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Politics

Connecticut Governor Extends State of Emergency To April 20

Governor Lamont Extends Connecticut’s State of Emergency for the COVID-19 Pandemic To April 20 HARTFORD, CT (STL.News) Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has signed a declaration extending Connecticut’s state of emergency in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to April 20, 2021. The extension applies to both the civil preparedness emergency and the public health emergency. The governor originally declared the emergencies on March 10, 2020, explaining that they were needed in order to enable the state to provide its residents with an adequate response to the pandemic. Initially, they were scheduled to expire on September 9, 2020, however due to the ongoing nature of the pandemic they were renewed late in the summer and given a new expiration date of February 9, 2021. ...

Health

Connecticut, UK Variant COVID Detected in 4 Additional Residents

Governor Lamont Announces UK Variant of COVID-19 Detected in Four Additional Connecticut Residents, Bringing Total Number of Cases in the State To Eight HARTFORD, CT (STL.News)– Governor Ned Lamont today announced that Connecticut public health officials have confirmed that the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7, commonly known as the UK variant, has been detected in four additional individuals in the state who recently tested positive for COVID-19. This brings the total number of confirmed cases of the UK variant in Connecticut to eight. The eight individuals, who live in New Haven (2), Oxford (3), and West Haven (3), range in age from 15 to 50. Several individuals were tested through Griffin Hospital’s testing program between January 6 and January 18, 2021. Subsequent genomic sequencing by ...

Politics

Connecticut Governor Applauds Biden’s Executive Actions

Governor Lamont Applauds President Biden’s Executive Actions Recommitting the U.S. as a Leader in Environmental Protection HARTFORD, CT (STL.News) Governor Ned Lamont is applauding the actions taken this evening by President Joe Biden to recommit the United States as a leader in environmental protection, including rejoining the United States as a member of the Paris Agreement on climate change and signing an executive order that takes critical first steps to address the climate crisis. The actions are among the first President Biden has taken since being sworn into office earlier today. “The executive actions signed by President Biden today with respect to the environment, namely rejoining the Paris Agreement on climate change and directing federal departments and agencies to immediat...

General

Connecticut: Patrick Edward Charged with Assaulting Officer

Connecticut Man, Patrick Edward McCaughey Charged with Assaulting an Officer During U.S. Capitol Breach (STL.News) A Connecticut man was charged yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia with assaulting an officer during the breach of the U.S. Capitol grounds on Jan. 6, 2021. He will be presented in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York today, before appearing in Washington D.C. Patrick Edward McCaughey III was charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees; civil disorder; entering restricted building or grounds; and violent entry or disorderly conduct. “The vicious attack on Officer Hodges was abhorrent and quintessentially un-American,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael R. Sherwin. “It is my pledge that a...

General

Patrick Edward McCaughey Charged with Assaulting Officer

Connecticut Man, Patrick Edward McCaughey Charged with Assaulting an Officer During U.S. Capitol Breach WASHINGTON (STL.News) A Connecticut man was charged yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia with assaulting an officer during the breach of the U.S. Capitol grounds on Jan. 6, 2021. He will be presented in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York today, before appearing in Washington D.C. Patrick Edward McCaughey III was charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees; civil disorder; entering restricted building or grounds; and violent entry or disorderly conduct. “The vicious attack on Officer Hodges was abhorrent and quintessentially un-American,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael R. Sherwin. “It is my p...

Politics

Connecticut Governor Lamont Appointed Co-Chair of NGA

Governor Lamont Appointed Co-Chair of National Governors Association’s Pandemic and Disaster Response Task Force HARTFORD, CT (STL.News) Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has been appointed co-chair of the National Governors Association’s (NGA) Pandemic and Disaster Response Task Force. It is one of three task forces that are being created by the organization to coordinate and lead bipartisan state and territorial efforts to response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and to lead economic recovery and community renewal efforts. The task forces, which replace committees, will foster a more nimble response to the ongoing public health, economic, and human services challenges related to COVID-19, as well as to focus NGA’s federal advocacy efforts on governors’ top priorities now...

