Internet Explorer lacks support for the features of this website please use a modern browser such as Chrome A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States NOAA Fisheries has received a request from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to a marine geophysical survey off Western Mexico in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean NOAA Fisheries is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities NOAA Fisheries is also requesting comments on a possible one-time 1-year renewal that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met as described in Request for Public Comments at the end of this notice NOAA Fisheries will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorization and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is directing U.S and state flags in Connecticut lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Sunday in recognition of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service an annual ceremony hosted by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation that serves as the official national tribute honoring all firefighters in the U.S since no flag should fly higher than the U.S or otherwise – should also be lowered during this same duration of time an engineer from the Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department and retired member of the Hartford Fire Department who died in the line of duty while operating at a brush fire at Lamentation Mountain in Berlin on October 22 “Firefighters go to work every day ready to risk their lives to protect the lives and homes of complete strangers and we owe it to them to honor and recognize their fearlessness,” Governor Lamont said “During this year’s memorial ceremony we especially pay tribute to one of Connecticut’s own of the Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department I am immensely thankful for the firefighters who protect Connecticut and I am especially grateful for the families of firefighters who make many sacrifices themselves over the course of their loved one’s call to duty I urge everyone in our state to reflect upon the bravery of firefighters who have given their lives in service.” “We are humbled by our firefighters’ sense of duty and commitment to keeping their communities safe,” Lt demonstrating an unparalleled commitment to leadership let us all take a moment to honor the sacrifice of our fallen firefighters and hold their loved ones in our hearts.” Flags will be at half-staff on the Connecticut State Capitol building and all other state-operated buildings and any other private entities and government subdivisions are encouraged to lower their flags for this same duration of time © 2025 CT.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website © 2008—2025 Knockout Entertainment Ltd & SecondsOut.com Claressa Shields has predicted what she believes will happen in the rematch between Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach Jr ‘Tank’ Davis is expected to lock horns with Roach for the second time at some point during the summer after they fought to a split decision draw in their controversial first encounter in New York on March 1. Roach appeared to force Davis into touching the canvas midway through round 9, although referee Steve Willis sensationally failed to rule this as an official knockdown, effectively squandering the 29-year-old’s chances of dethroning ‘Tank’ on the scorecards and becoming the first fighter to defeat the three-weight world champion As both fighters remain on the path to their highly anticipated rematch five-weight world champion Claressa Shields has weighed in on the impending second encounter as she reveals to FightHub TV that she expects Roach to ‘be even better’ and defeat Davis in the rematch “I think Lamont will be even better in the rematch … Right now only because I think Tank needs to get his fear out the way “Sometimes anger helps you in a fight you don’t want to completely lose it He’s so frustrated with other parts of his life that it’s hard for him to use all of it inside the ring Roach 2 is reportedly expected to be made imminently though a touted date of June has reportedly been pushed back (CROMWELL, CT) – In commemoration of National Apprenticeship Day, Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo today participated in the monthly meeting of the Connecticut State Apprenticeship Council where they announced the upcoming launch of the Connecticut Department of Labor’s new e-Apprenticeship system Going live on May 1, 2025, the e-Apprenticeship system will bring online the agency’s Registered Apprenticeship Training Program through the e-license system that is already in use by multiple Connecticut state agencies The system will allow sponsor employers to register new apprentices update information on their registered apprentices registered apprentices will be able to use the system to track their progress The Registered Apprenticeship Training Program connects employers to registered apprentices who can receive on-the-job training and classroom instruction Thousands of businesses across Connecticut have participated in the program helping them increase their workforce recruitment and proficiency registered apprenticeship programs may last anywhere between one and four years registered apprentices receive an industry recognized portable credential that certifies completion of the program distinguishes the apprentice as a master of their craft and makes the apprentice eligible to take any state occupational licensing exams there are more than 7,000 registered apprentices working for approximately 1,800 employers within more than 50 industries in Connecticut “Registered apprenticeships are a great way for employers to train and build their workforce and for workers to receive on-the-job training and master a trade that will benefit them throughout their careers,” Governor Lamont said “Many businesses have job openings that need to be filled by workers trained with certain sets of skills and filling those positions through registered apprenticeships is a great way for a company to build that talent and really invest in their workforce Bringing this program online with the e-Apprenticeship system will make it even easier for businesses and workers to participate.” “Registered apprenticeships are tried and true training for skilled tradespeople like electricians and welders and they are a great career pathway for other occupations,” Commissioner Bartolomeo said employers in industries including childcare and cosmetology have participated in apprenticeships to train their next generation workforce Connecticut’s Registered Apprenticeship program continues to expand and help employers meet their hiring needs.” “As demand for highly skilled workers increases pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship strategies have proven very successful in meeting both employer and industry need in training and retaining employees,” Todd Berch director of the Connecticut Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship Training “Registered apprenticeships are rigorous and quite distinct from internships or corporate training programs and registered apprentices put in thousands of hours before completing the program.” Today’s council meeting was held in Cromwell at Jessica’s Color Room Salon the first business in the state to offer a cosmetology apprenticeship through the program The salon’s registered apprentice completed 2,000 training hours over the course of 15 months and is now licensed by the Connecticut Department of Public Health as a hairdresser “The Office of Apprenticeship Training helped me identify exactly what we needed to do to prepare and train our registered apprentice,” Jessica Dudley “It was a good solution to have someone on the job who was also building skills It also helped me start looking at issues like succession planning and how to expand my business.” Businesses that want to participate in the program and workers who are interested in becoming a registered apprentice should visit the Office of Apprenticeship Training program’s website at portal.ct.gov/dol/divisions/apprenticeships The new e-Apprenticeship system can also be accessed through that website when it launches on May 1 Columbia Climate School Columbia mourns the loss of Edward Botwinick ’56CC, BS’58 and emeritus member of the LDEO Board, who passed away Jan. 24, 2025. Botwinick was an IT entrepreneur, a pioneer in the area of time-division multiplexing and a strong supporter of Columbia University and Columbia Football Botwinick received his BA in physics from Columbia College in 1956 and his BS in electrical engineering in 1958 He began his career working for US Semiconductor in 1958 and co-founded Silicon Transistor Corp he served as president and principal shareholder of Quantum Inc. a tape drive and scalable file storage manufacturer Botwinick helped found the data communications firm Timeplex which became a leading provider of T1-based networks T-1 based networks were the industry standard for transferring voice and data thanks to their high capacity where he was vice president of investment research from 1967 to 1977 he served as Timeplex’s chairman and chief executive officer overseeing a series of increasingly successful T-1 multiplexers which allowed for multiple signals coming from multiple sources to be combined and transmitted over a single communication line and Botwinick assumed the roles of senior vice president and president of its Unisys Networks division a producer of telecommunications and networking equipment serving as the firm’s chairman and chief executive officer until 1993 After a successful career as a serial entrepreneur he became the president of the Botwinick-Wolfensohn Foundation a family foundation established by his father “Ed cared deeply about the future of the planet and supported Lamont’s mission of basic Earth and ocean research over many decades irreverent sense of humor that never flagged and always entertained.” A university trustee emeritus from 1988 to 1994 Botwinick sat on the board of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and passionately championed its mission “Ed’s support of the observatory enabled many of our scientists to continue their critical work in the Earth and we have all benefited from his many years of thoughtful leadership and guidance,” said Steven Goldstein interim director of Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory “He has been a highly appreciated member of our community.”  “Ed cared deeply about the future of the planet and supported Lamont’s mission of basic Earth and ocean research over many decades,” said Maureen Raymo Columbia Climate School and former director of Lamont Botwinick is also a former vice chair of the University Engineering Council Columbia Engineering named a multimedia electronic learning facility after Botwinick: The Botwinick Gateway Laboratory in the Seeley W Botwinick was an avid pilot and his Columbia connections were vast Benjamin Botwinick graduated from Columbia Business School in 1926 and his sister Wolfensohn from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in 1961 The first Earth Day in 1970 ignited a movement to stop polluting our planet. This Earth Month, join us in our commitment to realizing a just and sustainable future for our planet. Visit our Earth Day website for ideas Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Get the Columbia Climate School Newsletter About Contact Media Ask a Question/Suggest a Story ©2024 Columbia University GOVERNOR LAMONT HIGHLIGHTS PROACTIVE STEPS CONNECTICUT IS TAKING TO ADDRESS ‘THE LINK’ BETWEEN CHILD ABUSE AND ANIMAL CRUELTY Numerous studies have shown that there is a strong correlation between instances of animal abuse including domestic violence and elder abuse Professionals refer to this correlation as “The Link.” including the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DOAG) have been strengthening their partnerships to respond to “The Link” by cross reporting these instances to each other Upon receiving reports of reasonable suspicion of animal cruelty from state DOAG staff are mandated to forward that information to staff from DCF who then review whether any children in those homes could be impacted “It’s clear that in homes where animal cruelty has occurred child abuse or other forms of domestic violence may be present,” Governor Lamont said “By cross reporting this information between state agencies our staff can proactively investigate whether other forms of violence are occurring in a home and take measures to protect any children “Our continued collaboration with DCF and other state and local partners is essential to increasing education and outreach around the link between child abuse and animal cruelty,” Connecticut Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P animal control officers are key partners in recognizing and responding to signs of cruelty and sharing that information appropriately to protect the safety and wellbeing of both children and animals.” are vulnerable to abuse and neglect in every community and deserve our full protection,” Connecticut Children and Families Commissioner Jodi Hill-Lilly said “That’s why we’re increasing staff support and strengthening our cross-reporting partnership with the Department of Agriculture to address The Link between animal abuse and other forms of child abuse and neglect This includes mandatory training for frontline staff to identify signs of abuse during home visits and our advocacy partners for their support in protecting our most vulnerable.” Connecticut has seen demonstrated increases in animal cruelty reports over the past several years due in part to increased education and outreach efforts by both DCF and DOAG DCF has made cross reporting a part of the agency’s mandated reporter training DCF has also more than doubled the number of cross-reporting liaisons who are responsible for helping to triage cases between DCF social workers and animal control officers and provide monthly training and educational support to teams of staff while in that same year DCF sent a total of 107 reports to DOAG “The Link” was apparent in 16 reports that met the standard for an abuse/neglect investigation based on the initial information provided in the written report 13 were made on families that were already involved with and receiving supports from DCF The partnership between DOAG and the DCF Child Abuse and Neglect Careline continues to be strengthened to ensure reports are received immediately allowing DCF to proceed as necessary and DOAG to close the loop with local animal control officers “The Connecticut Humane Society has and will always stand as a voice for the voiceless,” James Bias executive director of the Connecticut Humane Society “We recognize that acts of animal cruelty are rarely isolated and are too often linked to cases of child abuse It is so important that every report is taken seriously and every investigation is pursued with urgency Accountability is essential to ending the cycles of both animal cruelty and child abuse These are the most vulnerable of our community “There is a well-documented link between animal cruelty and child abuse with studies consistently showing that violence toward animals often occurs with domestic violence including abuse of children,” Robin “Zilla” Cannamela president and co-founder of Desmond’s Army Animal Law Advocates “As Desmond’s Army often sees in court abusers may harm or threaten pets as a mean of controlling victims making it more difficult for them to seek help or leave unsafe situations Desmond’s Army Animal Law Advocates has expanded its mission to support not only animals but also help the people who love them our organization now offers to pay up to $300 for the first month of boarding cost for pets of domestic violence victims entering a licensed safe facility This compassionate initiative helps remove a significant barrier for survivors giving them the freedom to escape abuse without the fear of abandoning their pets This initiative also teaches children that pets are important family members deserving protection from harm.” Anyone can make a report of animal cruelty by contacting their local animal control department in the town where those concerns have been noted or by contacting DOAG’s Animal Control Office at 860-713-2506 or AGR.AnimalControl@ct.gov.  A reasonable suspicion of child maltreatment can be made to DCF’s Child Abuse and Neglect Careline by dialing 1-800-842-2288 David.Bednarz@ct.gov Connecticut Department of Children and Families Peter.Yazbak@ct.gov Rebecca.Eddy@ct.gov carry I-95 over 1st Avenue and the Metro-North Railroad train tracks The new structures are designed to have a minimum service life of 75 years significantly improving long-term safety and reliability the project includes extending the southbound lane from Exit 44 to create a continuous travel lane which will ultimately serve as an exit-only lane for Exit 43 The goal of these improvements is to reduce congestion The $136.5 million project is funded by a mix of 90% federal funds and 10% state funds This project has a labor force of approximately 100 workers Construction is expected to be completed in phases by year-end 2027 “This project is a long-term investment in public safety and mobility not only for West Haven but for the entire region,” Governor Lamont said it’s also creating good-paying jobs that support local families and strengthen Connecticut’s workforce Thank you to Connecticut Department of Transportation crews and contractors who are delivering on these critical projects across the state.” “Replacing these aging bridges and revamping the interchange will ease the daily commute for more than 142,000 drivers on I-95,” CTDOT Deputy Commissioner Laoise King said we’re avoiding future disruptions to highway and rail travel we’re making significant progress modernizing Connecticut’s bridge infrastructure.” “Over $122 million in federal funding will help replace two decaying deteriorating and undersized bridges in West Haven providing relief to the tens of thousands of commuters who drive across them every day,” Senator Richard Blumenthal said I’ll continue fighting to deliver investments that make Connecticut’s roads more secure.” “Replacing these 70-year-old bridges is long overdue and I’m glad to see this project finally moving forward,” Senator Chris Murphy said “This is a smart federal investment that will make I-95 safer all while creating good-paying jobs in West Haven.” “Today marks a major step forward not just for West Haven but for every traveler who depends on I-95 to get to work “These bridge replacements are more than concrete and steel – they are the result of years of hard work and persistent efforts that I’ve championed to bring critical federal resources back to our community I fought for this investment because I believe in safer roads and a better quality of life for our residents By widening and modernizing this vital interchange we’re not only easing the daily burden of traffic but we’re also laying the foundation for a stronger more resilient transportation network that will support economic growth for generations I’m proud to have led the charge in securing this funding and delivering real results for our region’s future.” traffic is not expected to be disrupted from this project because the initial work includes construction on the foundation for the new bridges on the ground level at 1st Avenue and at the railroad crossing underneath the highway the northbound entrance ramp at Interchange 43 will close with a detour routed through nearby state roads The project will progress in stages through 2027 with three lanes of traffic maintained in each direction during daytime hours For detailed information on this project and to subscribe to construction updates via email, visit i95westhaven.com CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that – in accordance with a proclamation from President Donald Trump ordering flags throughout the United States to be lowered as a mark of solemn respect for the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis – he is directing U.S and state flags in Connecticut to fly at half-staff effective immediately and remain lowered until sunset on the date of interment “Leading by his words and his example Pope Francis was one of the most inspiring popes and spiritual leaders of my lifetime at a time when we needed him most,” Governor Lamont said I join Catholics across the world in mourning his passing.” The Office of Governor Lamont will send out a notification as a reminder indicating when flags should return to full-staff (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that his administration is now publishing online the reports it is receiving through the Federal Impact Reporting portal that he launched earlier this month The reports are publicly available in a dataset that can be downloaded on the