NED LAMONT

A winter storm passed over the Northeast on Tuesday, covering much of the region in thick, wet snow, closing schools, cancelling flights, and knocking out power for thousands.

An increasing number of municipal, county and state governments are using federal pandemic relief funds to pay residents’ burdensome medical debt.

Democratic Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont expressed optimism about the state's financial standing Wednesday, where he proposed the state's first income tax reduction in almost 30 years.

Toymaker says it's leaving Enfield, Connecticut, home to U.S. hub since 1975, and moving to "one of the best cities in the world."

Democratic Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced several proposed gun laws Monday, including tighter registration requirements, purchase limits, and an open carry ban.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont has announced a series of proposed gun laws in a state already considered one of the strictest for firearms ownership.

Connecticut's governor is extending the gas tax holiday for another month. The legislation also added $30 million in federal pandemic relief funds.

In cities and suburbs across the U.S., Republicans up and down the ballot have overwhelmingly focused on sending a message that violent crime is out of control.

Gun rights groups and firearms owners have launched another attempt to overturn Connecticut’s ban on certain semiautomatic rifles that was enacted in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

Aaron Judge was walked four times Tuesday night in his quest for 61 home runs. The governor of Connecticut is now calling for a rule change to prevent intentional walks to Judge.

An assistant principal at a public elementary school in Connecticut is facing an investigation by state education officials after apparently being secretly recorded saying he'd prefer not to hire politically conservative staff, including Roman Catholics. The Department of Education confirmed Wednesday that it's looking into whether the assistant principal in the town of Greenwich violated rules of professional conduct.

When the U.S. Supreme Court in June overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that established a right to abortion, it sparked legal changes and court challenges in states nationwide.

First lady Jill Biden smiled and waved as two unidentified hecklers shouted at her while she walked into an ice cream shop in New Haven, Connecticut on Wednesday.

The U.S. Supreme Court's landmark abortion ruling overturning Roe v. Wade is prompting efforts in liberal states to protect providers and patients who have traveled for a legal procedure.

The Supreme Court's ruling allowing states to regulate abortion has set off a travel scramble in some parts of the U.S., as abortion providers redirect patients to states that still allow the procedure.

The nation's governors are diverging over how to respond to mass shootings such as the one that killed 19 students and two teachers at a Texas elementary school.

The U.S. energy secretary and Danish wind developer Orsted say they want American union workers to build offshore wind farms to dot the U.S. coastlines — the building trades workers who could otherwise be left out of a transition to renewable resources.

Gun control measures are likely going nowhere in Congress, and they have also become increasingly scarce in most states.

High prices at gas pumps are a top concern for American drivers. Some state leaders are hoping to help defray the high costs consumers face.

Gasoline prices hit record highs last week, so politicians in both parties proposed suspending state and federal gas taxes. But some warn such tax "holidays" may cut funding for needed road repairs.

"The most important metric for me is hospitalizations. We want to make sure our hospitals aren't overwhelmed," Gov. Ned Lamont told CNBC on Thursday.

California, Delaware, New Jersey and Connecticut have announced they are rolling back mask mandates.

Nationwide, the number of new COVID-19 cases is in decline, with the seven-day national average more than 60% lower than January's peak.

Several Connecticut school districts delayed the return to classes Monday following the...

President Joe Biden says the nation owes the families of those killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School nine years ago “more than our prayers.

On this "Face the Nation" broadcast, Dr. Vivek Murthy and Governor Ned Lamont sat down with Margaret Brennan

The following is a transcript of an interview with Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont that aired Sunday, December 5, 2021, on "Face the Nation."

U.S Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy and more appear on Sunday's "Face the Nation."

While many workers deemed essential in their respective states have already pandemic hazard pay or hero pay, there are thousands more are still waiting for the same financial pat-on-the-back.

Sixty-five percent of Connecticut's 169 cities and towns are now in the red alert level, the state's highest of four levels for COVID-19 infections, according to state data released Wednesday.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont Tuesday ripped into protesters who hurled curses and vulgarities at President Joe Biden during a visit to a child care center in Hartford last week. Four days after the event, Lamont was still clearly bothered by the protesters, who shouted vulgarities as about 35 children, along with their teachers, were meeting the president at an event touting additional federal ...

As pandemic-era traffic fatalities spike, the U.S. agency in charge of auto safety is struggling with a backlog of safety rules ordered by Congress that are years overdue.

The proportion of coronavirus infections and hospitalizations among vaccinated Pennsylvania residents has risen sharply in the past month, although the shots remain broadly protective.

Currently, a quarter of Connecticut state staff don't comply with an upcoming mandate requiring them get vaccinated or have weekly tests.

Sikorsky Aircraft gave a send-off Friday to its first Connecticut-built CH-53K heavy lift helicopter to the U.S. Marine Corps in a ceremony suitable for the massive high-tech aircraft. Nearly 100 executives and employees of the Lockheed Martin Corp. helicopter manufacturer and others celebrated in an aircraft hangar at Sikorsky’s Stratford headquarters, with the helicopter — 99 feet long and ...

Tales of selflessness and heroism — and of deadly delays and heartbreaking missed opportunities — are emerging after the remnants of Hurricane Ida pummeled the Northeast with record-breaking rain that flooded roads and houses, killing dozens.

A small jet headed for North Carolina crashed shortly after taking off from a small airport in Connecticut. The crash set off chemical fires inside the building and two workers were injured.

Residents across the waterlogged Northeast are clearing mud and tearing out soggy carpets after deluges dropped by Tropical Storm Henri.

The tropical storm system Henri brought heavy winds and rain to the Northeast U.S. as it began pummeling the New England coast early Sunday.

Henri is now a hurricane.

Arizona reported more than 2,000 additional COVID-19 cases for the fourth straight day as the number of virus-related hospitalizations continued to rise.

Connecticut has become the latest state to mandate that workers in nursing homes be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Parents and policy makers across the nation have been plunged anew into a debate over whether face coverings should be optional or a mandate when schools reopen.

The nation’s reckoning on race has given new momentum to efforts to help U.S. homeowners somehow disassociate their properties with historic, racially restrictive property covenants.

"For decades, the war on cannabis caused injustices and created disparities while doing little to protect public health and safety," Governor Ned Lamont said.

Nursing homes across the country are still reporting scattered COVID-19 outbreaks and COVID-associated deaths, albeit at much smaller rates than during the height of the pandemic.

The Las Vegas Strip and surroundings will fully reopen to vaccinated diners, dancers, shoppers and club-goers beginning June 1.

Some states are making plans to spend billions of dollars from President Joe Biden's pandemic relief act, though the money has yet to arrive.

A court ruling striking down a national eviction moratorium has placed additional pressure on the federal and state governments to deliver tens of billions of dollars in promised rental aid.

A handful of U.S. states are now offering incentives, including savings bonds and free drinks, for people to roll up their sleeves.

In state legislatures across the country, lawmakers of color are seizing on the nation’s reckoning with racial injustice.

A U.S. health panel says it’s time to resume use of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, despite a very rare risk of blood clots.

CNBC's Jim Cramer said Monday he's concerned about plans to further ease indoor dining restrictions in New York City and he won't accelerate plans to reopen his Covid-shuttered Brooklyn restaurant in May. "I just think that we don't know enough still. We don't know enough about viral load. We don't know enough about what the real number should be at a bar," Cramer added. According to the CDC, the risk of Covid transmission increases with indoor dining, especially when tables are not spaced at least 6 feet apart.

Repealing statewide mask mandates and criticizing the Biden administrations unemployment-based formula for distributing billions in federal aid has put Republican governors and their approach to handling the coronavirus pandemic back in the spotlight. Despite their differing approaches, California and Florida have experienced almost identical outcomes in COVID-19 case rates. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, imposed numerous statewide restrictions over the past year after an early surge in deaths, while South Dakota Gov. “From the earliest days of this pandemic, California trusted in science and data, and we met the moment,” Newsom said. Like Florida, Missouri had no statewide mask mandate, ended business restrictions last June and has a cumulative COVID-19 death rate similar to California's.

