U.S. Senators from Connecticut, Massachusetts and West Virginia want consumers to be able to assess cruise ship safety records. Connecticut U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, along with Senators Ed Markey and Jay Rockefeller, would like the Coast Guard to publish online information from its inspection of cruise ships. The request comes after the Coast Guard begun unannounced inspections of cruise ships at U.S. ports, targeting those with patterns of safety problems.
Senator Opposes Limitations to Public Access of 911 Tapes
Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney said he opposes efforts to limit public access to emergency 911 tapes, despite recommendations from a task force created after the Newtown school massacre. Looney said he believes the tapes are crucial to determining whether police responses are appropriate.
Voters Support Recreational Marijuana Use
A Quinnipiac poll released today shows 52 percent of voters support "allowing adults in the state to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use." Forty-five percent oppose the idea. The poll of nearly 1,700 registered voters also showed that voters believe alcohol is more harmful to a person’s health than marijuana.
Another Push for Sunday Deer Hunting
Hunting advocates said they’ll push again for a bill that would allow Sunday deer hunting with a bow and arrow on certain private property. In an email to supporters, the executive director of the Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen blamed Senate President Don Williams for blocking the bill from coming up for a vote in the Senate. The bill that failed applied to land in overpopulated deer management zones.
Lyme Disease Cases May Rise
In northern New England, the increase in cases of Lyme correlates with a growing population of deer ticks, which transmit the disease., according to Maine epidemiologist Stephen Sears. Nationwide, the number of cases of Lyme disease has held relatively steady over the past few years, but federal agencies say they expect this spring, summer and fall to be active seasons for ticks and Lyme.
