Klarides-Ditria shares tips on staying safe in extreme heat

With incredible temperatures here for another few days it’s important to take care of yourself and your loved ones.  Please remember to stay hydrated and check on your friends and neighbors to make sure they also have plenty of water and access to air conditioning. If you need help locating a cooling center, the state’s 2-1-1 phone line is always open and available 24/7 to answer questions or point you toward a center in your area.  You can also find a list of cooling centers on the 2-1-1 website. The state Department of Public Health maintains a list of tips on ways to beat the heat, including wearing light colored clothing, staying indoors as much as possible, pacing yourself, staying hydrated and much more.   For a full list, please go to the DPH website. More Tips to Avoid the Heat (from Ready.gov) Find air conditioning. Avoid strenuous activities. Wear light clothing. Check on family members and neighbors. Drink plenty of fluids. Watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Never leave people or pets in a closed car. HOW TO STAY SAFE WHEN EXTREME HEAT THREATENS Try to keep your home cool: Do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device.  Cover windows with drapes or shades. Weather-strip doors and windows. Use window reflectors such as aluminum foil-covered cardboard to reflect heat back outside. Add insulation to keep the heat out. Use a powered attic ventilator, or attic fan, to regulate the heat level of a building’s attic by clearing hot air. Install window air conditioners and insulate around them. Learn to recognize the signs of heat illness.   For more information visit  www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/warning.html If you or anyone you know is suffering from heat exhaustion or heat stroke and needs emergency medical assistance, please call 9-1-1 immediately!

Sincerely,

Logan discusses minority-owned businesses on Access TV show

The latest edition of state Sen. George S. Logan’s Access TV show “The Senate Reports” features Hamden resident and Black Business Alliance President Frank Dixon, left. Logan and Dixon discuss ways to help minorities who want to start and grow Connecticut businesses. 

To contact BBA, call 203-433-5445 or email info@bbusinessalliance.org.  On the web: www.bbusinessalliance.org.  
The show can be viewed at www.SenatorGeorgeLogan.com and at www.AccessTV.org.
Logan, R-Ansonia, represents Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Derby, Hamden, Naugatuck, and Woodbridge. He can be reached at George.Logan@cga.ct.gov and 800-842-1421. 


This is a press release from Logan's office.

Newsletter features coffee hour with Logan at Valley Diner in Derby

Dear readers,

In the the latest Valley Voice newsletter Ralph writes about a coffee hour state Sen. George S. Logan, R-Ansonia, held Friday at the Valley Diner in Derby. 
We also have photos from Sunday's Eucharistic Procession in downtown Derby.

Please click here to read all about it.

~ Patti

Gentile applauds House passage of workforce development bill

HARTFORD - State Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia, Derby, applauds the House passage of a bill she co-sponsored that supports workforce development initiatives in the state.

State Rep. Linda M. Gentile

“In order to improve the effectiveness of our workforce development, we have to evaluate our economy and study the ways in which we can strengthen our labor force,” Gentile said. 

“Connecticut needs to focus on creating job opportunities through education and training and this bill will work to provide the necessary services that will help Connecticut be competitive and prosperous.”

Senate Bill #5590 will: 

• Allow the commissioner to establish a working group to review business support services in the state. The working group would review the services offered by such agencies and consider ways to better coordinate such services that will benefit businesses in the state. 
• Require the labor commissioner to develop and implement a universal intake form that each person entering any American Job Center or regional workforce development board facility must complete.
• Create the Connecticut Early College Opportunity program (CT-ECO), which is defined as collaboration between a school district's high schools, a local community college, and a company or business entity where a student may earn an industry-recognized, two-year post-secondary degree in addition to a high school diploma.

The bill now heads to the governor's desk to be signed into law.     

This is a press release from Gentile's office.

Logan hails Senate passage of hate crime bill he co-sponsored

State Sen. George S. Logan 

HARTFORD - State Sen. George S. Logan, R-Ansonia, applauded the state Senate’s unanimous passage Tuesday of a comprehensive bill aimed at strengthening Connecticut’s hate crime laws, making them the strongest in the nation. 

Logan is a co-sponsor of the legislation, which now heads to the governor for his signature.

“As Republicans and Democrats, we stand united in the face of hate,” Logan said.  

“This legislation sends a strong message that Connecticut has zero tolerance for hate crimes. Our laws will soon be a model for the rest of the country.”

Over the last year, the United States has endured incidents of hate including murders, assaults, bomb threats and vandalism that have been directed against African-Americans, Hindu-Americans, Hispanics, Jews, Muslims, Sikh-Americans, transgender women, and others.

  

House Bill 5743, An Act Concerning Hate Crimes:

• Strengthens hate crime laws by increasing penalties, making it a felony (instead of a misdemeanor) for committing a hate crime against a group of persons (instead of a specific individual.)
• Strengthens and modernizes Connecticut’s hate crime laws to include hate crimes based on gender (sex). Current law protects only “gender identity or expression,” not gender.
• Strengthens hate crime laws by increasing the penalty to a Class C felony (from a Class D felony) for making a bomb threat or other threat of violence against a house of worship, religious community center or other religious institution—or any daycare facility—if the threat is made with the intent to terrorize another person or to cause the evacuation of the building or grounds. This puts the penalty for such bomb threats on par with threats made against schools.
• Strengthens hate crime laws by increasing the penalty for desecrating any house of worship or any religious cemetery from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class C felony if there is more than $10,000 in damage, or a Class D felony if there is less than $10,000 in damage.
• Strengthens hate crime laws by expanding the threshold for a 1st-degree hate crime from its current requirement of causing “serious physical injury” to instead causing “physical injury.”
• Establishes a court’s power to order extensive, relevant community service and/or restitution, in addition to any other penalties imposed for hate crime convictions.
• Establishes a mandatory minimum fine of $1,000 for individuals convicted of hate crimes.

