Eleni Kavros DeGraw

Each year we get a little further away from that fateful 9/11 in 2001, but the grief from that day is always within reach. We have never been the same and our connections to New York, Washington, and Shanksville are deeply personal.

It’s hard to imagine that we will honor September 11th next week for the 23rd time. The weather this week reminded me of how eerily beautiful that week was. I mention this ahead of the anniversary because the public is invited to attend the public memorial in the state’s official ceremony in Westport.

This has been an incredibly difficult month for me and my family and I think it’s important to share why if you’ve noticed I have been a little quiet on social media and in these weekly newsletters.

While we continue to experience unsettled weather, it’s a good time to remind you that when your phone sends an emergency alert or you see one on TV, or hear one on the radio, you must heed the warnings immediately.

As I continue to hear from many of you about your skyrocketing electric bills, I want you to know I am as upset as you are.

If you saw an unwelcome rise in your electricity bill this month, I share your frustration and want to provide more information about the factors contributing to it.

We have a jam-packed newsletter for you this week.

First, a couple of items from recently passed or recently expanded legislation: a state grant program related to home health care safety and free community college expanded. Find all of the details in the subsections included today.

I’ve just returned from time at the Council of State Governments CSG East Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. More below on the panel discussion I participated in, but it was a wonderful opportunity to connect with colleagues from the eastern U.S. as well as getting to meet Governor Wes Moore and hear more about some of the initiatives Maryland is undertaking. Always a great way to learn and think about better ways to serve the people of District 17.