Politics

Connecticut Governor: Election for Senate Seat in Darien – Stamford

HARTFORD, CT (STL.News)– Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has scheduled Tuesday, March 2, 2021 as the date to hold a special election to fill a vacancy for state senator in the 27th Senatorial District of the Connecticut General Assembly. The seat, which consists of portions of Darien and Stamford, became vacant on January 5 following the resignation of Carlo Leone. Under state law, the governor is required to issue a writ of special election within 10 days of a vacancy in the General Assembly and a special election must be held exactly 46 days after the writ has been issued. Governor Lamont issued the writs today. **Download: Governor Lamont’s writ of special election for the 27th Senatorial District in the Town of Darien **Download: Governor Lamont’s writ of special...

Politics

Connecticut Governor: $5 Million For Transportation Upgrades

Governor Lamont Highlights Increased Efficiencies for Credential Holders at the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection HARTFORD, CT (STL.News)– Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the State of Connecticut is awarding $5 million in funding to 10 towns and cities across the state under a competitive grant program administered by the Department of Transportation for projects that support improved mobility and accessibility, as well as pedestrian and bicycle safety. The Community Connectivity Grant Program provides construction funding for local initiatives that will improve safety and accessibility for bicyclists and pedestrians in and around community centers, encouraging more people to use these healthy and environmentally sustainable modes of travel. The grant program also...

Politics

Connecticut Governor Lamont: Phase 1b of COVID-19 Vaccination

Governor Lamont Announces Connecticut Residents Over 75 Can Now Register for COVID-19 Vaccination Appointments as State Transitions To Phase 1b 1.3 Million Residents Are Eligible To Receive Vaccine in Phase 1b as 46,000 First Doses Are Expected To Be Delivered Weekly From the Federal Government Governor Lamont Accepts Advisory Group’s Recommendations To Expand Phase 1b To More Populations (HARTFORD, CT) (STL.News)– Governor Ned Lamont today announced that phase 1b of Connecticut’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout will begin on Monday, January 18, 2021, and residents in the state over the age of 75 can now schedule appointments to receive the vaccine. In addition, Governor Lamont announced that he is accepting the recommendations of the Allocation Subcommittee of the Governor’s COVID-19 Vacci...

Politics

Connecticut Governor: Expansion of Lost Wages Assistance Program

Governor Lamont: Expansion of Lost Wages Assistance Program Delivered an Additional $35 Million in Federal Benefits To Nearly 23,000 Connecticut Workers Impacted by COVID-19 HARTFORD, CT (STL.News)– Governor Ned Lamont today announced that an executive order he signed last month expanding eligibility in the federal Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) Program has resulted in 22,837 unemployed Connecticut residents receiving an additional $35 million in federal payments over the last several weeks. The LWA program offered an additional $300 in weekly benefits for six weeks late last summer to claimants who were unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, to be eligible for the program, the Trump administration required that all claimants must be receiving more than $100 per week in unempl...

Politics

Connecticut Governor: Approval of Federal Major Disaster Declaration

Governor Lamont Announces Approval of Federal Major Disaster Declaration in Response To Tropical Storm Isaias Request for Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grants Approved for All Eight Connecticut Counties HARTFORD, CT (STL.News) Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has received notification from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that the request he made to President Donald Trump in September 2020 for a federal major disaster declaration in response to the damage caused by Tropical Storm Isaias has been approved for all eight counties in Connecticut, including the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribes. The declaration includes the approval of public assistance for the entire state, giving state agencies, municipalities, and the two tribal nations the ability to re...

Politics

Connecticut Governor: Deployment of CT National Guard Members

Governor Lamont Announces Deployment of More Than 100 Members of the Connecticut National Guard To Washington, D.C. HARTFORD, CT (STL.News) Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont today announced that at the request of United States National Guard officials, he is authorizing the deployment of more than 100 members of the Connecticut National Guard to Washington, D.C. to aid and facilitate the peaceful transition of presidential power. This includes members of the Connecticut National Guard’s Military Police, as well as two patrol explosive-detection dog teams that are dual-trained for police patrol activities and explosive detection. Additionally, the state’s Air Guard has also placed C-130H aircraft and crews on alert status, which are capable of moving personnel throughout the country if ...

