Lucy Dathan

A new round of state grants will help target food insecurity, which affects an estimated one in ten Connecticut residents.

Our 2026 legislative session kicked off this week and we’re ready to get to work. As an even-year session, this is a shorter session running from February 4 through May 6. Opening day is always a festive and exciting day for legislators, staff, family and friends.

Heart disease is often preventable, but remains the top killer in the U.S. Here are some simple ways to promote heart health:

• Get CPR Certified
• Exercise Regularly & Manage your Stress
• Keep Track of your cholesterol
• Know your numbers! Learn how to self-measure your own blood pressure

Starting February 1st, 2026, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will begin charging a $45 fee for air travelers who arrive at airport security without a Real ID or another acceptable form of identification, such as a valid passport or trusted traveler card.

ICYMI: On Thursday night we were invited by the League of Women Voters - Norwalk, CT to have a Norwalk Legislator forum. We discussed our 2026 Legislative session that is commencing on February 4th.

On Monday, we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and nonviolence continues to inspire us today. The MLK holiday is not only a time for reflection, but a call to service and collective action to build stronger, more just communities for all.

There are a number of events happening locally to commemorate this important day that I am sharing below. If you can, please participate. I hope to see you at some of these events.

As we welcome a new year, several laws that passed in the last legislative session will take effect on January 1, 2026.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announced that the U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration has approved Connecticut’s proposal for the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, awarding $144 million to the state that will be used to expand high-speed internet access statewide.