Logan (www.SenatorGeorgeLogan.com) represents Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, and Derby; and parts of Hamden, Naugatuck and Woodbridge. He can be reached at George.Logan@cga.ct.gov and at 800-842-1421.

This is a press release from Logan's office.

Local lawmaker appears on Access TV show in Hartford

State Sen. George S. Logan, R-Ansonia, left, recently taped his first edition of “The Senate Reports with Sen. George S. Logan” at the Hartford-based AccessTV.org studio with Access TV videographer J. Stan McCauley.  

In the show’s debut, Logan, a freshman legislator, discusses the reasons why he was inspired to run for public office and his efforts to improve the quality of life for everyone in Connecticut.  

The show can be viewed at www.SenatorGeorgeLogan.com and www.accesstv.org/ch-22.  

Direct link: http://ctsenaterepublicans.com/2017/03/watch-sen-logans-access-tv-show-debuts-on-channel-22/#.WMAZ2YKQxjo .  

Logan represents Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Bethany, Derby, Hamden, Naugatuck and Woodbridge. He can be reached at 800-842-1421 and at George.Logan@cga.ct.gov.   

This is a press release from Logan's office.

Gentile hails Connecticut's efforts against human trafficking

State leads way in fight; law gets tougher Oct. 1

HARTFORD - State Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia/Derby, is hailing Connecticut’s efforts against human trafficking.  

Beginning in October, hotel and motel operators must train their staff to recognize signs of human trafficking.  

The operators must also keep records of their guests.

In addition, the General Assembly will get annual reports from law enforcement outlining: 

law enforcement’s participation in federal, statewide, or regional anti-trafficking efforts; referrals related to human trafficking allegations; criteria used to determine the validity of human trafficking allegations; coordination among state and local police on trafficking cases; obstacles to investigating trafficking; the number of missing children investigations; the number of referrals from DCF related to trafficking; and the number of trafficking cases referred for prosecution.

“I am so proud of this legislation,” Gentile said. “It came about thanks to the women's caucus of the General Assembly who recognized the extent of this horrible crime and urgent need to address it. We worked side by side, across the aisle to ensure that our law would be comprehensive and effective. Because of my commitment and that of my colleagues, Connecticut's law is model legislation for our country.”

Connecticut’s aggressive anti-trafficking laws have attracted the attention of law enforcement and civil rights groups across the U.S.

This is a press release from Gentile's office.

Gentile urges residents to download CT Prepares app for emergency alerts

State Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia/Derby, is urging residents to take advantage of the new CT Prepares app.  


Once downloaded, CT Prepares will issue alerts for severe weather and other emergency situations

CT Prepares also allows you to:

 • View real-time alerts

 • View National Weather Service forecasts for you current location

 • Access news and events from the Connecticut Emergency Management Agency

 • Review preparation guides for different emergency situations

 • Get in touch with a variety of emergency services

 • Send an “I’m Safe” email message to your contacts via, text, email and social media.

You can get even more information on the web at ct.gov/governor.

CT Prepares is a free comprehensive app available from the iTunes Apple Store and Google Play.  
Search for CT Prepares, get the download, and get started.


This is a press release from Gentile's office.

Crisco opposes proposed insurance rate hikes

State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco testifies before state Insurance Department. / Submitted photo

HARTFORD - State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, who is Senate Chairman of the legislature’s Insurance and Real Estate Committee, testified Wednesday morning before the state Insurance Department in opposition to proposed health insurance rate increases as requested by Anthem, ConnectiCare, and Aetna.

While noting that the Connecticut legislature has done much in recent years to support both Connecticut’s insurance industry and its insurance consumers Crisco was unequivocal in his opposition to the proposed rate hikes.

“I come to oppose any increase in these requests, and I base my opposition on the net income of these insurance companies,” Crisco testified, noting that just last week,  Anthem - which is seeking a 27 percent rate increase - reported that its second-quarter 2016 net income was more than three-quarters of a billion dollars. “I think it is time we consider the net income of these insurance companies, so I ask the department to reject any rate increases whatsoever.” 

Anthem is seeking an average 26.8 percent increase for the 56,700 people covered under individual plans in Connecticut, and is also seeking an average 14.3 percent increase for the 42,200 people it covers in its “small group” plan for employers with 50 or fewer employees. 
ConnectiCare is seeking an average 14.3 percent rate increase on the 47,595 people it covers in Connecticut under individual plans.

According to published news reports, the proposed rate increases are higher than the 9.6 percent impact of medical cost inflation and increased demand for those services.

The state Insurance Department has the authority to reject or modify rates requests, based on its review of the filings.


This is a press release from Crisco's office.

DeLauro backs Lockheed plan to purchase Sikorsky

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, D-CT, released the following statement today after the Department of Defense announced concerns with mergers and acquisitions between prime contractors, such as Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky (Aircraft). 

DeLauro represents Sikorsky’s home of Stratford.

“Lockheed Martin is the right home for Sikorsky. Lockheed Martin does not presently make helicopters, and they are committed to both the military and commercial helicopter business. I look forward to seeing Lockheed’s $9 billion purchase of Sikorsky go through and the world’s best helicopters continue to be built in Stratford.”

This is a press release from DeLauro's office.