State News – Page 37

State News

CTDOT Submits National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan

Aug 2, 2022 Stephen Krauchick

The Connecticut Department of Transportation today announced its submission of Connecticut's Charging Ahead Plan: A Strategy to Expand Public Electric Vehicle Charging to the U.S. Department of Transportation, establishing the state’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. The NEVI program aims to build out a national system of electric vehicle (EV) chargers to enhance EV driver confidence while traveling long distances, including across state lines. Established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the NEVI formula program will provide $5 billion over five years for states to deploy direct current (DC) fast EV chargers along highway corridors. The funds can be used within one mile of federally approved designated corridors, with less than a 50-mile gap between chargers. “Connecticut’s NEVI plan will provide our state with…

State News

GOVERNOR LAMONT DIRECTS $3.5M IN REGIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS INITIATIVE FUNDS TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS FOR LOW-INCOME CUSTOMERS THAT WILL REACH AN ADDITIONAL 1,000 HOMES

Aug 1, 2022 Stephen Krauchick

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is directing $3.5 million in funds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to be allocated to Connecticut’s utility-administered energy efficiency programs for low-income customers. This support will increase the delivery of energy efficiency programs that save residents money on their utility bills while reducing energy use and carbon emissions. The funding augments an approximate annual budget of $37 million dedicated to low-income energy efficiency programs statewide and will be used to support the Home Energy Solutions-Income Eligible (HES-IE) program, allowing the program to reach approximately 1,000 additional homes in 2022. HES-IE provides home energy audits and core weatherization measures, such as air and duct sealing, for an average savings…

State News

HELP STOP SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN STEM

Jul 28, 2022 Stephen Krauchick

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) applauded the Senate’s bipartisan passage of the CHIPS plus legislation today with several provisions he championed to help address sexual harassment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields and to support researchers from historically underrepresented populations early in their career: “This momentous measure is the most impactful technology step in recent history for high-tech job creation and economic growth in our state and others. It will spur innovation, fight inflation, and increase high-tech manufacturing and jobs—in Connecticut and around the country. At my urging, it includes provisions to fight sexual harassment in STEM fields and to support young scientists whose careers have been impacted by the pandemic. This legislation will make…

State News

4.25 BILLION AGREEMENT WITH TEVA PHARMACEUTICALS FOR ROLE IN OPIOID EPIDEMIC

Jul 27, 2022 Stephen Krauchick

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement regarding a $4.25 billion agreement framework with Teva Pharmaceuticals and states regarding the generic drug manufacturer’s role in the opioid epidemic. Specific details of the settlement are still being finalized. Precise state allocations have yet to be disclosed, although the agreement would follow the same basic allocation structure as previous opioid settlements, including the landmark $26 billion agreement with opioid distributors and Johnson & Johnson. “This $4.25 billion agreement with Teva is a significant breakthrough in our fight to hold the entire addiction industry accountable for the devastation of the opioid epidemic. While we are still negotiating final details with Teva over precise terms, this agreement would provide yet…

State News

LEGISLATION TO COMBAT INCREASED USE OF DANGEROUS GUN CONVERSION DEVICES

Jul 26, 2022 Stephen Krauchick

Legislation would help address gun violence epidemic by tackling proliferation of automatic gun conversion devices and seizing profits from illegal trafficking WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined eight of their Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to combat the increased use and proliferation of dangerous gun conversion devices. The Preventing Illegal Weapons Trafficking Act would help tackle the ongoing gun violence epidemic by requiring federal law enforcement to coordinate efforts to prevent the importation and trafficking of “auto-sears” — and other illegal gun modification devices that can convert semi-automatic weapons into fully-automatic weapons — and seize all profits that come from the illegal trafficking of these devices. “Gun conversion devices like auto-sears take a deadly weapon and make it even deadlier. After…

State News

LEGISLATION ADDRESSING MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT

Jul 26, 2022 Stephen Krauchick

“These updates to Connecticut’s criminal justice statutes make juvenile arrest and delinquency proceedings swifter with more information for courts to review, provide more intensive responses to the small number of juveniles with serious and repeated charges, and restructure motor vehicle theft laws to focus on people with prior offenses,” Governor Lamont said. “This bipartisan legislation shows the good that comes when policymakers on both sides of the aisle seek common ground to develop solutions together. Connecticut is a safe state, and keeping it safe requires continuous policy improvements and investments in needed areas.” At the start of the legislative session, Governor Lamont introduced legislation (Senate Bill 16) containing several provisions that were later incorporated into this public act as state lawmakers…

State News

Another Week….

