Politics
PURA Cuts Public Benefits Charge, Reducing CT Electric Bills
Connecticut electricity customers will see ~15% bill reductions starting May 1 after PURA unanimously voted to slash the public benefits charge.
EH
Editor-in-Chief
Elizabeth Hartley
Elizabeth Hartley is the founding editor of Connecticut Navigator. A Yale graduate with roots in New Haven stretching back generations, she spent fifteen years covering the State Capitol for the Hartford Courant before launching this publication. She believes Connecticut is more interesting than people give it credit for—and that good local journalism can help people see it. She lives in New Haven, where she's slowly restoring a Victorian. Previously, Elizabeth was a Statehouse Correspondent at Associated Press. Elizabeth holds a B.A. in Political Science from Sacred Heart University.
Covers: Politics State government Breaking news
Articles by Elizabeth Hartley
70 Articles Politics
CT Survivors Justice Act: Sentencing Reform for Abuse Victims
Connecticut's House Bill 5306 would allow judges to reduce sentences for domestic violence and trafficking survivors whose abuse contributed to their offense.
Environment
Trump's Environmental Rollbacks Mean Dirtier Air for CT
Connecticut officials warn Trump's aggressive rollback of federal clean air standards threatens public health and reverses decades of air quality progress.
Politics
Ridgefield Parents: Cut Chromebooks, Not Teachers
Ridgefield faces a $1.5M budget cut. Parents argue ending the one-to-one Chromebook policy could save teachers' jobs and improve student outcomes.
Politics
CT DOT Seeks Permission to Resume Buying Diesel Buses
Connecticut's DOT wants to lift a two-year diesel bus ban, citing a manufacturing backlog that threatens the state's ability to maintain transit service levels.
Politics
UConn Faculty Contract Raises Public Bargaining Questions
UConn's faculty union secured raises and expanded benefits with few givebacks, raising questions about Connecticut's public-sector bargaining balance.
Politics
USDA Chief Says CT Farm Grant Nearly Done After 16 Months
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says Connecticut's $53 million federal farm disaster relief grant is finally 'at the finish line' after 16 months of delays.
Politics
CT Homelessness Crisis Demands Better Program Coordination
Connecticut counted 3,735 homeless residents in January 2025, with unsheltered numbers up 183% since 2022. The state lacks unified leadership to fix it.
Politics
Trump's Job Training Plan Cuts $1.2B in Federal Funding
Trump's 'Make America Skilled Again' grant would consolidate job training programs into a $3.4B block grant, cutting over $1.2 billion in federal funding.
Real Estate
Elm City Lofts: 242 Affordable Units Plan Advances
Vesta Corporation and Vallone Ventures seek zoning approval for ground-floor retail at Elm City Lofts, a 242-unit affordable housing complex in Newhallville.
Arts & Culture
How New Haven Celebrated Its 1838 Bicentennial
New Haven marked its 200th anniversary on April 25, 1838, with medallions, oration, and Puritan pageantry near the historic Green.
Politics
Betsy McCaughey Sues NY Over Pipeline Blocking CT Energy
GOP gubernatorial candidate Betsy McCaughey filed suit in Manhattan against Gov. Hochul, alleging New York's pipeline blockage is raising Connecticut energy costs.
Politics
CT HB 5044 Vaccine Bill Sparks Heated Capitol Debate
Connecticut's HB 5044 would expand state vaccine authority beyond CDC guidelines, drawing over 500 speakers to a heated public hearing at the State Capitol.
Politics
Lamont Floats Gas Tax Holiday Amid Rising Fuel Prices
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont is considering suspending the state's gas and diesel taxes as fuel prices surge following U.S.-Iranian conflict disruptions.
Politics
CT Politics: DHS Shutdown, Diamantis Scandal & Superfund Bill
Connecticut politics roundup covering the DHS funding standoff, the Diamantis scandal, a superfund bill, and a supervised overdose prevention center proposal.
Politics
Josh Elliott Challenges Ned Lamont for Connecticut Governor
State Rep. Josh Elliott is crisscrossing Connecticut pitching Democratic town committees on why Ned Lamont shouldn't get a third term as governor.
