Anne Hughes

This week, the Connecticut House of Representatives suffered a devastating loss with the passing of State Representative Kevin Ryan. First elected in 1993, Rep. Ryan faithfully represented the 139th District for more than three decades.

Some good news! This week, our state’s utility regulator — the Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA) — voted unanimously to block the proposed sale of Aquarion Water, which currently serves nearly 700,000 residents in 57 communities, including those in the 135th District.

How it started: Testifying as a student to the U.S. House Select Committee on Hunger, Feb. 19, 1987, with Congressman Dick Gephardt.

There is still a lot of uncertainty coming from the federal government on whether SNAP benefits will be funded through the end of the federal government shutdown. In the meantime, if you are in need of food assistance, local pantries across the state are providing essential emergency assistance. Pantries are also seeking donations to help meet the growing demand.

I can't believe I am sending out information in this newsletter on where people can get food. But this is life under the current leadership in Washington, D.C. 

With the uncertainty surrounding the federal government's shutdown, including its impact on SNAP benefits and Access Health premiums, the United Way of Connecticut’s 211 has published a new resource to help provide up-to-date information.

On Wednesday I spoke during the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day event at the Capitol.

A lot of misinformation (and disinformation) is wafting out of the right-wing ecosphere over the reason(s) for the federal shutdown.