Dankosky Revisits Rell

John Dankosky’s story on Gov. Jodi Rell’s decision not to attend a meeting of the National Governor’s Association still has legs.

Read his latest.

Summer Youth Employment Advocates Fear Funding Cut

There will no doubt be countless stories of agencies and advocates who fear funding cuts as the state works to balance its budget.

Here’s one about summer youth employment.  Listen to it online or on the radio tonight.

Hartford Democratic Spat Almost Over

Steve Goode at the Courant reports that the court fight between Democrats in Hartford over just who should be allowed on next week’s town committee primary ballot is winding down.

A court decision is expected this week.   At issue is both the makeup of the town committee — which has a strong voice in choosing who will serve as the city’s next mayor.

Thanks, Steve, for the update.

FOI Wins, Hartford Loses

Two items made news today concerning the city Corporation Counsel John Rose and the state’s Freedom of Information Commission.

First, the commission apparently voted today that Rose violated the state’s sunshine laws when he made someone wait too long to get public documents. And second, a hearing officer has made a preliminary ruling in another case that Rose withheld documents from a member of the public (and a mayoral critic) without cause. That hearing officer proposed fining Rose a hefty $1,000.

Rose, and the city, don’t have the best record with the FOI Commission. or the court to which it takes its appeals.

Can’t Get Enough CT-N?

Now, if you have AT&T Uverse, you can watch even more.

Read the press release below.

Where We Live, Where We Break News

Looks like John Dankosky led the field yesterday on Gov. Jodi Rell’s decision to skip a national meeting of governors.

If you haven’t seen his reports, check them out.  Breaking news may not be our top priority, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do it.

Lawmakers Want To Reform Campaign Finance Law; Healy Wants To Kill It

Chris Healy (WNPR File Photo)

Its backers say its a law worth preserving.  A judge says it is unconstitutional.  GOP leader Chris Healy calls it “taxpayer subsidized fraud.”

Who knew campaign finance reform could be so much fun?

Listen to our story tonight at 5 p.m., or listen now online.

Hartford Hit-And-Run Suspect Pleads Guilty

Luis Negron Appears Monday In Hartford Superior Court (PATRICK RAYCRAFT/HARTFORD COURANT)

You may not remember the names, but you’ll remember the video — the one of a man in Hartford getting hit while crossing the street and then, apparently, being left for dead.

That man, Angel Arce Torres, eventually died.  The video of his hit-and-run made national news, and it caused Hartford Police Chief Daryl K. Roberts to say that the city had a “toxic relationship” with itself.

On Monday, a suspect in that incident pleaded guilty.  Read more about it here, and check out Helen Ubinas’ take. Also, here’s a story I wrote not long after.

Hartford Democrats In Court

We spent a couple of hours Friday morning with infighting Hartford Democrats at Hartford Superior Court.

Let’s just say it wasn’t the most riveting stuff.  Some Democrats (we won’t name who) slept.  Others checked their cell phones.  And, just before noon, it seemed clear enough that a ruling would take a while — if not wait until next week.  We left.  If something came of it, we’ll let you know.

Briefly, the North End town committee slate in Abe Giles’ district is facing a political challenge from residents calling for “change.” Now, those challengers say they’ve filed suit in state court, alleging that the city’s Democratic registrar of voters — who is related to Giles — improperly certified the slate of which she is a member. At issue is the makeup of the town committee, which has a strong voice in who will be the city’s next mayor.

Lamont In The House

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ned Lamont taped WFSB’s Face The State last night with Dennis House, Paul Hughes of the Waterbury Republican-American, and (seriously?) me.

Lamont didn’t make too much news.  He’s not opposed to Sunday liquor sales, he’s not sure toll technology is where it needs to be to bring tolls back, he wouldn’t try to bounce the legislature’s Democratic leaders, and he said that while he doesn’t want to raise taxes, he probably would.

We’ll excerpt the show briefly this evening on the radio.  Watch the full Lamontfest this Sunday morning at 11 a.m. on Channel 3.  (Photo Courtesy WFSB)

UPDATE:  Listen to the story that will air tonight on the radio.

SECOND UPDATE: Here’s the video.