not to sign the letter, citing that Connecticut “already does and will continue to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.” CSDE regularly reaffirms its compliance with all federal program assurances, through which USDOE continues to provide federal funding. Additionally, Local Education Agencies in Connecticut certify their compliance with Title VI to CSDE in annual applications with all assurances required for federal programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. “In Connecticut, we’re proud to support…

State News

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT REGARDING TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDER ON BEHALF OF FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY

Apr 11, 2025 Alex

Any opinions expressed are solely those of Attorney General Tong and do not necessarily reflect the views of DoingItLocal. The statement below is in its original, unedited form: (Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement in response to a series of executive orders issued this week by President Donald Trump seeking to force the revival of dirty and dangerous energy generation and to block states from lawful efforts to combat the climate crisis. “This is a war on our environment, waged by a reckless President on behalf of his fossil fuel industry backers who do not care if our air and water are toxic so long as they make money. Decades of scientific consensus prove that…

State News

Tong Triple Header: Claims on Trump Election Executive Order, Drug Price Fixing, and Ghost Gun Ruling

Mar 29, 2025 Alex

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT ON LAWLESS TRUMP ELECTION ORDER (Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement in response to the executive order issued last night by President Donald Trump seeking to illegally defund states who do not comply with his list of voter suppression measures. “This is a lawless attempt to suppress and manipulate free and fair elections across the United States, from an unhinged aspiring dictator still seeking to rewrite history to erase his defeat more than four years ago. Since 1788—plainly spelled out in Article 1 of the Constitution and repeatedly affirmed by the Supreme Court—elections are run by the states. This is about Donald Trump trying to pick and choose who gets to…

State News

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG VOWS TO FIGHT FOR CONNECTICUT CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER AND CLIMATE AS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION THREATENS TO GUT ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS

Mar 18, 2025 Alex

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today promised to fight for Connecticut clean air, clean water and climate following the announcement by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin that his agency will gut regulations protecting Americans from airborne toxins, smog, dirty power plants and more. The Trump Administration has also taken steps towards rescinding the 16-year-old “endangerment finding” establishing the non-controversial, scientifically-supported and widely understood connection between greenhouse gases and harm to human health and the environment. That finding is the foundation enabling regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from numerous sources, including power plants and motor vehicles. “This is a dangerous attack on the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the planet we all rely on…

State News

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO STOP DISMANTLING OF DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND TO PROTECT STUDENTS

Mar 16, 2025 Alex

(Hartford, CT) -- Attorney General William Tong today joined a coalition of 20 other attorneys general in suing the Trump administration to stop the dismantling of the Department of Education (ED). On March 11, the Trump administration announced that ED would be firing approximately 50 percent of its workforce as part of its goal of a “total shutdown” of the Department. Attorney General Tong and the coalition today filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the targeted destruction of this critical federal agency that ensures tens of millions of students receive a quality education and critical resources. “Do not play politics with our kids’ education. Donald Trump, his unelected billionaire wrecking ball Elon Musk, and their enabler Linda McMahon want to…

State News

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG ISSUES TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF INCREASED PENALTIES FOR ILLEGAL STREET TAKEOVERS AND RECKLESS DRIVING

Mar 9, 2025 Alex

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong issued testimony today in support of S.B. 1284, An Act Concerning the Illegal Use of Certain Vehicles and Street Takeovers, which would enable municipalities to seize certain motor vehicles and increase penalties for those engaged in illegal street takeovers. Attorney General Tong has previously called for increased penalties for reckless driving, including temporary forfeiture of vehicles. “There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t see someone driving recklessly on our roads and highways on my commute up to Hartford. From excessive speeding and reckless lane changes to distracted and intoxicated driving, this brazen lawlessness puts all of us at risk and cannot be tolerated,” Attorney General Tong states in his testimony.…

State News

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SECURES COURT ORDER BLOCKING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FROM FREEZING FEDERAL FUNDS

Mar 8, 2025 Alex

(Hartford, CT) -- Attorney General William Tong and a coalition of 22 other attorneys general today won a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration to block its illegal policy that would freeze funding for essential federal agency grants, loans, and other financial assistance programs. Judge John J. McConnell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island today granted the preliminary injunction after Attorney General Tong and the coalition sued the Trump administration to stop the funding freeze. “This is a major early victory, signaling the strength of our case and the brazen lawlessness of Trump’s overreaching executive order. Let’s not forget what Donald Trump did on January 27—this was a blanket freeze on trillions of dollars of…

BLUMENTHAL DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AFTER INTERNATIONAL STUDENT VISAS REVOKED WITHOUT WARNING OR EXPLANATION

AG RELEASES UPDATED REPORT ON CONNECTICUT DATA PRIVACY ACT

GOVERNOR LAMONT, COMPTROLLER SCANLON ANNOUNCE ENHANCED CANCER SCREENINGS FOR FIREFIGHTERS

Connecticut Declines to Sign Federal Civil Rights Letter, Says It’s Already in Compliance

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG STATEMENT REGARDING TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDER ON BEHALF OF FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY

Tong Triple Header: Claims on Trump Election Executive Order, Drug Price Fixing, and Ghost Gun Ruling

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG VOWS TO FIGHT FOR CONNECTICUT CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER AND CLIMATE AS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION THREATENS TO GUT ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO STOP DISMANTLING OF DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND TO PROTECT STUDENTS

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG ISSUES TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF INCREASED PENALTIES FOR ILLEGAL STREET TAKEOVERS AND RECKLESS DRIVING

ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG SECURES COURT ORDER BLOCKING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FROM FREEZING FEDERAL FUNDS

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