Connecticut Open Data portal, data.ct.gov. (To access the Federal Impact Reporting dataset directly, click here.) The Federal Impact Reporting portal was created by Governor Lamont as a way of providing state policymakers with a better and more comprehensive understanding of how recent federal actions are impacting public and private entities throughout Connecticut and municipalities are encouraged to submit reports through the portal identifying items such as pauses and reductions in federal funding; reductions in employment caused by federal actions; and impacts from tariffs The dataset on the Connecticut Open Data portal will be updated regularly as new reports continue to be made To submit a report, businesses, nonprofits, and municipalities should visit ct.gov/fedimpact CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that seven solar energy systems have been installed and are now operating at six of Connecticut’s correctional facilities in a suite of projects that will generate millions in cost savings while delivering clean Because correctional facilities operate nonstop 365 days a year they are among the largest consumers of energy of all state-owned facilities “Installing solar energy systems at correctional facilities is a way that we can deliver cost savings in the operations of state government while also reducing our carbon footprint,” Governor Lamont said “Correctional facilities provide a necessary public safety service for our communities and their around-the-clock operations require a significant amount of energy to function I am glad that we could get these projects completed and that our correctional facilities can begin taking advantage of the benefits of solar energy.” The seven systems will collectively deliver 8.3 megawatts of clean renewable energy to the correctional facilities saving the state more than $11 million in energy costs over the lifetime of the panels and reducing carbon emissions by the equivalent of approximately 5,000 metric tons annually The projects are a collaboration between the Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) and the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS) along with the Connecticut Green Bank and TotalEnergies They were financed by the Connecticut Green Bank in partnership with TotalEnergies and maintain the systems through a power purchase agreement executed by DAS “With our 13 facilities operating on an around the clock basis 365 days a year we are always looking for ways to reduce our energy costs,” DOC Commissioner Angel Quiros said “The fact that we can do so by utilizing a clean energy source is an added bonus.” “These seven projects are a win-win for the state,” DAS Commissioner Michelle Gilman said “They will reduce our carbon footprint and save significant money for taxpayers and we look forward to building on this progress with other state agencies in the years to come.” “Solar projects of this size and scope have significant benefits and take time and coordination to complete which makes it necessary to gather an excellent team of state and private capital partners,” Bryan Garcia president and CEO of the Connecticut Green Bank “Thanks to the attention and collaboration of everyone involved the Green Bank was able to use our Solar MAP process to streamline each step of going solar from design to contracting to financing and energization we will continue to work together to finalize more projects in our pipeline and help the state meet our climate goals while reducing energy costs.” “The successful completion of the DOC’s seven solar installations demonstrates large-scale distributed clean energy is both feasible and reliable,” Eric Potts vice president of TotalEnergies Renewables USA “These projects provide significant cost savings for the DOC while directly contributing to the state’s 2040 zero-carbon electricity target TotalEnergies is proud to once again play a vital role in the public sector initiatives that drive sustainable outcomes.” The correctional facilities utilizing these solar energy systems include: Initially, the belief was that Davis and Roach were going to fight on June 21 in Las Vegas, Nevada, as that's what several reports indicated. That is, until boxing insider Dan Rafael poured cold water on on this rumored date in an April 22 article by saying that while the initial plan was to have the Davis and Roach rematch on June 21 the sentiment is that the rematch will now take place later in the summer BIG #Boxing Notebook: Sources: PBC eyes new date for Tank-Roach 2; new promoter for Shakur?; WBA makes key rulings on 147, 140 titles; Yafai interim title defense set; Brian Norman update; Quick hits; Show & tell. Read & sign up for my newsletter: https://t.co/LgcsZxbPjZ pic.twitter.com/6r7HspbaFY Rafael's report didn't discuss why the initial rematch date of June 21 was delayed. However, an April 29 article from Keith Idec of Ring Magazine made a telling admission about how this delay was owed to Gervonta Davis Idec wrote that T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas has been reserved specifically for this Davis vs and all sides were waiting for a social media post from Tank announcing that the rematch was on for that date and venue Idec added that after a month of waiting for Davis' announcement the WBA lightweight champion changed his mind and felt like he needed more time to prepare for his rematch against Roach which is what ultimately foiled the June 21 plan and prompted the change to a rematch later in on the summer While it isn't surprising to hear that Davis held the cards when it came to a rematch date given his star power him wanting more time to prepare for Roach suggests he's taking this second bout extremely seriously Canelo Alvarez Reveals His Top Five Pound-For-Pound Boxers Gervonta Davis Teammate Admits Tank Is 'Scared to Lose' Lamont Roach Rematch Insider Reveals Unfortunate Gervonta 'Tank' Davis vs Lamont Roach Rematch Update Lamont Roach's Admission Of Gervonta Davis 'Friendship' Raises Eyebrows The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER Fla.) was an American banker and financier who began his career by reorganizing corporations and went on to help establish financial stability in countries around the world Lamont graduated from Harvard University in 1892 and, after a brief stint on the financial desk of the New York Tribune, began working for Cushman Brothers Co., a New York food importer and exporter and Lamont came to its rescue with a reorganization plan and new capital Lamont’s success earned him a reputation as a financial problem solver a relationship that he maintained until his death serving for the last five years of his life as chairman of the board In 1918 Lamont satisfied his lifelong fascination with journalism by purchasing the New York Evening Post only to sell it four years later at a significant loss We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money The family of Lamont Wren created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Made with love by funeralOne and state flags in Connecticut to return to full-staff at sunset on the evening of Saturday Flags are currently lowered to half-staff statewide in remembrance of His Holiness Pope Francis A funeral service in his honor is scheduled to be held on Saturday morning in St Trinity College political science major Hermonie Dixon ’25 represented the College at the inaugural MADE Leadership Series event at East Hartford’s Rentschler Field on April 9 brought thoughtful perspective and lived experience to the conversation speaking about the importance of workplace values and the roles community and identity play in shaping a fulfilling career She also engaged directly with employers and made meaningful connections throughout the event underscoring the power of cross-generational Regarding a question for the panelists about the kind of work environment they want to be a part of Dixon said it was important for her to emphasize how essential diversity is “Being in environments where people differ from us in thought and racial identity encourages us to develop empathy and compassion,” Dixon said “We learn and grow through the experiences we share and the relationships we build with our peers.” Dixon added that it was meaningful for her to be part of this discussion “Although I’m aware of how fortunate and capable I am to attend a school like Trinity College I don’t often find myself in rooms like this,” she said “It’s not every day that I get to speak on a panel be considered ‘young talent,’ and have the governor moderate that panel Being part of this event was especially meaningful because I feel incredibly grateful to have been considered and trusted as a representative of Trinity.” Joey Abad, assistant director in Trinity’s Career and Life Design Center who helped coordinate Trinity’s participation with support from the Center’s team and reminded everyone in the room why student voices are essential to shaping the future of work in Connecticut.” Trinity’s participation in the MADE Series reflects the College’s broader commitment to equipping students with the skills and support to make a meaningful impact—both locally and globally The Career and Life Design Center has been a valuable resource for Dixon as her graduation approaches “I honestly wish I had started using the Center sooner but knowing I can continue to rely on them even after graduation is incredibly reassuring,” she said Dixon plans to work next year and apply to graduate school my academic and personal journey has shaped a deep passion for Black women’s mental health and the health disparities and inequities Black women face within the U.S “I hope to work with and support Black women directly through a variety of practices Learn more about Trinity’s Career and Life Design Center here CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is urging the Connecticut General Assembly to approve legislation he is proposing that eliminates the fees workers in certain professions are required to pay when initially applying for occupational licenses as well as the fees associated with renewing them By eliminating these costs, the governor is hoping to remove a barrier and encourage jobseekers to pursue careers within in-demand fields in which employers have indicated a need to hire skilled workers. The fee elimination plan was included as part of the governor’s fiscal year 2026/2027 biennial budget proposal that he presented to the legislature last month “Workers in certain