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TexasTowelie

TexasTowelie's Journal
TexasTowelie's Journal
December 21, 2019

Buttigieg playing catchup in reaching Nevada voters of color

By Michelle L. Price


LAS VEGAS (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg is working to make inroads with Latino, black and Asian American voters in Las Vegas this weekend, outreach that the South Bend mayor has been slow to make compared with many of his rivals.

Buttigieg is appearing at a series of town halls and roundtables across Las Vegas, including a town hall with Asian American voters Friday night and a “Black empowerment conversation” at a soul food restaurant Saturday afternoon, followed by a Latino community leader roundtable.

It will be Buttigieg’s first event with leaders of the Latino community in Nevada — a significant slice of the state's Democratic electorate.

Nevada, which votes third in the Democratic primary, offers the first test of a candidate’s appeal to a diverse population. Presidential contenders are expected to build relationships in these communities early, typically making campaign stops much sooner than two months out from the caucuses.

Read more: https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/Buttigieg-playing-catchup-in-reaching-Nevada-14923909.php
December 21, 2019

State comptroller offers credit monitoring to about 1,000 recipients of mailing that may have public

State comptroller offers credit monitoring to about 1,000 recipients of mailing that may have publicly disclosed Social Security numbers


State Comptroller Kevin Lembo’s office said Thursday it is offering credit monitoring to about 1,000 dependents on state health plans after being notified that Social Security numbers were visible through the window of envelopes sent by the agency.

Letters were sent Dec. 12 to adult dependents on the state health plan notifying them of their rights to continue group health coverage and other options because they are “aging off” group coverage as they turn 26.

“Our office learned this week that, in some cases, Social Security numbers could be visible through the window of the envelope used to send the letter,” said Tara Downes, the spokeswoman for the comptroller’s office.

The comptroller’s office has received no reports of security breaches, she said. But “in the interest of extreme caution,” the agency is offering credit monitoring to those who received the notices, Downes said. The comptroller’s office also is taking steps to ensure that there will be no repeat of the incident, including looking at alternatives to including Social Security numbers in the notices.

Read more: https://www.courant.com/business/hc-biz-comptroller-information-breach-20191219-zt35zg4aw5an3nv2uaalmvffty-story.html
December 21, 2019

Republican candidate who made sexist comment about Kamala Harris owed thousands in child support

Republican candidate who made sexist comment about Kamala Harris owed thousands in child support while making big donations to Trump, GOP causes

By Daniela Altimari


Robert F. Hyde, the Republican candidate for Congress whose sexist and offensive tweet about Kamala Harris drew widespread condemnation from leaders of both political parties, owed the mother of his 13-year-old son more than $2,000 in child support, according to court records, even as he continued to donate thousands to President Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee.

On Nov. 4, the family support magistrate in Torrington issued a temporary order for Hyde allowing him to pay $94 per week in child support, as well as a weekly assessment of $14 to make up the $2,100 he owed. The case was continued until Jan. 13.

Jennyfer Morin of Torrington said she was compelled to come forward because Hyde is seeking public support for his campaign to represent Connecticut’s 5th District. “I’m shocked that people are planning to vote for this man,” she said in an interview.

Court filings shared by Morin and reviewed by the Courant state that Hyde has donated more than $56,000 to political campaigns since October 2016. Most of those contributions went to the Republican National Committee, according to electronic filings with the Federal Election Commission.

Read more: https://www.courant.com/politics/hc-pol-robert-hyde-child-support-20191219-3dc5k5xuwvhnvodkshu4t273zm-story.html
December 21, 2019

Milford will pay $5M to settle lawsuit brought by estate of Maren Sanchez, fatally stabbed by fellow

Milford will pay $5M to settle lawsuit brought by estate of Maren Sanchez, fatally stabbed by fellow student on her prom day

By Josh Kovner


The city of Milford has agreed to pay $5 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the estate of Maren Sanchez, who was stabbed to death at age 16 by fellow student Christopher Plaskon in the hallway of Jonathan law High School on the day of her junior prom.

The settlement, announced Friday, reflects the school’s failure to act on a report from Sanchez months before the April 2014 stabbing that she felt Plaskon was a danger to himself or others.

A lawsuit filed by Donna Cimarelli-Sanchez, administrator of her daughter’s estate, alleged Sanchez told her counselors in the high school guidance department that Plaskon was emotionally disturbed. It accuses the school of not doing enough to keep Sanchez safe.

“It has been almost six long years since Maren was stolen from us,” Cimarelli-Sanchez said in written statement Friday. “This journey has been one of insurmountable anguish and grief, as well as hope. The physical loss of such a vibrant, loving, magnificent magical soul that was Maren is something that no lawsuit can ever make up for.”

Read more: https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-maren-sanchez-settlement-stabbing-20191220-qgh3i54vard5figt5274relztu-story.html
December 21, 2019

Overwhelming Support For Seven-Year Hospital Settlement

by Christine Stuart


HARTFORD, CT — Some Senators expressed skepticism about the fiscal restrictions included in the state’s settlement with the Connecticut Hospital Association, but they ultimately agreed to the deal.

The Senate passed the two bills detailing the settlement and the implementation 33-0 and the House passed the same bills 136-0 and 135-0, but with no debate.

The settlement, negotiated by Gov. Ned Lamont’s administration, Attorney General William Tong, and the Connecticut Hospital Association, will cost the state $872 million over seven years. The hospitals will gain $1.8 billion over that same seven year period.

“Today marks the start of a desperately needed reset between the state and our hospitals, and I am thankful that we were able to come together and negotiate a settlement in good faith that provides stability for both sides while reducing the losses the state would have incurred in the absence of this agreement,” Lamont said following passage of the settlement.

