Sean scanlon

A state Republican political operative has filed a lawsuit against Mary Fay, the unsuccessful GOP candidate for state comptroller, and her treasurer, charging that their campaign failed to pay part of a contract to raise money that made Fay eligible for public financing. William J. Evans Jr., of Wolcott, charges that Fay, of West Hartford, and Casimir Mizera, of Stratford, wrongfully terminated his $26,000 contract signed in August, when Evans agreed to raise enough money for Fay to participate in the Citizens' Election Program. After writing checks totaling $16,000 for Evans, a former staff member of the state House of Representatives, Fay’s campaign did not pay off the balance of the contract, the lawsuit claims. Then Mizera, allegedly with Fay’s knowledge, defamed Evans when he “falsely suggested that the plaintiff was taking kickbacks from the campaign,” the lawsuit alleges. Evans claims his statewide reputation has suffered. Evans says that "false and defamatory … [Read more...] about CT Republican files lawsuit against former candidate claiming breach of contract

When it comes to taxes, the question state officials are trying to answer this year isn’t whether to cut them. For Gov. Ned Lamont and the General Assembly, the larger issues are how deep to cut — and who should benefit. Even as the national economy flirts with a recession, state government continues to ride an unprecedented wave of prosperity that began in 2018. But so much of this boom comes from sources that historically have been unstable, surging for four to five years at a time, and then plunging for an equally long stretch. This recent revenue explosion still is dwarfed by Connecticut’s long-term debt, a problem amassed by more than decades of fiscal irresponsibility going back to the late 1930s. “You’ve heard me say it before, ‘I don’t want more taxes, I want more taxpayers,’” Lamont told the legislature earlier this month in his State of the State Address. “More taxpayers will guarantee a bigger economic pie that lets us keep up the progress in progressive” … [Read more...] about CT is likely to see tax cuts this year, but who will benefit?

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 20 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — With rain-soaked California expected to see more stormy weather over the weekend and into next week, Gov. Gavin Newsom, and other state and federal officials pleaded with residents Friday to stay alert to possibly more flooding and damage. A series of storms has walloped the state since late December, leaving at least 19 people dead. On Friday, 6,000 people were under evacuation orders and another 20,000 households were without power, said Nancy Ward, the director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. Homes have flooded, levees breached and topped, and mudslides and hurricane-force winds have slammed parts of the state, including a tornado touchdown in Northern California, she said at a press briefing with Deanne Criswell, administrator of … [Read more...] about Newsom asks Californians to stay vigilant about more storms

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 The Houston Texans have begun to pursue a wide pool of head coaching candidates , requesting or setting up a handful of interviews since Lovie Smith was fired on Jan. 8. It appears the team is keeping its options open, as the candidates the Texans have currently expressed interest in range from a Super Bowl winner to potential first-time head coaches. Who would be the best fit to finish the rebuild in Houston and take the team back to the playoffs? Let's rank the various coaching candidates who have been linked to the Texans as of Sunday. 8. Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator, Detroit Lions Ben Johnson is an intriguing potential candidate, with his place on this list having to do more with the talented individuals ahead of him than his own limitations. After a rough first three years as a Lions assistant, Johnson was elevated to offensive coordinator in 2022 and thrived. … [Read more...] about Texans coaching candidates: Ranking potential interviewees by best fit

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Still fuming over pandemic-era shutdowns, Kentucky Republicans are pushing to obtain behind-the-scenes correspondence that Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear and his inner circle had about school closures at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak. Their sweeping request comes as Beshear ramps up his bid for a second term this year in a state Republicans have come to dominate. A dozen Republicans are competing for a shot at trying to unseat Beshear, whose approval ratings have remained high on the strength of his response to tornadoes and flooding as well as a string of economic development and infrastructure successes. Such a broad-based records request isn't uncommon among political operatives. The Kentucky GOP wants to dig into pandemic-era correspondence received or sent by Beshear and key administration members, looking for any opportunities to inflict damage on education and pandemic management issues that Beshear has championed as governor. They've asked for … [Read more...] about Kentucky GOP seeks school closure records from Dem governor

