Sections

Neighborhoods

Features

WNHH Radio

Follow Us

NHI Newsletter

Legal Notices

State

State Stops Short Of Cellphone Ban

by | Aug 21, 2024 2:44 pm | Comments (11)

Thomas Breen file photo

State ed commissioner Russell-Tucker: Fewer phone distractions, better student mental health.

Cellphones should be kept out of the hands of elementary and middle school students, and their use should be restricted — but not outright banned — for high schoolers.

The state Board of Education handed down those recommendations Wednesday as they voted to encourage, but not require, public schools across Connecticut to limit students’ use of ​“personal technology” during the school day in a bid to cut down on distractions in the classroom.

Continue reading ‘State Stops Short Of Cellphone Ban’

Tong's DNC Diary Day 1: "There's A Pit In My Stomach"

by | Aug 19, 2024 6:37 pm | Comments (3)

Arrival: William Tong with U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney and New Haven Democratic Town Committee Vice-Chair Audrey Tyson,

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong is keeping a daily diary for the Independent this week as he attends the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

I am writing here on Monday morning from LaGuardia Airport waiting for my flight to Chicago. I hear I missed the big Connecticut delegation party yesterday at Bradley. I’m on the same flight as my good friend Congresswoman Grace Meng of New York, so the Asian American representation is strong on American 0386.

I must admit to feeling a bit anxious. There’s a pit in my stomach that’s not going to go away until I see President Harris take her oath. There’s some real-life reckoning peeking through the confidence, optimism and joy that Democrats are riding right now.

Continue reading ‘Tong's DNC Diary Day 1: "There's A Pit In My Stomach"’

Winfield Seeks Out Next Gen Senators

by | Jul 25, 2024 4:54 pm | Comments (6)

Maya McFadden Photo

State Sen. Gary Winfield talks conflict resolution, representation, and dreaming big with Troup summer campers.

When Gary Winfield asked a room full of sixth graders who’s interested in being a state senator one day, Jakhai Penn immediately shook his head no. 

“Who’s going to do it, then, if not you?” Winfield asked. ​“You can probably do a heck of a lot more than you think you can do.”

Continue reading ‘Winfield Seeks Out Next Gen Senators’

Germany Mission Reveals Tariff Fears, Short-Term Opportunities

by | Jul 23, 2024 12:02 pm | Comments (3)

Paul Bass Photos

The scene at AdvanceCT on James Street Tuesday morning.

Lamont: We taught Stuttgart how to spell "Connecticut."

Fears of an international trade war might hurt Connecticut in the long run — but it may lead to new jobs in the short term.

So reported Gov. Ned Lamont at a press conference Tuesday at the headquarters of the state-connected economic development nonprofit AdvanceCT on James Street in New Haven.

Continue reading ‘Germany Mission Reveals Tariff Fears, Short-Term Opportunities’

Guv Signs Paid Sick Days Expansion

by | May 28, 2024 1:24 pm | Comments (21)

Thomas Breen photos

Paid sick leave advocates celebrate ...

... Gov. Lamont's signing of bill, alongside Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz and State Sen. Kushner.

The bill doesn’t single out female workers as such.

But everyone who took the microphone to speak at a packed, celebratory press conference heralding the expansion of the state’s paid sick days program made clear on Tuesday that this law — freshly signed by the governor — is meant to make Connecticut a more family-friendly place, by helping women stay in the workforce.

Continue reading ‘Guv Signs Paid Sick Days Expansion’

Why Winfield Didn't Need To Keep Talking

by | May 22, 2024 11:09 am | Comments (13)

Paul Bass photo

Filibuster-ready if needed: State Sen. Gary Winfield at WNHH FM.

Gary Winfield was ready to talk. And talk. And talk. For hours and hours.

He let his colleagues in the legislature know that he was ready to talk and talk and talk.

So he didn’t need to end up talking. He got the message across — and mission accomplished.

Continue reading ‘Why Winfield Didn't Need To Keep Talking’

Surprise! Winter Tapped For Porter's Seat

by | May 16, 2024 9:09 am | Comments (35)

Changing of the guard: Incumbent Porter, nominee Winter.

It appears something momentous will happen this year in New Haven: Voters will elect a new state legislator, for the first time in eight years.

That’s because incumbent State Rep. Robyn Porter did not show up to a convention Wednesday night to receive the Democratic Party’s endorsement to run for a sixth two-year term representing the 94th General Assembly District.

Continue reading ‘Surprise! Winter Tapped For Porter's Seat’

New "119K Commission" Gets Advice On Helping At-Risk Youth

by | Mar 27, 2024 12:15 pm | Comments (2)

Yash Roy Photo

Sean Allen: Kids "expected to be like adults at 14.”

When the state made public buses free during the pandemic, it was a lifeline for Sean Tomany’s high school students. They could get to school earlier, stay later, participate in extracurriculars, and meet one-on-one with teachers. 

The free buses went away, as did the opportunities that so many of his students could access for a short while, helping make sure they did not join the one in five kids in Connecticut who have dropped out or are at risk of dropping out. 

Continue reading ‘New "119K Commission" Gets Advice On Helping At-Risk Youth’

Local Landlords, Unite! vs. Eviction Bill

by | Mar 14, 2024 4:03 pm | Comments (40)

File photos

Local landlords Shmuel Aizenberg (top left) and Mendy Edelkopf (bottom left), 2 of 20 signatories of form letter opposing state bill; tenant advocates Sinclair Williams (top right) and Sarah Giovanniello (bottom right, with Amy Eppler-Epstein), in support of bill.

“I am a part of a group of landlords in the area who help each other out by discussing issues and providing support and guidance to each other,” wrote Ocean Management’s Shmuel Aizenberg. 

Mandy Management’s Adir Chen wrote that too. So did Julian Cardona and Menahem Edelkopf and Alejandro Soriano and Menahem Lebenhartz and more than a dozen fellow New Haven-area landlords and property managers. 

Each ​“wrote” those same words in individually signed form letters seeking to persuade state legislators to protect their right to evict rent-paying tenants whose leases have expired.

Continue reading ‘Local Landlords, Unite! vs. Eviction Bill’

State Pressed On "Historic" Homelessness

by | Mar 8, 2024 11:15 am | Comments (11)

Nora Grace-Flood Photo

Rolling up a mattress before bulldozers come in to demolish a Lamberton Street homeless encampment.

As executive director of New Haven’s Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen (DESK) and drop-in center, Steve Werlin has seen firsthand the state’s ​“historic” rise in homelessness. He told state legislators about that — to urge them to find extra money this year to help front-line agencies like his save lives and work toward solutions.

Continue reading ‘State Pressed On "Historic" Homelessness’

Students, Governor cARTie Hearty

by | Mar 5, 2024 9:45 am | Comments (0)

Students Monday outside the parked cARTie bus.

cARTie museum educator Nicole Pappo reads to students outdoors.

When asked ​“does art matter?” second graders Mercedes, Mason, and Elia agreed ​“yes.” Then they showed some of the reasons: Mason drew a sign reading ​“art = peace.” Elia drew a self-portrait. And Mercedes drew a rainbow, reading ​“I love art.” 

Continue reading ‘Students, Governor cARTie Hearty’