Connect with us

Connecticut

Gov. Lamont responds to President Trump’s decision to “undo” full SNAP benefits

Published

on

Gov. Lamont responds to President Trump’s decision to “undo” full SNAP benefits


As some states, including Connecticut, are issuing full SNAP benefits to recipients, the Trump administration is now saying those efforts need to be rolled back.

That’s according to a Department of Agriculture memo during the ongoing government shutdown.

As the government shutdown continues to drag on, the court battle over the lapse in federal funding of SNAP benefits remains front and center.

“There has been no other time in which SNAP benefits have been suspended due to government shutdown,” Brian Marks, a University of New Haven business professor, said.

Advertisement

As it plays out, Connecticut is among the few states moving ahead with using state funds to give full SNAP payments to recipients for November. Marks says the move by Governor Ned Lamont is notable, as he’s seen as a fiscal moderate.

“Governor Lamont is being thoughtful and considerate about those who need and trying to transfer funds where he can and where he has the authority,” he said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that needs to stop after the Supreme Court issued a pause on a federal district court order telling the Trump administration to fully fund SNAP.

In a memo issued late Saturday, the USDA says the extent states had sent full SNAP payments for this month was “unauthorized” and says they must “immediately undo” those steps. It says failure to comply could result in actions such as the USDA holding states financially responsible over sending the full payments and cancelling federal cost-sharing of SNAP with them.

Governor Lamont responded to the memo saying the state didn’t need to take back SNAP funds saying in a statement:

Advertisement

“No, Connecticut does not need to take back SNAP benefits already sent to the 360,000 people who depend on them for food and who should have never been caught in the middle of this political fight. We continue to assess what impact this memo may have, but those who received their benefits should not worry about losing them. We have their back.”

Connecticut Republican Party chairman Ben Proto released a statement pushing for the government to reopen saying in part:

“It’s time for the Democrats to come to their senses, including Ned Lamont and other Democrat governors and to push their Democrat senators to vote for the continuing resolution and fund the government and SNAP & WIC and then sit down and negotiate a new budget. To paraphrase President Obama, it is irresponsible for the Democrats to threaten default, to threaten an economic shutdown, to suggest America not pay its bills to keep struggling families from being able to purchase groceries just to try to blackmail a president into giving them some concessions. The financial and economic problems the people of CT face are from the failed economic policies of CT Democrats and Senators Blumenthal and Murphy’s total failure to protect their constituents.”

Professor Marks says as the debate continues, SNAP recipients will remain caught in the middle.

“It’s clear our elective federal representatives need to come forward and figure out a way to eliminate the shutdown and get this government moving again,” he said.

Advertisement



Source link

Connecticut

Man killed in Glastonbury crash

Published

on

Man killed in Glastonbury crash


A man is dead after a crash in Glastonbury on Tuesday afternoon, police said.

The crash happened around 2:45 p.m. in the area of Hebron Avenue and Glenwood Road. First responders were called in response to the report of a crash with injuries.

When police arrived at the scene, they found an 84-year-old man driving one of the vehicles. He was unconscious and was rushed to an area hospital. A passenger in the same vehicle was also taken to the hospital for evaluation.

Police said that, according to an investigation, the 84-year-old driver was traveling east on Hebron Avenue when he turned left onto Glenwood Road. As he turned, he drove into the path of an oncoming vehicle.

Advertisement

The crash redirected the 84-year-old’s vehicle into a third vehicle.

Police said the man later died at the hospital. He hasn’t been identified at this time.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Connecticut

‘Changed everything:’ Double knee replacement transforms quality of life for Connecticut woman

Published

on

‘Changed everything:’ Double knee replacement transforms quality of life for Connecticut woman


MILFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — A Connecticut woman dealt with debilitating knee pain for years before she said she found a surgeon who listened to her needs and successfully replaced both of her joints.

“I was totally incapacitated,” Gail Rogers Hopkins told News 8.

Going up and down stairs was impossible for her just a couple of years ago.

“I could hardly move because the pain was just that excruciating,” she explained.

Advertisement

Before the pain consumed her, however, she shared her knees just weren’t her top priority.

“You just push it away because there’s kids to take care of and husbands to take care of and houses and work,” she said.

Rogers Hopkins tried all sorts of remedies like cortisone and CBD before exploring surgery.

“Finding the right doctor was key. I fired four orthopedists before I got to Dr. Lahav, because they, because of my weight, they did not want to do the surgery, and they dismissed me.”

The “right” doctor, she said, is orthopedic surgeon Dr. Amit Lahav at Bridgeport Hospital’s Milford Campus.

Advertisement

“Somebody was actually listening to me and that’s, you know, that was the start of it and so I did everything I was told,” Rogers Hopkins explained while fighting back tears.

Lahav helped her develop a weight loss plan in preparation for surgery. Her first knee was replaced in April and the second in June of last year.

Just about a year later, she said, “I didn’t feel like I had a life prior to this, you know, having the surgery done was just incredible, it just has changed everything.”

  • 'Changed everything:' Double knee replacement transforms quality of life for Connecticut woman.

Lahav is familiar with Rogers Hopkins’ path to surgery, saying, “functional impairments or mechanical symptoms such as arthritis sometimes takes a backseat.”

While he doesn’t discount a hip or knee replacement being major surgery, he added, “a lot of the total joint replacement you do now are same day, you go home, same day, you’re walking just a couple of hours after surgery, full weight-bearing.”

Lahav also emphasizes that recovery isn’t one size fits all.

Advertisement

“It’s a new joint, it does take some work on there, but if you get that work done earlier on and you maximize where you can get, especially over the first few weeks, you can be walking into my office at two weeks saying, I already feel a difference,” Lahav said.

To those struggling with pain like Rogers Hopkins’, she said, “don’t give up.”

She wants others to know, “it was worth the wait.”

Lahav said consider all your options for joint pain, both surgical and non-surgical. If surgery is the option you choose, make sure you understand the process from prep to post-surgery and prioritize quality communication with your medical team.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Connecticut

Body recovered from Connecticut River identified as missing Massachusetts man

Published

on

Body recovered from Connecticut River identified as missing Massachusetts man


LYME, Conn. (WTNH) — A body found in the Connecticut River earlier this month has been positively identified as a missing Massachusetts man, according to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

Somebody had reported seeing a body in the Connecticut River near the Chester-Lyme Ferry on May 9 around 12:23 p.m., according to DEEP.

Fire crews and police were able to recover the body, where the man was pronounced dead.

Environmental Conservation Police (EnCon) investigators were able to match known records to 63-year-old Donald Plasse, of Holyoke, Massachusetts, who was reported missing on Jan. 13.

Advertisement

According to DEEP, his disappearance followed an incident near the Connecticut River in South Hadley, Massachusetts.



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending