More delays this morning for Metro North commuters. The railroad’s New Haven line service was suspended between Stamford and Harrison, N.Y. as officials worked to improve railroad safety after a downed overhead catenary electric line blocked three of four tracks in the vicinity of Cos Cob. The incident came just hours before MTA officials and lawmakers met to discuss Metro-North’s safety and training plans.
State Political Parties Holding Conventions
Connecticut’s Democratic Party is expected to endorse Governor Dannel Malloy for a second term in office. The party faithful are holding their one-day state convention this evening at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. The Connecticut Republican Party is opening a two-day convention tonight at the Mohegan Sun Casino. They’re expected to endorse congressional candidates and their selection for secretary of the state.
Connecticut Prison Population Dips Slightly
Connecticut officials say the state’s prison population is down slightly from a year ago, corresponding with a drop in the number of arrests. The Office of Policy and Management reports there were more than 16,000 people incarcerated in the state on May 1 compared with about 16,700 on the same date last year.
Utility Rates Increase and Decrease
Connecticut Light & Power says its electricity generation prices are going up more than 8 percent for the second half of the year, while United Illuminating said its rates would drop 3.7 percent in July. For the average household that uses 650 kilowatt hours a month, the change will mean $5 more on the Connecticut Light & Power bill and about $2 less for a United Illuminating customer.
Fewer Homeless Veterans in the State
Homelessness among Connecticut veterans is down 17 percent, but the state’s overall homeless population has not decreased. The number of homeless families has increased in the last year, up 4.5 percent. The 2014 count marks Connecticut’s eighth annual survey at a statewide level by the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness.
