News - CTnow

Connecticut Celebrates 107 Parks, 100 Years

BY STEVE GRANT, SPECIAL TO THE COURANT — Thu, 23 May 2013 12:01:00 EDT

It was 1918, five years after the Connecticut State Park Commission was created and charged with developing a statewide system of parks. Even though the commission was presented within its first year of existence with a grand plan identifying ideal park sites, progress in actually creating them was minimal four years later.

Snow On Memorial Day Weekend?

By CHRISTINE DEMPSEY, cdempsey@courant.com — Thu, 23 May 2013 10:42:02 EDT

In New England, It's Possible

Expect more cold, damp drizzle than barbecue sizzle this Memorial Day weekend.

Bill Letting Newtown Families Veto Disclosure Of Records Might Raise Fairness Issues, Officials Say

By JON LENDER, jlender@courant.com — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:36:00 EDT

The secretly drafted bill that would give Newtown massacre victims' families the power to veto disclosure of some investigative records might create a broader precedent — because future crime victims' families could ask for the same power in their less-celebrated cases, the head of the state Freedom of Information Commission said Thursday.

Interstate 5 bridge collapses in Washington state, sending cars, people into water

By the Associated Press — Thu, 23 May 2013 22:34:00 EDT

The bridge carrying the Interstate 5 bridge over the Skagit River near Mount Vernon, Wash. has partially collapsed.

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) — An Interstate 5 bridge over a river north of Seattle collapsed Thursday evening, dumping vehicles and people into the water, the Washington State Patrol said.

Senate Approves Minimum Wage Hike; Sunday Deer Hunting Approved By House; Racial Profiling Law Strengthened

By CHRISTOPHER KEATING, ckeating@courant.com — Thu, 23 May 2013 21:44:34 EDT

The state Senate voted Thursday night to raise the minimum wage — after a huge clash between Republicans and Democrats.

Heavy Rains Cause Flood Concern Thursday

Staff reports — Thu, 23 May 2013 22:24:39 EDT

Flooding was a concern in many parts of the state Thursday night as heavy rains continue to fall.

Connecticut Honors Its War Dead At Capitol Ceremony

By DANIELA ALTIMARI, dnaltimari@courant.com — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:59:00 EDT

Portrait Of Andrew Pedersen-Keel Of Madison Is Portrait No. 64 At Complex

Photographs of 63 men and women from Connecticut who were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan hang in the underground passage between the Legislative Office Building and the state Capitol.

High School Student In Hartford Accused Of Rape

BY HILDA MUÑOZ, hmunoz@courant.com — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:15:44 EDT

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A 16-year-old student at a local charter school allegedly raped another student in April as they walked to school through Keney Park in Hartford, court records say.

Final Phase Of Pratt Brain Cancer Study Concludes That Workplace Did Not Increase Risk

By BRIAN DOWLING, bdowling@courant.com — Thu, 23 May 2013 23:03:44 EDT

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A 12-year study released Thursday concluded that working at Pratt & Whitney did not increase the risk of brain cancer or other illnesses for employees, but for some the results still fell short of a complete answer.

Boy Scouts vote to lift ban on gay members; gay leadership ban remains

Marice Richter — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:28:00 EDT

GRAPEVINE, Texas (Reuters) - The Boy Scouts of America voted on Thursday to lift a ban on openly gay scouts that had been in place throughout the organization's 103-year history, capping weeks of intense lobbying on both sides, the group said in a statement.