skilled professions are required to obtain licenses for understandable reasons but we should be doing more to encourage jobseekers to enter these fields and that is why I want to eliminate all of the costs associated with applying for and renewing these licenses,” Governor Lamont said we’ve enacted more than $840 million in permanent tax cuts most of which are specifically targeted at providing relief to middle-class taxpayers and I am asking the legislature to continue on this path by eliminating these occupational license fees.” Impacted professions under the governor’s proposal include nurses Fees for these licenses range in cost from $50 to $375 per year The proposal will benefit nearly 180,000 workers saving them approximately $18.8 million in fiscal year 2026 and $25 million in fiscal year 2027 These licenses are administered by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection the Connecticut Department of Public Health and the Connecticut State Department of Education workers in these professions will still be required to obtain and renew licenses however there will be no costs associated with applying for them The proposal is included in Senate Bill 1246 An Act Concerning Revenue Items To Implement the Governor’s Budget It is currently under consideration in the Finance and the people of the great State of Connecticut Today is the opening day of our 2025 legislative session tomorrow our nation says goodbye to President Jimmy Carter and in two weeks we say hello to President Donald Trump 2.0 we should have more insights into how the changing relationship with the new administration will affect our budget and our people but for today let’s focus on what we can do to build on the progress we’ve made over the last six years our north stars are affordability and opportunity holding down costs of energy and healthcare and education allowing you to keep more of what you earn and providing you the tools to let you earn more We have significantly increased the minimum wage – and no that was not a job killer we have more private sector jobs than ever before We made it easier to start a family with one of the nation’s most robust paid family and medical leave programs We have one of the highest earned income tax credits so more working families pay little to no income tax and no tax on their pension and no tax on their social security income And we implemented the biggest middle-class tax cut in our history – you keep more of what you earn – all the while keeping our budget in balance for the sixth straight year We have broken the bad habits of the past when we habitually put more and more costs on the taxpayers’ credit card for our children to pay down we have made state employee pensions more secure and we have freed up hundreds of millions of dollars in our budget to expand access to affordable childcare Much of what we do in state government provides just enough to help you get by We are upgrading our social service centers to be opportunity centers where you can sign up for Medicaid and food assistance State government should be more than a safety net we protect the vulnerable while also providing ladders to success I want our state government to be the foundation which opens the door to an amazing career through apprenticeships and free job training or sets you up to start your own business we have had more new business startups than ever before – maybe it’s your neighbor with a solar installation company all with support from the Connecticut Boost Fund Entrepreneurship is not reserved for the private sector – let’s rethink our current services here in state government as well and I’ve never been satisfied with the status quo and you shouldn’t be either We have a longer legislative session this cycle giving us an opportunity to get in the weeds but better – delivering results that make a difference by reducing costs to you and expanding opportunity for all Let’s start with the high price of electricity in our state It certainly sparked a lot of discussion over the last six months I asked the Energy and Technology Committee to work with us to evaluate how to best make electricity more affordable These high prices impact all of us – working families Everyone was mad as hell looking at their bills following the hottest July in recorded history – so was I Every business thinking about expanding in Connecticut or moving here asks about – no not incentives – but the reliability and affordability of our electricity as everything we do gets more energy intensive Advanced manufacturing and the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence demand more electricity and as our economy continues to grow much faster than in years past Feel free to debate whether you want to shift electricity costs from the ratepayers to taxpayers or move from three to five PURA commissioners but cosmetic changes won’t make a dime’s worth of difference starting with our investment in Revolution Wind more commercial solar from Maine (foggy Maine you ask since they have hundreds of acres of land for necessary commercial grade installations) – and don’t forget hydro from Canada These are our only options for generation in the near term we will need more electricity to meet the increased demand and hold down cost Nuclear power already provides most of our carbon-free power That’s why we’re working with the federal government to find ways to expand nuclear capacity here in Connecticut that’s where most of our power comes from and will for the foreseeable future We bring in very inexpensive natural gas from Pennsylvania which is more polluting and more expensive and most timely solution is energy efficiency with no extra demands on the grid reliability The zero-pollution option is the electricity we do not use a Connecticut company which is reducing electric bills for companies in Connecticut and beyond through better insulation solar arrays – all with no upfront cost to the customer money saving efficiency program for your home healthcare costs are consuming more and more of your budget and our state budget Just as we are bending the curve on fixed costs such as pension contributions and debt payments the costs of Medicaid and employee healthcare are spiking all while the Trump administration is rumored to be cutting back on healthcare subsidies for Medicaid and Obamacare which will hit working families and small businesses hard I ran a smallish business that had no negotiating leverage when it came to buying healthcare so helping our small businesses negotiate better pricing for their workers is a big priority for me Access Health CT is working to extend the individual benefits of being on the exchange to small businesses and the Comptroller is working with the private sector to encourage our workers to seek hospitalization where they get the best quality at the best value pharma costs have significantly increased as a share of our healthcare spend and costs of hospital services have continued to rise We have a kitchen cabinet working on healthcare affordability – that’s Deidre We continue to encourage primary and preventative care which keeps you healthier and keeps you out of the hospital We’re also seeking better coordination with Medicaid for wrap-around services which lets you age at home as an alternative to the nursing home The “too easy” solution is more subsidies which only shift more costs to taxpayers or “heavy handed” price caps which can result in unintended consequences Here’s an approach worth reconsidering we proposed tying pharma price increases to the rate of inflation for generic drugs This way pharmaceutical companies will still be incentivized to develop next generation therapies and we must direct pharmacies to prescribe the lower cost generics when appropriate This reform could save you 50 cents on the dollar overnight I ask the Human Services and Insurance Committees let’s get these cost savers over the finish line Connecticut boasts the best schools in the nation and unfortunately which can drive up property taxes and tuition Our budget will continue to increase the ECS funding per the bipartisan plan I met with our state’s superintendents with a simple question: How are our kids doing Knocking on the door of a kid who misses a lot of school knocking on the door with a teacher or a friend saying “We miss you,” goes a long way Thea Montanez in our office is working on a proposal to expand our youth service corps so that a seventh grader has an internship or their older sibling maybe has a paying apprenticeship with a neighborhood business or nonprofit – a patriotic sense of giving back while lifting up our communities We want to continue making it easier and more affordable to be a teacher including expanding our apprentice program where third-year students at the teacher’s college get paid to help out in the classroom We must make it less expensive to become a teacher and get young teacher aids in the classroom We also have more counselors at our schools and I am told that getting smartphones out of the classroom has been incredible for learning and good for the soul Many schools are getting phones not just out of the classroom but out of the school all together We’re also continuing to work with other states and social media companies to give parents more control over social media access which folks on both sides of the aisle may appreciate We’re doing outreach to get more men into teaching boys are most likely to be the disconnected youth A few more male mentors in the classroom – and coaching – just might help Here’s a simple idea: thank a teacher Kids and their teachers are stepping up to STEM learning and bringing more trials and tribulations into the classroom We keep asking our teachers to do more and more Thank a teacher and ask how you can help out at home And over to the Higher Ed Committee – UConn is gaining students and increasing costs CT State is losing students and increasing costs I have been reaching out to university presidents across the country who receive significantly less state funding per student and yet they hold the line on tuition increases They point to expanding the size of their student body more capacity in the high demand majors including the sciences which have suffered from 30% fewer students in the last decade Our debt-free community college program makes access easier We must develop a balance between traditional classroom experience As the federal support for workforce development is at risk we are reimagining