Connecticut

CT universal paid sick leave a top priority for labor, Democratic leaders

Published

2 years ago

February 3, 2024

CT universal paid sick leave a top priority for labor, Democratic leaders

The strength of labor and the political left in Connecticut, one of 17 states where Democrats hold control the executive and legislative branches of government, will be tested this year as a coalition seeks to expand the state’s limited mandate on paid sick days into a nearly universal benefit.

Watered-down sick days legislation passed in 2011 touches only a thin sliver of workers, but it packed a political punch as the first mandate of its kind in the U.S., branding Connecticut as favorable terrain for laws and benefits unattainable in Congress or by collective bargaining.

“Connecticut likes to lead. And unfortunately, this is an area where we were leaders in 2011, but we have fallen behind,” said Sen. Julie Kushner, D-Danbury, co-chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee since taking office in January 2019, the same day as Gov. Ned Lamont.

An expansion bill passed by the Senate and favored by the governor failed in the House last year, a frustrating session for a labor movement that had scored major victories in previous years, including a $15 million minimum wage and a paid family and medical leave program financed by mandatory payroll deductions.

Kushner, who was a UAW official leading a coalition pushing paid sick days in 2011, and Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, pronounced paid sick leave expansion a top priority Friday. House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, said he sees passage as likely.

The current law exempts manufacturers, some non-profits and any employer with fewer than 50 employees. It places no added burden on companies that already offer at least 40 hours in paid time off over the year, regardless of whether it is considered vacation, personal days or sick time.

Eligible workers accrue one hour of leave time for every 40 hours worked, with a maximum state-mandated benefit of five days off.

With every Republican opposed and four Democrats absent, the Senate voted 20-12 last year for a bill that would have eliminated the 50-employee threshold and the non-profit exemption. Any company with at least one employee would have been required to offer one hour off for every 30 hours worked. The bill also doubled the maximum benefit from 40 hours to 80.

The Lamont administration had proposed a bill lowering the threshold from 50 to 11 workers, but it agreed to the Senate version. The measure never came to a vote in the House.

“I think we’ll get there,” Ritter said Friday in an interview.

House Democrats last year proposed compromises, including one expanding coverage in phases over several years, bringing down the employee threshold from 50 to 25 immediately, then 20 next year, 15 the year after that and so on.

Janée Woods Weber, the director of Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund, an advocacy group that led the campaign for passage and has since been renamed as She Leads Justice, rejected the phase-in because it never reached universal coverage.

Woods Weber said Friday that anything less than universal coverage was non-negotiable.

“A good policy would cover all workers,” she said. “We’re committed to passing good policy, not policy that we have to then come back and try to fix like, we’re trying to fix the 2011 law, which left out many, many workers.”

The state’s largest business group, the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, remains opposed, though less about the particulars of the bill as the statement that passage would make about the business climate.

“That’s what is most concerning to me, the larger message,” said Chris DiPentima, the president and chief executive of CBIA. With every new mandate comes regulations in a state where CBIA says businesses already are over-regulated.

Lamont is generally deemed to be supportive of business, especially in the area of spending and taxes, but the Democratic governor has sided with labor over the minimum wage and paid family and medical leave, among other issues.

The governor intends to propose his own version of a bill to expand paid sick days. While his bill last year only would have applied to businesses with at least 11 workers, the version planned this year will have a threshold of only one.

With unions representing fewer than 10% of private-sector workers in Connecticut, labor and its allies have long looked to achieve in legislation what is beyond the reach of collective bargaining.

Looney, the Senate leader, said that is appropriate for government to intervene in providing something he sees as a basic right — sick days.

“We see these as just so basic and fundamental in terms of the social compact and equity that the state has to step in,” Looney said. “This is so critical because it benefits people who are living without a margin, living without a net, living day to day.”

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Connecticut

Owls, Storytimes, Lights, And Countdown Fun: Here’s What’s Happening Across Connecticut This Weekend

Published

1 hour ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

Owls, Storytimes, Lights, And Countdown Fun: Here’s What’s Happening Across Connecticut This Weekend

CONNECTICUT — The quiet stretch between Christmas and New Year’s is anything but dull in Connecticut. With schools on break and families looking for ways to get out of the house, towns across the state are rolling out kid-friendly programs, glowing light displays, museum activities, and creative ways to ring in the new year early — or right at midnight. From owls in Mystic to trolley rides in East Windsor and countdown celebrations from Torrington to Hartford, this weekend (Dec. 26–28, with New Year’s Eve events close behind) offers plenty of reasons to bundle up and explore.

In Mystic, nature lovers can spend Friday, Dec. 26, learning about one of the region’s most fascinating nocturnal creatures during Vacation Day: All About Owls at the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center. Designed for kids on school break, the program introduces participants to local owl species through hands-on activities, live animal presentations, and outdoor exploration. It’s a great option for families looking to balance holiday downtime with educational fun.

