CT News Junkie

Redesign to launch this weekend

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:34:26 -0500

This weekend CTNewsjunkie will launch its redesigned site. While not much will change visually, our new software platform will give us more flexibility in how we deliver news. We also have made it easier for readers to share content on the site. More bells and whistles will be on the way after our initial transition this weekend, so your input on the changes will be welcome. During the transition we may experience some down time, so please be patient with us. And thanks for all your help. We couldn't have made the coming improvements without support from our advertisers and reader donations.

Done. Out?

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:13:27 -0500

Washington, D.C. -- One white-haired lion of the U.S. Senate glared at another white-haired lion of the Senate. Then he accused him of hypocrisy, of lying about his past actions. Click here to continue reading Paul's last dispatch from D.C.

Republicans Release Their Own Plan

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:53:56 -0500

(Updated 3:11 p.m.) Republican lawmakers unveiled their own deficit mitigation package Friday morning, which restores an $84 million cut in municipal aid, eliminates funding for the Citizens' Election Program, cuts state agency spending by $258.3 million, and restores the sales tax reduction. The "alternative" deficit mitigation plan offered by Republicans Friday is in response to Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell's plan, which cuts $337 million in spending from the $18.64 billion 2010 budget.

Capitol Police Chief Michael Fallon Dies

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:17:08 -0500

Capitol Police Chief Michael Fallon, 47, died early Friday after a courageous battle with cancer. Fallon, who served for 23 years with the Hartford Police Department before being named in Dec. 2006 as Chief of the State Capitol Police, was remembered by lawmakers Friday as the consummate professional.

Candidate Faces Uphill Battle

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:23:04 -0500

She's got a few thousand dollars and support from two car repair groups. Can Peggy Rogers jumpstart a campaign that would roll over a popular incumbent? Click here to continue reading Leonard's report.

States Lead The Way On Climate Legislation

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:02:06 -0500

Only days before world leaders meet in Copenhagen to discuss an international agreement on global warming, the "America on the Move" report, concluded that states are already leading the way to creating a solution. The report, issued by the Environment America Research and Policy Center, reviewed more than 100 policies adopted by states and projected the emission reduction that will result from those actions. According to the report, state policies will reduce global warming pollution by approximately 536 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year by 2020.

'Unfunded' Mandates A Hot Button Issue

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:28:58 -0500

In what was sometimes a heated discussion, municipal and state officials tried to tackle the issue of unfunded state mandates during a two-hour meeting Thursday. But after municipal leaders spoke about all the cuts they already had made and brainstormed ways the state could offer them some relief, an argument over which policies would actually pass the legislature broke out between New Haven Mayor John DeStefano and Vernon Mayor Jason McCoy.

Foley Switches Campaigns

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:10:55 -0500

Former Ambassador to Ireland Tom Foley announced Thursday that he will be running for the Republican nomination for governor and abandoning his six-month campaign for the U.S. Senate. After being urged to take questions from the media Foley said his campaign probably won't use the state's public campaign finance system. "We plan to raise money and spend my own money if we go that way," Foley said. Foley did not say how much of his own money he would be willing to spend on the race.

Feds To Probe Racial Profiling Claims

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:31:09 -0500

Following an official racial-profiling complaint by a New Haven church, the U.S. Department of Justice has decided that police practices in East Haven deserve a closer look. Click here to continue reading Thomas' report from East Haven.

12-Member Panel On Town Aid Meets Thursday

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:40:30 -0500

Chief elected officials from 10 cities and towns will meet for the first time Thursday morning to talk about how to cut $84 million in municipal aid.

Lieberman Seeks 'Withdrawal' Wiggle Room

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:37:10 -0500

Washington, D.C. -- At the dawn of a ramped-up war in Afghanistan, Joe Lieberman used a moment in the spotlight Wednesday to try to define the mission -- as lasting well beyond mid-2011. Lieberman's moment lasted seven minutes, actually. That was the Connecticut senator's time to ask questions of the three architects of President Obama's "surge" of 30,000 new U.S. troops he plans to send to war-torn Afghanistan. Click here to continue reading Paul's report.

Fedele Formally Announces Run For Governor

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:15:58 -0500

Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele, the man who has been Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell's sidekick for the past three years formally announced his intention to seek the Republican nomination for governor Wednesday. The announcement came Wednesday at a Connecticut Business and Industry Association meeting of small manufacturing businesses. As he walked briskly to his car following the brief speech, Fedele said he's jumping into the race with both feet and filing a campaign committee. "There's nothing for me to explore," Fedele said.

Call Dodd An Afghanistan 'Skeptic'

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:44:41 -0500

Washington, D.C. -- That's what Connecticut's senior senator labeled himself as his ally in the White House embarked on a newly ramped-up war. U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd questioned how successfully the U.S. can achieve its goals in Afghanistan -- and whether the Afghans even want us to help. Click here to continue reading Paul's report.

Huffington Calls Murdoch's Bluff

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 07:17:50 -0500

Washington, D.C. -- Is Rupert Murdoch really taking on Google and launching Web War I? Or is he "whining" for show -- while imitating news aggregators and positioning for a better deal? Click here to continue reading Paul's report from Washington.

Figueroa Resets Decision Date

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 07:13:24 -0500

A leading state health-care reformer decided Tuesday not to decide yet whether to run for governor. Juan Figueroa, a prime mover as chief of the Universal Health Care Foundation behind the passage of a health reform law called SustiNet, originally set a Dec. 1 deadline for announcing whether he'll join a field of six Democrats seeking the nomination for governor in 2010. He said Tuesday that he'll make his announcement the first week of January instead. Click here to continue reading Paul's report.