Kai Belton

Save the date! On Saturday, March 30, I will host a Women's Herstory Month Brunch to celebrate women's leadership in the community and government. I will be joined by Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, a few of my colleagues from the Connecticut General Assembly, and other local leaders. It will be a great opportunity to network and hear from a diverse group of accomplished women.

Early voting options are now available thanks to the work of the Connecticut General Assembly last session, and later this month, voters in the state will take to the polls to vote in the 2024 presidential primary.

February is Black History Month, a time when we celebrate the many achievements and contributions Black Americans have made to our country as we continue to reckon with the systemic racism from our past that is still prevalent today.

If you're struggling to pay utility bills, there is still time to apply to Operation Fuel for help.

Applications for Operation Fuel's energy assistance program for the Winter/Spring season will be accepted until March 1, unless available funds run out before that date.

Many of the new state laws passed during the 2023 legislative session take effect on January 1, 2024.

Some of the various issues addressed by the new laws include early voting, healthcare services, as well as online privacy and data protection.

Also on January 1, the state's minimum wage will increase from $15.00 to $15.69 as a result of 2019 legislation, which implemented five incremental increases followed by future adjustments based on the federal employment cost index.

On this Thanksgiving, I wish to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude. In this season of reflection, I am especially thankful for the unique gift of friends like you, the joy of shared moments and the support that surrounds us.

A recent report commissioned by the Connecticut-based Dalio Education found more than 63,000 young adults were "disconnected," and 56,000 students were "at risk" between 2021 and 2022.

This identified group of disconnected and at-risk youth include young people who have either dropped out of school or are in danger of dropping out of school, and those aged 18-26 who are unemployed and in many cases unemployable.

Attention Middletown residents - the Health and Wellness Fair has been rescheduled to Saturday, September 30 from 10 AM to 1 PM. It will still be held on the South Green of Union Park in Middletown. The fair will feature free massages, resources from various organizations, and more! Please reach out to my office with any additional questions.