Politics

The debate over rewarding Connecticut’s essential workers for serving during the coronavirus outbreak largely is resolved. The larger question — how to rescue working families from the economic shocks of the pandemic and a 40-year-high in inflation — has just begun to heat up at the Capitol. A permanent state income tax credit for families with children, other tax relief and expanded investments in social services are at the top of an early to-do list for many legislators who still are wary of a global recession looming as soon as 2023. “I don’t think our work is done in creating more equity in our state,” said Sen. Julie Kushner, D-Danbury. “These are long-term problems that didn’t happen overnight.” Along with other members of the Labor Committee that she co-chairs, Kushner was tied to a year-long debate that wrapped this week with $105 million reserved for pandemic bonuses for nurses, child care providers, grocery store workers and others who staffed vital services when … [Read more...] about CT lawmakers to consider income tax credit, other financial relief

Lawmakers are targeting the rising cost of health care as a key issue they plan to tackle this upcoming legislative session, after hearing from hospital executives, representatives of insurance and pharmaceutical companies and other industry officials Thursday. “It’s no secret that health care is unaffordable and that the health care industry is not meeting the needs of Connecticut’s families and small businesses,” said Sen. Matthew Lesser, D-Middletown, a co-chair of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee. “Customers are expected to pay more and more for the same essential health services. “It’s leaving parents and seniors to further stretch household budgets and to wait on seeking care, which raises the risk of worse health complications down the road. … Without reining in costs, we are blocking families across Connecticut from achieving a better quality of life and the ability of businesses to grow.” Thursday’s hearing, which covered hospital expenses, the underlying costs … [Read more...] about High health care costs in CT to be tackled by lawmakers

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Secretary of State has ordered a recount in the congressional race where Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert led Democrat Adam Frisch by just 550 votes in an unexpectedly tight race. The Associated Press has declared the race too close to call and will await the results of the recount. The recount, which was expected, was formally announced Wednesday. The race garnered national attention because Boebert was largely considered a lock for reelection after redistricting made the sprawling 3rd Congressional District that covers much of western Colorado more Republican. Over a week after the polls closed, Boebert claimed victory and Frisch conceded the race. Frisch, a former city councilman from the posh ski town of Aspen, acknowledged a recount is unlikely to change the results. In Colorado, an automatic recount is triggered when the margin of votes between … [Read more...] about Boebert’s race against Frisch in Colorado goes to recount

A private border wall built along the Rio Grande in South Texas could collapse during extreme flooding, according to a federally commissioned inspection report that the government sought to keep secret for more than a year. The 404-page report , produced by the global engineering firm Arcadis, confirms previous reporting from ProPublica and The Texas Tribune. It also shows for the first time that the federal government independently found structural problems with the border fencing before reaching a settlement agreement with the builder, Fisher Industries, in May. Under the agreement, which ended a nearly three-year legal battle between the International Boundary and Water Commission and Fisher Industries, the company must inspect the fence quarterly, remove bollards and maintain a gate that would allow for the release of floodwaters. It must also keep a $3 million bond, a type of insurance, to cover any expenses in case the structure fails. Engineering and hydrology … [Read more...] about Justice Department tried to hide report warning that private border wall in Texas could collapse

Edited by Christian Gregory Amistad. 288 pp. $27.99 - - - The many accolades that one might assign to Dick Gregory - pioneering comedian, best-selling author, civil rights activist, even health guru - are more reductive than the man he was. Sure, his appearance on "The Jack Paar Show" in 1961 was a breakthrough for Black entertainers on American television; his work for social justice, which began when he was in high school in the 1940s, helped break down barriers; and his books, more than a dozen, sold millions of copies. Gregory was passionate, effusive, unfiltered. Even in his later years, he seemed to never turn down an opportunity to grab the mic and offer his frank appraisals. ("Anytime you vote for the lesser of two evils, you're evil yourself," he said in a 2016 comment about Donald Trump. "That's how Hitler came to power.") Gregory spent nearly 60 years in public life, touring until his death in 2017 at age 84. He was, pardon the cliche, larger than life. For … [Read more...] about Book World: Dick Gregory was many things. Filtered was not one of them.

Martin Brundle has been left perplexed by Mattia Binotto’s resignation as Ferrari Formula 1 team principal, claiming it would be “strange” if the team have not lined up an outstanding candidate to replace him. Binotto will leave his role as Ferrari team boss at the end of this month after announcing his resignation earlier this week, bringing an end to 28 years of service to F1’s most famous team. His exit comes after Ferrari’s 2022 title challenge suffered a catastrophic collapse with reliability issues, operational mistakes and driver errors costing the team valuable points to Red Bull. In a statement confirming Binotto’s departure, Ferrari confirmed the process is “underway” to find a new team principal and is expected to be finalised in the new year; Alfa Romeo boss Frederic Vasseur iscurrently thought to be the leading candidate for the role. Brundle feels Ferrari have lost a figure of significant stature in Binotto, not only the team boss but a key influence in the … [Read more...] about Martin Brundle offers his assessment of ‘strange’ situation at Ferrari