July 22, 2019

Municipalities Can Seek Federal Bridge Repair Funds From State; Hundreds of Local Projects Eligible, Unclear How Many Applied by Deadline

July 22, 2019/ Bernard Kavaler

There are more than 3,400 bridges and culverts on municipally maintained roads, according to the state DOT. Construction and maintenance is the responsibility of the cities and towns who own them. Currently, 1,765 are listed on the state’s eligible bridge list – for the removal, replacement, reconstruction or rehabilitation of local bridges.

July 21, 2019

Seven Digit License Plate Combo's Beginning with "A" Are Overtaking CT Roads

July 21, 2019/ Bernard Kavaler

Try stopping at any red light at any intersection in Connecticut, glancing at the license plates of the cars around you, and not noticing any vehicle license that begin with two letters, the first of which is an ”A”, followed by five numbers. It is harder to do than you’d think. Here’s why.

June 25, 2019

Illinois - Not Connecticut - Is Next State to Legalize Recreational Marijuana

June 25, 2019/ Bernard Kavaler

Illinois became the 11th state in the nation to legalize recreational cannabis this week, as the issue continues to face an uncertain future in Connecticut, with the state’s business community among those raising questions that slowed progress to the point of inaction in the just-concluded legislative session.

June 12, 2019

Earning State’s HEARTSafe Designation Can Be Key to Saving Lives; UConn Is Most Recent Participant, Some Municipalities Remain Absent

June 12, 2019/ Bernard Kavaler

The University of Connecticut was recently named a “HEARTSafe Campus” – the first institution of higher education in the state of Connecticut to earn the designation. The “HEARTSafe” program recognizes communities, workplaces, and campuses that improve the chances for individuals to survive a sudden cardiac arrest. Not every town is on board.

June 10, 2019

Connecticut Earns High Ranking in Internet Safety for Kids

June 10, 2019/ Bernard Kavaler

Connecticut is seen as having among the best laws on the books to protect children using the internet, according to a new analysis. Nine states – including Connecticut – earned an “A” when a series of factors were rated, from cyberbulling to sexting.

June 06, 2019

Task Force to Review Mental Health Services for College Students Approved by Legislature

June 06, 2019/ Bernard Kavaler

In the state legislature’s final hour of the 2019 session, the House voted without objection, following unanimous support in April by the Senate, to create a task force to study of the policies and procedures adopted by each institution of higher education in Connecticut regarding the prevention and treatment of mental illness in students.

May 29, 2019

UConn Earns Defense Industry Dollars, Research Designation

May 29, 2019/ Bernard Kavaler

Connecticut’s economic dependence on the defense industry is evident not only across the industry, but at the state’s flagship university. In recent months, the University of Connecticut has been re-designated as a National Security Agency/Department of Homeland Security Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Research and landed a four-year, $5.4 million contract with the Air Force

May 09, 2019

Banks, Regulated by Federal Government, Obliged to Say No To Marijuana Businesses - States Urge Congress to Act

May 09, 2019/ Bernard Kavaler

Attorney General William Tong has joined a bipartisan coalition of 38 states and territorial attorneys general urging Congress to pass the federal Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act or similar measures that would give legal marijuana-related businesses access to the federal banking system. Today, banks say no to marijuana-related businesses due to the ongoing conflict between state and federal law.

May 08, 2019

Municipalities Can Apply for Federal Bridge Repair Funds From State Through May 31; Hundreds of Projects Eligible

May 08, 2019/ Bernard Kavaler

There are more than 3,400 bridges and culverts on municipally maintained roads, according to the state Department of Transportation. Construction and maintenance is the responsibility of the cities and towns who own them. Currently, 688 bridges or culverts located in the state’s municipalities are considered to be functionally obsolete and 205 are categorized as structurally deficient.

April 21, 2019

Will Legislature Act to Re-open Highway Rest Stops? Maybe, Maybe Not

April 21, 2019/ Bernard Kavaler

Legislative testimony says highway “rest areas are more than a public convenience” - they also “provide a public safety benefit.” Whether the state’s closed rest facilities will re-open is uncertain, as the fate, timing and impact of legislative proposals suggest change may not be imminent.