Information via The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT Foundation

NEW LONDON, CT — The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT Foundation granted $1,250 scholarships to eight 2024 high school graduates in the region, the largest sum distributed
to date through the Foundation’s scholarship program. The program focuses on students who plan to contribute to Eastern CT’s economy and quality of life through their future career, and who have a demonstrated record of community engagement, academic achievement,
and financial need.

“The Chamber Foundation is proud to award $10,000 in scholarship funding to these deserving, outstanding youth this year, our largest sum granted to date,” said Louis Ziegler, Chair of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT Foundation’s Board of Directors. “We take great pride in supporting the up-and-coming workforce of Eastern Connecticut, fully aware of the profound impact they’re destined to have in our community as they pursue their aspirations and goals.”

Scholarship funding comes from generous local businesses and donors who support the Foundation’s annual Bowl-a-thon fundraiser, held each year at High Rollers Luxury Lanes and Lounge; this year’s event will be July 16. The Foundation also hosts an annual Holiday Gala each December.

The awardees are as follows:

Gianni Drab of Robert E. Fitch Senior High School, attending
Northeastern University

Stephanie Flores Aguilar of New London High School Multi
Magnet Campus, attending University of Connecticut

Aeracura Harney of Waterford High School, attending
Florida Institute of Technology

Brianna Harris of Robert E. Fitch Senior High School,
attending Eastern Connecticut State University

Grace Peil of Marine Science Magnet High School, attending
University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Ivan Rodriguez of New London High School, attending
University of Hartford

Alyssa Tomasso of Stonington High School, attending
Eastern Connecticut State University

Sadeya Zakaria of Norwich Free Academy, attending University
of Connecticut

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — A new working group convened by Gov. Ned Lamont will craft a proposal for the state legislature to introduce ranked-choice voting in some Connecticut elections.

Currently, 29 states allow for ranked-choice voting, mostly in party primaries and municipal elections.

The most common type of ranked-choice voting is a system known as instant-runoff ranked-choice voting. In an election utilizing instant-runoff ranked-choice voting, voters are able to rank each candidate in order of preference. Voters are not required to rank all of the candidates if they do not want to. If no candidate receives a majority of first choice votes, the candidate with the lowest number of first choice votes is eliminated. Voters who listed the eliminated candidate as their first choice then have their second choice counted as part of a second round of vote counting. This process repeats until one candidate has a majority.

For advocates of ranked-choice voting, the process represents something of a remedy for political polarization that they attribute largely to the current system of primary elections.

“The current system rewards factions and it rewards the fringes of a party,” said Monte Frank, an attorney and the vice chair of the working group. “So, the more polarizing you are, the better you do in a partisan, winner-take-all primary.”

Frank sees ranked-choice voting as a way to encourage candidates to court a wider base of support on the theory that being a voter’s second, third or even fourth choice gives them a better chance to win if multiple rounds of vote counting are required.

Frank is the former running mate of the late Oz Greibel, the third-party candidate for governor who captured just under 4% of the vote in the 2018 gubernatorial contest that pitted Republican Bob Stefanowski against Lamont.

“It not only drives voter participation, increases voter choice, but it produces a better candidate, a more consensus-driven candidate, and that improves our democracy,” Frank said.

The governor’s working group includes representation from both political parties and is co-chaired by one state senator from each side of the aisle. Any potential recommendation to the legislature would apply only to the use of ranked-choice voting in primaries, certain municipal elections, caucuses and conventions. Political parties and municipalities would have the choice of whether to adopt ranked-choice voting.

“My hope is that this working group will collect the information necessary to make specific recommendations and hopefully improve voter turnout in Connecticut,” Sen. Cathy Osten (D-District 19) said in a statement announcing the working group.

Osten, who also chairs the legislature’s influential appropriations committee, is sharing leadership of the ranked-choice voting working group with Republican Sen. Tony Hwang (District 28).

“We hope to learn how ranked-choice voting can give the voters of Connecticut a stronger and more representative voice in their local elections,” Hwang said in a statement.

Despite bipartisan interest in exploring the use of ranked-choice voting in Connecticut primaries and municipal elections, concerns remain about the wisdom of making major changes to the voting process.

“One of my concerns globally is that we’ve done a lot of changes to our election laws,” Rep. Vincent Candelora (District 86), the House Republican leader.

Candelora was referencing the introduction of early voting, which Connecticut is implementing for the first time this year. Local elections officials, he said, are challenged by the expanded in-person voting periods and would be further burdened if they had to adapt to the process of tabulating ranked-choice ballots.

Candelora also questioned how many races would actually draw more than two candidates.

“I just think that’s rare when it happens,” he said, “So, you know, to me it’s more of an academic exercise versus something that will really have a practical impact on Connecticut voting.”

The inaugural meeting of the Governor’s Working Group on Ranked-Choice Voting is on June 14.

When facing the Connecticut Sun, the team with the best record in the WNBA, the Chicago Sky’s main goal was to remain competitive. For much of the game, that was the case.

Through three quarters, the Sky stayed with the Sun, leading by a few points or behind by a few points but never relenting. They did so by not only displaying tenacious defense against a powerful offense, but also through some spacious offensive play that led to good looks in the paint and on the perimeter. Chicago also was competitive in the battle of the boards.

Yet when the fourth quarter rolled around, the tide turned dramatically as the Sun got off on a 10-3 run that gave them a 68-55 advantage at the 7:12 minute mark, the largest lead of the game. The Sky turned the ball over four times in the quarter as their offense began to look out of sync and, in turn, their transition defense struggled. The Sky managed to close the gap to four, 79-75, via a Diamond DeShields 3-pointer with 28 seconds left. But Chicago then was forced to foul, allowing DeWanna Bonner to ice the game for the Sun at the free throw line.

Despite the 83-75 loss, the Sky once again overperformed against a formidable opponent. Some notable Chicago performances included:

Angel Reese

Not only did she come away with her fourth-career double-double (20 points and 10 rebounds), Reese shot 80 percent from the field and was perfect at the foul line (4-for-4). More than that, Reese became the first rookie this season to notch 100 points and 100 rebounds. She also held her own against the veteran Alyssa Thomas at both ends.

Kamilla Cardoso

Freed from playing limited minutes and given the responsibility of taking over for injured Elizabeth Williams in the post position, Cardoso was not to be denied. She scored 10 points, grabbed nine boards and had three emphatic blocks against the likes of Bonner and DiJonai Carrington.

Cardoso was also perfect from the foul line (4-for-4). After the game, she spoke about how she understands the importance of foul shots, particularly when Connecticut took more shots at the line (28 to 5), but she emphasized that her main objective is to score inside. “It was really important to make them (free throws) as you can see they shot way more free throws than us,” she said. “But I feel like my main focus was to go out there and make layups.”

Marina Mabrey

Mabrey all over the floor, ending up as the playmaker who did a little bit of everything. She came away with 10 points, six rebounds, five assists and three blocks.

Chennedy Carter

As always, Carter was full speed ahead coming off the bench. She was a major catalyst in sparking a Chicago 11-0 run in the first quarter when they were down 16-8. She would go on to finish with 10 points, three assists and three steals.

Diamond DeShields

The workhorse of the team who puts her body on the line had some big moments when the game was hanging in the balance. DeShields finished with a season high of nine points, shooting 50 percent from the field and 42 percent from the 3-point line, including the 3 that brought Chicago to the brink of a potential comeback in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter. She did all that while playing with an ankle issue. “Diamond is playing injured right now,” said head coach Teresa Weatherspoon. “We appreciate her being on the floor.”

Isabelle Harrison

Off the bench, Harrison was flawless—literally. She converted on every shot attempt (3-for-3) and finished with nine points, including a 3-pointer.

The Chicago Sky (4-7) will play the Washington Mystics (1-12) in DC on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET.