Connecticut
Readers speak: No-excuse absentee ballots are not needed in CT
No-excuse absentee ballots are not needed in Connecticut
The framers of the Constitution were brilliant in understanding that if their quest for self-rule was to succeed, a system of checks and balances would be required to avoid aggregation of power. A letter to the editor argued for abolishing the electoral college, one of the key methods of ensuring that power is not concentrated [Feb. 12, Opinion, Page 3, “Electoral College needs to be fixed”].
Political cartoonist Michael Ramirez has graphically demonstrated the result of abandoning the electoral college. California, Texas, New York, Florida and Illinois would dominate the map, with all the other states squeezed into mere ribbons laced between these behemoths. Small-population states such as Connecticut would be subject to the whims, trends and dictates of the few large states.
Recently, Connecticut had a preview of this level of lack of choice between implementing the clean air standards of the unelected bureaucrats at the EPA, or the unelected California Air Resources Board (CARB). Thankfully, the citizens of Connecticut stood up and overwhelmingly said “no” to the imposition of mandates to eliminate gasoline powered automobiles by 2035.
Those in power want to change the rules on voting (no-excuse absentee ballots; ranked choice voting; no ID required voting) because they know they can’t persuade common sense people with their weak or non-existent arguments.
We will hear a good deal more in Connecticut about “no-excuse” absentee ballots this year. In November, we will be asked whether to amend the state constitution to allow no-excuse absentee voting, changing the constitution from the current, well-defined list of six reasons for voting in absentia.
Given that Connecticut has now implemented early voting, there appears to be little reason for no-excuse absentee ballots. The fact that Connecticut has also poorly planned for early voting further supports my contention that the proposed change to the state constitution should be voted down.
All citizens need to be involved at all levels of our government to stem this tide that threatens the freedoms that we have inherited.
Robert Ham, Cheshire
Groundhog prediction nothing to chuckle about
Let’s hear it for the Manchester Police Department for issuing an arrest warrant for that perfidious groundhog Chuckles, who so callously predicted an early spring. I hope Chuckles is duly remorseful. My husband offered to post bail, but I told him that Chuckles must serve his time for this weaselly crime.
Joyce Kamanitz, West Hartford
Connecticut
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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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Connecticut
Strong Storm Emerges For Northern Connecticut: Here’s When, What To Know
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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