the Office of Workforce Strategy to support their mission of streamlining the classroom to workplace pipeline We need the labor unions and AdvanceCT actively at the table to help us achieve that mission We have the greatest colleges and students from around the state and around the world – all of whom want to study here in Connecticut if you graduate from a Connecticut college and take a job here we will reimburse your company to help pay down your student debt That gives you a good reason to stay here and gives companies a good reason to hire right here in Connecticut I don’t want to forgo the work of our other legislative committees Insurance Committee: Very few of the businesses and homes which were impacted or destroyed by flooding in August had any flood insurance Judiciary Committee: How can we better protect our civil liberties Labor Committee: The feds may try to weaken the right to organize Commerce Committee: Speed up regulatory decision making General Law: America is a fast-moving innovation leader with a patchwork of regulation a regulatory leader with very slow innovation Education Committee: Let’s build on the blue ribbon childcare commission Let’s make a down payment on affordable accessible early child care for all of our families Transportation Committee: We’re outperforming our peers in putting federal infrastructure dollars to work and speeding up your commute but we all know that our gas tax revenues are not keeping up Planning and Development and Housing Committees: We have doubled our commitment to housing with more new housing being built Let’s start by getting our workers back in the office Approps and Finance: We’ll talk between now and the budget address when we may have a better idea how the DOGE commission will impact our budget we can always spend more money promoting tourism but a little creative juice goes a long way Let me give a shout out to Anthony Anthony His immodest road signs declaring Connecticut the “Pizza Capital,” “Submarine Capital,” and “Basketball Capital of the World” attracted over six billion media impressions That’s free publicity money can’t buy Italy questioned our claim as the “Pizza Capital,” the Boston Celtics wondered about the “Basketball Capital.” As the great showman and Connecticut State Representative P.T “I don’t care what they say about me as long as they spell my name right.” More visitors are coming to Connecticut and more and more like what they see and are staying And absolutely nobody complained when our road sign declared Connecticut as the “Home of the Winningest Coach in Basketball History” – Geno Auriemma Geno came here as a boy from Italy and helped more than a generation of young basketball players feel like winners and has helped our state be a winner He represents the very best of Connecticut values – wherever you are from not just getting by but getting ahead.  We’ll make sure you have the ladders to success Labore doloremque voluptatum blanditiis eligendi placeat min.. Provident et sed voluptate modi quaerat aut repudiandae Iust.. CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that legendary guitarist founding member of the world-renowned rock band the Rolling Stones and community philanthropist Keith Richards will be the first recipient of the Connecticut Governor’s Award of Excellence – a prestigious new honor celebrating Connecticut residents who epitomize the state’s core values of creativity the Governor’s Award of Excellence celebrates individuals whose contributions enrich Connecticut’s cultural and civic life The award consists of a custom-designed medallion — crafted by Connecticut State Trooper Danny Carvalho and manufactured by the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) — along with a ribbon designed and sewn by Enfield-based fashion designer Justin Haynes Governor Lamont will present Richards with a proclamation offering him the “Key to the State.” The Governor’s Awards of Excellence celebrates individuals whose contributions enrich Connecticut’s cultural and civic life The award was custom designed by Connecticut State Trooper Danny Carvalho and manufactured by the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology and the ribbon was designed by Enfield-based fashion designer Justin Haynes “Connecticut has long been home to some of the world’s most innovative minds and most generous hearts,” Governor Lamont said “This award was created to honor those whose creativity and passion have made a lasting impact on our state and beyond Keith Richards is the epitome of these values — not only as one of the most influential musicians of all time but as a dedicated supporter of the arts and community causes right here in Connecticut.” Richards is being honored for his deep commitment to supporting the local community Through his generosity and dedication to organizations like SPHERE which enhances the lives of adults with disabilities which provides meaningful employment through the magic of film Richards has used his influence to uplift and empower others Richards has also been an advocate for arts and accessibility initiatives throughout the state further exemplifying his dedication to making a lasting impact “When you are growing up there are two institutional places that affect you most powerfully: the church which belongs to you,” Richards said “The public library is the great equalizer.” “The Westport Library is beyond thrilled to host this momentous occasion honoring Keith Richards a true cultural icon whose influence transcends generations,” Bill Harmer executive director of The Westport Library “As a library that celebrates creativity we couldn’t imagine a more fitting place for this historic event Keith’s legacy is woven into the fabric of music history and we are honored to provide the stage where Connecticut will recognize his immeasurable contributions This is not just a celebration of an artist and with an undeniable passion for inspiring others.” Richards is regarded as one of the greatest guitarists in the history of music His career with the Rolling Stones dates back over seven decades and his songwriting partnership with Stones frontman Mick Jagger is heralded as one of the most successful and prolific in rock history Among his signature songs are “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” “Satisfaction,” “Ruby Tuesday,” “Start Me Up,” “Happy,” “Miss You,” “Brown Sugar,” “Gimme Shelter,” “Wild Horses,” “It’s Only Rock n’ Roll (But I Like it),” and “As Tears Go By,” to name a few Richards has also scored great success as a solo artist with albums including “Talk Is Cheap,” “Live at the Hollywood Palladium,” “Main Offender,” and “Crosseyed Heart,” and hits such as “Take It So Hard,” “You Don’t Move Me,” “Wicked as It Seems,” and “Eileen.” Richards played a solider in the 1969 film “Man on Horseback,” himself on “The Simpsons” in 2002 and appeared in two “Pirates of the Caribbean” films as Captain Teague who was notably loosely based off Richards “Keith Richards: Under The Influence,” which was partially filmed in Connecticut He released his memoir “Life” to critical acclaim in 2010 and later released a children’s book “Gus & Me: The Story of My Granddad and My First Guitar,” in 2014 Richards was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Comptroller Sean Scanlon today announced that effective May 1 the State of Connecticut is expanding the benefits it provides to firefighters to include free This new benefit comes in response to evidence that firefighters 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 The screenings are designed to detect cancers early – often before symptoms appear – when treatment is more effective While expected to cost the state about $150,000 annually the costs associated with later-stage cancers are far greater – not to mention the hardship placed on firefighters “Firefighters have high-risk jobs and in the course of their duties are exposed to toxins that can wreak havoc on their health and put them at risk for cancer,” Governor Lamont said “Expanding the state health plan to provide all firefighters with regular cancer screenings is essential because early detection is key to successful treatment outcomes I appreciate Comptroller Scanlon for working with our administration to enact this change to the state health plan and provide this benefit for Connecticut’s firefighters.” “When they’re putting their lives on the line every day the last thing our firefighters should have to worry about is navigating their healthcare,” Comptroller Scanlon said “That’s why I’m proud that the state health plan I run will now provide our members with the best preventative care and early screenings we can keep the men and women who serve our communities healthy and their minds at ease I’ve been honored to work with the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut and Governor Lamont to bring this initiative to fruition.” “Firefighters are an essential part of keeping all Connecticut residents safe,” Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) Commissioner Ronnell A where we are training and recruiting the firefighters of the future we stand behind the continuing efforts by Governor Lamont and Comptroller Scanlon to keep the men and women of the fire service healthy.” there is growing prevalence of cancer in firefighters and it saves our families – by blood and by profession – immense grief and hardship,” Peter Brown president of the Uniformed Professional Fire Fighters Association of Connecticut “This new healthcare offering is a critical step forward in securing firefighter health and wellbeing UPFFA is grateful for our continued partnership with Comptroller Scanlon and Governor Lamont.” Any firefighter enrolled on the state employee health plan or Partnership Plan who is seeking more information can visit carecompass.ct.gov to connect with a representative South Carolina men’s basketball has signed six transfer portal additions to the program this offseason head coach Lamont Paris provided in-depth evaluations of each player via a release on Thursday afternoon Keep up with all things Gamecocks for just $1 for 7 days—lock in this special offer today! Top 101Shane BeamerPuts NCAA on blast Hot3Trump By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein. South Carolina basketball transfer portal resources: “Elijah’s game has really grown in his two years of playing college basketball,” said Paris. “He has gained a lot of in-game experience and that has led to the confidence