Merle Smith, first Black graduate of Coast Guard Academy, dies of COVID complications

Merle Smith Jr., the first Black cadet to graduate from the Coast Guard Academy, has died of complications from Parkinson's disease and COVID-19. He was 76. Smith commanded patrol boats in Vietnam, taught law classes at the academy in New London and retired with the rank of commander.

Connecticut becomes 19th state to legalize recreational marijuana

Connecticut became the 19th state in the U.S. Tuesday to legalize recreational marijuana, which still remains an illegal drug under federal law.

Connecticut to give $3,200 bond to every child born into poverty

Children who are born into low-income families will be given a trust fund which will deposit $3,200 into a savings account until the child turns 18.

Piano prodigy practices for Carnegie Hall performance

Brigitte Xie's piano talent has earned her a spot on stage at Carnegie Hall this fall. She will likely be the youngest person on stage.

Connecticut offers $1K bonus to 10K unemployed people who get full-time job

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said the state will pay $1,000 to the first 10,000 people who complete eight straight weeks of a full-time job, aiming to get long-term unemployed Americans back to work.

Suspect arrested in killing of Yale grad student

A fugitive wanted in the killing of a Yale graduate student in Connecticut in February was arrested Friday in Alabama, U.S. marshals said.

Study finds high levels of carcinogen in several hand sanitizer brands

An independent study found that some widely available hand sanitizers in the U.S. — which were rapidly produced in an effort to prevent infection amid the COVID-19 pandemic — contain high levels of a chemical known to cause cancer. 

Connecticut lifting almost all COVID-19 capacity limits on businesses

Beginning  March 19, restaurants, retail, gyms, libraries, museums, offices and houses of worship will be able to open at full capacity, though masks will still be required. 

Bowl purchased at yard sale for $35 turns out to be Chinese artifact worth up to $500K

Talk about your yard sale finds. A small porcelain bowl bought for $35 at a Connecticut yard sale turned out to be a rare, 15th century Chinese artifact worth between $300,000 and $500,000.

Sandy Hook massacre first responder dies due to COVID-19

A retired Connecticut state trooper, who was one of the first to respond to the Sandy Hook massacre back in 2012, has died due to COVID-19, authorities said.

Biden introduces Connecticut schools chief Miguel Cardona as education secretary pick

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.

8th anniversary of Sandy Hook school massacre

Monday marks eight years since the massacre at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.

Connecticut mall Santa arrested after exposing himself to juvenile: police

A mall Santa in Connecticut was arrested Monday after he allegedly exposed himself to a juvenile co-worker, authorities said, according to reports.