Jul 25, 2022 Stephen Krauchick

Paid for by Bob for Governor. David Becker, Treasurer. Approved by Bob Stefanowski.

State News

MULTISTATE AGREEMENT RECOVERING $34.2 MILLION FOR THOUSANDS OF U.S. SERVICEMEMBERS DEFRAUDED BY HARRIS JEWELRY

Jul 25, 2022 Stephen Krauchick

Harris Jewelry Required to Provide Refunds, Stop Collecting Debt, and Correct Bad Credit Scores for More Than 46,000 Servicemembers and Veterans Nationwide (Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today announced a $34.2 million settlement between 18 states, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Harris Jewelry that will provide refunds and relief to 46,000 servicemembers and veterans deceived and defrauded by the national jewelry retailer. The jewelry company used false promises of charity and deceptive marketing ploys to lure active-duty servicemembers to their financing program, falsely claiming that investing in this program would improve servicemembers’ credit scores. Instead, service members were tricked into obtaining high-interest loans on overpriced, poor-quality jewelry that saddled them with thousands of dollars of debt and…

State News

$1.8 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH EVERSOURCE OVER UNFAIR AND DECEPTIVE NATURAL GAS MARKETING ALLEGATIONS

Jul 25, 2022 Stephen Krauchick

(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong today announced a $1.8 million settlement with Eversource over alleged false and deceptive high-pressure tactics seeking to entice consumers to convert to natural gas. “Eversource misled homeowners to get them to switch to natural gas. These high-pressure tactics are unacceptable coming from any business, much less a regulated utility. Eversource has already paid a $1.8 million civil penalty imposed by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), and now they will pay an additional $1.8 million to settle these serious consumer protection allegations,” said Attorney General Tong. Attorney General Tong opened an investigation following a report by Hartford Courant columnist Kevin Rennie exposing notices from Eversource claiming homeowners would be unable to connect to natural…

State News

Senator Blames Annual Heatwave On Climate Change

Jul 22, 2022 Stephen Krauchick

WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) released the following statement on President Biden’s Executive Order on climate to address extreme heat and boost offshore wind: “More than 100 million people in 28 states are facing heat advisories and dangerously high, record-breaking temperatures this week. Energy infrastructure is straining to keep residents cool and wildfires are raging across 12 states. The climate crisis is here, and it’s only going to get worse if we don’t take bold action. I’m glad to see President Biden take steps to invest in offshore wind, protect communities already facing severe weather and other consequences of climate change, and help them respond when natural disasters inevitably strike. But in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to gut the EPA…

CTDOT Submits National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan

GOVERNOR LAMONT DIRECTS $3.5M IN REGIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS INITIATIVE FUNDS TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS FOR LOW-INCOME CUSTOMERS THAT WILL REACH AN ADDITIONAL 1,000 HOMES

HELP STOP SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN STEM

4.25 BILLION AGREEMENT WITH TEVA PHARMACEUTICALS FOR ROLE IN OPIOID EPIDEMIC

LEGISLATION TO COMBAT INCREASED USE OF DANGEROUS GUN CONVERSION DEVICES

LEGISLATION ADDRESSING MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT

Another Week….

MULTISTATE AGREEMENT RECOVERING $34.2 MILLION FOR THOUSANDS OF U.S. SERVICEMEMBERS DEFRAUDED BY HARRIS JEWELRY

$1.8 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH EVERSOURCE OVER UNFAIR AND DECEPTIVE NATURAL GAS MARKETING ALLEGATIONS

Senator Blames Annual Heatwave On Climate Change

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