$70 MILLION DISTRIBUTED FOR BONUS PAYMENTS TO CHILD CARE WORKERS

State Completes Final Phase of Child Care Wage Support Payments (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood has completed the distribution of $70 million in state funding that was allocated by the governor and the state legislature in the most recently enacted state budget for bonus payments to the staff of child care and early childhood education providers statewide in Connecticut. The initiative, known as Wage Supports for Early Childhood Educators, is intended to help stabilize the child care industry and support its workforce, which has historically been underpaid across the nation. Governor Lamont has been eager to uplift this essential workforce with the goal of retaining staff in childcare centers and…

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CONNECTICUT STATE POLICE FINAL MEMORIAL DAY STATS

(MIDDLETOWN, CT – May 30, 2023) – Connecticut State Troopers experienced a busy holiday weekend, responding to thousands of calls for service, assisting motorists and arresting drivers operating under the influence. The Connecticut State Police had 5,880 calls for service, assisted 476 motorists, responded to 273 accidents with 2 involving serious injuries and 4 reported fatalities, made 36 DUI arrests, issued 518 citations for speeding and 208 seatbelt citations. Troopers issued 576 citations for hazardous moving violations (to include: unsafe lane change, following too closely, move over, etc). These stats are reflective of the time period beginning at 12:00 a.m. on Friday, May 26, and ending at 11:59 p.m., on Monday, May 29, 2023. 2023 Memorial Day Weekend Enforcement Stats:…

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State Police Weekend Stats

The Connecticut State Police had 1,640 calls for service, assisted 115 motorists, responded to 119 accidents with 1 involving serious injuries and 1 reported fatality, made 7 DUI arrests, issued 127 citations for speeding and 68 seatbelt citations. We issued 251 citations for hazardous moving violations (to include: unsafe lane change, following too closely, move over, etc.). These are reflective of the time period beginning at midnight and ending at 11:59 pm, on Friday, May 26th, 2023. 2023 Memorial Day Weekend Enforcement Stats: Calls for service: 1,640 Speeding: 127 Seatbelt violations: 68 Hazardous moving violations: 251 DUI arrests: 7 Motor Vehicle Accidents: 119 With reported injuries: 13 Serious Injuries: 1 Fatalities: 1 This news report is made possible by:

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$400K SETTLEMENT WITH WATERBURY NATUROPATH AND PRACTICE TO RESOLVE ALLEGATIONS OF FALSE CLAIMS AND IMPROPER BILLING

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong and United States Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery today announced a $399,440 settlement with Waterbury naturopath Marcos DeEscobar and his company Corebella Health, LLC to resolve allegations that they submitted false claims to, and received overpayments from, Medicare and the Connecticut Medicaid programs. Corebella Health, LLC (“Corebella”) is a practice that provides medical and wellness services to patients in Waterbury. DeEscobar is a naturopath and the owner of Corebella. The allegations against Corebella and DeEscobar arise out of improper billing for allergy immunotherapy preparation, and office visits, also known as evaluation and management (“E&M”) services. Services performed by a nurse practitioner are typically reimbursed by Medicare and Medicaid at a lower rate than those…

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STATE POLICE READY FOR MEMORIAL DAY ENFORCEMENT ON CT ROADS

(MIDDLETOWN, CT – May 23, 2023) – As with all long, holiday weekends, Connecticut State Police is preparing for an increased number of vehicles on local and highway roads. Traditionally, the approach of Memorial Day signals the start of activities related to the gathering of family and friends at backyard barbeques and beaches. State Troopers will be on duty to ensure that highways are free of hazardous drivers as residents drive to their destinations. Be assured that your Connecticut State Troopers will be patrolling state roads and highways during the three-day weekend. Troopers from each of the agency’s 11 troops will be conducting extra roving DUI patrols from the evening of May 25 through the evening of May 29. Troopers…

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$2.9 MILLION TO TRAIN NURSES

Federal funding will help close nursing shortage in Connecticut [HARTFORD, CT] – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Jim Himes (D-CT) announced $2,997,368 million in federal funding for The WorkPlace in Bridgeport to train nurses and create equitable opportunities for frontline healthcare professionals. The funding is awarded through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Nursing Expansion Grant Program, designed to create equitable pathways to careers in nursing. Over the next five years, The WorkPlace will train 200 entry-level nursing professionals through both classroom instruction and on-site experience. Participants can pursue either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and be eligible to pursue a high-skilled nursing career…

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Senator Hwang Supports Non-Profits

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EXTINCTION PREVENTION ACT TO PROTECT AT-RISK WILDLIFE

Blumenthal announced the legislation today at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo on the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) reintroduced the Extinction Prevention Act, legislation to provide much-needed funding for some of the country’s most imperiled yet vastly underfunded wildlife species, including threatened and endangered North American butterflies, various Pacific Island plants, freshwater mussels, and Southwest desert fish. Blumenthal announced the measure today during an event at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo to mark the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act. “This legislation recognizes that saving wildlife from extinction requires more than just rhetoric—real resources are essential,” said Blumenthal. “Endangered species and their habitats can be sustained,…

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National Safe Boating Week

National Safe Boating Week is May 20-26, 2023. The Norwalk Police Department Marine Unit would like to remind boaters of several tips before the season starts to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable boating season. • Wear a life vest and have them readily accessible with enough for everyone on board • Do not exceed the stated capacity of your boat • Have a throwable floatation device such as a life vest • Have at least one fire extinguisher on board, more are required by the Coast Guard for larger vessels • Clearly display the registration numbers, if it is a canoe or kayak place a sticker with your name and phone number should it break loose and float…

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Summer Energy Supply Costs Drop Significantly

Customers on Standard Service Rate to see up to $56 decreaseon total monthly bills BERLIN, Conn. (May 17, 2023) – As the price of energy continues to trend downward, Eversource today filed a new Standard Service rate with Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) which would go into effect from July 1 to December 31, 2023. This comes after energy prices hit historic highs in New England last year due to natural gas supply constraints related to the continued war in Ukraine and global demand. If approved by PURA, the new rate for residential customers who receive their energy supply from Eversource would change from the current 24.17 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 13.82 cents per kWh, compared to 12.19…

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