Mary Fortier

Due to a system outage that may have prevented many customers from enrolling in health and dental coverage by the December 15, 2025 deadline for coverage effective January 1, 2026, Access Health CT is extending the enrollment deadline. Customers now have until Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. to enroll in coverage beginning January 1, 2026,

To receive coverage effective January 1, 2026, enrollment must be completed by contacting the Access Health CT Call Center. Applications completed on the website will result in coverage beginning February 1, 2026.

Call: 1-855-805-4325 or TTY: 1-855-789-2428

• Monday–Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Customers should expect longer-than-normal hold times and are encouraged to call before 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 20 to ensure enrollment is completed. Assistance is available in more than 100 languages.

If you work with a Certified Broker, please contact your broker for assistance enrolling by Saturday, December 20.

Open Enrollment ends January 15, 2026. You may continue to enroll online at AccessHealthCT.com, but coverage will begin February 1, 2026.

Gov. Ned Lamont announced this week that an additional 40,000 Connecticut residents will have their medical debts erased, part of an initiative launched in partnership with the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt to give relief to those struggling to pay medical bills.

This is the third round of the initiative, which has now eliminated $198 million for 160,000 Connecticut residents since Dec. 2024. The program's arrangement allows the debt to be forgiven at a fraction of its face value, typically costing a few pennies on the dollar.

Those affected by this program should receive a letter in the mail this week informing them of their debt forgiveness. There is no application process for this relief, and it cannot be requested.

Relieving tens of thousands of Connecticut residents from the stress of paying down burdensome medical debt will make a profound difference in their lives, especially during the holiday season.

Click here to read more about the program.

According to the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, one in every 1,000 state residents is experiencing homelessness. The federal government has suspended its primary homelessness prevention and support services grant program, exacerbating the issue.

In response, the state of Connecticut will consider using at least $5.2 million from the state's emergency response fund to offset the losses from the federal Continuum of Care program. The aim is to help those who do not have a home and prevent others from falling into the same situation.

Governor Lamont will submit his plan soon, and legislative leaders will have 24 hours to respond. 

Starting February 1, 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. Travelers will be charged this fee to use TSA's ConfirmID identification verification system. The verification is valid for a 10-day period, so it may cover a return trip within that window.

To avoid unnecessary costs and potential security delays, travelers without a Real ID are strongly encouraged to schedule an appointment at their local DMV to update their ID as soon as possible. Click here to make an appointment with the CT DMV.

The Aspiring Educators Scholarship Program, administered by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE), is now accepting applications!

This scholarship supports diverse students graduating from public high schools in Alliance School Districts such as Bristol and enrolling in teacher preparation programs. Eligible students can receive up to $10,000 per year for tuition. The application deadline is February 6, 2026. This initiative is part of Connecticut’s commitment to diversifying its educator workforce and addressing statewide teacher shortages.

Eligibility Requirements for applicants:

• Graduate from a public high school in an Alliance District
• Be enrolled, or planning to enroll in a teacher preparation program at a four-year college or university
• Be in good academic standing
• Meet all additional CSDE requirements

Who Can Apply:

• High school seniors beginning a teacher preparation program this fall
• Undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in an approved program

Don’t miss this opportunity to receive financial support as you prepare to inspire the next generation of learners.

Click here to apply now and take the next step toward becoming an educator!

Connecticut’s recent progress in funding retired teachers’ and state workers’ pension plans marks an important step toward meeting the state’s long-term obligations, and it matters to every resident.

Here is a breakdown of the numbers:

• State workers’ pension fund: up more than $2.3 billion in 2025 thanks to strong investments and additional contributions. The unfunded liability dropped from $19.2 billion to $17.6 billion, and the funded ratio climbed from 55.2% to 59.6%.

• Teachers’ pension fund: grew by more than $1.6 billion, with the funded ratio rising to 63.7%.

If those ratios still seem low, it helps to remember where we were. Back in 2018, the funded ratios were just 37% for state retirees and 52% for teachers. For decades, Connecticut under-funded its pension obligations, allowing a massive, compounding debt to build up. But since 2011, the state has stuck to responsible budgets, fully funding pension contributions each year and working with labor and management on needed reforms.

Connecticut is steadily putting its financial house back in order. And one major ripple effect of healthier pension funds is improved credit ratings, now Aa2, AA-, AA, and AA+ across the agencies which lowers the cost of borrowing by securing better interest rates.

Click here to vote for your favorite “Name That Parks Plow” finalist!

Click here for more information and to register for Santa's Walking Wonderland.

The Bristol Bazaar is home to over 75 local makers, unique gifts, creative workshops, and Yellow King Bristol.

Shop small, support local and explore thousands of handmade treasures in our one-of-a-kind indoor market space. Open 6 days a week (67 Race Street), click here for more information.