Connecticut
Connecticut House Speaker calls out Republican over pro-ICE jacket before emergency fund vote
The House of Representatives voted Thursday to continue an emergency fund to offset federal funding cuts, but not before a discussion of decorum.
Rep. Matt Ritter (D-Speaker) started the proceedings by reminding members that they’re not to display political messages inside the chamber while the House is in session.
He was responding to Rep. Cara Pavalock-D’Amato (R-Bristol), who was wearing a jacket on opening day with a message of support for federal immigration agents.
“My advice to everybody out there is don’t test me on this,” Ritter told reporters before the House session started.
Ritter noted punishment could include censure, impeachment, or even expulsion, although he said his intent Thursday was simply to warn people not to violate the rule.
Rep. Vincent Candelora (R-Minority Leader) said the jacket was in response to comments from Gov. Ned Lamont (D-Connecticut) that he felt were also too politically charged.
Lamont said during his speech, “ICE… everywhere you go, uninvited, violence follows. Go home, we’re keeping Connecticut safe without you.”
Candelora said he wants all leaders to tone down the rhetoric.
“I wish the governor had checked himself before he made those statements,” Candelora said. “Any time you speak in absolutes, the way he did, it’s really offensive.”
Pavalock-D’Amato told reporters she didn’t regret her decision.
“I respect the speaker, definitely, but again the governor has the floor, and we have – there’s a way for us to speak during that speech, so I don’t have any regrets whatsoever,” she said.
After talking with reporters, Pavalock-D’Amato met with Capitol police to discuss a threatening text message she received on Thursday.
Ritter said he wanted to make it clear no one is allowed to have political messages in the chamber, adding he’s told House Democrats to remove pins, buttons, and other items that violate the rule.
The bill passed with a 97-48 party-line vote, clearing the three-fifths majority required under the fiscal guardrails to create an account outside the budget with surplus fund money.
It’s now headed to Lamont, who has voiced his support, after garnering a 28-8 vote in the Senate on Wednesday.
The bill continues Lamont’s control over $313 million remaining in an emergency fund lawmakers created during a special session back in November.
They originally set aside $500 million to respond to federal cuts, with Lamont declaring a fiscal emergency that ended when the legislative session began Wednesday.
Lamont extended that declaration, but Republicans say the legislature should reassert its power of the purse now that the session has started.
They also questioned the need for the emergency fund, calling it a slush fund for a governor seeking re-election.
“We are under very different circumstances, our SNAP benefits, our LIHEAP, our government programs from the federal level are funded through September, so this fund is wholly unnecessary,” Candelora said.
Democrats feared that more federal cuts could happen without minimal notice. They argued that Lamont is able to respond more quickly than the legislature.
“Right now, when we worry about childcare, we worry about healthcare, we worry about housing, multiple things – homeless, food share, we’ve got to have a quick turnaround,” Rep. Toni Walker (D-New Haven) said.
Connecticut
Florida High School State Bronze Medalist Dajah German Verbals To Connecticut For Fall 2027
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Florida high school state bronze medalist Dajah German has announced her verbal commitment to swim and study at the University of Connecticut beginning in the fall of 2027. She publicized the news on SwimCloud, writing:
I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of Connecticut! I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who has supported me throughout this journey, my family, coaches, teammates, and friends who have pushed me to be my best throughout the years. And a very special thank you to Coach Chris and Coach Nicole for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I’m so excited for what’s ahead. GO HUSKIES!
A rising senior at Fort Lauderdale High School in Florida, German trains year-round with Swim Fort Lauderdale and primarily specializes in the sprint and middle-distance freestyle events.
German has improved each year of her high school career, most recently dropping from 23.78, 51.39, and 1:50.56 in the 50/100/200 free to 23.54, 51.35, and 1:49.69 during the 2025-26 short course season.
German’s top meet of the season was the Florida Senior Championships in March, where she recorded her current PBs in both the 50 and 200 free. She finished second in the 500 free (4:55.94) and 1650 free (17:02.78), third in both the 50 free and 200 free, and fifth in the 100 free (51.43). She set her current 100 free PB at a smaller holiday meet in December. In the 500 free, she clocked a season-best 4:55.21 at the Speedo Cup in January, with her lifetime best of 4:53.19 coming at the 2025 Florida Senior Championships.
German has qualified for the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) State Championships for the past three years, with her top performance coming at the 2025 iteration in November. She placed third in the 50 free (23.96), fifth in the 500 free (5:01.12), and helped Fort Lauderdale to fourth place in both the 200 free relay (24.64 leadoff) and 400 free relay (53.08 anchor).
Top SCY Times:
- 50 Freestyle: 23.54
- 100 Freestyle: 51.35
- 200 Freestyle: 1:49.69
- 500 Freestyle: 4:53.19
A Division I Mid-Major program, Connecticut competes in the Big East, with the women’s team placing second out of seven teams at this past season’s conference championships. German’s current lifetime bests would have placed third in the 200 free, fourth in the 500 free, eighth in the 50 free, and ninth in the 100 free, setting her up as an immediate contributor with two full seasons of training still ahead before her first conference meet.
German joins Anna Mumford, Lyla Devlin, Lena Brown, and Louisa Holda in committing to the Huskies’ class of 2031 so far.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
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Here are the forecast details for northern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:
Today: Sunny, with a high near 80. Light west wind increasing to 6 to 11 mph in the morning.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A chance of showers before 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2pm and 4pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 59. Southeast wind around 8 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
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