"We have the vast majority of our population most at risk has now been vaccinated. That's 65 and above, and the majority of the people 55 and above," Lamont said on "Squawk on the Street." Connecticut has recorded 7,725 deaths associated with Covid since the pandemic began, according to the latest state data. Greg Abbott last week declared on Twitter that his state is "OPEN 100%" after he lifted business restrictions and a mask mandate. Lamont said the goal of his move to ease capacity restrictions was to "emphasize that which works."

Ned Lamont said a number of the state's businesses will be allowed to reopen at full capacity beginning March 19. The move follows similar measures from Texas and Mississippi, both run by Republican governors. But top U.S. health officials, including Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, are warning against rolling back public health measures too soon. They say it could reverse the current downward trajectory in infections and delay the nation's recovery from the pandemic. Read CNBC's live updates to see the latest news on the Covid -19 outbreak.

Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CNBC on Friday he believes governors are right to begin easing Covid restrictions on businesses as long as mask policies remain in effect. Gottlieb — a member of Pfizer's board, which makes a Covid vaccine — said the emerging virus strains are important to watch for states that plan to ease restrictions. The B117 variant, first discovered in the U.K., is growing in Connecticut, Gottlieb said. At the same time, Gottlieb said the overall risk dynamics for Covid have changed considerably due to the vaccine rollout. "Connecticut has done a lot better than most states in getting vaccines into their older population," Gottlieb added.

Eric Holcomb received his COVID-19 vaccine shot Friday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the opening of the state’s first mass vaccination clinic. Holcomb wore a face mask in the front passenger seat of an SUV while getting the shot of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine at the drive-through clinic. Ad___TORONTO — Canada is getting a fourth vaccine to prevent COVID-19, approving the Johnson & Johnson shot that works with just one dose. Canada has pre-purchased 10 million Johnson & Johnson doses, with options to buy another 28 million. The U.S. approved the Johnson & Johnson vaccine last month.

Over a decade of "Face the Nation" transcripts are available online:2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020Looking for extended transcripts of our 2020 campaign interviews? And for the latest from "Face the Nation," bookmark our homepage and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. February 28, 2021Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesDirector, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Ronna McDaniel, Republican National Committee ChairwomanRepublican National Committee Chairwoman Gov. Deborah Birx, M.D., Former White House Coronavirus Response CoordinatorJanuary 17, 2021Rep. Adam Schiff, D- California, Intelligence Committee ChairmanD- California, Intelligence Committee Chairman Gov. Jim Justice, R-West VirginiaR-West Virginia Mayor Melvin Carter, D-Saint Paul, MND-Saint Paul, MN Rochelle Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., Incoming CDC DirectorIncoming CDC Director Dr. Scott Gottlieb, Former FDA CommissionerJanuary 10, 2021Chris Krebs, former CISA Directorformer CISA Director Sen. Roy Blunt, R-MOR-MO Sen. Chris Coons, D-DED-DE Mayor Muriel Bowser, D-Washington, D.C.D-Washington, D.C. Dr. Scott Gottlieb, Former FDA CommissionerJanuary 3, 2021

Tom Moore, the 100-year-old World War II veteran who captivated the British public in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic with his fundraising efforts died, Tuesday Feb. 2, 2021. Commercial applicants will be required to provide evidence that the coronavirus pandemic caused them to lose at least 35% of revenue in 2020. ___RAMALLAH, West Bank — The Palestinian government announced a 12-day lockdown in the Israeli-occupied West Bank after a surge in coronavirus cases, including new variants. The death toll stands at 3,685, with more than a dozen deaths reported Friday. ___WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The Navajo Nation has continued on a downward trend in the number of daily coronavirus cases.

