Within minutes of taking the oath of office on Monday, President Donald Trump laid out his vision for America through a litany of executive actions, making clear his plan to dramatically overhaul how government institutions operate and reverse what he argued was a country in “decline.”
Republicans from Connecticut, who came to Washington, D.C. to celebrate and mark Trump’s transition back into power, believe he is best-positioned to enact such changes and move in a different direction than the last four years of the Biden era.
A large group of supporters ranging from state legislators, mayors, city councilors and rank and file Republicans travelled to Washington to experience the inauguration in person. But the shift to an indoor ceremony upended the plans of Republicans making the trek from the northeast.
Connecticut Republicans, who originally had seats to watch Trump take the oath outside of the U.S. Capitol or on the National Mall, ended up at more informal events to watch the speech and swearing-in ceremony.
Supporters from across the U.S. waited in massive lines to get into Capital One arena to watch the ceremony on a livestream before Trump stopped by later in the day. But many from Connecticut opted to watch it from a restaurant less than a mile away from the Capitol.
The state’s Republican Party partnered with New York’s delegation on events throughout the weekend, including a watch party Monday at Capital Grille. One of those attendees was Ray Ouellet, an at-large Republican city councilor from Meriden.
“The country needs to go in a different direction, and he’s the man to do it,” Ouellet said in an interview ahead of the inauguration.
“I still kind of keep my opinion to myself, but Donald Trump is our next president,” he added. “I think it’s time to not be afraid to show your support for our United States president. It’s very difficult in Connecticut to be a proud Trump fan without getting any backlash.”
 100vw, 771px”><figcaption class=)
At-large Meriden City Councilor Ray Ouellet poses for a portrait in Washington, DC on January 19, 2025. Credit: Shahrzad Rasekh / CT MirrorMore moderate Republicans in the state have grappled with how closely to align with Trump and some largely distanced themselves during the most recent elections.
But others see the tide changing when it comes to Trump, even in a blue state like Connecticut. Ben Proto, chairman of the state GOP, said the group that came down to D.C. for the inauguration included many ardent supporters who have been with him “since he came down the escalator” during his 2015 announcement at Trump Tower, as Proto puts it.
“I think there’s more excitement now than in 2017. A lot of that has to do with how we lived for the last four years and saw the bad direction we had been going in,” Proto said.
Lisa Milone, the newly sworn in Republican registrar of voters in New Haven, said she was intrigued by Trump years ago when he was a businessman. She was able to secure a ticket to the swearing-in ceremony when it was planned for indoors. Prior to Monday, she was hoping for a speech focused on unity, noting that her job in a heavily Democratic city requires working with the other party.
“I’d like to see more of unifying America as Americans rather than party,” Milone said. “I’m all about working together. If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t survive in New Haven.”
Monday was a historic day on a few accounts. Trump is the first president to serve non-consecutive terms since Grover Cleveland in the late 1800s and the first in 40 years to have an indoor ceremony. He also delivered two speeches from the Capitol that offered a split-screen of the president’s style: one who sticks to the script with a disciplined message as well as an off-the-cuff approach with more rambling thoughts, humor and falsehoods about the 2020 election.
 100vw, 771px”><figcaption class=)
Chairman of the Connecticut Republican Party Ben Proto poses for a portrait in Washington, DC on January 19, 2025. Credit: Shahrzad Rasekh / CT MirrorThe swearing-in ceremony was held in the Capitol Rotunda – where Trump delivered his inaugural address under the coffered dome surrounded by murals and statues. Hundreds of guests and dignitaries packed into the circular room, including members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation.
Seated with Trump at the front were his Cabinet nominees, family, former presidents and vice presidents and billionaire tech executives from X, Meta, Google, Amazon and Apple.
Trump wasted little time rolling out his first batch of execution actions. During his inaugural address, Trump promised that he would imminently sign a flurry of orders, including declaring a national emergency at the southern border and sending troops there, as well as declaring a national energy emergency.
That will set up a showdown with Connecticut’s Democratic leaders, namely Attorney General William Tong who plans to sue against orders, particularly any efforts to end birthright citizenship, the enshrined right for anyone born in the U.S. to get citizenship regardless of their parents’ legal status.
I think it’s time to not be afraid to show your support for our United States president. It’s very difficult in Connecticut to be a proud Trump fan without getting any backlash.
Ray Ouellet, Meriden city councilor
Monday’s speech was reminiscent of Trump’s first inaugural address in 2017 where he described “American carnage” that he claimed was embroiling cities across the country. His past address also heavily referenced the “forgotten men and women” who had been left behind by the establishment in Washington.
Like he did eight years ago, he leaned heavily on that same imagery and vowed to fix “America’s decline” and usher the country into a “golden age.”
“During every day of the Trump administration, I will very simply put America first,” Trump said. “Our sovereignty will be reclaimed. Our safety will be restored. The scales of justice will be rebalanced. Our top priority will be to create a nation that is proud, prosperous and free.”
This year’s inauguration coincided with Martin Luther King Jr. Day. After declaring Jan. 20, 2025, “Liberation Day,” he made a mention of the Civil Rights icon and argued his presidency would make King’s “dreams come true.” A number of Democrats and Black lawmakers had said they would not attend his inauguration and instead focus on events to honor King and the holiday.
