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Connecticut Today - September 17, 2026 · Connecticut Today

• 0:05
  P>Good morning. It's Thursday, September 17th, and this is Connecticut Today, CT
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  Insider's daily audio briefing. Catch up on Connecticut. All news, no noise
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  in under five minutes. We're starting off with a quick look at
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  the weather. Thursday will be a bit more humid than earlier in
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  the week, with a mix of clouds and sunshine. Most of the
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  day should stay dry, but a late day shower is possible, especially
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  in western and northwestern parts of the state. We'll have the full
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  weather update at the end of the briefing. In today's headlines, employer-sponsored
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  health insurance plans are expected to cost 8.2 more on average in
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  2027, marking the largest yearly increase since 2003. That according to a
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  survey by Marsh, a consulting firm, which found that workers will pay
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  for part of the increase. The rise is linked to factors like
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  the expanded use of GLP1 drugs for weight loss, and more claims
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  from AI-enabled software. Marsh reports that 59 of employers plan to make
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  cost-cutting changes, such as hire deductibles. Connecticut Insurers recently received approval for
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  double-digit rate increases for plans under the state's Access Health Exchange, with
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  individuals paying 11.3 more and small groups 15.1 more next year. State
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  Senator Jorge Cabrera said, The existing system is obviously broken, so it's
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  time for a new system, as Democrats push for a universal health
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  coverage proposal called the Connecticut Option. Connecticut's real estate market remains tough
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  for buyers as the summer season ends. Zillow's latest market heat index
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  shows the Hartford area ranked 11th nationally, with demand especially high in
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  West Hartford and nearby suburbs. Inventory remains tight, with only a slight
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  increase in available homes compared to last year. Buyers are expanding their
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  search areas to maximize their budgets, but high mortgage rates and limited
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  new construction keep prices elevated. The last time any Connecticut metro area
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  was considered a buyer's market was before the COVID-19 pandemic. According to
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  Zillow's chief economist, quote, a healthier housing market will require policies that
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  make it easier to build enough homes for the people who need
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  them. The Connecticut Sun franchise is nearing its end in The state,
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  with just over a week and two home games left before relocating
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  to Houston. The Suns final home game at Mohigine Sun Arena is
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  set for Thursday, September 24 against Toronto. The team will rebrand and
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  begin playing in Houston for the 2027 WNBA season. Sunday's game against
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  Minnesota will feature the induction of former head coach Mike Thibaut into
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  the Sun Legends, and several former players will be honored. The Sun
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  currently sits near the bottom of the league standings and will miss
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  the playoffs for a second straight year. General manager Morgan Tuck confirmed
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  she will move with the franchise to Houston, but most staffing decisions
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  will be made after the 2026 season. Amazon's plan to build an
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  advanced robotics warehouse in Killingley is back on the table with a
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  revised proposal. The new plan DRIS reduces the building size and parking
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  spaces, aiming to address environmental concerns by cutting the impervious surface by
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  2.6 acres and increasing wetlands mitigation. The proposal still includes the donation
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  of nearly 300 acres as a buffer between the facility and residential
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  areas. The project continues to face opposition from residents worried about pollution,
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  traffic, and property values. A dozen people have filed petitions for intervener
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  status, which would allow them to formally participate in the approval process.
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  The Town's Commission will decide on these petitions and continue the public
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  hearing at its next meeting on October 5. Federal judge in Bridgeport
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  is expected to sentence former state school construction official Constantinos Costa Diamantis
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  today. Diamantis was convicted last year on more than a dozen public
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  corruption charges, including bribery and extortion. Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of
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  up to 12 years and seven months in prison, while Diamantis attorney
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  is asking for home detention and probation. Diamantis has also requested a
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  pardon from President Donald Trump, which could allow him to keep his
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  75,000 annual state pension. And now for the full weather forecast. Thursday
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  will bring a mix of clouds and sunshine, with highs in the
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  mid to upper 70s and a few lower 80s possible inland. Humidity
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  will be higher than earlier in the week, and a late-day shower
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  could develop, especially in western Connecticut. Overnight, expect mild and cloudy conditions
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  with a better chance for scattered showers before Friday morning. Friday will
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  be warmer, but a cooler weekend is ahead, with rain likely on
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  Sunday and temperatures staying in the upper 60s to lower 70s. Thanks
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  for listening. For more local news, visit ctsinsider.com. This digest was partially
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  generated by AI and then reviewed and edited by our newsroom staff.