Connecticut
The impact that gun violence has on hospitals and health care workers in Connecticut
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — The United States Surgeon General declared gun violence a health emergency, and News 8 is taking a look at how these acts of violence impact healthcare workers in the state.
While Connecticut leads the rest of the United States in terms of gun laws, communities are still experiencing high rates of gun violence.
Firearms are the number one cause of death for youth in Hartford, according to Jennifer Martin, M.D., an emergency medicine doctor at Saint Francis Hospital.
“It is taxing on the entire medical staff,” Martin said. “From everyone who works in the emergency departments, the operating rooms, the surgical floors. Every single person it touches touches violence in that way and it wears on everybody.”
At Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, they have staff who will meet with families and victims of gun violence while they are still receiving medical care to discuss what happened and help them through the recovery process, Dr. Kevin Borrup, executive director of the hospital’s Injury Prevention Center, said.
Borrup said that the most effective time to intervene with a gun shot victim is at the bedside shortly after the incident, calling it the “golden hour” where people are more likely to receive help.
Saint Francis also has efforts to educate the community on gun violence prevention.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn) said that while the surgeon general’s declaration was a step in the right direction, he hopes that it is followed by action.
“We need real action to ban assault weapons, provide for better liability on the part of the gun manufacturers, red flag statutes,” Blumenthal said.
A woman was arrested and charged with murdering a man whose body was found behind a condominium complex in Farmington in March, police said on Friday.
Cynthia Martinez, 27, was charged with murder, unlawful discharge of a firearm, tampering with evidence, and criminal use of a firearm in connection with the death of 29-year-old Derick William Mercado-Labonte of Bridgeport.
On March 19, officers responded to Talcott Forest Road around 10 a.m. for the report of an untimely death.
They found the body of Mercado-Labonte along the wood line behind a condominium complex. He appeared to have sustained multiple areas of trauma, according to police.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled Mercado-Labonte’s death a homicide.
Martinez is being held on a $3,000,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned at the Torrington Superior Court on Friday.
Police said no further information will be released at this time, as this remains an active and ongoing investigation.
New data is shedding light on the state of Connecticut’s economy and labor force.
On this episode of the CBIA BizCast, CBIA Foundation director Dustin Nord joins host Amanda Marlow to talk about new Connecticut Department of Labor data that highlights the mismatch between increased job openings and a shrinking labor force.
Connecticut job openings jumped 2.6% in May to 87,356—however, since May 2025, 37,700 people have left Connecticut’s labor force.
Nord breaks down some of the reasons for this mismatch and what needs to be done to address Connecticut’s economic challenges.
He also shares insights into a U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis report showing Connecticut’s economy expanded 1.8% in the first quarter of 2026.
Episode Highlights:
- Job Openings vs. Workforce Shortage
- Unemployment Trends
- GDP Growth Amid Labor Challenges
- Affordability and Long-Term Competitiveness
Headlines You May Have Missed:
The CBIA BizCast is made possible through the generous support of Google. Subscribe to the BizCast wherever you get your podcasts. Please rate the podcast and leave us a review—we appreciate your support! And be sure to give us your feedback and share guests you’d like to hear.
-
Miami, FL4 minutes agoOregon Battling Miami, Mario Cristobal for Four-Star EDGE Recruit
-
Dallas, TX6 minutes agoFC Dallas Forward Logan Farrington Inks Contract Extension
-
Boston, MA14 minutes agoRed Sox face lengthy travel issues ahead of series vs. Mets
-
Denver, CO21 minutes agoWhat’s going on with the Nuggets? Unpacking an NBA offseason on hold
-
Seattle, WA24 minutes agoSeattle Kraken Sign Goaltender Victor Östman and Defenseman Ville Ottavainen to One-Year Deals | Seattle Kraken
-
San Diego, CA29 minutes agoAn executive shuffle at San Diego’s Sempra
-
Milwaukee, WI36 minutes ago
Survey finds less than half of Jews in Milwaukee identify as Zionists | The Jerusalem Post
-
Atlanta, GA39 minutes agoAtlanta Hawks Showing Interest In Denver’s Peyton Watson, But Is The Price Too High?
