Connecticut
CT lawmakers plan special session as families worry about SNAP, other federal aid
As the federal government shutdown rolls into its second month, questions mount for people relying on a range of federally-funded benefits.
Connecticut lawmakers are negotiating the parameters of a bill to set aside as much as $500 million to help households relying on various assistance programs and subsidies.
“Right now, my number one priority on a timely basis is taking care of people who were hit and hit hard by this shutdown,” Gov. Ned Lamont (D-Connecticut) said during a press conference at Hands on Hartford.
There’s bipartisan support for a response to several concerns over federal funding, including:
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture is paying for half the monthly benefits in November, leaving questions about when those payments will come and what might happen if the shutdown continues into December.
- The shutdown continues as Democrats and Republicans disagree over the future of subsidies for people who buy health insurance through Affordable Care Act exchanges.
- And stats have not received money from the Low-Income Heating Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, because Congress has not approved a spending plan.
Democratic and Republican leaders have said the goal is to put money aside in case federal funding for specific benefits are cut or frozen.
The intent is to make sure benefits continue through early February, when lawmakers return to the capitol. There is debate about whether the money should come from the Rainy Day Fund or a surplus within the existing budget.
Either way, lawmakers said they want to help families relying on programs like SNAP.
“I think we should have started figuring it out two weeks ago because there were some people who were optimistic,” Rep. Vincent Candelora (R-Minority Leader) said. “I just don’t see the shutdown ending anytime soon.”
That could include making sure households receive their full benefit and setting aside money in case the shutdown drags on and the USDA fails to fund the program again in December.
Lamont said Monday that Connecticut could copy what states like Vermont, Virginia and Utah have done, putting money onto the EBT cards SNAP beneficiaries already have.
“It was a bouncing ball there for a while, we have a pretty good idea now,” he said. “We will be able to use the EBT card. We can potentially do cash on that if this thing goes a lot longer.”
The state did give $3 million to Foodshare last week, helping the organization purchase six million additional meals.
Those meals will be distributed over the next two weeks through Foodshare’s existing network, starting Monday.
Janet Bermudez, executive director of Hands on Hartford, said families coming to her pantry are looking everywhere they can for help after not receiving benefits on Saturday.
“Folks that are not receiving their SNAP benefits are becoming anxious, desperate,” she said, estimating the pantry saw a 20% increase in demand even before Saturday.
She said families, and not just those on SNAP, have been asking for more help as they also pay more for electricity, housing and other costs.
Bermudez said that’s one of the reasons pantries alone can’t make up for the assistance families are losing through SNAP.
“What we’re able to give out is about 40 pounds of groceries, and that, I know, does not feed a family for a month,” she 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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