Joshua Hall

We are in for a multi-day, extreme heat event this week. Excessively high temperatures can be dangerous for people’s health, especially among the elderly, young children, and those who work outdoors.

The governor has activated the Extreme Hot Weather Protocol that will remain in effect through at least 6 p.m. on July 5, which will open cooling centers around the state and offer resources to those in need.

Take Care of Yourself and Check on the Most Vulnerable:

• Check on your neighbors, especially the elderly, young children, and those with respiratory illnesses, to ensure they are remaining hydrated and have adequate cooling in their homes.

• Infants and young children are sensitive to the effects of high temperatures and rely on others to regulate their environments and provide adequate liquids.

• People 65 years of age or older may not compensate for heat stress efficiently and are less likely to sense and respond to changes in temperature.

• People who are overweight may be prone to heat sickness because they tend to retain more body heat.

• People who overexert during work or exercise may become dehydrated and susceptible to heat sickness.

• People who are physically ill, especially those with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation, may be affected by extreme heat.

Stay Cool: Keep your body temperature cool to avoid heat-related illness

• Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible. If you must be outdoors, try to limit your outdoor activity to the morning and evening. Try to rest often in shady areas so that your body has a chance to cool off.

• Find an air-conditioned shelter. (Call 2-1-1 for a list of cooling centers). Do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device.

• Avoid direct sunlight.

• Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.

• Take cool showers or baths.

• Check on those most at risk several times a day.

• Pets that cannot be brought indoors should be provided ready access to water and shade to keep them cool.

Stay Hydrated: Because your body loses fluids through sweat, you can become dehydrated during times of extreme heat

• Drink more water than usual.

• Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink more fluids.

• Drink from two to four cups of water every hour while working or exercising outside.

• Avoid alcohol or liquids containing high amounts of sugar.

• Remind others to drink enough water.

Hartford Cooling Centers

Please note that all Hartford Public Library locations will be closed on Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. Regular operating hours will resume on Monday, July 6.

The following locations are open as cooling centers during their regular operating hours.

Downtown Library
500 Main Street
860-695-6300
Monday - Thursday: 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Albany Library
1250 Albany Avenue
860-695-7380
Monday - Thursday: 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Barbour Library
261 Barbour Street
860-695-7400
Monday - Thursday: 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
(On the second and fourth Thursdays of the month, the library will only be open from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. to accommodate Connecticut Foodshare distribution)

Camp Field Library
30 Campfield Avenue
860-695-7440
Monday - Thursday: 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Dwight Library
7 New Park Avenue 860-695-7460
Monday - Thursday: 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Park Street Library @ the Lyric
603 Park Street
860-695-7500
Monday - Thursday: 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Ropkins Library
1750 Main Street
860-695-7520
Monday - Thursday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

For information regarding cooling center locations in Hartford, call 2-1-1 or visit 211 to find additional locations. 

Several new laws that we passed during the 2026 legislative session will take effect on July 1, bringing important changes for Connecticut residents.
 
Among them is Public Act 26-42, which expands access to voting by allowing any eligible voter to cast an absentee ballot without needing to provide a specific reason. The law removes outdated restrictions that previously limited absentee voting to a narrow set of circumstances.
 
Another new law, Public Act 26-12, strengthens recruitment and retention efforts for Connecticut's first responders. The legislation expands benefits such as tuition waivers and mortgage assistance for police officers, firefighters, correction officers, EMS personnel, and National Guard members, while also providing support for the families of certain public safety personnel who die in the line of duty.
 
Public Act 26-1 provides stronger workplace protections for employees at warehouses and fulfillment centers. The law ensures that productivity quotas do not interfere with legally required meal and bathroom breaks and requires employers to clearly communicate any quotas workers are expected to meet.
 
These measures reflect our ongoing efforts to make voting more accessible, support those who serve our communities, and strengthen protections for Connecticut workers.
 

A message from Hartford Public Library: Nutritious summer lunches will be served FREE to children and teens, ages 18 and younger, starting July 6 and running through August 7, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. (hours may vary at different locations).

Lunch will be served at Hartford Public Library's (HPL) Downtown, Albany, Barbour, Camp Field, Dwight, and Park Street Library @ the Lyric.

Hot meals will only be served at HPL's Downtown Library.

Families across Connecticut are receiving extra help putting food on the table this summer through the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (S-EBT) program.

The Connecticut Department of Social Services, in partnership with the Connecticut State Department of Education, is providing a one-time $120 food benefit for each eligible child to help offset meal costs while school is out of session. More than 350,000 children are expected to get support from the program.

This investment helps families with children pay for food during the summer months while school is not in session. More than $42 million in S-EBT funding is expected to be provided to Connecticut families this summer.

Who is eligible?

Children may qualify if their family:

• Participates in SNAP, Temporary Family Assistance Program (TFA), or Husky A with an income below 185% of the federal poverty level or

• Was approved for free or reduced-price school meals during the 2025-26 school year.

Most eligible families automatically received their benefits electronically last weekend. They are being loaded onto existing SNAP or EBT cards, including previously issued Summer EBT cards. Families new to the program will receive an EBT card by mail.

Families who are not automatically enrolled can apply for Summer EBT through August 31, 2026.