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Problems with daycare background checks continue
Auditors repeated their criticisms Wednesday of the state agency charged with performing background checks on daycare providers, saying it did not follow up on issues raised by the reviews. The Department of Public Health uses “a highly manual process” to conduct...
Donated billboard promotes Bridgeport mayor on Twitter
Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch is looking for followers on Twitter and he is using billboard space donated to the city to recruit them. The billboard, visible from I-95, promotes Finch’s account, @MayorBillFinch. “The billboard space is provided to the city as free...
California fundraiser not on latest Democratic disclosure
The results of Gov. Dannel Malloy’s fundraising trip to California on behalf of the Democratic Party last week won’t be public until next year because he left for California immediately after the most recent reporting period ended. Both major state parties...
Two former clients paid Commissioner Esty in 2012
Connecticut’s lauded ethics laws allow state officials to make vague disclosures about their sources of income in some cases, but for Commissioner Dan Esty his wife’s filings as a member of Congress reveal more details than his own. Esty joined Gov. Dannel Malloy’s...
Only vague disclosures required for some Conn. officials
State officials required by Connecticut’s popular ethics laws to disclose their income are allowed in some cases to use vague terms such as “clients” to describe how they earn a living. Most state officials required to file a statement of financial interest –...
Garage sale: Hartford used parking money to balance budget last year
State officials recently purchased Hartford’s Morgan Street garage, paying significantly more than its appraised value, in a move that results in a better financial picture for the Hartford Parking Authority. Last year, the city took $1.2 million from...
Longevity payments fall to $13.6 million
With the end of longevity payments for non-union state employees, total payments will fall to $13.6 million this month. Longevity payments for about 27,300 union employees will appear in their Oct. 18 paychecks. (View the list here.) Two prosecutors, Matthew Crockett...
Coverage of the Government Shutdown Highlights A Lack of Critical Analysis on the Left
When it comes to the circus that is the modern day news cycle, the government shutdown has undoubtedly become the main attraction. At the same time, an ever-popular sideshow attraction seems to be the saga of division within the Republican Party, presenting...
Hartford cuts spending but taps reserve to cover deficit
Hartford plans to spend $1.5 million less in the new fiscal year, but the city will need to use $8.3 million in savings to make up for an even larger decline in state aid. The city will spend just under $539 million while revenue will decline to $530 million,...
Zero equals 50 at Southington’s middle schools
Southington’s two middle schools will no longer give a student a grade below 50 on a test or quiz – unless the student refuses to take part. In that case, the grade is 45. “A teacher may include a comment when entering that grade as a default...