Politics
Bickford Nursing Home Closure: Connecticut Relocates Residents
Connecticut officials are relocating residents of Bickford Health Care Center after a 93-year-old wandered outside and died from exposure in February.
Politics
How a Transmission Monitor Could Lower CT Electric Bills
Connecticut ratepayers face soaring transmission costs. An independent monitor could provide oversight and cut billions in unchecked grid spending.
Politics
The Shack Community Center Reopens in New Haven's West Hills
New Haven's Shack community center celebrates its grand reopening after a $550,000 State Urban Act Grant funded major structural repairs and renovations.
Politics
Eversource Rejects Three Connecticut Solar Contracts
Eversource refused to sign three state-selected solar contracts worth $238 million, calling them overpriced and not in the interest of Connecticut customers.
Politics
Trump Budget Targets Greenwich and Waterford, CT
Trump's latest budget proposal singles out Greenwich and Waterford, CT, targeting federal CDBG spending as wasteful examples in blue states.
Politics
Musk-Funded Mural of Slain Ukrainian Refugee Installed Downtown
A 10x24-foot mural of Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee fatally stabbed in North Carolina, was installed in Hartford with backing from Elon Musk.
Politics
CT Faces Tiny $6M Budget Deficit, Comptroller Projects
Connecticut Comptroller Sean Scanlon projects a $6 million budget deficit, the state's first under Gov. Ned Lamont, though reserves dwarf the shortfall.
Politics
CT Legislature Passes $29B Budget Plan, Heads to Lamont
Connecticut's Appropriations Committee approved a $29B state budget, boosting spending 6.2% and setting up negotiations with Gov. Ned Lamont.
Politics
CT Building Code Loophole Puts Homes at Carbon Monoxide Risk
A single word in Connecticut's building code lets installers use unsafe PVC pipe for furnace venting, creating a deadly carbon monoxide risk in homes.
Politics
Will Higher Gas Prices Actually Boost Mass Transit?
Connecticut transit advocates hope rising gas prices will shift commuters to trains and buses, but the economic reality is far more complicated.
Politics
CT Governor Opposes SAVE America Act Voting Rules
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont and Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas slam the SAVE America Act, saying it would suppress voting for thousands of residents.
Politics
Connecticut Sets New Rules for School Crisis Drills
Connecticut's Senate Bill 298 establishes statewide standards for school crisis drills, requiring trauma-informed practices and parent notification.
Politics
Sister Fights for Brother's Rights at Osborn Prison
Lisa Velasquez-Torres speaks out about dire conditions at Osborn Correctional Institution, where her brother Luis faces neglect and medical failures.
Politics
CT Senate Approves State Employee Raises 30-2
The Connecticut Senate voted 30-2 to approve raises for 3,661 unionized state workers, a sharp contrast to the heated House debate a day earlier.
Politics
Ritter Eyes Compromise on CT Tax Rebates and School Aid
House Speaker Matt Ritter says Connecticut lawmakers are nearing a deal balancing Governor Lamont's tax rebate plan with increased funding for local schools.
Politics
No-Fault Evictions Threaten CT Communities and Democracy
Connecticut's Senate Bill 257 aims to expand just cause eviction protections, shielding tenants from no-fault removals that devastate neighborhoods and democracy.
Environment
Connecticut Launches First Tire Stewardship Program
Connecticut launches the nation's first manufacturer-led tire stewardship program, allowing free tire drop-offs at four town transfer stations.
Politics
CT Lawmakers Consider Legalizing Plug-In Solar Panels
Connecticut's House Bill 5340 could allow residents to use plug-in solar panels without utility approval, easing some of the nation's highest electric bills.
Politics
CT Bills Seek ICE Accountability Backed by Tong & Blumenthal
Connecticut's Judiciary Committee advanced bills to let the state sue ICE agents for civil rights violations and restrict immigration enforcement locations.
