Latest / Connecticut Today / Connecticut Today - September 7, 2026
Transcript
- 0:05P>Good morning. It's Monday, September 7th, and this is Connecticut Today, CT
- 0:09Insider's Daily Audio Briefing. Catch up on Connecticut. All news, no noise
- 0:13in under five minutes. We're starting off with a quick look at
- 0:16the weather. Labor Day is expected to bring sunshine, comfortable temperatures, and
- 0:19low humidity across Connecticut. We'll have the full forecast at the end
- 0:23of the briefing.
- 0:25in today's headlines, a debate over surveillance and public safety is unfolding
- 0:28in Milford, where The city's police union is trying to block the
- 0:31removal of license plate readers and flock cameras before bargaining with the
- 0:35city. The union argues these cameras are essential for officer safety, providing
- 0:39real-time alerts about wanted individuals and stolen vehicles. Privacy advocates, however, warn
- 0:45that automated license plate readers collect data on everyone, not just suspects,
- 0:49raising concerns about surveillance and potential misuse. A new State law taking
- 0:53effect October 1st will limit how long this data can be kept
- 0:55and restrict its use. Some towns, like East Hartford, have adopted ordinances
- 1:00requiring public input before installing such technology. The broader question remains whether
- 1:05communities should decide on surveillance tools before The become part of daily
- 1:09life. The office of the State Comptroller could not verify the accurate
- 1:13of nearly 35 million in payments to healthcare contractors, according to a
- 1:17new state audit. Auditors found the Comptroller's Healthcare Policy and Benefit Services
- 1:22Division could not confirm 9.6 million in fee payments and 25 million
- 1:27in credits issued during The 2025 calendar year. The audit covered fiscal
- 1:32years 2022 through 2024 and raised concerns about possible overpayments. The controller's
- 1:38office responded that payment verification is the carrier's responsibility, but promised to
- 1:42strengthen billing validation. Auditors said the office should adopt written procedures and
- 1:47improve internal controls to ensure accurate payments and credits. Connecticut drivers continue
- 1:52to face challenges entering highways from a complete stop, especially on the
- 1:56Wilbur Cross Parkway. Eight interchanges on Route 15 still have entrance ramps
- 2:01controlled by stop signs, which can make merging with fast-moving traffic difficult.
- 2:05The Connecticut Department of Transportation is planning major changes at several interchanges,
- 2:10including Interchange 51 in Hamden, where more than 400 crashes have occurred
- 2:14over five years. Construction to add acceleration lanes and remove stop signs
- 2:18at this location is expected to begin in spring 2028, with a
- 2:22projected cost of 28 million. Similar upgrades are planned for other interchanges,
- 2:28with public meetings scheduled to discuss the projects. In Brookfield, the third
- 2:33annual Dolly Parton-shaped corn maze opened this weekend, drawing nearly 200 visitors
- 2:37on its first day. The event took on a special meaning after
- 2:40news spread that Dolly Parton had died at age 80. Many attendees
- 2:44came to honor the late singer, with some traveling hours to walk
- 2:46the maze and participate in trivia. The Maze is part of a
- 2:50national series supporting Parton's Imagination Library Literacy Initiative and will remain open
- 2:55through November 7th. Organizers say the event offers a way to celebrate
- 2:58Parton's legacy while supporting local businesses. And now for the full weather
- 3:03forecast. High pressure will keep skies mostly sunny across Connecticut today, with
- 3:07afternoon temperatures reaching the mid to upper seventies inland and a few
- 3:10degrees cooler along the shoreline. Humidity will stay low, making for a
- 3:14pleasant end to the holiday weekend. Tonight skies remain clear and temperatures
- 3:19will drop into the upper 50s for many inland areas, while the
- 3:22shoreline stays a bit milder. Thanks for listening. For more local news,
- 3:26visit ctinsider.com. This digest was partially generated by AI and then reviewed
- 3:31and edited by our newsroom staff.