(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. -- The Navajo Nation has continued on a downward trend in the number of daily coronavirus cases. Canada regulators have approved AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine. Gavin Newsom expects California to start administering the new Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine next week. Addition of the J&J vaccine would come as California is seeing dramatic drops in virus cases and hospitalizations after record highs in early January. While they only comprise about 48% of coronavirus cases, they account for 74% of vaccinations.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont (D) told CNBC's "The News with Shepard Smith" "we got to do a better job there" when it comes to delivering Covid vaccines to underserved communities. The Connecticut governor doubled down on his strategy and pointed to those workers who live with older family members. Pfizer's Chief Business Officer John Young said the company can ramp up production from approximately 5 million doses to more than 13 million doses by mid- March. Moderna President Dr. Stephen Hoge said his company is similarly working to double its shipments and turn out about 40 million doses a month by April. J&J Vice President of Medical Affairs Dr. Richard Nettles said that the company plans to ship more than 20 million doses to the U.S. by the end of March.

Health officials say the first shipments of the Chinese and Russian vaccines will be used in low-income neighborhoods of Mexico City or its suburbs. — Millions of vulnerable U.S. residents will need COVID-19 vaccines brought to them because they rarely or never leave their homes. Johnson & Johnson in December agreed to provide up to 500 million doses of its vaccine to COVAX through 2022. Ad“If we are to end the global pandemic, life-saving innovations like vaccines must be within reach for all countries,” Johnson & Johnson Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Paul Stoffels said in a statement. The state health department has scheduled vaccination clinics during the weekend to replace those postponed due to a winter storm.

A sprawling, lumbering winter storm has walloped the Eastern U.S., shutting down coronavirus vaccination sites, closing schools and halting transit. In its second day in the Northeast, a snow storm left nearly 15 inches (38 centimeters) of snow piled up in parts of New Hampshire. The Yale New Haven Health system, which runs several hospitals in southern Connecticut, said its vaccination sites were closed Tuesday and staff were contacting people to reschedule appointments. In New England, nearly 15 inches (38 centimeters) of snow piled up in southeast New Hampshire, and the mountains were getting heavy snow as well. The National Weather Service reported 30 inches of snow fell in parts of Sussex and Morris counties on Monday.

Coronavirus vaccination sites across the Northeastern U.S. are getting back up and running after a two-day snowstorm that also shut down public transport, closed schools and canceled flights. Some vaccination sites in New York City remained closed, but others, including those run by the public hospital system, were open Tuesday. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)Coronavirus vaccination sites across the Northeast ramped back up Tuesday after a two-day snowstorm that also shut down public transport, closed schools and stranded travelers with canceled flights. Some vaccination sites in the city remained closed, but others, including those run by the public hospital system, were open Tuesday. Tom Wolf declared a disaster emergency after snowfall of up to 30 inches (76 centimeters) throughout central and eastern regions.

The winter weather prompted school districts to cancel in-person learning on Monday, and many COVID-19 vaccination sites were closed and rescheduling appointments. As much as 2 feet (61 centimeters) of snow was predicted to fall in areas throughout the day Monday and overnight. 11:30 a.m.BOSTON — The second phase of Massachusetts’ coronavirus vaccine rollout is being disrupted by a winter storm that’s causing schedule changes and at least one vaccination location to shutdown. A winter storm warning remained in effect until Tuesday for much of the state. Most of the state remained under winter storm warnings or winter weather advisories that were expected to remain in effect through Tuesday morning.

Although the heaviest parts of the storm had moved through the metropolitan area by Monday evening, lighter snow showers were expected to continue virtually all day Tuesday, forecaster James Tomasini said. “We’re looking at a long two days here,” New York Gov. Across the Northeast, many coronavirus vaccination sites closed Monday. AdHundreds of flights and many trains and were canceled, and aboveground New York City subway service stopped at 2 p.m. In recent days, a storm system blanketed parts of the Midwest, with some areas getting the most snow in several years.

