A local immigration attorney warned Monday that undocumented Venezuelan immigrants in Connecticut have until April 7 to apply for Temporary Protected Status, which allows them to work legally.

Dennis Bradley said, “I really want the local Venezuelan community to know that temporary protected status is still available for them, that they should try to seek that form of relief, and for those who also qualify in our local Venezuelan community, asylum continues to be a form of relief for many folks who are seeking a permanent stay here in the United States.” He noted applications can be filed online.

For centuries, the Governor’s Guard has served Connecticut participating in parades, escorting state heads, helping out the community and stepping up in times of need.

On Sunday, the First Company Horse Guard welcomed seven recruits to join the approximately 20 troopers it already has. The recruits will undergo a 16 week-long training session where they learn how to ride and take care of a horse.

“You can’t find a place like this anywhere in the country,” said First Lieutenant Amanda Matava, who has been working with the horses in Avon for six years. “We serve the community; we instill a sense of pride and civic duty in people that see us.”

“Carrying on tradition and maintaining our history is so important,” said recruit trainer Lieutenant Kathryn LaCroix. “If we stop what we were doing, we lose all of that history.”

The faith of the Horse Guard is up for debate at the Capitol as legislators have introduced a bill which aims transition the Governor’s Guard from organized militia funded by the state to a private military force.

“Privatization is not feasible,” said Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard Lieutenant Barbara Mazzara at in opposition of the bill at a public hearing in January. “The cost, time requirements and facility management would be far too much for this all-volunteer unit. If this bill passes it would be the tragic end of something great.”

But supporters of the bill argued that it’s a way to modernize the Horse Guard.

“I don’t see why the state wouldn’t be able to allocate some funds towards that cause regardless of the status,” said Major Christopher Coutu of the Connecticut Army National Guard in support of the bill at that same hearing. “Because we do it all the time for non-profits and other entities that support our mission.”

The bill has been voted favorable and is tabled for the calendar.   

A man has died after a motorcycle crash in New Haven on Saturday afternoon.

Police said the crash happened on Chapel Street around 4 p.m. and a 43-year-old man has died. His identity has not yet been released.

Chapel Street is closed between State Street and Olive Street while police investigate. The crash reconstruction unit has also been called to the crash. There is no estimate for the duration of the closure.

The other vehicle involved in the crash reportedly stayed at the scene.

The investigation is active and ongoing.