Over in Greenwich, the Bruce Museum is hosting Once Upon a Museum: Winter Storytime from Friday through Sunday, Dec. 26–28. Held each morning, the program combines seasonal storytelling with museum exploration, offering young children a calm, creative start to the day. Parents can expect winter-themed books, light activities, and a welcoming introduction to museum spaces that keeps little listeners engaged without overwhelming them.

For families seeking something festive after dark, East Windsor is glowing thanks to Winterfest & the Winter Tunnel of Lights at the Connecticut Trolley Museum. Running on select dates including Dec. 26–28, the event features illuminated displays, holiday décor, and nighttime trolley rides through a sparkling tunnel of lights. The experience blends transportation history with holiday spectacle, making it a unique winter outing for all ages.

Meanwhile, Meriden continues its long-running seasonal tradition with the Festival of Silver Lights at Hubbard Park, which remains on display through Jan. 2. The expansive park is transformed by thousands of white lights wrapped around trees, lining walkways, and reflecting off the park’s lake. Visitors can drive through or park and stroll, making it one of the state’s most accessible and popular holiday light displays.

As the weekend gives way to New Year’s Eve, Connecticut towns are preparing celebrations that range from family-friendly to full-scale citywide events. In Hartford, First Night Hartford 2026 takes over downtown on Tuesday, Dec. 31. This alcohol-free celebration features live music, dance, comedy, ice skating, fireworks, and activities spread across multiple indoor and outdoor venues. It’s one of the state’s largest New Year’s Eve events and a longtime tradition for families and night owls alike.

For those with younger children who won’t make it to midnight, Torrington offers KidsPlay Countdown on Dec. 31. Hosted by the KidsPlay Children’s Museum, the event allows kids to celebrate the new year with games, activities, and a countdown timed just for them. It’s festive without being overwhelming and lets families enjoy the excitement of New Year’s Eve without late-night fatigue.

Another early celebration takes place in East Lyme, where Countdown to Noon gives families a chance to ring in the new year before lunchtime. With music, activities, and a midday countdown, the event is tailored to younger children who want the thrill of a New Year’s celebration without staying up past bedtime.

Altogether, this post-holiday weekend highlights the best of Connecticut’s winter programming: educational nature programs, calm museum mornings, glowing light displays, and creative countdowns that meet families where they are. Whether you’re exploring owls in Mystic, riding a trolley through lights in East Windsor, listening to stories in Greenwich, or planning ahead for a New Year’s countdown in Hartford, Torrington, or East Lyme, there’s no shortage of ways to close out 2025 and step into 2026 with a sense of wonder.

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Connecticut

CT, US offshore wind projects face second federal pause

Published

13 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

CT, US offshore wind projects face second federal pause

The federal government is again pausing offshore wind projects in Connecticut and along the East Coast. The Trump administration is citing national security risks the Defense Department found in classified reports. It is the second time the administration attempted to halt offshore wind developments, although the first attempt was blocked after a federal judge ruled the government’s actions were illegal. Connor Yakaitis, deputy director of the…

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Connecticut

2025 statistics: Impaired driving increasing in Connecticut

Published

1 day ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

2025 statistics: Impaired driving increasing in Connecticut

MERIDEN, Conn. (WTNH) — For decades, police have been arresting drunk drivers and measuring their blood alcohol levels.

But in October, the Connecticut Forensic Lab started testing all impaired drivers for drugs, and even the experts were shocked by what they found.

“It’s not simply alcohol combined with one drug combined with alcohol,” Dr. Jessica Gleba, the director of Forensic Lab Operations, said. “We are seeing multiple drugs used together and often combined with alcohol.”

Fentanyl and carfentanyl use are on the rise and the data shows people are combining multiple drugs at an alarming rate.

“The data revealed, in 2025, 14% of cases analyzed had 10 or more drugs present, an increase compared to 2022, when the number was 6%,” Gleba said.

Approximately 50% of cases in 2025 had five or more drugs detected, according to the Connecticut Forensic Lab.

Not only is the state lab finding more and more combinations of drugs in impaired drivers, Connecticut is also seeing more fatal accidents caused by impaired drivers.

Across the country, around 30% of fatal crashes are caused by impaired drivers. Joe Cristalli, Jr., the CTDOT Highway Safety Office director, said Connecticut is well above that.

“The impaired rate is 40% – between 37% and 40% – and we’re one of the highest in the country,” Cristalli said.

It is the season for holiday parties, but it is also cold and flu season, and over the counter medicine can impair your driving, especially combined with alcohol.

The message from law enforcement is clear.

“If you are caught, you will be arrested, you will be presented for prosecution, which means you’re going to have to appear before a judge in the State of Connecticut,” commissioner Ronnell Higgins of the Deptartment of Emergency Services & Public Protection said. “I don’t know how clearer I can be.”

In other words, don’t drink or use drugs and get behind the wheel.

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