Anne Hughes

The 2026 Connecticut Sales Tax Free Week will take place from Aug. 16 to 22. The week provides a chance for families to save money, whether it is taking children back-to-school shopping or treating yourself or your loved ones.

During this week, sales or purchases of certain clothing or footwear items costing less than $300 per item are exempt from sales tax. This exemption applies to purchases made from retailers located in Connecticut as well as from online retailers. There are, however, certain items that are excluded from the scope of the Sales Tax Free Week exemption. The following items are excluded from the scope of the Sales Tax Free Week exemption:

• Any special clothing or footwear primarily designed for athletic activity or protective use that is not normally worn except when used for the athletic activity or protective use for which it was designed; and
• Jewelry, handbags, luggage, umbrellas, wallets, watches, and similar items carried on or about the human body but not worn on the body in the manner characteristic of clothing.
• Click here for a list of items that ARE EXEMPT from sales tax and a list of items STILL TAXABLE.

This legislative session, we passed a state budget to expand eligibility during Sales Tax Free Week, making this the first year Sales Tax Free Week includes items such as clothing, shoes, and backpacks priced under $300, up from $100 in previous years.

Click here for more information on Connecticut's Sales Tax Free Week and frequently asked questions.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) has released a draft Statewide Freight Plan for public review and comment. The plan looks at how goods move throughout Connecticut by truck, rail, ports, air, and pipeline, and outlines strategies to make the state’s freight network safer, more efficient, reliable, resilient, and sustainable.

Freight is a major part of Connecticut’s economy. In 2024, an estimated 168 million tons of freight valued at $392 billion moved through the state. By 2050, the value of freight moving through Connecticut is projected to grow by 92%.

The plan will help guide future transportation investments and policies, including efforts to maintain critical infrastructure, improve safety, support businesses, and prepare for growing freight demand.

Residents, businesses, and industry partners are encouraged to review the draft and share their feedback by Sept. 4.

View the draft Statewide Freight Plan

Comments and questions can be submitted by Sept. 4 by emailing or calling 860-594-2560.

The American Red Cross needs our help — there is an emergency blood shortage, which means the blood supply is critically low - about a one to two day supply on hand — and could cause hospitals to triage blood products, prioritizing the most critical cases, delaying non-emergency procedures, and causing risks for patients who require timely transfusions, including trauma patients, women giving birth, and patients with chronic blood disorders.

Blood donors, especially those with types O+ & B- blood (the biggest shortages right now), and platelet donors are urgently needed to help ensure lifesaving medical care isn't delayed for patients. 

Basic eligibility for whole blood donation:

• Donation frequency: Every 56 days, up to 6 times a year
• You must be in good health and feeling well
• You must be at least 16 years old in most states
• You must weigh at least 110 lbs.

Basic eligibility for platelet donation:

• Donation frequency: Every 7 days, up to 24 times/year
• You must be in good health and feeling well
• You must be at least 17 years old in most states 
• You must weigh at least 110 lbs.

There are also options to donate Power Red and plasma (eligibility can be found here - https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements.html

Find a blood drive near you: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive

The need for blood is constant. The supply isn't.

YouTube video link on eligibility myths - https://youtu.be/qm9DZFrLWQU?si=AWW24B9ZlB3fdBsq