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Connecticut Today - October 15, 2026 · Connecticut Today

• 0:05
  P>Good morning. It's Friday, October 16th, 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. Showers are likely this morning across Connecticut, with a wet
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  commute expected and some fog in spots. We'll have the full weather
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  update at the end of the briefing.
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  In today's headlines, Eversource rates for electricity distribution are set to rise
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  over the next few years, with the company seeking a 13 rate
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  hike. The increase is due to economic and market factors, not politics.
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  Nbsp;Eversource has not had a regular rate increase since 2018, and storm
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  recovery costs will add at least 870 million to ratepayers bills starting
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  next year. The company is also planning to invest more in Connecticut’s
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  grid after a period of reduced spending. Political debate continues over the
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  relationship between Eversource leadership and state officials, but experts say these issues
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  are not affecting rates.
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  p>Two former elementary schools in Cheshire have been listed for sale, drawing
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  strong interest from developers. According to Toby Brimberg of ORL Commercial, there
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  have already been dozens of inquiries in the first Tou days. Decisions
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  about the future of the Chapman and Darcey school properties are still
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  a long way off. In Southbury, two U new housing developments are
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  being considered, with hearings scheduled for this week. Meanwhile, Stratford is moving
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  forward with a 1 billion redevelopment plan for the former Army Engine
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  plant, with a master plan expected to be revealed in December. Fairfield's
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  Judd Homestead, a 40-unit affordable apartment complex still under construction, has received
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  more than 1,000 pre-applications just over a week after opening its applications
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  process. The development is expected to be completed in January, and applications
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  will be accepted through October 26. In Hamden, a proposed 150-unit affordable
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  housing complex called Paradise Woods has sparked debate among neighbors. Developer John
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  Ranciato Jr. Met with about 30 residents to discuss concerns about changes
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  to the neighborhood, but the meeting remained civil. In Wilton, a controversial
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  plan for a 280-unit senior living community on Belden Hill Road has
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  been withdrawn. The applicants now plan to seek a pre-application review with
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  the Planning and Zoning Commission, saying they want to slow the process
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  and hear from the current commission members. The State Department of Transportation
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  is studying ways to improve travel along the Interstate 95 Corridor in
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  Bridgeport and Fairfield. Consultants presented a range of ideas at a public
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  meeting, from moving parts of I-985 underground to adding bike lanes and
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  pedestrian islands. The study began in 2024 and is looking at issues
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  like closely spaced interchanges, short ramps, and failing signs. A final report
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  recommending improvements is expected next year. The DOT will hold a virtual
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  public meeting on October 21, and the public can submit comments for
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  two weeks after that. Connecticut residents have until today, October 16th, to
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  register to vote through the regular process for the November 3rd election.
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  Those who miss the deadline can still register and vote in person
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  during early voting or on Election Day, Registration is available online, by
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  mail, or in person, and is free. Same-day registration is offered at
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  designated locations during early voting and on election day, but residents must
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  provide proof of identity and address. Voters are encouraged to check their
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  registration status, especially if they have moved. Port Coffee Company, a Yemeni
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  coffee shops chain from Texas, is opening its first Connecticut location in
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  New Britain. The chain is known for serving Yemeni coffee, which is
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  grown at high altitudes and sunroasted for a sweeter flavor. Other Yemeni
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  coffee shops are also opening across the state, including locations in West
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  Hartford, New Haven, Middletown, Norwal, Milford, Southington, Orange, Stores, and Stamford. And
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  now for the full weather forecast. Friday will bring periods of showers
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  with a brief midday lull before more rain and possible thunderstorms arrive
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  in the afternoon and evening. Temperatures will reach the upper sixties to
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  low seventies before a cold front moves in, bringing gusty winds and
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  a sharp drop in temperatures overnight. Saturday will feel much colder, with
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  highs in the forties and strong northwest winds, while Sunday will be
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  sunny but still cool. 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.