State Basketball Champs, Expanding Financial Aid, and Beware of Amazon Texting Scam

March 27, 2026

Dear Neighbor,

Here are the sections in today's email:

  • Champion Mighty Tigers!
  • Let's Talk About It: Veteran Shares His Book
  • Expanding Financial Aid
  • "Amazon" Text Message Scam
 

🐯Champion Mighty Tigers!🐯
Congratulations to the Windham Technical High School boys basketball team for winning its first state title!

The Mighty Tigers capped off its Division IV championship run on Sunday with a 73-62 win against Woodland Regional High School.

The community is so proud of your hustle, teamwork, and sportsmanship!
 

Let's Talk About It: Veteran Shares His Book

On this week’s episode of “Let’s Talk About It,” military veteran and public servant Chris Rivers joined us to share his journey through the military that lead him to write a book called “You Shouldn't Have to Kill to Get Ahead: Reimagining Wealth, Power and Belonging in America.”

After the attacks on September 11, 2001, Chris enlisted and served our country in Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan. By meeting people from all walks of life, Chris saw how political differences took a backseat when everyone was working toward a common goal.

This experience combined with his curiosity about American politics and our economy, urged him to write his book. It explores “Zero-Sum Success,” an outlook on economic, political, and social gains that disproportionately benefit the wealthy while leaving many working-class people behind.
Click here to order your copy!

You can listen to our entire conversation below, which also covers how the stock market affects the working class.
Chris Rivers discusses his book connecting war, politics, and the economy.
 

Expanding Financial Aid

The state is making high-demand career pathways more accessible by significantly expanding financial aid. Governor Ned Lamont announced the Connecticut Office of Workforce Strategy will implement new, federal Workforce Pell Grants. 

These grants offer need-based aid to low-income students for programs ranging from eight to 15 weeks and comprising 150 to 599 clock hours of instruction. Previously, programs needed to be at least 15 weeks and 600 hours long to qualify.

Programs must meet strict performance and quality standards including:
  • Aligning with high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industries
  • Achieving at least a 70% completion rate and 70% job placement rate
  • Resulting in wages above the state median for high school graduates
The initiative is intended to strengthen Connecticut’s talent pipeline while making education more accessible. Workforce Pell Grants are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.
 

"Amazon" Text Message Scam

Have you received a suspicious text claiming to be from Amazon? You’re not alone—and it’s likely a scam.

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection is warning residents about fraudulent messages that:

  • Claim an order was “recalled”
  • Urge you to click a link to confirm a refund

🚫 Do NOT click the link
📵 Block the number immediately

🔍 How to Spot the Scam

  • Links that look unusual or misspelled
  • URLs that do not include the official company name
  • Messages creating urgency or asking for quick action

✅ Stay Safe

If something doesn’t look right, trust your instincts. When in doubt, go directly to the company’s official website instead of clicking any links.