Read more: https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20191218_overwhelming_support_for_seven-year_hospital_settlement/
December 21, 2019

Lawmakers Seek To Clarify Guidance For Restaurant Workers

by Jack Kramer


HARTFORD, CT—Legislation requiring the state to create new rules regarding how restaurants pay their workers passed the House and Senate Wednesday.

The House passed the bill 125-11 and the Senate passed it 27-3.

It now goes to Gov. Ned Lamont, who is expected to sign it into law.

Lamont, who initially vetoed similar legislation in July, applauded passage of the legislation Wednesday.

“This legislation is the result of collaborative discussions between our administration, lawmakers, and representatives of both sides, and it strikes the appropriate balance to protect the wages fairly earned by restaurant workers while providing relief to restaurant owners who may have complied with unclear or conflicting guidance from the prior administration’s Department of Labor,” Lamont said.

Read more: https://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/20191218_lawmakers_seek_to_clarify_guidance_for_restaurant_workers/
December 21, 2019

Faculty, staff crowd regents meeting to oppose college merger plan

Several dozen faculty and staff members attended Thursday’s Board of Regents for Higher Education meeting to register their opposition to the plan to consolidate the state’s 12 community colleges into one single statewide college.

“We have been fighting for a couple of years to make something coherent out of this plan,” said Colena Sesanker, a philosophy professor at Gateway Community College. But faculty and professors who participate on various committees working on the consolidation are not being listened to, she said. “The plan doesn’t even seem viable. It seems harmful for students. We have been pushing for any number of things that could at least have made it better.”

She said the faculty members attending Thursday’s board meeting have been feeling that their efforts to provide input are “futile” and many, including her, are now thinking of dropping off the committees.

Another faculty member, Lauren Doninger, a psychology professor at Gateway, said “I think the way consolidation is being pursued is reckless. I wouldn’t have chosen consolidation, but I and many many others were willing, if this is the path we’re taking, let’s make it the best possible experience that we can.”

Read more: https://ctmirror.org/2019/12/19/faculty-staff-crowd-regents-meeting-to-oppose-college-merger-plan/

December 21, 2019

Raimondo, GA leaders promise to donate contributions from indicted Twin River exec

By Katherine Gregg


PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Island House speaker, the Senate president and the governor have all vowed to donate political contributions they received in recent years from former Twin River casino executive Michael Barlow, who was indicted on Tuesday for his alleged role in a kickback and bribery scheme.

Governor Raimondo intends to donate the $1,000 she received form Barlow to to the Rhode Island Food Bank, according to her spokesman, Josh Block.

House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello intends to donate the $1,500 that he received from Barlow to two nonprofit organizations in his home city of Cranston. He will give $750 each to the St. Vincent de Paul Emergency Food Center and the Cranston Animal Shelter, according to his spokesman Larry Berman.

Senate President Dominick Ruggerio told The Journal he intended to redirect the $500 he received from Barlow, and the $1,000 that Barlow contributed to a Rhode Island Senate Democrats PAC that he controls, to the Holy Family Home for Women & Children.

Read more: https://www.providencejournal.com/news/20191217/raimondo-ga-leaders-promise-to-donate-contributions-from-indicted-twin-river-exec
December 21, 2019

Ruggerio: R.I. Senate won't support legalizing marijuana in 2020

By Katherine Gregg and Patrick Anderson


PROVIDENCE — Marijuana legalization in Rhode Island appears dead in the state Senate for another year.

Senate President Dominick Ruggerio said Tuesday he doesn’t think the state’s medical marijuana program has been well-regulated and expanding legal access to the drug any further is a bad idea.

“No,” Ruggerio said in a State House interview Tuesday, when asked whether 2020 will be the year Rhode Island legalizes marijuana. “I want to see what is happening in Massachusetts. I am not crazy about the medical marijuana program in this state. I don’t think people have a handle on it. ... If we can’t handle medical marijuana, there is no way we can enforce the laws for legalization.”

Gov. Gina Raimondo has said she plans to propose legalizing adult recreational use of the drug in her upcoming state budget — as she did a year ago, only to be denied by the General Assembly.

Read more: https://www.providencejournal.com/news/20191217/ruggerio-ri-senate-wont-support-legalizing-marijuana-in-2020
December 21, 2019

Salem Mayor On Trump's Witch Trials Remarks: 'Learn Some History'

By Philip Marcelo


BOSTON (AP) — The mayor of Salem, Mass., said President Donald Trump needs to "learn some history" after he claimed those accused in the city's infamous 17th century witch trials received more due process than he has as he faces impeachment.

Democratic Mayor Kim Driscoll wrote on Twitter Tuesday that the trials in 1692 included "powerless, innocent victims" who were “hanged or pressed to death” on scant evidence.

https://twitter.com/MayorDriscoll/status/1207022568558993408

Twenty people suspected of witchcraft were killed in Salem, a coastal city about 20 miles north of downtown Boston, during a frenzy stoked by superstition, fear of disease and strangers, and jealousy. Nineteen were hanged, and one man was crushed by rocks.

The allegations against Trump, in contrast, are against a powerful world leader and come with “ample evidence" and "admissions of wrongdoing," Driscoll said.

Read more: https://www.wgbh.org/news/politics/2019/12/18/salem-mayor-on-trumps-witch-trials-remarks-learn-some-history

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Gender: Male
Hometown: South Texas. most of my life I lived in Austin and Dallas
Home country: United States
Current location: Bryan, Texas
Member since: Sun Aug 14, 2011, 03:57 AM
Number of posts: 112,394

About TexasTowelie

Retired/disabled middle-aged white guy who believes in justice and equality for all. Math and computer analyst with additional 21st century jack-of-all-trades skills. I'm a stud, not a dud!
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