Juan R. Candelaria

The Connecticut Department of Labor recently reported that around 13,000 unemployment benefit recipients received overpayments throughout the pandemic.

As life starts to return to normal and the holidays arrive, many of us will be back on the road again. More time on the road means more opportunities for distracted driving. As of October 1, penalties for texting and driving increased in an effort to stop distracted driving.

Over the summer, Attorney General William Tong, along with the Coalition for Elder Justice in Connecticut and Departments of Aging and Disability Services and Consumer Protection launched the Elder Justice Hotline - a "one stop shop" for older adults in the state who are in need of information, aid, and justice.

Several new laws in Connecticut went into effect. These laws are a result of the hard work of my colleagues and I during the 2021 session as we pushed for change that would benefit all Connecticut residents.

After 18 months, the pandemic moratorium on utility service disconnections ended on September 15 for residential non-hardship customers. Thankfully, there is help available. If you are struggling to pay for electric, water, or other utilities, you can apply for assistance through several programs.

This month, from September 15 through October 15, we observe Hispanic Heritage Month to celebrate, recognize and feature the countless achievements of many Hispanic Americans who have positively impacted and enriched our communities.

We have taken a significant step to assure access to quality healthcare for all members of our community.

This Saturday marks 20 years since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center towers, the Pentagon, and Flight 93 in Pennsylvania.