While the frigid temperatures moved the traditional pomp and circumstance indoors, the day still had its own Trump-style flair.
With limited seating in the Rotunda, more than a thousand people packed into the overflow viewing room in Emancipation Hall, the large sandstone-walled room that greets visitors when they tour the Capitol grounds.
 100vw, 771px”><figcaption class=)
CT Gov. Ned Lamont attended Donald Trump’s swearing-in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. Credit: Lisa Hagen / CT MirrorCongressional spouses, governors and other dignitaries were among those in the overflow room. Gov. Ned Lamont walked in with a group of governors before the ceremony, shaking hands with others seated in Emancipation Hall.
The overflow room was a who’s who of politicians and personalities: New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat; YouTube stars like brothers Jake and Logan Paul, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and podcaster and comedian Theo Von, who interviewed Vice President JD Vance ahead of the election.
Shortly after the ceremony, Trump, Vance and Republican leaders visited Emancipation Hall to directly address the guests, supporters and dignitaries who were not able to watch in the Rotunda.
Trump quickly launched back into his free-wheeling, campaign-style speech that went longer than his inaugural address. He joked with Vance and Republican leaders who flanked him on stage, and repeated the falsehoods of a stolen election in 2020.
He told the overflow crowd that he was urged to keep his traditional inaugural address on unity and to refrain from certain topics that he said he saved for the group in Emancipation Hall who “are serious Trump fans.”
“I was going to talk about the J6 hostages,” Trump said, referring to the rioters who breached the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in an attempt to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 victory. “But you’ll be happy because, you know, it’s action not words that count.”
Republicans and the president himself argue Trump has a “mandate” to carry out his campaign promises and agenda after winning the popular vote, unlike in 2016, and having Republicans in control of both chambers of Congress.
That could be stymied by the fact that while Republicans control all of Congress, they do so with smaller majorities and will need Democratic support on some issues. They also face challenges from different factions within the GOP who have different priorities.
But for now, they are hopeful about the trajectory of the party – and the country.
“I think because everything is so expensive, everything that’s gone up in price, there’s some people, whether they like him or not, appreciate his business and economic stance,” said state Rep. Cara Pavalock-D’Amato of Bristol. “I think a lot of people are looking forward to that kind of administration. Because he now has four years under his belt, winning to losing and then being shot, I’ve definitely seen a change.”
NEW BRITAIN, CT — Stanley Black & Decker on Thursday said it has decided to close its manufacturing facility in New Britain.
Debora Raymond, vice president of external communications for the manufacturer, said the decision is a result of a “structural decline in demand for single-sided tape measures.”
The New Britain facility predominantly makes these products, according to Raymond.
“These products are quickly becoming obsolete in the markets we serve,” Raymond said, via an emailed statement Thursday.
The decision is expected to impact approximately 300 employees, according to Raymond.
“We are focused on supporting impacted employees through this transition, including providing options for employment at other facilities, severance, and job placement support services for both salaried and hourly employees,” Raymond said.
As of Thursday at 4:30 p.m., no Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notice had been filed with the state Department of Labor.
The company’s corporate headquarters remains at 1000 Stanley Dr., New Britain.
Gov. Ned Lamont released the following statement on the decision:
“Although Stanley has made the decision to discontinue operations for manufacturing outdated products, a change in workforce opportunities is difficult for employees, their families, and any community.,” Lamont said. “However, I am hopeful that these skilled workers will be repurposed with the help of Stanley Black & Decker, a company that will still proudly be headquartered here in Connecticut. My administration is working closely with local and state leaders to support affected workers and to reimagine the factory site so it can continue to create opportunity and strengthen New Britain’s economic future.”
New Britain Mayor Bobby Sanchez said he is “deeply disappointed” the company will be closing its Myrtle Street operations.
“For generations, Stanley Works has been part of the fabric of our city, providing good-paying jobs, supporting families, and helping build New Britain’s proud reputation as the ‘Hardware City,’” Sanchez said.
According to the mayor, his office’s immediate focus is on helping affected workers and their families. The mayor has been in contact with Lamont’s office, and they will be working closely to make sure employees have access to job placement services, retraining opportunities and support, Sanchez said.
“We will continue aggressively pursuing economic development opportunities and attracting businesses that are looking for a true community partner, a city ready to collaborate, innovate and grow alongside them,” Sanchez said. “New Britain has reinvented itself before, and we will do so again.”
Stanley Black & Decker, founded in 1843, operates manufacturing facilities worldwide, according to its website. It reports having 43,500 employees globally, and makes an array of products, such as power tools and equipment, hand tools, and fasteners.
Newly released police video shows former WWE executive Vince McMahon ram his luxury sports car into the rear end of another vehicle on a Connecticut highway last summer as he was being followed by a state trooper.
McMahon, now 80, was driving his 2024 Bentley Continental GT at more than 100 mph on the Merritt Parkway when he crashed in the town of Westport, according to state police.
