Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill stands by her office’s ability to protect voters’ access to polling centers.

Democrats who want to increase the capital gains tax in Connecticut say there’s no evidence it would lead to the wealthy fleeing the state.

The Connecticut General Assembly Appropriations Committee approved a $43.3 billion two-year state budget proposal on Tuesday. It sets the stage for final budget negotiations in June with Democratic Governor Ned Lamont.

Connecticut’s finance committee has approved a tax package that increases revenue by more than $2 billion over the next two years. Democrats say the increase is needed to fund the state’s $43.3 billion two-year budget proposal.

Some of the bills passed by Connecticut lawmakers in committee this week challenge Governor Ned Lamont’s control of state finances, which could lead to testy budget negotiations with the governor in coming days.

Officials say Connecticut paid $63 million to settle lawsuits last year. Nearly three-quarters of the money went to settle one case.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has announced a shakeup in his office staff. It comes after Lamont had some challenges getting lawmakers to support some of his agenda in his first legislative session.

Senator Rich Funke of Rochester is the latest Republican lawmaker to announce he will not seek reelection. Funke joins a growing list of seven other minority party GOP senators who say they are moving on to other things, after less than a year under Democratic rule in the Senate.

President Trump wants states to begin relaxing stay-at-home orders and reopen businesses after the spread of the coronavirus pummeled the global economy and killed millions of jobs. The White House coronavirus task force released guidelines on April 16 to encourage state governors to adopt a phased approach to lifting restrictions across the country. Some states have moved ahead without meeting the criteria . The task force rejected a set of additional detailed draft recommendations for schools, restaurants, churches and mass transit systems from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that it considered " overly prescriptive ." A number of states have already begun to lift restrictions, allowing for businesses including hair salons, diners and tattoo parlors to once again begin accepting customers. Health experts have warned that reopening too quickly could result in a potential rebound in cases. States are supposed to wait to begin lifting any restrictions until they have a 14

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Very briefly, at the end of 2019 and the start of 2020, there were slightly more women on American nonfarm payrolls than men. That's no longer true. The historically disastrous April jobs report shows that the brunt of job losses fell on women. Women now account for around just under half — 49% — of American workers, and they accounted for 55% of the increase in job losses last month. One way of looking at why that matters that is to look at the gap that opened up between women's and men's unemployment last month. The below chart shows women's unemployment rate minus men's unemployment rate since 2007. Usually, the line bumps around near or just below zero — meaning men's unemployment is usually near or slightly higher than women's. But that spike on the far right shows how women's unemployment leapt to be 2.7 points higher than men's in April. Women had an unemployment rate of 16.2% to men's 13.5% last month. That's uncommon for a recession. The below chart is a longer view, and the

Police are responding to an increased number of domestic violence calls during the coronavirus pandemic. An increase had been expected because many women have to shelter-in-place with their abusers. Shelters had prepared for an increase in service requests, but those calls aren't coming as frequently as anticipated. As WEMU'S David Fair found out from Safehouse Center executive director Barbara Niess-May, that is worrisome for a number of reasons.

It's safe to say that the COVID-19 crisis will be more than a footnote in world history. In fact, a new initiative is underway to see that this moment in time will be never be forgotten and that "we're all in this together." For this week's "On the Ground-Ypsi," WEMU's Lisa Barry and Concentrate Media's Sarah Rigg talk to local historian Kim Clarke about the "Ypsilanti Coronavirus Digital Archive," a new photo project designed to preserve memories of everyday life during the pandemic.

The Washtenaw Intermediate School District expects to receive less state revenue sharing this year as a result of COVID-19.

State Senator Jeff Irwin wants all future elections to be done entirely with absentee ballots.

Copyright 2018 NPR. To see more, visit (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) SCOTT SIMON, HOST: And to the uplifting notes of B.J. Leiderman, who writes our theme music, Major League Baseball is headed into the final weeks of the regular season. Mercy, is there a race in the NL Central. Howard Bryant of ESPN and espn.com joins us. Howard, thanks for being with us. HOWARD BRYANT, BYLINE: Good morning, Scott. SIMON: Oh, it is a good morning. The Cubs defeated the Reds - I mean the Cincinnati baseball team, not the KGB - 3-2. The Brewers defeated the Pirates 7-2. The Dodgers defeated the Cards 3-0. This put the Cubs a game and a half above the Brew Crew (ph) and five ahead of the Cards. These are three very worthy teams, aren't they? BRYANT: You know what, Scott? We talk so much this year about the president, and we talk about the NFL when we talk about Colin Kaepernick, and we talk about Serena and we talk about all of these things, but this has been such an underrated baseball season. And this is my

