DON’T RISK IT
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) – Attorney General George Jepsen is warning Connecticut officials not to assume a planned tribal casino in East Windsor can open without formal federal approvals.
In a legal opinion released Tuesday, Jepsen says legislation passed last year by the General Assembly still requires the U.S. Department of Interior to approve proposed amendments to the revenue-sharing agreement between the state and the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes before their new border casino can open. With no federal approvals yet, the state and tribes have filed a lawsuit, claiming the amendments were “deemed approved” under federal Indian gambling laws. Jepsen says making that assumption and allowing the casino to open could risk the underlying revenue-sharing deal, which grants Connecticut 25 percent of the slot machine revenues generated at the tribes’ two existing casinos.
COUPLE LOSES PARENTAL RIGHTS
The parental rights of a Groton couple whose children were removed by the Department of Children and Families have been lost. Judge John Driscoll terminated the parental rights of Kirsten Fauquet and John Stratzman, her partner and biological father of three of the children. The judge said no provider had recommended reunification of the children and parents, and that the children’s lawyers recommended terminating parental rights.The couple, whose son nearly died of starvation in a foster home, waited a year for their motion to vacate the order of temporary custody for the youngest.
FARROW FRONTS SEXUAL ASSAULT FORUM
Investigative journalist Andy Thibault has organized a panel discussion on sexual assault and will serve as moderator for the event. Three women, including Dylan Farrow, who says she was sexually assaulted at age seven by her adoptive father, filmmaker Woody Allen, will take the stage at Quinebaug Valley Community College in Danielson next Monday and talk about being sexually assaulted. Panelists will answer questions that audience members will submit and if someone in the audience wants to disclose they have been abused, crisis counselors and a safe space to talk will be available. The ‘Jane Doe No More’ panel discussion will be held April 23rd at 6 p.m. in the Robert E. Miller Auditorium and is free and open to the public.
SALES DOWN, VOLUME UP
Housing statistics of the Eastern Connecticut Association of Realtors for New London and Windham counties show single-family home sales were down, but volume was up, due to an increase in the median sale price. More than 870 single-family home sales were recorded in the first quarter of 2017, while that number was 809 for the first quarter of 2018. But the median sale price rose from $190,500 to $205,000.
EAST LYME GRAD WINS PULITZER
A 2002 graduate of East Lyme High School and a reporter at The New York Times was among the journalists honored this week with a Pulitzer Prize in Public Service. Emily Steel was acknowledged for “explosive, impactful” journalism that exposed powerful and wealthy sexual predators, including allegations against one of Hollywood’s most influential producers. Steel said she is grateful for the amazing teachers and educators who sent her on this path.
BAD EGGS
The Ledge Light Health District is alerting residents that eggs sold at two local Wal-Marts could potentially be contaminated with Salmonella. More than 200 million eggs were recalled over the weekend after discovering they had the potential to be infected with Salmonella, however Connecticut was not among the list of states initially affected. Officials from Ledge Light Health District said the Groton and Waterford Wal-Mart locations are the only retail outlets that have been identified as having the potentially contaminated eggs.