The following is a transcript of an interview with Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont that aired Sunday, January 31, 2020, on "Face the Nation." Governor Ned Lamont joins us from Stamford good morning to you. We're doing testing at the schools or nearby--MARGARET BRENNAN: Right. So, I'm quite confident that if we keep the vaccinations going, we're going to be able to stay ahead of that curve. LAMONT: Like I said, 95% of our kids right now are already have the option to go to school either full time or a hybrid--MARGARET BRENNAN: Right.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont urges Biden to "give us some transparency" on COVID vaccine rollout "What's most important for the Biden Administration is give us some transparency," Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont urges Biden to "give us some transparency" on vaccine rollout "What's most important for the Biden Administration is give us some transparency," Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said.

"Face the Nation" Guest Lineup:Cedric Richmond, Senior Adviser to the PresidentSenior Adviser to the President Gov. Ned Lamont, (D-Connecticut(D-Connecticut Mayor Francis Suarez, R-MiamiR-Miami Dr. Janice K. Jackson, Chicago Public Schools CEOChicago Public Schools CEO Dr. Scott Gottlieb, Former FDA CommissionerHow to watch "Face the Nation"Date: Sunday, January 31, 2020TV: "Face the Nation" airs Sunday mornings on CBS. Click here for your local listingsRadio: Subscribe to "Face the Nation" from CBS Radio News to listen on-the-goFree online stream: Watch the show on CBS' streaming network CBSN at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. With the latest news and analysis from Washington, don't miss Margaret Brennan (@margbrennan) this Sunday on "Face the Nation" (@FaceTheNation). And for the latest from America's premier public affairs program, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Military leaders spent chunks of Thursday evening and Friday calling states in an unprecedented appeal for more National Guard troops to help lock down much of the city in the days before President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration. Kate Brown said she turned down the federal request to send at least 100 more National Guard troops to D.C. “I didn’t think that we could safely fill that commitment,” Brown said. Oregon has already agreed to send 30 to Washington, but state leaders are worried about violence at the state capitol in Salem. At that point, the new round of calls to the state governors and military leaders began. Roy Cooper initially agreed to send 200 Guard, and on Friday spokesman Ford Porter said the state will send 100 more.

Brad Little says people 65 and over will be able to get the coronavirus vaccine starting Feb. 1. Overall, Illinois has reported more than 1 million cases and 17,743 deaths. Ontario reported 2,903 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, including eight new cases of a variant from the United Kingdom. ___MADRID — Spain is reporting 25,438 coronavirus cases and more than 400 deaths for the second day in a row. Italy added 14,242 coronavirus infections on Tuesday, increasing the tally to 2.3 million cases.

FILE - In this Aug. 9, 2017, photo, flags decorate a space outside the office of the Education Secretary at the Education Department in Washington. President-elect Joe Biden has chosen the education commissioner for Connecticut and a former public school teacher to serve as education secretary. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)President-elect Joe Biden introduced Miguel Cardona as his pick for education secretary on Wednesday, saying Connecticut's education chief and life-long champion of public schools is the right pick to lead the department as the nation struggles to educate students safely during the pandemic. But despite their occasional conflict with him, a coalition of Connecticut education unions supported his candidacy as Biden's education secretary. Beyond the pandemic, Biden's education secretary will also be tasked with reversing an array of policies enacted by DeVos.

FILE - In this Aug. 9, 2017, photo, flags decorate a space outside the office of the Education Secretary at the Education Department in Washington. President-elect Joe Biden has chosen the education commissioner for Connecticut and a former public school teacher to serve as education secretary. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)President-elect Joe Biden has chosen Miguel Cardona, Connecticut's education chief and a lifelong champion of public schools, to serve as education secretary. The selection delivers on Biden’s promise to nominate someone with experience working in public education and would fulfill his goal of installing an education chief who stands in sharp contrast to Secretary Betsy DeVos. Despite their occasional conflict with him, a coalition of Connecticut education unions supported his candidacy as Biden's education secretary.