Copyright 2018 KERA. To see more, visit KERA . SCOTT SIMON, HOST: In Texas, a race that no one expected to be this competitive. The candidates for Texas Senate battled in a debate last night. KERA's Christopher Connelly reports from Dallas. CHRISTOPHER CONNELLY, BYLINE: It was a scene that feels kind of rare in American politics these days. Two guys with diametrically opposed opinions lobbing barbed policy prescriptions back-and-forth without any name calling. Senator Ted Cruz and Congressman Beto O'Rourke were forceful and civil - mostly. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) BETO O'ROURKE: You just said something that I did not say... TED CRUZ: What did you not say? O'ROURKE: ...And attributed it to me. CRUZ: What did you not say? O'ROURKE: I'm not going to repeat the slander and the mischaracterization. CRUZ: So what did you say? What did you say? O'ROURKE: I'm not going to repeat the slander and mischaracterization. CRUZ: You're not going to say what you did say? CONNELLY: Ted Cruz is

Copyright 2018 West Virginia Public Broadcasting. To see more, visit West Virginia Public Broadcasting . SCOTT SIMON, HOST: When it comes to making voting more secure, cybersecurity experts say the U.S. should move away from electronic voting machines back towards paper ballots. West Virginia's headed in the other direction. That state is experimenting with allowing service members deployed overseas to vote using an app on their smartphone. But as West Virginia Public Broadcasting's Dave Mistich reports, there are some big security concerns about that app. DAVE MISTICH, BYLINE: Here's the challenge for West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner - federal law says military and overseas voters have the right to cast an absentee ballot. But... MAC WARNER: The real issue here is the difficulty it takes to get that absentee ballot to a deployed soldier on a hillside in Afghanistan or to a sailor under a polar ice cap. The U.S. mail simply doesn't reach those places. And so they do have

Copyright 2018 NPR. To see more, visit SCOTT SIMON, HOST: You know what we could all use this week? Sports. (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) SIMON: And imagine; Major League Baseball continues the playoffs even after the Cubs have been defeated. Boy, is my October open now. Yanks, BoSox, Astros, Tribe, Braves, Dodgers, Rocks vs. the Brew Crew. Howard Bryant of ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com joins us. Howard, thanks for being with us. HOWARD BRYANT, BYLINE: You know, Scott, this just shows what a professional you are after going through what the Cubs went through - back-to-back days playing home games, losing both of them. SIMON: You don't have to elaborate. We've got a lot to talk about. BRYANT: Having another two consecutive teams celebrate on your home field. And yet, you sound great. SIMON: Oh, thank you. Well, it's all for show. Listen; one of the great rivalries in sports - Yankees-Red Sox. The Sox won last night 5-4, but Boston had to battle, didn't they? BRYANT: Yeah, they sure did. And

Release date : TBA 2020
Synopsis : The film follows Vietnam veterans who return to the jungle to find their lost innocence. Searching for the remains of ...

Release date : June 12, 2020
Synopsis : Scott (Pete Davidson) has been a case of arrested development ever since his firefighter father died when he was seven. ...

With the new chart-topper, DaBaby's former leader 'Blame It on Baby' falls one spot to No. 2 with 56,000 equivalent album units earned this week of Billboard 200 chart.

Using her time in quarantine to rework ABBA's classic 'Chiquitita', the 'Believe' hitmaker will debut her new track on May 8 and release its video as part of UNICEF's COVID-19 Virtual Special.

The sixth studio album from the 'Stupid Love' singer was initially set to make its debur on April 10, but got delayed due to all that going on during the global coronavirus pandemic.

The book inspired by the daughter and niece of the band's manager and authored by James Patterson is expected to use lyrics of the rock group's classic single.

Counting down to the release of 'Stuck With U' music video, the 'Yummy' hitmaker puts out on social media a clip of the 'Tiger King' star slow-dancing with her husband Howard.

Aside from sharing the behind-the-scenes story, the 'Leave (Get Out)' singer promotes her new song featuring Tory Lanez and 30 Roc as one that oozes the 'sexy time playlist' vibe.

The 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door' hitmaker has announced release date for 'Rough and Rowdy Ways', his first-ever studio album of original songs since 2012's 'Tempest.'

In episode two, host Will McInerney talks with reporter Reema Khrais about her personal connections to the Chapel Hill Shootings, and Will travels to the Syrian border to visit a dental clinic named in honor of Deah, Yusor, and Razan. Subscribe to this Podcast Stories with a Heartbeat is a new podcast hosted by poet Will McInerney that explores the human condition in conflict through poetry, listening, and conversation. On February 10th, 2015 Deah Barakat, his wife Yusor Abu-Salha, and her sister Razan Abu-Salha were murdered in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. All three young American-Muslims were shot and killed execution style in their home. Last episode on Stories with a Heartbeat, we relived the night of the Chapel Hill Shootings through the eyes of Deah’s brother, Farris Barakat. Shortly after that night, this story echoed around the world as the victims’ legacy was honored from Chapel Hill to the Syrian border, and concerns over hate crimes and Islamophobia moved to the forefront.