Politics
Lamont Pushes Connecticut Ban on Machine Gun-Convertible Handguns
Gov. Ned Lamont proposes making Connecticut the second state to ban handguns easily converted to machine guns using illegal after-market switches.
Politics
Strong CT Schools Need Community Partnerships
Bridgeport students and educators braved winter storms to advocate for stronger school-community partnerships at the Connecticut State Capitol.
Politics
CT Leads Multistate Suit Over EPA Endangerment Finding Repeal
Connecticut AG William Tong is leading a multistate legal challenge against the EPA's decision to rescind its greenhouse gas endangerment finding.
Politics
Connecticut Bill Would Fund UConn UFO Study
Connecticut lawmakers introduced H.B. 5422, directing UConn to study UFOs and evaluate a permanent state center, raising taxpayer spending concerns.
Politics
CT Politics: Eviction Reform, Aquarion & Towing Laws
Connecticut politics this week covers DHS funding fights, eviction reform, water utility oversight, towing laws, and school grant updates.
Politics
CT Lawmakers Propose $40M Plan to Offset Federal SNAP Cuts
Connecticut Democrats push a $40M bridge food assistance program to help 36,000 residents losing SNAP benefits under new federal work requirements.
Politics
CT Home Care Advocates Fear Cuts to Community First Choice
Connecticut families protest Gov. Lamont's plan to eliminate Community First Choice, warning thousands could lose home-based care or face long waitlists.
Environment
Alternative Burials Rising in Connecticut Funeral Homes
Over 67% of Connecticut deaths now result in cremation, as funeral homes embrace water cremation, human composting, and other alternatives.
Politics
CT Lawmakers Consider Prison Health Care Reform Bill
Connecticut's House Bill 5567 aims to fix a crisis in inmate medical care, addressing poor nutrition, staffing shortages, and delayed treatment in state prisons.
Politics
CT House Dems Plan to Redirect Tax Rebates to Schools
Connecticut House Democrats propose diverting $100-150M from Gov. Lamont's tax rebate program to aid struggling school districts facing a fiscal crisis.
Politics
CT Municipal Utility Rates vs Eversource & UI Costs
Connecticut's 7 municipal electric utilities charge 23–64% less than Eversource and United Illuminating. Here's what customers in those towns pay.
Politics
Six California Attorneys Named in Federal RICO Action Over Alleged Role in TopDevz Enterprise
A federal RICO complaint names six attorneys from five California law firms as alleged participants in an eight-year criminal enterprise. The case raises questions about the profession's self-policing mechanisms.
Politics
CT Paid Leave Law: Progress for Moms, But Gaps Remain
Connecticut's paid leave law helps new mothers, but partial wage replacement and separate applications leave many families struggling to fully benefit.
Politics
Iran War Raises Economic Uncertainty in Connecticut 2026
Gov. Ned Lamont warns the Iran conflict is driving up energy prices in Connecticut, with gas hitting $3.45/gallon and a possible tax holiday under consideration.
Politics
CT Homeschooling Bill HB 5468: What It Means for Families
Connecticut's Education Committee examines HB 5468, a bill reshaping homeschooling oversight and expanding access to public school resources.
Politics
Connecticut Considers Styrofoam Ban and Single-Use Plastic Limits
Connecticut's House Bill 5524 proposes banning polystyrene containers by 2028 and restricting single-use plastics like straws and utensils in restaurants.
Politics
CT Legislature 2026: Guns in Schools, Rent Caps & ICE Bills
Connecticut lawmakers advance bills on off-duty officers in schools, a 5% rent increase cap, ICE detention facilities, and hospital taxes in the 2026 session.
Politics
CT Lawmakers Question DCF Nominee Susan Hamilton
Connecticut lawmakers grilled DCF interim commissioner Susan Hamilton at her confirmation hearing, raising concerns about child safety, caseworker turnover, and agency oversight.
Politics
Lamont Reaches Deals With 10 Unions, But Raises Still Delayed
Governor Lamont reached tentative contracts with 10 state unions covering 20,000 workers, but over half of bargaining units still await raises eight months overdue.