you need to perform at this level. He has expanded his game to being a real threat from behind the arc as well as attacking around the basket. He has a great combination of both power and agility that should give him the ability to attack matchups versus a variety of defenders, smaller or bigger.” South Carolina men's basketball coach Lamont Paris spoke to the media in Summerville at the Welcome Home Tour stop on Monday.... South Carolina head coach Lamont Paris was asked about the last open roster spot and what that could mean for Collin Murray-Boyles.... On3's Jamie Shaw says that South Carolina basketball transfer portal addition Mike Sharavjamts is key to a potential Gamecock bounce back.... On Sunday, former South Carolina basketball guard Morris Ugusuk announced that he has found a new home in the transfer portal.... A transfer portal tracker for the South Carolina basketball team's 2025 offseason. Check out the players coming and going from the Gamecocks.... Kobe Knox joined South Carolina basketball in the offseason prior to the 2025-26 season. Here's what he could bring to the Gamecocks.... Former South Carolina basketball redshirt freshman guard Austin Herro has found a new home via the transfer portal.... South Carolina basketball wing Myles Stute will return for the 2025-2026 season after being cleared by doctors and the NCAA.... South Carolina basketball is replacing most of their production from last season. Who is it coming from? GamecockCentral takes a look.... South Carolina rising sophomore guard Cam Scott is returning to the Gamecocks after he initially entered the transfer portal.... South Carolina basketball star Collin Murray-Boyles is one of the top prospects in this summer's NBA Draft. A recent big board backs that up.... South Carolina basketball transfer portal commitment Nordin Kapic is an intriguing player for the Gamecocks. Here's a look at his film.... A transfer portal headquarters for the South Carolina basketball team's 2025 offseason. Check out the latest happenings for the Gamecocks.... A watch list for South Carolina basketball's transfer portal targets. Check out some names worth monitoring for Gamecock fans.... South Carolina basketball has made contact with transfer portal guard Jarvis Moss, a scorer who played at Radford last season.... South Carolina basketball transfer portal pledge Mike Sharavjamts will play an important role on next year's team. Here's a look at his film.... South Carolina basketball alum Zam Fredrick II has earned a spot on the coaching staff at Gray Collegiate Academy.... South Carolina basketball landed a commitment from versatile transfer portal player Mike Sharavjamts on Monday.... South Carolina basketball has reached out to a pair of transfer portal guard targets this weekend as the Gamecocks look to fill the roster.... A look at the film of South Carolina basketball transfer portal commitment Elijah Strong from Boston College.... Utah transfer guard Mike Sharavjamts is scheduled to take an official visit to South Carolina this weekend, GamecockCentral has learned. The... South Carolina basketball is a school of consideration for versatile transfer portal player Mike Sharavjamts.... Former South Carolina basketball guard Zach Davis has found a new home via the transfer portal after three years with the Gamecocks.... Where the South Carolina basketball team ranks in the latest transfer portal team recruiting rankings from On3... South Carolina basketball transfer portal signee Treysen Eaglestaff decommits from Gamecocks two weeks after signing.... Hot3Trump, Saban blastedNIL order ripped On3 is a registered trademark of On3 Media CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is urging the Connecticut General Assembly to approve legislation he is proposing this session that will implement the largest expansion of preschool access in Connecticut history enabling thousands of additional children to enroll in high-quality which have been unattainable for many families “I want Connecticut to lead on early childhood education and that means making preschool affordable and accessible for all of our kids,” Governor Lamont said “Access to early childhood services is massively important to the state’s success not only because these programs provide valuable tools for children that will lead them to professional achievements in the future but also because being able to enroll your child in care right now means that parents can join the workforce and earn an income that supports their family Connecticut has an opportunity to make an investment in our future by expanding access to affordable preschool.” The governor’s proposal includes depositing a portion of the state’s anticipated surpluses over the next several years into a brand-new fund known as the Universal Preschool Endowment The endowment will be seeded by $300 million from the fiscal year 2025 surplus and in the following years any unappropriated surpluses from the General Fund will continue to be transferred into it The endowment will be managed by the Office of the Treasurer and the commissioner of the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood may expend up to 10% of the balance of the endowment in any fiscal year The proposed use of the endowment aims to expand affordable preschool options for families by: “Governor Lamont’s historic action to establish a Universal Preschool Endowment will make preschool more accessible free,” Connecticut Early Childhood Commissioner Beth Bye said “It will stabilize the early care and education industry by increasing compensation for teachers and staff This investment builds on the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Child Care which brought together voices from across child care providers and parents to provide a roadmap to guide ongoing investments in early education.” “Governor Lamont’s proposal for universal preschool will make Connecticut a national leader among states because of its comprehensive approach to supporting children and families,” Walter Gilliam executive director of the Buffet Early Childhood Institute “It supports early learning and allows working families the ability to work The focus on quality of care and options that meet family needs also stands out Perhaps the most unique feature is that it protects the care of infants and toddlers while creating universal preschool for our threes and fours.” The governor’s legislative proposal is House Bill 6867 An Act Creating the Universal Preschool Endowment It has been referred to the Education Committee **Download: Fact sheet on Governor Lamont’s proposal to expand access to preschool Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont will be the Commencement speaker at Trinity College on Sunday, May 18. Lamont will address graduates in the Class of 2025 during Trinity’s 199th Commencement ceremony Among those receiving honorary degrees are Shabana Basij-Rasikh School of Leadership Afghanistan co-founder and president This Commencement marks President Joanne Berger-Sweeney’s last at Trinity after leading the College for 11 years “It is an honor that Governor Lamont will deliver Trinity College’s 2025 Commencement address,” said Berger-Sweeney “The governor is a distinguished leader whose exemplary service to the State of Connecticut and support of education has made a difference I know his wisdom and words will inspire our graduates and the next generation of leaders.” Lamont was sworn into office as the 89th governor of Connecticut on January 9 in sociology from Harvard College in 1976 and an M.B.A from the Yale School of Management in 1980 Lamont became involved in public service shortly after college founding a weekly newspaper in a town hit by the loss of its largest employer as a member of both the Greenwich Board of Selectmen and the Board of Estimate and Taxation Lamont worked in a bipartisan effort to safeguard a multimillion-dollar budget and deliver results for constituents Lamont also served as chair of the state’s Investment Advisory Council overseeing a multibillion-dollar state pension fund He previously served as an adjunct professor of political science and philosophy at Central Connecticut State University where he helped to found a popular business start-up competition Basij-Rasikh is recognized for her work with the School of Leadership Afghanistan which she co-founded and leads as president SOLA is the world’s first and only Afghan-led boarding school for Afghan girls She drew inspiration from the words of her parents which she shared during a recent 60 Minutes interview: “You could be forced to leave your home You could lose any material possession that you have but the one thing that cannot be taken away from you is your education.” the Taliban’s return to rule in Afghanistan forced SOLA to move from Kabul to the nation of Rwanda where the school welcomes new students from the Afghan diaspora each year Connors is recognized for dedicating his professional life to healing He has focused his clinical and research efforts in the area of lymphoid cancers and on the application of genomic analysis to understanding and optimizing treatment for these diseases Now clinical professor emeritus in the Department of Medicine at the University of British Columbia and past clinical director of the BC Cancer Centre for Lymphoid Cancer Connors is best known for his clinical investigations into the biology and treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma He has published more than 500 peer-reviewed scientific articles and dozens of book chapters he graduated Phi Beta Kappa with honors with a B.S from Yale University and completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill He went to Stanford University for a clinical fellowship in medical oncology where he embarked on a 38-year career targeted at treating and curing cancer Commencement is the central and most important event of the Trinity academic year The members of the faculty gather together with the families and friends of the graduating class to celebrate their achievements in a ceremony that has endured for nearly 200 years During the procession before the ceremony, the tradition of graduates stepping on The Luther-Roosevelt Long Walk inscription in front of the Fuller Arch in Northam Towers for the first time on Commencement day continues The inscription commemorates the visit in June 1918 of former President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt who delivered an address and received an honorary