FILE - In this March 23, 2019 file photo, Bridgewater Associates Chairman Ray Dalio speaks during the Economic Summit held for the China Development Forum in Beijing, China. A family spokesperson says the 42-year-old son of hedge fund founder Ray Dalio died in a car crash this week. The family spokesperson on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 confirmed Devon Dalio's death in a Thursday afternoon crash to Hearst Connecticut Media. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)GREENWICH, Conn. – Devon Dalio, the 42-year-old son of hedge fund founder Ray Dalio, died in a car crash this week, a family spokesperson said Friday. The family spokesperson confirmed the death in a Thursday afternoon crash to Hearst Connecticut Media.

Hanson, a student at Hanover College, is one of several college students being recruited to work as substitute teachers in schools during the pandemic. Coming to the rescue in many cases are college students who are themselves learning online or home for extended winter breaks. Over a dozen college students answered the call including his own daughter, 19-year-old Grace Kern, who is studying medical imaging technology at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis. College students have been tapped in growing numbers this year by Kelly Education, which contracts with districts to provide substitutes. In the past districts could manage by dividing an absent teacher’s students among the other teachers in the building.

(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)NEW YORK – The latest developments on the winter storm moving across the Northeast (all times local):7:45 p.m.Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced Wednesday he is banning tractor trailer and tandem trailers from all limited access highways, beginning at 9 p.m. due to the severe winter snow storm. ___2 p.m.PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island has closed all state-run coronavirus testing sites as the region braces for a major winter storm. A winter storm warning has been issued for Providence and Kent counties from 7 p.m. Wednesday through 1 p.m. Thursday. Meanwhile, New Jersey is poised to restrict commercial traffic from some highways because of the impending snow storm.

And we must act as though anyone we are around may be infected.”The cases reported Saturday trailed only the record 10,322 cases reported Tuesday. ___ROME — Italy had more than 21,000 daily coronavirus cases and added 662 deaths in the last 24 hours. There were 14 more deaths reported Saturday, bringing the total to 1,874 confirmed deaths. Russia’s 2.4 million confirmed cases is the fourth-largest caseload in the world behind the United States, India and Brazil. ___NEW DELHI — India has registered 36,652 confirmed coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours.

The state expects to get enough doses of new coronavirus vaccines by the end of the year to inoculate more than 383,000 health care workers and long-term care facility residents, the state’s health director said Friday. Ned Lamont said nursing home residents, along with front-line health care workers, will get the first doses in his state. Laura Kelly said the state’s vaccine plan calls for the first shots to go to front-line health care workers with a high risk of coronavirus exposure, including workers in nursing homes, as well as nursing home residents. In Ohio, health care workers and others caring for COVID-19 patients and emergency medical responders will be first in line for the vaccine, Republican Gov. “We’re in a very dangerous situation and ... we can’t let our hospitals get to the point where health care is threatened,” DeWine said.

It said the country was showing a trend of declining average daily cases over the last two months. Worldwide, more than 54 million coronavirus cases have been reported with more than 1.3 million deaths. ___CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia has set another weekly record for the number of confirmed coronavirus cases, even with one day left to count. The state set three daily marks for confirmed cases in the past week, including a record 821 cases on Friday. The seven-day rolling average for new daily cases stood at 145,400 on Saturday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Washington state and county health officials have warned of a spike in coronavirus cases across the state, and pleaded with the public to take the pandemic more seriously heading into the winter holidays. The number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care beds reached 362 on Friday, the most since late August. ___KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine has introduced tight weekend restrictions as the number of new confirmed coronavirus cases hit a national record. Health Minister Maxim Stepanov said Saturday that Ukraine registered 12,524 new confirmed cases, about 800 more than the previous day. Overall, Russia has reported 1,903.000 confirmed virus cases and 32,834 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Two workers were killed in an explosion Friday while repairing a steam pipe in a maintenance building at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Connecticut, officials said. Alfred Montoya Jr., director of the VA Connecticut Healthcare System, said the men were in the basement of the small outer building and had just finished routine maintenance on a leaky pipe. He said the explosion occurred just after 8 a.m. as the pipe was being refilled with steam. “Our prayers are with the families of the victims of this explosion," VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said. The explosion occurred in a building that houses the hospital’s labor shops, such as carpentry and plumbing, a spokesperson for the hospital said.

