Free Republic

Democratic Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy said Thursday his party’s “brand” could undergo “substantial damage” if Democrats were to cave and reopen the federal government following their overwhelming election victories Tuesday night. “There will be some pretty substantial damage done to a Democratic brand that has been rehabilitated, if on the heels of an election in which the people told us to keep fighting, we immediately stop fighting,” Murphy told Punchbowl News on Thursday morning. “We’re going to start operating on an increasingly short calendar. The 2026 election is just 12 months away. And if we surrender without having gotten anything,...

The deputy director of Governor Maura Healey’s western Massachusetts office, LaMar Cook, was arrested and terminated from his position after several kilograms of suspected cocaine were seized. The Hampden District Attorney’s Office told 22News that an ongoing investigation is being conducted after multiple parcels were seized that contained a combined total of approximately 21 kilograms of suspected cocaine. 22News obtained the court documents that state two packages sent from an address in Atlanta, Georgia, were intercepted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Louisville, Kentucky, on October 8. The packages contained approximately 12 kilograms of cocaine (several imprinted with the word...

The state’s largest teachers union came in for sharp criticism on Wednesday after it asked school districts to defend educators from bullying and harassment for speaking out on the death of the conservative activist Charlie Kirk. In a joint statement, Max Page and Deb McCarthy, the president and vice president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, argued that the “ongoing campaign by extreme-right conservatives to discredit and defund public education has grotesquely exploited the shooting death of Charlie Kirk to launch attacks against people commenting on this public figure’s beliefs and statements.”

Massachusetts has released new state-specific recommendations saying people of all ages should be vaccinated against COVID-19, despite federal guidelines that would otherwise have made that difficult. “We are not going to let Donald Trump or Robert Kennedy take away your ability to make your own health care decisions,” Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement Wednesday. “Massachusetts will continue to lead with science and protect access to life-saving vaccines. We are taking this action today so the people of Massachusetts know that you will continue to be able to get the vaccines you want and need – no matter what...

Class act from the Yankees

After last week's mass shooting in Minnesota, which killed two children and injured more than a dozen others, Connecticut lawmakers are once again calling for tighter gun control laws. As of Sept. 1, there have been 292 mass shootings in the United States so far this year, according to the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive. They define a mass shooting as four or more people being injured or killed, besides the shooter. On Tuesday, state Sen. Richard Blumenthal held a press conference calling for an assault weapons ban and safe gun storage laws. He was joined by advocacy groups Hartford Communities...

New Haven experienced its fifth homicide in less than a month Monday, when a man was fatally gunned down in the city. It is the 13th murder in New Haven this year. Monday’s shooting occurred around 1:46 p.m. near Chapel Street and Ellsworth Avenue, New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson said in a press conference held there that evening. ... Mayor Justin Elicker also spoke at the press conference held near the site of the shooting. He was glad to hear that the murders haven’t been connected but is discouraged that they are occurring at all. “It’s just obviously really...

Sadly, I'm not shocked by this. This "church" has hosted drag shows each June and said they would only hire a openly gay minister several years ago.

A rally will be held in Boston on Monday afternoon in response to federal immigration raids in Los Angeles and across the country. In a statement, the Massachusetts chapter of the national group 50501 “vigorously” condemned “the violent actions of ICE and the Trump administration against peaceful protesters in Los Angeles,” and said it is “mobilizing in solidarity with local union leaders in Massachusetts.” The 50501 group will lead the nonviolent “emergency rally” at Boston City Hall Plaza from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m. Participants will organize at 1:30 p.m. ... “This is an attack on American liberty,” said Mass...

Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas is urging all residents to oppose the federal Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE Act. In a release from her office Thursday, Thomas says the legislation is “bad for Connecticut, bad for voters and bad for taxpayers.” The U.S. House passed the bill this week. If it passes the Senate and goes into effect, the bill would require in-person voter registration with physical proof of citizenship and eliminate online and mail-in registration. Thomas warns everyone that the measure would place costly, unfunded mandates on municipalities, burden local election offices and open the door...

Massachusetts unions and school districts are challenging President Donald Trump’s executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education in a lawsuit filed on Monday. The lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts by Democracy Forward, claims the administration is acting unlawfully and will have a drastic impact on students. Plaintiffs include Easthampton and Somerville public school districts, the American Federation of Teachers, the American Association of University Professors, the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees Council 93 and the Service Employees International Union. “Protecting access to public education is an important component...

Southwest Airlines will no longer allow bags to fly free. The airline announced Tuesday it will begin charging some customers who check luggage in May. The airline will continue to offer two free checked bags to Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred Members, as well as passengers flying on Business Select fares. One free checked bag will be allowed for A-List Members, while one checked bag will be credited for Rapid Rewards Credit Card members. All other customers who do not qualify for the free bag options will be charged beginning May 28. The airline did not specify how much it will...

Democrats who control the state House of Representatives have quietly hired a high-profile Boston law firm as they steel themselves for a likely court fight with state Auditor Diana DiZoglio. The firm, CEK Boston, is led by former First Assistant Attorney General Thomas Kiley, who has years of experience at the intersection of politics, policy and law in Massachusetts. ... Last fall, Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly approved a statewide ballot question giving DiZoglio, a Methuen Democrat and former state lawmaker, the power to audit her onetime colleagues on Beacon Hill. Legislative leaders in the state House and Senate have consistently pushed...

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey and five Democratic governors pressed Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer during a phone call this week to slow the confirmation march of President Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees and throw up roadblocks to his agenda, according to a published report. Healey’s office confirmed her participation in the Wednesday phone call to Politico, but did not offer details on the contents of the conversation. The New York Times reported details of the call, citing notes and conversations with participants. Both Healey and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker told Schumer that Senate Democrats should not vote for Trump’s cabinet...

State auditors took a deep dive into the Connecticut State College and University's (CSCU) Chancellor's spending between multiple purchasing cards provided by the institution. ... Auditors analyzed the first card Cheng held, which had $27,125 of purchases between August 2021 and February 2024. There were 43 meals where the total exceeded the $50 per person limit, including tax and tip, totaling over $7,192. The receipts for these meals did not include the names of attendees, as required in the P-card program. Multiple meals were not itemized or did not have documentation to support the restaurant purchases, including several of the...

Connecticut's Attorney General claimed Tuesday that the Trump administration's actions to freeze Federal spending were an "unprecedented and blatantly lawless and unconstitutional attack." Other Democrats also blasted other orders from the president. William Tong, Connecticut's Attorney General, said in a statement, “This is a full assault on Connecticut families-- an unprecedented and blatantly lawless and unconstitutional attack on every corner and level of our government and economy. Attorneys general across the country are preparing imminent legal action to protect our states. Connecticut and my team are front and center in this fight and will provide updates in real time to...

The town of Enfield voted to get rid of its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee Thursday. “The majority of the council wanted to repeal the DEI committee in Enfield. This has been an ongoing desire of the Republican majority,” said State Rep. and Enfield Town Councilor At-Large John Santanella. Enfield Mayor Ken Nelson said the DEI committee could never keep enough members over the years. “Over the course of time, starting with the very first meeting, due to disagreements within the members some members never returned,” Nelson said. “Some members resigned, and you can’t replace someone unless they formally resign.”...

Left-wing cable news channel MSNBC is back to foaming at the mouth about Donald Trump. Anchors Rachel Maddow and Joy Reid went off the deep-end while covering Inauguration Day, both aghast at the prospect of a democratically elected president making good on his policy promises that decisively swept him into office. “How is this happening in America?” Maddow asked incredulously at the sight of Department of Homeland Security nominee Kristi Noem seated beside Apple CEO Tim Cook at the inauguration ceremony, Mediaite reported. “How is this happening? Why are people with tons of money up on the dais with cabinet...

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) made it clear Tuesday that he does not believe Pete Hegseth is qualified to lead the Pentagon as Secretary of Defense. Hegseth appeared before the Senate Armed Services committee for the first step in his confirmation hearing. The former Fox News personality called himself a “change agent” during his opening statements to the committee, saying, “it's time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm period.” Hegseth is a former member of the Army National Guard but allegations of sexual assault, excessive drinking and controversial views on women in combat have marred his nomination...

Oakland police had a very busy Sunday morning, responding to multiple sideshows, shootings, and a mob of people ransacking a gas station. This comes as the city is looking to shrink the police force and balance the budget. "It happens all the time, you hear gunshots," complained Oakland resident Debra Harper, who was not surprised by the Sunday incidents. "This is every weekend. Every single weekend, they do donuts out here, they fight." ... "All night long, we were chasing around, trying to deal with it. At one point, a police vehicle was damaged during that. There was also two...