A new bill in the Connecticut General Assembly proposes to set emissions standards for natural gas stoves and other natural gas appliances. If passed ,the bill would also establish a loan fund for the replacement of gas appliances. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, roughly 30% of homes in Connecticut have a natural gas cooking appliance. The bill, introduced by Rep. Jonathan Steinberg of Westport, comes at a time when there is increasing scrutiny on the air quality impacts of gas stoves. A recent study has estimated that roughly 13% of childhood asthma cases in the United States can be attributed to air pollution from gas stoves. In response the US Consumer Product Safety Commission is considering banning gas stoves. “We’re very sensitive to the high rates of asthma in our inner cities in Connecticut,” said Rep Steinberg. “Much of it, as we know, is related to pollution that’s coming from farther west that carries to our area but we’re obviously … [Read more...] about Proposal would create restrictions for gas stoves in CT

The Houston Rockets are the NBA 's second-youngest squad behind only Oklahoma City, and a crew of the team's youngsters will be on hand at All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City next month. Three Rockets were named to the NBA Rising Stars roster Tuesday afternoon, with former top-three picks Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr. flanked by second-year sensation Alperen Şengün . The Rising Stars game has been a frequent showcase for Houston in recent years, with Şengün, Green and Jae'Sean Tate appearing in last year's contest in Cleveland. Şengün and Tate played on the winning team last year, as then-Pistons rookie Cade Cunningham helped them take home the crown. There is also one non-Rockets player who Houston fans will keep a keen eye on in the 2023 edition of the Rising Stars game. G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson is one of seven G League players in the Rising Stars pool for the Feb. 17 contest, and he is near-universally projected to be the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NBA … [Read more...] about Houston Rockets well-represented on Rising Stars roster

The 2022-23 season isn't exactly going as planned for the Houston Rockets . Stephen Silas's squad approached the year viewed by many as a scrappy unit worth watching, one who could at best challenge for a play-in spot while at the very least earning a spot as a League Pass darling. The latter scenario hasn't even come to fruition thus far. The Rockets enter Friday night with an NBA-worst 10–31 record . They rank last in offensive rating. No team sports a lower assist percentage, and curiously, the NBA's second-youngest teams sits No. 28 in transition scoring. The Rockets aren't just a rebuilding team. They're sadly one of the league's uglier watches on a given night. Let's not be too dour with a half season remaining on the 2022-23 schedule. The Rockets do show flashes of promise amid the extended stretches of poor play, and there are multiple individual pieces with All-Star potential. Growing that talent into a cohesive group is now the challenge. So how should we … [Read more...] about Houston Rockets report card: Grading Stephen Silas’s squad at midseason

Listen to this article Dries Vanthoor and Mohammed Al Saud, also victorious last year with WRT, were joined by Jens Klingmann, Diego Menchaca and Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer aboard the winning #7 BMW M4 GT3. With Vanthoor at the wheel, WRT took the lead for the final time with 20 minutes to go when Robert Renauer pitted the Herbert Racing Porsche for a fuel stop. Despite a fortunately-timed Code 60 which minimised his time loss, the German resumed behind. Vanthoor slowed on the final tour to ensure he didn't have to complete another lap, with a safe margin of 21 seconds over the car shared by Renauer, his brother Alfred Renauer, Ralf Bohn and Daniel Allemann. The winning crew completed a total of 621 laps, a tally bettered only by Black Falcon's Mercedes in 2013. WRT also got its second car home in third, with the entry campaigned by factory drivers Rossi, Maxime Martin and Max Hesse, plus the team's FIA World Endurance Championship regular Sean Gelael and Briton Tim Whale … [Read more...] about WRT wins on BMW debut in Dubai 24 Hours, Rossi claims podium