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Connecticut Today - October 23, 2026 · Connecticut Today

• 0:05
  P>Good morning. It's Friday, October 23rd, 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. Cooler temperatures are expected to finish out the work week,
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  with lows dropping below freezing Friday and Saturday nights. We'll have the
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  full weather update at the end of the briefing.
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  In today's headlines, Connecticut Republicans are taking a new approach in some
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  legislative races this year. In cities like Bridgeport, New Haven, and Hartford,
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  local GOP leaders have decided not to run candidates in certain districts.
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  Their goal is to prevent Democratic incumbents from qualifying for higher amounts
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  of public campaign funding through the state's clean election program. Mark Delmonico,
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  Bridgeport's Republican Town Chairman, said the strategy is meant to limit Democrats
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  financial resources, especially in areas where Republicans are vastly outnumbered. Ben Proto,
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  the state GOP leader, estimated that about 1.7 million in public campaign
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  funds will not go to Democratic candidates this year because of uncontested
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  races. Some local Republican leaders, like Alan Leon and Waterbury, are still
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  fielding candidates in select districts, hoping to build name recognition for future
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  elections.
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  As daylight saving time approaches, Connecticut officials and safety advocates are warning
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  about increased risks for pedestrians and cyclists. When clocks fall back on
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  November 1, the sun will set earlier, and data shows a spike
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  in pedestrian crashes during the 5 p.m. Hour in the two weeks
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  after the time change. Since 2015, more than 14,600 crashes involving
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  pedestrians and 5,000 involving cyclists have been reported in the state, resulting
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  in hundreds of fatalities. Eric Jackson from the Connecticut Transportation Institute said
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  reduced visibility and darker clothing in colder months contribute to the danger.
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  The Department of Transportation urges drivers to slow down and stay alert,
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  while pedestrians and cyclists are encouraged to wear reflective clothing and follow
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  road safety rules. West Hartford's Vision Zero initiative has led to nearly
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  200 safety projects this year, aiming to eliminate traffic-related fatalities by 2033.
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  A new federal report finds that Connecticut’s highways are in better shape
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  than many residents might expect. The Federal Highway Administration rated 84 of
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  the state's interstate roads as having good ride quality, with only 2
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  rated poor. However, non-interstate highways and urban roads are more likely to
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  feel rough, with just over half rated good and 11 classified as
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  poor. The Connecticut Department of Transportation says urban areas face more wear
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  due to heavy traffic and frequent freeze-thaw cycles. The state spends about
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  240 million each year on pavement preservation and resurfacing. While Connecticut’s roads
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  compare favorably to neighboring states, DOT projections show a gradual decline in
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  pavement quality over the next few years unless funding increases.
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  Yukonn's basketball arena has undergone major renovations and a name change. The
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  former Harry A. Gample Pavilion is now the MT Bank Center at
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  Gample Pavilion. The first phase of renovations, funded by nearly 100 million
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  in state bond money, has modernized locker rooms, training spaces, and concession
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  areas. The second phase, set for completion before the 2027-28 season, will
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  focus on enhancing the fan experience with expanded dining options and more
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  points of sale. Yukon's naming rights deal with MT Bank is worth
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  32.5 million over 20 years. Athletic director David Benedict said the upgrades
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  are designed to generate significant returns and keep the arena competitive with
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  top programs nationwide.
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  A New Haven restaurant is drawing national attention and celebrity guests. Rowley,
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  a modern European eatery on Chapel Street, has welcomed stars like Jessica
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  Alba, Chelsea Handler, Marc Jacobs, and Jacques Papin. Open since June 2025,
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  ROLi was named a James Beard award semifinalist for Best New Restaurant
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  and is nominated for several state hospitality awards. Co-owner Angela Grogan said
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  the restaurant's focus on authenticity and quality has built a loyal local
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  following, with themed nights and seasonal dishes keeping the menu fresh. While
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  celebrity visits have boosted its profile, Grogan credits regular customers for the
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  restaurant's ongoing success.
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  p>And now for the full weather forecast. Friday will bring sunny skies
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  across Connecticut, with highs in the mid fifties and a light breeze
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  in the mornings, especially along the shoreline. Overnight lows will dip into
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  the thirties, with inland areas likely to see patchy frost and temperatures
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  below freezing Friday and Saturday nights. The weekend will stay sunny and
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  dry, with highs in the upper fifties to low 60s and chilly
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  snights continuing through Sunday. Thanks For listening. For more local news, visit
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  ctinsider.com. This digest was partially generated by AI and then reviewed and
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  edited by our newsroom staff.