Fellow Democrats tell embattled Congresswoman Esty to resign

Some Connecticut Democrats are calling for their embattled colleague U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty to step down for not protecting female staffers who say they experienced violence, death threats and sexual harassment by her former chief of staff. Esty is an outspoken advocate for the #MeToo movement.

Congresswoman apologizes for not protecting female staffers

U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, an outspoken advocate for the #MeToo movement, has found herself in the awkward position of apologizing for not protecting female staffers in her Washington office from alleged violence, death threats and sexual harassment by her former chief of staff. The Democrat has issued press releases calling for tougher harassment protections for congressional staff and was among those demanding that then-U.S. Rep. John Conyers of Michigan resign amid allegations of misconduct with staff.

Connecticut chief justice defeat becomes election year issue

The Connecticut Senate's rejection Tuesday of Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's State Supreme Court chief justice nominee, mostly along partisan lines, set off political reverberations in a state where an open governor's seat and control of the General Assembly are at stake in November. State Democrats and various candidates pounced on the 19-16 vote opposing the confirmation of Associate Justice Andrew McDonald as the high court's top justice, linking Connecticut Republicans with President Donald Trump and Washington Republicans.

Connecticut-named subs break through Arctic Circle ice

Seawolf-class submarine USS Connecticut and Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Hartford break through the ice on Friday March 9, 2018 in support of Ice Exercise 2018. ICEX 2018 is a five-week exercise that allows the Navy to assess its operational readiness in the Arctic, increase experience in the region, advance understanding of the Arctic environment, and continue to develop relationships with other services, allies and partner organizations.

Democratic candidates for governor jockey for position

With just over two months before the party convention, six Democrats angling to be the front-runner argued over the future of Connecticut on and who's best-qualified to lead the state Thursday night. While Republican candidates for governor have been grappling on televised stages in the run-up to the May convention, Democratic hopefuls have been meeting in smaller, more-intimate gatherings around the state to explain their visions for the future of Connecticut.

Democrats: Nominee’s “lifestyle” played role in tie vote

Democratic legislative leaders say they believe the sexual orientation of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's choice for Connecticut's next chief justice may have cost him support among some Judiciary Committee members during a 13-hour confirmation hearing. Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff said Tuesday Republican committee members "should be ashamed of themselves" for how they acted during Monday's hearing that ended with a tie vote, putting the nomination in jeopardy.

Hard driving and smooth sailing in Coastal Connecticut

Because there are no city-sized theme parks in Southern Connecticut, you must find your thrills there in real life. I had just come from helping to herd a crew of second-graders through the Visitor Center at the PEZ factory in the town of Orange-a fragrant, colorful diversion for the nation's devoted army of "Pez Heads" and for civilians like us, who just like popping dispenser heads and downing twelve-packs of chewy PEZ bricks.

CHIP funding could run out as soon as this month in some states

Some states could run out of funding for their Children's Health Insurance Program as early as this month, despite recently approved spending by Congress that was expected to keep the program running through the end of March, federal health officials said Friday. All states should have sufficient funding at least through Jan. 19 thanks to Congress' $2.85 billion infusion last month, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Blumenthal, Murphy head to Puerto Rico to see ongoing hurricane devastation

In this Dec. 22, 2017, photo, 6-year-old Melanie Oliveras González stands on the porch of her house, in front of a handful of electric cables knocked down by the winds of Hurricane Maria, in Morovis, Puerto Rico. Morovis has been without power since hurricane smashed into the island in November.

List of Connecticut gubernatorial candidates keeps growing

Oz Griebel, the outgoing head of a Hartford business group, announced Wednesday that he and Newtown attorney Monte Frank are forming the first independent ticket in the 2018 race. Griebel joins more than two dozen Democrats, Republicans and other candidates who are officially "exploring" a possible run for governor or have already declared themselves as contenders.

Tax-hike fears fuel talk of HNW exodus from Northeast

Even Bruce McGuire, founder of the Connecticut Hedge Fund Association, understands if wealthy Northeasterners flee the region due to changes in the tax code. The problem for the Connecticut hedge-fund set - and, more broadly, for a lot of the Wall Street crowd - is that Republican proposals in both the House and Senate would drive up taxes for many high-earners in the New York City area.

Tax plan bad for Connecticut, for the debt, and for the middle-class

Connecticut's U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy must do more than stand united with fellow Democrats in seeking to block a tax reform bill that would be bad for Connecticut and for many middle-income taxpayers, while exploding the national debt. They and their fellow members of the loyal opposition must offer alternative tax relief ideas that are more fiscally responsible.

Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods enlist senators in casino fight

Connecticut's two U.S. senators are urging the Department of Interior to clarify that a joint casino venture between the Mohegans and Mashantucket Pequot tribes planned north of Hartford complies with a gambling compact with the state. The agency hasn't ruled one way or another on the legality of the project, creating a degree of uncertainty for the tribal owners of Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods as they look to build a casino in East Windsor to compete with an MGM resort that is scheduled to open next year in Springfield, Mass.

Linares joins wide-open field exploring bid for statewide office

Vowing to knock on some 16,000 doors across Connecticut over the next three months, state Sen. Art Linares, the Westbrook Republican whose district includes Lyme and part of Old Saybrook, announced this week that he's considering running for a statewide office next year. On Wednesday, Linares registered an “exploratory committee” with the State Elections Enforcement Commission, a step that will enable him to raise campaign donations regardless of the office he decides to pursue.

Democratic senators propose military-style weapons ban

Sen. Chris Murphy, center, speaks during a news conference about gun violence on Capitol Hill in Washington, Oct. 3, 2017. Sen. Chris Murphy, center, speaks during a news conference about gun violence on Capitol Hill in Washington, Oct. 3, 2017.