Latest / Connecticut Today / Connecticut Today - October 20, 2026

Transcript

Connecticut Today - October 20, 2026 · Connecticut Today

• 0:05
  P>Good morning. It's Tuesday, October 20th, and this is Connecticut Today, See
• 0:09
  T Insider's daily audio briefing. Catch up on Connecticut All News, no
• 0:13
  noise, in under five minutes. We're starting off with a quick look
• 0:16
  at the weather. Expect a seasonable fall day with a mix of
• 0:19
  sun and clouds, highs in the mid to upper 60s, and breezy
• 0:23
  conditions, especially in eastern Connecticut. Stay tuned for the full weather update
• 0:28
  at the end of this briefing.
• 0:29
  In today's headlines, Connecticut’s manufacturing sector is leading the state's job growth
• 0:34
  this year, adding 6,500 jobs so far, according to the latest report
• 0:39
  from the state Department of Labor. This surge is driven by hiring
• 0:42
  at General Dynamics Electric Boat, which has brought on 6,500 of a
• 0:47
  planned 8,000 new employees to support 14 new submarine contracts for the
• 0:51
  U.S. Navy. Manufacturing now accounts for about 157,700 jobs
• 0:57
  statewide, and Connecticut’s overall job growth rate of 0.9 is outpacing the
• 1:03
  national rate. Despite these gains, the state's unemployment rate remains at 5.1,
• 1:08
  higher than the national average. The Department of Labor notes that while
• 1:12
  more people are entering the workforce, many businesses still struggle to find
• 1:16
  qualified workers.
• 1:18
  p>State crash data shows that crashes involving Connecticut’s youngest licensed drivers tend
• 1:22
  to spike around the end of the school day. From 2015 through
• 1:26
  2025, drivers ages 15 to 18 were involved in more than 85,000
• 1:31
  crashes, with over 10,400 injuries and 67 fatalities. About 10
• 1:37
  of teen driver crashes happen between 2 and 3 p.m, and June
• 1:41
  sees the highest number of these incidents. The Department of Transportation is
• 1:45
  marking National Teen Driver Safety Week by bringing programs focused on distracted
• 1:50
  and impaired driving to high schools across the state. Officials encourage parents
• 1:54
  to set clear expectations and remind teens that safe driving is a
• 1:58
  responsibility every time they get behind the wheel. Drivers on Interstate 95
• 2:03
  should expect daytime lane closures from October 26 to December 4th as
• 2:07
  crews clean drainage systems on bridges in several towns, including New Haven,
• 2:11
  Bridgeport, Stamford, and Greenwich. The Department of Transportation says lane closures will
• 2:16
  occur on weekdays between 8 a.m. And 4 p.m, with no work
• 2:20
  scheduled around state holidays. Traffic control signs and crash units will help
• 2:25
  guide motorists through the work zones. More Connecticut students are on track
• 2:29
  to graduate high school on time than in any year since 2020,
• 2:33
  according to new state data. The improvement is especially strong in districts
• 2:37
  like Derby, where the percentage of ninth graders on track to graduate
• 2:41
  jumped from 59 during the pandemic to 95 this year. Derby High
• 2:47
  School credits the turnaround to new mentoring programs, dedicated ninth-grade teachers, and
• 2:52
  increased after-school activities. The school also saw a significant rise among students
• 2:57
  receiving free or reduced price lunch, with 100 of those students now
• 3:01
  on track to graduate. School leaders say these changes have helped students
• 3:05
  feel more connected and supported. A new poll from Sacred Heart University,
• 3:10
  WFSB, and CT Insider shows Governor Ned Lamont holding a strong lead
• 3:14
  over his Republican challenger, State Senator Ryan Fazio, despite growing voter concerns
• 3:19
  about the economy. The percentage of residents who feel their household finances
• 3:23
  have worsened over the past year has increased since July. However, most
• 3:27
  voters still see Lamont as better positioned to address rising costs compared
• 3:31
  to Fazio. The poll suggests than many voters blame national policies, particularly
• 3:36
  those from President Donald Trump for increased prices, rather than state leadership.
• 3:41
  The survey also found that most voters are not seeking major changes
• 3:44
  in state government after the election. And now for the full weather
• 3:48
  forecast, Connecticut will see a mix of sun and clouds today, with
• 3:52
  highs ranging from the low sixties in the Lichfield Hills to the
• 3:55
  upper sixties along the shoreline. Winds could gust up to twenty five
• 3:59
  miles per hour in eastern areas, and overnight lows will drop into
• 4:02
  the forties under clear skies. The rest of the week should remain
• 4:06
  mild, with a chance of rain in southeastern Connecticut late Wednesday. Thanks
• 4:10
  for listening. For more local news, visit ctensert.com. This digest was partially
• 4:15
  generated by AI and then reviewed and edited by our newsroom staff.