A trooper’s dashcam video shows McMahon accelerating away, then braking too late to avoid crashing into the back of a BMW. The Bentley then swerves into a guardrail and careens back across the highway, creating a cloud of dirt and car parts.
“Why were you driving all over 100 mph?” state police Detective Maxwell Robins asked McMahon after catching up to the wrecked Bentley, which can cost over $300,000.
“I got my granddaughter’s birthday” McMahon replied, explaining he was on his way to see her. The encounter was recorded on police bodycam video.
No one was seriously injured in the July 24 crash, which happened the same day that WWE legend Hulk Hogan died of a heart attack in Florida.
Besides damage to the rear of the BMW, another vehicle driving on the opposite side of the parkway was struck by flying debris. The driver of that third car happened to be wearing a WWE shirt, according to the police video.
McMahon was cited for reckless driving and following too closely. A state judge in October allowed McMahon to enter a pretrial probation program that will result in the charges being erased from his record next October if he successfully completes the program. He was also ordered to make a $1,000 charitable contribution.
McMahon’s lawyer, Mark Sherman, said the crash was just an accident.
“Not every car accident is a crime,” Sherman said. “Vince’s primary concern during this case was for the other drivers and is appreciative that the court saw this more of an accident than a crime that needed to be prosecuted.”
State police said Robins was trying to catch up to McMahon on the parkway and clock his speed before pulling him over. They said the incident was not a pursuit, which happens when police chase someone trying to flee officers. They also said it did not appear McMahon was trying to escape — though in the video the detective suggests otherwise.
“I’m trying to catch up to you and you keep taking off,” Robins says.
“No, no no. I’m not trying to outrun you,” McMahon says.
An accident information summary provided to the media shortly after the crash did not mention that a trooper was following McMahon.
The Associated Press obtained the videos Wednesday through a public records request. They were first obtained by The Sun newspaper.
The trooper’s bodycam video also shows him asking McMahon whether he was looking at his phone when the crash happened. McMahon said he was not and adds that he hadn’t driven his car in a long time.
After Robins tells McMahon that his car is fast, McMahon replies, “Yeah, too (expletive) fast.”
The videos also show McMahon talking to the driver he rear-ended. Barbara Doran, of New York City, told the AP last summer that McMahon expressed his concern for her and was glad she was OK. She said she was heading to a ferry to Martha’s Vineyard at the time of the crash.
After McMahon was given the traffic summons, he shook hands with Robins and another trooper and they wished him well.
McMahon stepped down as WWE’s CEO in 2022 amid a company investigation into sexual misconduct allegations. He also resigned as executive chairman of the board of directors of TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of WWE, in 2024, a day after a former WWE employee filed a sexual abuse lawsuit against him. McMahon has denied the allegations. The lawsuit remains pending.
McMahon bought what was then the World Wrestling Federation in 1982 and transformed it from a regional wrestling company into a worldwide phenomenon. Besides running the company with his wife, Linda, who is now the U.S. education secretary, he also performed at WWE events as himself.
The New Haven Pride Center will close for 30 days starting Thursday, as leaders reassess the organization’s finances and its long-term business model.
Board members said the temporary shutdown will allow the nonprofit to stop accruing expenses and get better insight into a $250,000 IRS debt discovered in 2022 that has weighed heavily on the center’s operations.
According to board co-chair Hope Chavez, the debt was found four years ago. The board let the executive director go and began paying the back taxes. The payments have been ongoing, but Chavez said there’s no clarity on how much has been paid toward principal versus interest, making it hard to map out a payoff.
Chavez said the organization has an attorney to help obtain more details from the government, and that the debt has hurt its ability to generate income during an already challenging time.
“It all depends on the political climate — whether corporate sponsors feel like they can sponsor you, whether funders feel like they need to redirect elsewhere,” she said.
The 30-day furlough will include a pause in services. In the meantime, staff members are compiling a list of alternative LGBTQ-affirming resources in the Greater New Haven area to support community members.
Laura Boccadoro, who has worked at the center for more than six years, joined at what she says was a dark time.
“I was in and out of rehab dealing with drug abuse, and the center found me,” she said. “I grew up here, honestly.”
She said the organization has offered vital services, such as a clothing closet and a food pantry, and programs that she is helping clients find through partner organizations.
“There are so many LGBTQ-specific or affirming spaces that have food pantries, clothing closets, healthcare — all those kinds of things,” Boccadoro said.
Chavez highlighted partnerships with groups including AIDS Project New Haven, Anchor Health Initiative, and Q Plus, as well as other grassroots community organizations that will offer assistance during the pause.
Boccadoro emphasized that the staff’s focus remains on serving the community as effectively as possible.
“Our job at the end of the day is to impact the community in the best possible way that we can,” Boccadoro said.
The Board hopes a clearer financial picture and a restructured business model will position the center to reopen stronger and more stable.
“We want to ensure that our community has the care and supportive services that we’ve been providing,” Chavez said.
Exclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
Mother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
2026 MHSA Montana Wrestling State Championship Brackets And Results – FloWrestling
Wildfires rage in Oklahoma as thousands urged to evacuate a small city
Wildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
YouTube TV billing scam emails are hitting inboxes
10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
Stellantis is in a crisis of its own making
