State News

GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO CONNECTICUT’S EARLY CHILD CARE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT WILL ENABLE MORE CHILDREN TO ENROLL AND AT LESS COST TO PARENTS

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that his administration is making several changes to Connecticut’s early child care and education programs that will result in more children being able to receive access to these programs, while also lowering the associated costs to their parents. “Access to child care and early education programs is massively important to the success of our state, not only because these programs provide valuable tools for children that will lead them to success in the future, but also because being able to enroll your child in care right now means that parents themselves can have an opportunity to obtain employment and earn an income that supports their family,” Governor Lamont said. “Right now, Connecticut is…

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The Wall That Heals Returns to Bridgeport

https://youtu.be/dpFFBYvEuns The traveling three-fourths-sized replica of the Washington DC Vietnam War monument is now on display at Veterans Memorial Park, 4450 Park Avenue in Bridgeport, CT. Bridgeport from 9/26 - 9/29. The wall will be open to the public 24 hours a day and everyone is invited to attend. The Wall is being hosted by the Port 5 National Association of Naval Veterans, 69 Brewster Street, Bridgeport, CT More information is available at https://www.vietnamvetswall.com/about-the-wall

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GOVERNOR LAMONT NOMINATES KATHLEEN UNGER HOLT AS HEALTHCARE ADVOCATE

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is nominating Kathleen Unger Holt of Mansfield to serve as Connecticut’s healthcare advocate. Holt was most recently the associate director for the Center for Medicare Advocacy, a Connecticut-focused, national, nonprofit law organization that works to advance access to comprehensive Medicare coverage, health equity, and quality healthcare for older people and people with disabilities. In this role, which she held since 2014, she helped to lead the organization’s Connecticut and nationwide advocacy and outreach efforts, worked with lawmakers on the development of Medicare-related healthcare bills both on state and federal levels, and spoke as an advocate to raise public awareness about healthcare issues. She was recommended to Governor Lamont by the…

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United Way of Connecticut 211 Expands 988 Chat/Text Service to Better Support Younger People in Crisis

September is National Suicide Prevention Month – an important time to raise awareness about 988, a dedicated line that connects Connecticut residents to the United Way of Connecticut 211 mental health crisis services team. ROCKY HILL (September 16, 2024) — When someone is in crisis, or worried about someone in crisis, 988 is the first stop. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, local help is available by phone, and since February of this year, by chat and text. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) launched 988 nationwide on July 16, 2022, as a new, easy-to-remember Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. United Way of Connecticut 211 has provided the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline service (now the 988…

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GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES CONNECTICUT HOSTING EVENTS SEPTEMBER 22 TO 29 IN RECOGNITION OF SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY WEEK

For the Full Schedule and To Enroll, Visit portal.ct.gov/sustainability (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the State of Connecticut, through a collaboration between several state agencies, UConn, and other partners, will host a series of in-person, online, and hybrid events from September 22 to 29, 2024, in recognition of its first ever Sustainability and Resiliency Week. The initiative is designed to promote engagement, foster collaboration, and celebrate the progress and innovation being done in the state as the world faces increasingly complex environmental and social challenges. In recent years, Connecticut state government has been working to implement actions to make the state one of the most resilient in the country, such as taking steps to increase energy efficiency,…

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AI-Powered ‘Grandma’ Scams on the Rise, Experts Warn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3pD4TSJNSg Scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to replicate the voices of grandchildren in order to trick grandparents into handing over large sums of money. These scams, known as "grandma scams," have become more sophisticated and convincing with the help of AI technology. In a recent incident reported by ABC News, an 89-year-old woman named Shirley was targeted by scammers who used AI to create a voice that sounded exactly like her grandson's. The scammers told Shirley that her grandson had been involved in a car accident and needed money to avoid being arrested. Shirley believed the scam and handed over $9,000 in cash. Experts warn that these types of scams are becoming more common and difficult to detect.…

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2024 Labor Day Weekend Traffic Statistics

2024 Labor Day Weekend Traffic Statistics - 08/31/2024The following are preliminary Labor Day Weekend traffic statistics.These are reflective of the time period beginning at midnight Friday, August 30th, 2024 and ending at 11:59 p.m., on Saturday, August 31st, 2024.The Connecticut State Police had a total of 2,842 calls for service.Speeding Violations – 316 Seatbelt Violations – 7Hazardous Moving Violations (Following too Closely, Failure to Move Over, etc.) - 211DUI Arrests – 12 Motor Vehicle Accidents – 192 With Injury – 13 Fatalities – 1 (Windsor) Serious Injury - 1 (Cromwell)Motorist Assists (Disabled Vehicles, Debris in Roadway, etc.) – 214

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GOVERNOR LAMONT AND CONNECTICUT OFFICIALS BRING ATTENTION TO AVAILABLE ADDICTION AND RECOVERY RESOURCES IN ADVANCE OF INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY

International Overdose Awareness Day Is an Annual Event Commemorated on August 31 (HARTFORD, CT) – In advance of International Overdose Awareness Day, which is commemorated annually on August 31, Governor Ned Lamont, members of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation, the state’s constitutional officers, and state agency commissioners are reaffirming their commitment to combat the overdose crisis that has devastated communities across the state and nation and are bringing attention to addiction and recovery resources that are available in Connecticut. International Overdose Awareness Day is a global campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died, and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind. Connecticut has dedicated many resources toward combatting this crisis in an effort to prevent,…

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GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES PRESIDENT BIDEN APPROVES EMERGENCY DECLARATION FOR CONNECTICUT IN RESPONSE TO EXTREME FLOODING

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has received notification from the White House indicating that his request for President Joe Biden to authorize a federal emergency declaration for Fairfield County, New Haven County, and Litchfield County in response to the extreme flooding from the historic rainfall that portions of the state received earlier this week has been approved. The declaration means that state agencies can coordinate with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on the deployment of federal personnel and equipment to augment emergency recovery efforts already underway by the state and its municipal counterparts. This includes actions to protect lives and property, and restorative efforts that defend public safety. Staff from several state agencies, including the Connecticut…

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