Politics

Connecticut Governor Provides Update on Coronavirus Response Efforts

Gov. Lamont Provides Update on Coronavirus Response Efforts (HARTFORD, CT) (STL.News) As the State of Connecticut continues taking actions in response to the global spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Governor Ned Lamont provided the following updates. Data updates on testing in Connecticut The following is a summary of the day-to-day newly reported data on cases, deaths, and tests in Connecticut. It is important to note that these newly reported updates include data that occurred over the last several days to a week. All data in this report are preliminary, and data for previous dates will be updated as new reports are received and data errors are corrected. Overall Summary Total Change Since Thursday COVID-19 Cases (confirmed and probable) 190,120 +4,412 ...

General

Connecticut: Torrie Smith Sentenced for Multiple Crimes

Connecticut Man Sentenced, Torrie Smith to Five Years Imprisonment for Distribution of Heroin, Fentanyl, and Crack Cocaine in the Manchester, Vermont Area (STL.News) The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Torrie Smith, 31, was sentenced to five years imprisonment by U.S. District Court Judge William K. Sessions III. Smith previously pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute, heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine. Judge Sessions also sentenced Smith to a four-year term of federal supervised release, which will begin after Smith completes his five-year prison term. At the time of his arrest, in April 2019, Smith resided in both Manchester, Vermont and Hartford Connecticut. According to court records, on three separate instances, law enfo...

General

Connecticut: Edward Fisher Sentenced for Multiple Crimes

Connecticut Man, Edward Fisher Sentenced for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft BOISE (STL.News) Edward Fisher, 57, of Stamford, Connecticut, was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced it. U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also imposed a term of three years of supervised release to follow Fisher’s prison sentence. Fisher pleaded guilty to the charges on September 3, 2020. According to court records, on April 22, 2020, Fisher visited a Wells Fargo in Boise, a federally insured financial institution. Fisher filled out a withdrawal slip for $3,500 and requested to withdraw funds from an account belonging to a Wells Fargo account holder. To withdraw the funds from the account, Fisher presente...

General

Three Hartford, Connecticut Area Men Face Federal Drug Charges

Three Hartford, Connecticut Area Men Face Federal Drug Charges from Seizure of Fentanyl and Cocaine Base from Rutland Apartment (STL.News) The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that a federal grand jury, sitting in Rutland, charged three men from the Hartford, Connecticut area with an assortment of heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine offenses. The defendants are: Ralph Mariani (a.k.a. “D”), 27, of East Hartford, Connecticut; Cedano Brownswell, 26, of Hartford, Connecticut; and Rashane Wedderburn, 25, of Hartford, Connecticut. The five-count indictment includes charges that: Mariani and Wedderburn distributed Fentanyl; Mariani possessed, with the intent to distribute cocaine base and fentanyl; and Brownswell possessed cocaine base. On November 18,...

Politics

Connecticut Governor: High School Students To Participate in Competition

Governor Lamont Encourages Connecticut High School Students To Participate in Cybersecurity Competition CyberStart America Registration Now Open, Chance for Participating Students and Schools to Win Prizes, Scholarships, and Recognition HARTFORD, CT (STL.News) Governor Ned Lamont today is urging high school students in Connecticut to participate in CyberStart America, an innovative, national cybersecurity competition that encourages young adults to explore their aptitude for the exciting, lucrative, postsecondary pathways available in cybersecurity and computer science. The program, sponsored by the National Cyber Scholarship Foundation and the SANS Institute, is free to enter, and all schools and students in grades 9 to 12 are invited enter the challenge to compete for the chance to win ...

Politics

Connecticut Governor Lamont Approves $11 Million in State Funding

Governor Lamont Approves $11 Million in State Funding for Capital Improvement Projects in 94 Connecticut Towns Governor Reinstates STEAP Grants for First Time in Four Years; Includes Special COVID-19 Provision HARTFORD, CT (STL.News) Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has approved more than $11 million in state funding for grants through the Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) that will be awarded to 94 small towns across Connecticut for various infrastructure improvement projects. This is the first time since 2016 that the state has awarded STEAP funding. The governor said that he reinstated the program in an effort to support Connecticut’s municipalities while implementing projects that will give a boost to the economy and help in their response to the ongoing COVID...