Seven poets from across the US share new works written and posted to Facebook within one day of the recent mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando . These poems are raw, personal, and earnest. In the wake of such horrific violence, host Will McInerney passes the mic to seven writers to help us understand what happened at the Pulse nightclub on June 12th . When the country is collectively at a loss for words, sometimes poets can help us find them. Subscribe to this Podcast

Kieve and Margaret, mom and indie, middle grade and romance author, discuss Kruger’s We Are Not What We Seem. They talk about second wave feminism’s connections to modernism and Lacanian Psychology, collage, and language. Kieve discusses parallels between the SUPREME brand and Kruger’s aesthetic. Buckle up, for an informative, jam packed episode!

Kieve and Camille, a veterinarian and cancer researcher, discuss Kahlo’s Broken Column. The pair blaze through topics like chronic pain, colonialism, race, Catholic symbolism, and Lacanian Psychology, and Feminism. Once again this is a packed episode! I hope you’re excited! Links to art: Music: Fed up with Hunger by Saintsenenca : Patron Saint Regina Spektor Flying Away from Fun Home Lisa Kron and Jeanine Tesori

Kim Manley Ort shares her approach to contemplative photography including exercises you can try using your camera or smartphone. We also discuss the challenges of sharing photos on social media and why they’re worth navigating. Excerpt from her book Adventures in Seeing: How the Camera Teaches You to Pause, Focus, and Connect with Life : “Learn to trust and honor your unique way of seeing and share it with the world. Our world needs people who pause before reacting, who focus on what’s really happening, see the possibilities, and then act from this place. It needs people who don’t feel helpless, who don’t rush to judgment or dismiss people or situations as unworthy of attention. The world needs you to see this way and your camera or smartphone can lead the way.” Follow Kim: KimManleyOrt.com Workshops, on-demand email courses, and retreats Monthly newsletter Instagram Resources that came up in our conversation: Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World ( library ) by

In 1994, actor Charlize Theron was just starting out in show business when a famous director invited her to an audition at his home. When she showed up, she found the director drinking and in his pajamas. He touched her leg; she apologized and left in a hurry. Driving away, Theron became angry — with herself: "I just kept hitting the steering wheel," she says. "I put a lot of blame on myself ... that I didn't say all the right things, and that I didn't tell him to take a hike, and that I didn't do all of those things that we so want to believe we'll do in those situations." It wasn't until years later that Theron understood her experience as sexual harassment. It's a subject that she's taking on in her latest film, Bombshell , which follows the women of Fox News who came forward to accuse then-CEO and chairman Roger Ailes of sexual harassment . Theron is one of the film's producers and also plays former Fox News host Megyn Kelly , who wrote about Ailes' unwanted sexual advances in her

Cardiologists in Columbus are the first in the nation to test new technology for patients suffering from atrial fibrillation. Doctors say it's a safer and more effective alternative.

Production on season 10 of the hit series has been axed because of the coronavirus crisis, but the actor playing Negan could not help but be excited for the upcoming special episode.

Created by 'American Vandal' showrunner Dan Lagana, this eight-part series is said to revolve around the life of Joe Schreibvogel, an eccentric zookeeper in Oklahoma, who fights to keep his park open.

Both Robert Rodriguez and Payton Reed have been confirmed to sit behind the lens for the upcoming second installment of Disney's hit 'Star Wars' spin-off.

The 'Lose You to Love Me' singer is announced to front an online cooking series and show off her skills in the kitchen amid the ongoing coronavirus lockdown.

Prior to this, it was said that the Bravo honchos decided to fire Cynthia and fellow 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta' star Eva Marcille because their 'storylines were the weakest.'

Weeks after COVID-19 shut down productions worldwide, Ryan Murphy admits that he has been contemplating between pushing production back by a year or changing theme.

The 'Seinfeld' actor reveals to his former co-star that he was offered a huge bribe to spill the beans ahead of the highly-anticipated finale of their TV show.

'The Hangover' star Ed Helms, in the meantime, is on board as an executive producer for the planned project that will chronicle the rise and fall of the former Mayor of Toronto.

Denise's eyebrow-raising action seems to have something to do with hookup rumors, which started to spark in late November 2019, involving her and former 'RHOBH' star Brandi Glanville.

Cast members, including Pete Davidson and Kate McKinnon, have been entertaining fans with skits and musical numbers from their self-isolation since mid-April.

Series creator Ryan Murphy reveals in a new interview that he has done writing the scripts for the new installment of the series, though the production has yet to start due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

A judge has ruled in favor of the 'Seinfeld' actor after he was sued by writer/director Christian Charles over who came up with the idea for the 'Comedians in Cars' show.

Two projects based on the Nicolas Cage-starring franchise are confirmed by the producers to be in development; one for streaming and another for the big screen.

The 'Community' cast members are going to reunite for a virtual table read without Chevy Chase who was fired from the show due to his increasingly aggressive and racist antics.

The creator/host of the long-running modeling competition finds herself under fire after a clip from a past episode in which she confronted Dani Evans about the gap in her teeth came out online again.