Ned Lamont is self-quarantining after his chief spokesperson tested positive for COVID-19, his administration announced late Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. Ned Lamont is self-quarantining after his chief spokesperson tested positive for COVID-19. Another governor, Democrat Steve Sisolak of Nevada, announced Friday that he had tested positive for COVID-19. DeWine tested positive using a rapid test before testing negative later that day after using a more sensitive laboratory-developed test. The latest state health department figures also show hospitalizations have edged back up statewide — hitting 684 after dipping to 676 a day earlier.

Cuomo initially adopted the coronavirus travel advisory alongside Connecticut Gov. Because New York is doing so much better than the other states, that's what's happening," Cuomo said on the call. More than half of U.S. states were on the Empire State's travel advisory over the summer as America's Sun Belt states were responding to widespread outbreaks. "The rate of infection in our microcluster, our red zone, is lower than most states' statewide number," Cuomo said. "What we consider a priority area, a high infection rate, other states do not consider a high infection rate.

The coronavirus has contributed to more than 5,000 confirmed deaths in Michigan, the fourth-highest toll in the country. Gretchen Whitmers closure of nonessential businesses is among the nations toughest and is in effect at least through May 28. I can truly see this through both lenses, said Weaver, who does not plan to attend the protest scheduled for Wednesday. One of the things I want to emphasize, Michigan, all of you business owners, you beauticians, you barbers, massage therapists all of you. Wednesday's Operation Haircut protest is being organized by the Michigan Conservative Coalition, which led a car-based rally against Whitmer's orders in April.

(Reuters) - Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said on Tuesday he was replacing his public health commissioner, in an abrupt decision to shakeup leadership of the agency at the heart of the states response to the coronavirus pandemic. Lamont said in a statement that Department of Social Services Commissioner Deidre Gifford would take over as head of the states public health department, replacing Renee Coleman-Mitchell, effective immediately. The move comes one day after Connecticut disclosed that it had surpassed 3,000 deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. I was informed by the Governors staff that the decision to move the Department of Public Health in a different direction was not related to job performance. The rare move by a U.S. governor to replace a leading health official during the pandemic follows two public controversies.

FILE PHOTO: Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont takes part in a regional cannabis and vaping summit in New York City, New York, U.S., October 17, 2019. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson(Reuters) - Connecticuts schools will remain closed for the remainder of the academic year due to the novel coronavirus, Governor Ned Lamont said on Tuesday, following similar moves by the nearby states of New York and New Jersey. Lamont, who had closed schools and many businesses until at least May 20, said in a statement that he had held out hope that students could return this year but decided that its just not possible, due to safety concerns.

Ned Lamont told CNBC on Tuesday that he wants colleges and universities in Connecticut "to open in the fall," provided it is safe to do so. "It's a big part of our state," Lamont, a Democrat, said on "Squawk on the Street." The state is home to Yale University, the University of Connecticut and Quinnipiac University, among others. The president of Yale, Peter Salovey, told the university community in an email last week that it intended to announce plans for the fall semester by early July. "I understand that we all need time to make plans," he wrote in the email, according to the Yale Daily News.

(Reuters) - Connecticut on Monday reported the states highest one-day totals for novel coronavirus cases and related deaths, attributing the jump to a revised total count due to new classifications from federal regulators. Connecticut recorded 1,853 new cases for a total of 19,815, and 204 additional deaths, bringing total fatalities to 1,331, according to a daily disclosure by the states health department, which it said incorporated a catch up of cases and deaths reported since April 16. Governor Ned Lamont told a daily briefing the jump reflected new classifications required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which he said had made revisions on how to count deaths and cases. We are just truing this up so we keep with the CDC and federal definition.The CDC did not immediately return a request for comment. We definitely have bent the curve, on the way down, hit the apex, Lamont said about Fairfield County.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will join with other governors in the northeastern U.S., including Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, to make an announcement about the states' response to the coronavirus outbreak. Read CNBC's live updates to see the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak.

