These news briefs are part of The Connecticut Mirror’s 2026 political coverage. For more Connecticut political news, sign up here for The Issue, the CT Mirror’s weekly politics newsletter.

Lamont, Fazio OK millions to lower electric bills

The State Bond Commission — including Gov. Ned Lamont and campaign rival state Sen. Ryan Fazio — voted to approve borrowing up to $145 million on Monday to help lower electric bills.

The bonds will be used to pay down costs from unpaid bills that were allowed to accumulate during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as providing funding for the state’s electric vehicle charging program that had previously been collected through the public benefits charge on customers’ bills.

It was the second time the Bond Commission approved borrowing money to offset those costs. The first time, in August 2025, helped to reduce bills by about $5 to $10 a month. The second round of borrowing was already factored into rate adjustments that took effect Sept. 1.

— John Moritz, Energy & Environment Reporter

What Lamont, Elliott spent on primary

Reports filed on Sept. 10 give a final snapshot of spending by Gov. Ned Lamont and his challenger, Josh Elliott, in the Democratic primary won by the governor.

As of Aug. 31, Lamont’s campaign spent just shy of $10.5 million, with the self-funding governor personally donating $10.2 million to the effort.

Elliott, who participated in the voluntary public financing program, spent $4 million.

— Mark Pazniokas, Capitol Bureau Chief

Complaint filed against CCSU president

Central Connecticut State University President Zulma Toro is under investigation for intimidation and bullying, CT Examiner reported Tuesday.

The complaint stemmed from a specific incident at a staff retreat in August. Toro allegedly screamed at staff members and canceled the retreat after someone called her plans for a newly purchased building unrealistic.

Toro was also the subject of a 2019 complaint that was ultimately dismissed. CT Examiner reports she has previously been criticized for threatening and insulting staff, as well as making them take care of her mother and her dog.

— Theo Peck-Suzuki, Education Reporter

Blue Ribbon Commission crafting problem statements, policy proposals

Subcommittees of the Blue Ribbon Commission on K-12 Education Funding and Accountability are working on potential changes to special education, school choice, accountability and the Education Cost Sharing, or ECS, formula.

All four subcommittees should be finished with their work by mid-October.

Members of the ECS subcommittee have so far expressed strong interest in tying the state’s main school funding grant to inflation, as legislators tried to do earlier this year. The special education subcommittee has discussed adding a special education weight to ECS and increasing funding for in-district programming.

— Theo Peck-Suzuki, Education Reporter

Foster care prevention grant awarded

Connecticut is among 10 states that will receive federal grant money to reduce the number of children entering foster care.

The grants range from $600,000 to $750,000 for states to create programs that prevent the need for foster care. The total one-time grant funding is $7.3 million spread across states. Connecticut will set up the infrastructure it needs to bill the federal government for more family therapy services, aiming to reduce long wait times.

The announcement comes at a time many states, including Connecticut, are struggling to find placements for children in foster care.

— Ginny Monk, Investigative Reporter

Eversource files lawsuit against Hydro Quebec

Eversource, along with other electric utilities in Massachusetts, filed a lawsuit in federal court on Tuesday accusing Hydro-Quebec of failing to deliver power to the New England electric grid during a severe cold snap this past winter.

The lawsuit is not expected to have an impact on Eversource’s customers in Connecticut, who are not a party to the utilities’ agreements to purchase 9.45 terawatt hours of electricity from the Canadian power company.

Much of that power is fed into New England through a new transmission line that powered on in January, just days before a severe cold snap scrambled the region’s electric grid. Hydro Quebec has argued that the cold snap was a “force majeure” that necessitated cutting off exports of power to the U.S. in order to serve customers in Canada.

— John Moritz, Energy & Environment Reporter

New Haven alders signs off on quantum hub development

Supporters of Connecticut’s quantum ambitions got good news this week, as New Haven officials approved a key step in the development of the building that will house much of the effort.

On Tuesday, New Haven’s Board of Alders approved a development agreement between the city and Winstanley Enter...

The CT Mirror

Message History

Delivery option(s)