Politics
CT Survivors Push to Ban Female Genital Mutilation
Connecticut remains one of nine states without an FGM ban. Survivors are urging lawmakers to pass legislation criminalizing the practice as a class D felony.
Politics
Lamont Nominates 14 Lawyers to Connecticut Superior Court
Gov. Ned Lamont nominated 14 lawyers to fill 20 vacancies on Connecticut's Superior Court, including his former budget director and a ex-Republican lawmaker.
Politics
Connecticut SB 101: Opposition to Statewide Property Tax
The Yankee Institute opposes Connecticut SB 101, which would impose a graduated statewide property tax on homes assessed above $3 million.
Real Estate
Lamont Signs Compromise Housing Law in Norwalk, Aims for 100,000 New Homes Statewide
Gov. Ned Lamont signed a new affordable housing law in Norwalk on Monday, selecting Fairfield County—one of the nation's most expensive housing markets—as the backdrop for legislation aimed at building more than 100,000 new homes across Connecticut.
Real Estate
Connecticut Home Sales Drop 6.4% in January as Winter Weather Dampens Market Activity
Connecticut home sales declined 6.4% in January compared to the same month last year, according to the Connecticut Association of Realtors, outpacing the national decline of 4.4% during the same period.
Technology
Connecticut Lawmakers Advance Bill Requiring Data Centers to Supply Own Power
Connecticut lawmakers are moving forward with legislation that would force large electricity users, including data centers, to generate their own power instead of drawing from the state's electric grid.
People
Mary Fulton, Former New Haven Educator and Community Leader, Dies at 87
Mary Elizabeth Fulton, a longtime New Haven resident who dedicated her career to special education and served as a leader in multiple community organizations, died at age 87, according to her obituary.
Local & news
Aquarion Water Company Triggers First Drought Warning for Eastern Fairfield County
Aquarion Water Company announced Monday that Eastern Fairfield County has reached its first drought trigger of the year, prompting the utility to ask customers across 13 towns to voluntarily conserve water.
UConn
Ukrainian-Born Paralympian Oksana Masters Excels in Rare Dual-Season Competition
Oksana Masters, the most decorated American Winter Paralympian, belongs to an elite group of athletes who compete in both Summer and Winter Paralympic Games, according to the International Paralympic Committee.
Technology
UConn Loses $95 Million in Federal Research Funding as Trump Administration Cuts Grants
The University of Connecticut has lost $95 million in federal research funding over the past year as the Trump administration canceled previously approved grants and withheld funding from universities nationwide, according to university officials.
Real Estate
Connecticut Lawmakers Consider Banning Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers by 2030, Using Electric Bills to Fund Transition
Connecticut lawmakers are considering legislation that would ban gas-powered leaf blowers statewide and use electric bill surcharges to subsidize the transition to battery-powered equipment.
Technology
Identity Verification Has a Data Problem. New Tech May Fix It.
Financial institutions have collected identity verification data for decades. A wave of breaches is forcing the industry to ask whether centralized storage was ever a good idea.
Politics
Connecticut Comptroller Pushes for Power to Freeze Payments to Contractors Under Wage Theft Investigation
State Comptroller Sean Scanlon is urging Connecticut lawmakers to grant his office authority to halt payments to contractors accused of violating prevailing wage laws on state-funded projects, according to remarks he made during a Tuesday news conference.
Business
New Haven Sues Major Insurers and Drug Companies Over Alleged Insulin Price-Fixing Scheme
The City of New Haven has filed a sweeping lawsuit against major insurance companies and pharmaceutical manufacturers, alleging they operated a coordinated scheme to artificially inflate insulin prices over nearly a decade.
Business
New Haven Auto Parts Maker Proliance Beats California EV Rival
Proliance International, based in New Haven, shows higher earnings than San Diego electric vehicle company Nuvve despite lower revenue in latest comparison.
People
David Brooks Leaves Times for Yale Fellowship
After 22 years at the New York Times, the columnist will become a Presidential Senior Fellow at Yale Jackson School, launching public conversations and a new podcast.