(Reuters) - A total of 64 percent of the people tested for the novel coronavirus in Connecticut in the past 24 hours came back positive, a spike that underscored the states status as a hot spot for the disease, Governor Ned Lamont said on Friday. FILE PHOTO: Medical personnel wear protective gear while working at a drive-through testing site for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S.,March 27, 2020. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson/File PhotoOf the 1,715 Connecticut residents screened for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus, 1,090 tested positive, according to state data. Weve been trying to explain to Washington for some time that southern Connecticut is one of those hot spots, Lamont said at a daily briefing on the coronavirus. Click tmsnrt.rs/2w7hX9T in a separate browser for a GRAPHIC on coronavirus cases in the United States.

(Reuters) - Connecticuts governor on Tuesday said the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile of medical supplies was now empty and the state was on its own trying to secure ventilators and masks to fight the coronavirus pandemic. FILE PHOTO: Boxes of N95 protective masks for use by medical field personnel are seen at a New York State emergency operations incident command center during the coronavirus outbreak in New Rochelle, New York, U.S., March 17, 2020. REUTERS/Mike SegarThe stockpile is the countrys largest store of medical supplies for use in a crisis and for weeks governors have been clamoring for its dwindling stocks of face masks and other gear to protect frontline medics, first responders and patients. It was disturbing today to find out that the national strategic stockpile is now empty. The governor said Connecticut was releasing nonviolent offenders from state prisons to slow the spread of the virus amongst inmates.

FILE PHOTO: Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont takes part in a regional cannabis and vaping summit in New York City, New York, U.S., October 17, 2019. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson(Reuters) - Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont said on Tuesday that the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile of medical supplies was now empty and the state was on its own trying to secure ventilators and personal protective equipment to fight the coronavirus pandemic. It was disturbing today to find out that the national strategic stockpile is now empty. We did get 50 ventilators, for which I am very thankful, Lamont told a news conference. Lamont said he did not expect renters to be evicted as a result of job losses or other coronavirus-related factors, not least because eviction courts were closed.

Connecticut will move its 2020 primary to June 2 from the originally planned April 28 in response to the deadly coronavirus outbreak, Gov. Connecticut, with 60 delegates up for grabs, is the latest state to postpone its primary because of looming threats brought on by the coronavirus, which has roiled markets and infected hundreds of thousands of people globally. Ohio delayed its in-person primary voting that was supposed to take place Tuesday. The Rhode Island Board of Elections voted to postpone the state's primary from April 28 to June 2, but the decision is "pending the Governor signing an emergency order," according to the board's deputy director of elections, Miguel Nunez. There are at least 10,755 cases in the United States and at least 150 deaths, according to the latest tallies.

(Reuters) - Connecticut reported its first coronavirus-related death on Wednesday, saying a man in his 80s who had been living in a retirement facility had passed away due to complications from the COVID-19 disease. The man was a resident of an assisted living facility in Ridgefield, a town about 55 miles (88.5 km) outside of New York City, and had been undergoing treatment at the nearby Danbury Hospital, Governor Ned Lamont said on Twitter.

Ned Lamont told CNBC on Tuesday he's concerned that the number of ventilators in the state wouldn't be enough to handle a dramatic surge in coronavirus cases. He said they are necessary to ensure a flattening of the curve essentially trying to limit the surge of coronavirus cases. The U.S. has more than 4,600 confirmed cases and 85 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Lamont declared a state of emergency a week ago, when Connecticut had four confirmed cases. As of Tuesday morning, the state had 41 confirmed cases and no deaths.

A World War II-era plane with 13 people aboard crashed and burned at the Hartford airport after encountering mechanical trouble on takeoff Wednesday, killing seven of them. The airport _ New England's second-busiest _ was closed afterward but reopened a single runway about 3 hours later. The same plane also crashed in 1987 at an air show near Pittsburgh, injuring several people, the Collings Foundation said. Hit by a severe crosswind as it touched down, the bomber overshot a runway and plunged down a hill. The B-17 that went down was built in 1945, too late to see combat in the war, according to the Collings Foundation.