degree at Commencement The ceremony is followed by a post-Commencement celebration on the Jacobs Life Sciences Center Quad Learn more about Commencement weekend, including the full schedule of events, here CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is forwarding to the Connecticut General Assembly the nominations of several jurists to serve in positions on Connecticut’s courts as an associate justice of the Supreme Court and 13 other jurists as judges of the Superior Court the governor is nominating two jurists to serve as family support magistrates and three as administrative law judges on the Workers’ Compensation Commission “Nominating judges to serve on our courts is one of the most important responsibilities of a governor especially because judges are the final authority on the interpretation of the law and the constitution and for ensuring that justice is administered fairly and without prejudice,” Governor Lamont said “Judge Bright has been an excellent leader of our Appellate Court over these last four and a half years and he has had an impressive career handling all types of cases both on the trial and appellate levels Judge Wilson is an incredibly well-respected member of Connecticut’s legal community having served in the Superior Court for more than two decades I am confident that these nominees each have the high standards and qualifications the people of Connecticut deserve to have serving for them on the bench.” Judge Bright, 62, of Columbia, is currently the chief judge of the Appellate Court. He is being nominated to fill the associate justice seat on the Supreme Court that was most recently held by the Honorable Raheem L. Mullins, who was recently nominated by Governor Lamont to become chief justice Judge Bright has served on the Appellate Court since 2017 and as chief judge since 2020 he has been responsible for managing the operations of the Appellate Court in addition to sitting on a full docket of cases reviewing all opinions of the court before publication overseeing clerks for judge trial referees and addressing personnel and building management issues Immediately prior to his nomination to the Appellate Court Judge Bright served as a judge of the Superior Court from 2008 to 2017 he served as the presiding judge of the Connecticut Judicial Branch’s statewide mediation program in 2017 chief administrative judge for civil matters from 2015 to 2017 administrative and presiding judge for the Tolland Judicial District from 2013 to 2017 and presiding judge of a civil complex litigation docket from 2011 to 2013 he was a partner with the law firm of McCarter and English from 2003 to 2008 and with Cummings and Lockwood from 1987 to 2003 handling cases in both state and federal courts and representing individuals and small and large businesses in environmental Judge Bright graduated from Dickinson College in Carlisle Cooper Fellow of the Connecticut Bar Foundation and a member emeritus of the Oliver Ellsworth Inn of Court “I want to thank Governor Lamont for his faith and confidence in me,” Judge Bright said “It is truly an honor to be nominated and considered for a position on our state’s highest court It has been my distinct pleasure to serve the people of Connecticut as a judge of the Superior Court and the Appellate Court over the past 17 years I promise to bring to my job as an associate justice of our Supreme Court the same work ethic and respect for the parties and attorneys who appear before us that I have strived to demonstrate every day since becoming a judge.” is currently a judge of the Superior Court She is being nominated to fill the seat on the Appellate Court that will become vacant following the confirmation of Judge Bright to serve on the Supreme Court Judge Wilson is presently assigned to the Waterbury Complex Litigation Docket she served in the Civil Division of the New Haven Judicial District for 15 years including medical and legal malpractice cases motor vehicle accident cases involving catastrophic injuries Immediately prior to her nomination to the Superior Court she served as an administrative law judge on the Workers’ Compensation Commission from 1994 to 2003 She also worked from 1986 to 1994 as an assistant attorney general in the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General serving in both the Child Support Department and the Workers’ Compensation Department In recognition of her influence and leadership Judge Wilson has been honored as one of the NAACP’s 100 Most Influential Blacks in Connecticut and as one of the 100 Women of Color Leadership in the State of Connecticut Judge Wilson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in government a Juris Doctor degree from Northeastern University School of Law and a Master of Laws degree in labor relations from New York University School of Law “I am deeply honored and humbled by Governor Lamont’s nomination to serve as an Appellate Judge for the State of Connecticut,” Judge Wilson said “It is an absolute honor and privilege to have this opportunity I am committed to upholding the principles of fairness and integrity as I take on this important responsibility and will work hard every day to prove myself worthy of the governor’s trust for entrusting me with this opportunity to serve our great state.” There are currently 22 judicial vacancies in the Superior Court The 13 nominations Governor Lamont is making to fill those positions include: The two family support magistrate nominees include: The three workers’ compensation administrative law judge nominees include: CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today held a news briefing to provide updates on Connecticut’s response to the ongoing defunding of programs and services by the federal government Today’s briefing focused on the impact to emergency response and storm resiliency efforts in the face of extreme weather events and natural disasters WATCH: Today’s news briefing on federal defunding of programs and services CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Housing Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno today announced that the Lamont administration and the Connecticut Department of Housing are making a $30 million investment to launch CT Home Funds a series of three housing programs designed to preserve and increase homeownership opportunities across Connecticut healthy communities where people want to live and raise a family,” Governor Lamont said “We are creating these programs to help current and future homeowners with the costs of making necessary home improvement projects including those that make homes more energy efficient.” “We hear constantly from residents and developers that high costs and affordability are a barrier to build or purchase homes,” Commissioner Mosquera-Bruno said cannot rehabilitate or retrofit a property and then sell at an affordable price We designed these programs to help our residents now to improve their homes and help developers who want to do the right thing without compromising quality.” The three programs contained in CT Home Funds – the Connecticut Home Improvement Program the Time to Own – Rehabilitation Program and the Homeownership Construction Program – are being administered by Capital for Change and the Housing Development Fund the Connecticut Home Improvement Program is being seeded by $8.5 million which will be used to provide low-interest loans directly to homeowners to make energy improvements and related housing code repairs that make homes more energy efficient Loans for non-energy-related rehabilitation include: Time To Own – Rehabilitation Program the Time To Own – Rehabilitation Program is being seeded by $10 million that will be used to help new homeowners who received assistance under the state’s Time To Own Program with forgivable loans to help with the costs of repairs and improvements on their new homes This can include replacing a well or septic tank or improvements to plumbing and electrical systems The Homeownership Construction Program is being seeded by $11.5 million that will be used to provide grants of up to $150,000 per home for smaller developers and nonprofits to help cover the costs of new construction or rehabilitation of up to ten affordable homes The new homes will be income-restricted long-term to drive stability and eventually allow the household to build equity and sell in the future Both Capital for Change and the Housing Development Fund will administer these grants The Connecticut Department of Housing is reserving $2 million of this funding for a pilot program that will be based in Hartford and in which the City of Hartford is providing an additional $2 million in matching funds “These investments are a game-changer for Hartford,” Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam said “Homeownership is one of the most powerful tools we have to build wealth By investing in home rehabilitation and affordable housing development we’re creating opportunities for Hartford families to live and thrive in the state’s capital city.” For more information about Capital for Change, visit www.capitalforchange.org/consumer-lending-options, email lending@capitalforchange.org For more information about the Housing Development Fund, visit hdfconnects.org/multifamily-developer First time homebuyers and developers can call 203-969-1830 to be connected to a team member who can assist with next steps CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the package of legislative proposals he will ask the Connecticut General Assembly to consider for ratification during the 2025 regular session will include a proposal increasing the oversight and financial stability of Connecticut hospitals and ensuring that they continue providing the high quality and affordable care that the state’s residents deserve The governor noted that as a result of changes in the way healthcare entities are owned the state needs to modernize and update its oversight processes to ensure that its healthcare system remains stable He said the state’s laws overseeing this industry need to keep up with these rapidly evolving changes to protect Connecticut residents “The state needs to have a role in overseeing large financial transactions involving healthcare practices and facilities so that we can ensure that the critical services these facilities provide continue to be readily available to our residents,” Governor Lamont said we’ve seen a real change in how the healthcare system is being operated This includes an increased share of our state’s healthcare system being owned or managed by out-of-state These recent changes have shown that our current statutes contain loopholes allowing important transactions to escape necessary review I am urging the General Assembly to update our laws to enable the state to have proper oversight of significant health system transactions We need to provide the state with the tools needed to protect our healthcare system from dangerous and destabilizing practices and ensure that our system continues to provide quality and affordable health care for all.” “We’ve all become aware of how major transactions in healthcare can impact the financial stability of our institutions,” Dr commissioner of the Connecticut Office of Health Strategy “These changes also touch the lives of patients and healthcare workers in less obvious ways and can also impact healthcare affordability for consumers We know that some changes in ownership or control can lead to poorer quality more expensive care – the opposite of what we want for Connecticut residents.” “We’ve all seen what can go wrong when private equity is allowed to strip mine our local hospitals and healthcare institutions,” Attorney General William Tong said “And we’ve seen growing challenges with access and affordability of care due to unprecedented levels of consolidation in healthcare delivery in Connecticut I fully support these measures to strengthen oversight and transparency around these transactions and acquisitions.” The bill that Governor Lamont will present to the legislature in the coming days will contain the following items: Governor Lamont is scheduled to deliver his annual budget address to a joint session of the General Assembly on Wednesday Documents containing the full details of his biennial budget proposal and other legislative proposals including this bill on hospitals and healthcare facilities Department of Homeland Security pertaining to immigration enforcement activities may have on school operations and the safeguarding of students while in school Both Connecticut and federal law protect a student’s right to attend public school This guidance is intended to provide school districts and their governing bodies with an overview of state and federal laws pertaining to student rights and the responsibilities of school districts and families that Connecticut is welcoming to all students It is also intended to provide districts with a framework for the development of policies and procedures that protect student rights “Our schools are primarily places for learning and growth It is important for our students and families to feel welcome and protected by their schools so educators can focus on teaching and students can focus on learning,” Governor Lamont said we are supporting our school leaders in developing procedures that prioritize the protection of students and their information to the fullest extent permitted by the law.” “Students are at their best when they are in school and feeling safe and supported by their school community,” Commissioner Russell-Tucker said “This guidance is designed to help school districts develop policies and procedures that are clear and aligned with state and federal law while ensuring all students feel welcome in their classrooms.” **Download: Guidance document to K-12 public school districts regarding immigration enforcement activities Leading boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has questioned whether a rematch between Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach will happen next ‘Tank’ retained his WBA lightweight title against Roach in New York on March 1, despite the fight being declared a split decision draw after 12 closely fought rounds. Roach forced Davis into taking a knee midway through the ninth round although referee Steve Willis failed to rule this as an official knockdown which effectively squandered Roach’s chances of dethroning ‘Tank’ of his WBA crown It had been expected that the two would face each other in an immediate rematch, however, Hearn has cast some doubt on that after revealing he will be facing Jake Paul in November Speaking to Fight Hub TV, the Matchroom boss suggested ‘Tank’ might go straight into the Jake Paul fight rather than take on Roach again “He’s fighting Jake Paul isn’t he I dunno whether he’ll still fight Lamont Roach I know he’s fighting Jake Paul in November and then maybe [Shakur] Stevenson after that.” Jake Paul has had a controversial professional boxing career since his debut five years ago Ohio has faced a number of retired MMA stars during this time including Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley ‘The Problem Child’ returned to the ring last November when he faced heavyweight icon Mike Tyson at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington Texas where he defeated the 58-year-old via unanimous decision after eight rounds His next opponent will be former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr on the 28 June in California CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) has brought together several programs and services to assist Connecticut residents who have been fired or put on unpaid administrative leave from their jobs with the federal government “The federal government may have decided that they don’t want these skilled workers but we want them to know that we value their public service and that Connecticut employers can use their skills,” Governor Lamont said Connecticut has more than 70,000 jobs available and the Connecticut Department of Labor can help connect jobseekers to new employment or even help them begin an entirely new career if that’s what they want to do.” Information specifically designed for federal workers and contractors is available on the CTDOL homepage at portal.ct.gov/dol It covers the steps federal workers need to take to file for unemployment benefits how to get answers to unemployment questions there were approximately 18,800 federal employees working in Connecticut “This continues to be a very difficult time for federal workers and CTDOL staff and partners are here to help,” Connecticut Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo said “Filing for unemployment benefits is complex – it’s a federal system that requires workers to have specific separation documentation in order to file workers may have been notified of their dismissal in a non-standard way and need assistance workers may have severance and need career counseling and job search assistance All employers and jobs are vetted by CTDOL Job placement and career services are also provided to all Connecticut residents at no cost through the American Job Centers and help for veterans transitioning to the civilian workforce In person and virtual appointments are available Each unemployment application is verified and will be approved depending upon the filer’s work and salary history Workers who accepted severance packages or other salary continuation payments are advised not to file until those payments end jobseekers are advised to be wary of any employer attempting to charge them to submit a job application or for other employment services CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is proclaiming Friday as “Huskies Weekend” in the State of Connecticut in recognition of the UConn women’s basketball team for playing in the NCAA Tournament Final Four game on Friday night The governor is urging all Connecticut residents to show their Huskies pride this weekend by wearing UConn Huskies gear “The 2025 UConn Huskies women’s basketball team is the most formidable and ferocious basketball program in the United States dominating the game with incredible prowess and intimidating skills that have set a new standard in college sports,” Governor Lamont said “I am so proud of these talented student athletes who have represented UConn and Connecticut with integrity and competitive excellence both on and off the court They are an inspiration to young basketball fans across the world who want to follow in their footsteps Everyone knows that Connecticut is the basketball capital of the world and this weekend I urge everyone in our state to cheer for our team and support our Huskies.” “This year’s UConn women’s basketball team is an undeniable force and the best in the country,” Lt “Every player contributes to their success from standout freshman Sarah Strong to graduating star and future WNBA player Paige Bueckers Led by the legendary Geno Auriemma and an incredible coaching staff these women have made history and inspire young girls across Connecticut and the country As they continue to demonstrate that Connecticut is the basketball capital of the world I could not be prouder of this team and look forward to cheering on the Huskies this weekend.” UConn is scheduled to play the UCLA Bruins in the Final Four on Friday at 9:00 p.m [Download in high quality] Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach Jr are set to clash in a huge rematch later this year WBA Lightweight World Champion Davis kept hold of his belt after his March 1 showdown with Roach was declared a draw following 12 competitive rounds at the Barclays Centre in New York The main talking point of the bout was the ninth round when Davis sensationally took a knee after being on the receiving end of a Roach jab – something he would later say was due to hair grease in his eyes – and referee Steve Willis failed to rule this as an official knockdown which subsequently quashed Roach’s chances of being declared the winner on the judges cards One fighter who has had their say on the impending rematch between ‘Tank’ and Roach is Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero who was defeated by Davis when they fought back in May 2022 In an interview with The Ring Magazine who was knocked out by Davis in the sixth round of their bout backed his former opponent to be victorious in the rematch with Roach as he claims he will make the ‘necessary’ changes because I think Tank will make the necessary adjustments.” An official announcement for the highly anticipated second encounter between ‘Tank’ and ‘The Reaper’ is expected to be made in the coming weeks with both fighters said to have already agreed terms for what is undoubtedly one of the biggest fights of 2025 There have been concerns however that Roach may be forced to wait for the rematch, after it has been speculated that Davis is in negotiations for a showdown with Youtube sensation turned boxer Jake Paul.