TRIBES SAY BE CAREFUL
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) – The chairmen of Connecticut’s two federally recognized tribes are warning the casino revenue-sharing agreements they have with the state could be at risk if lawmakers push ahead with a modified bill that could lead to other entities opening casinos. In a letter released Monday, the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan leaders said the legislation “sets up a process that will ultimately lead to the end” of the agreements, which require the tribes provide the state with 25 percent of slot machine revenue generated at their two casinos. In return, the tribes get exclusive rights to operate video slots and casino games. The tribes paid the state nearly $271 million last fiscal year. Attorney General George Jepsen has said the bill doesn’t risk the agreements because a new casino isn’t authorized.
MCDONALD NOT TO BE SUPPORTED BY GOP
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) – The Republican leader of the Connecticut Senate denies partisan politics are behind the lack of GOP votes for Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s nominee for chief justice of the Connecticut State Supreme Court. Sen. Len Fasano said Monday that members are not supporting the promotion of Associate Justice Andrew McDonald for various reasons, including pushing the “Supreme Court into areas it shouldn’t be in.” The Senate is scheduled to vote Tuesday on McDonald’s nomination. While there’s an equal number of Democrats and Republican, one Democrat has recused herself. Malloy says he’s not withdrawing his nominee, saying McDonald deserves a vote and Republicans “should be held accountable” for voting as a bloc against him. Fasano says he’s also offended by accusations that some senators won’t vote for McDonald because he’s gay.
ICE IS WATCHING YOU
OLD LYME, Conn. (AP) – Immigration officials say they are aware of a Pakistani couple seeking sanctuary in a Connecticut church. Malik Nayeed bin Rehman and Zahida Atlaf are in sanctuary at First Congregational Church of Old Lyme after not complying with a U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement order of removal. The couple is living at the church with their 5-year-old daughter Roniya after being told to leave the country by March 19. A spokesman for the agency says they are “aware” of the couple’s location. ICE considers churches to be “sensitive locations,” but according to the spokesman, enforcement actions can be taken with prior approval of a supervisory official. The couple came to the U.S. legally in 2000 on non-immigrant visas, but remained past their visas’ expiration dates. Bin Rehman and Atlaf met with U.S. Congressman Richard Blumenthal Sunday to discuss their appeal to legal authorities to remain in the state.
ANTI-SHOPLIFTER CHARGED WITH….SHOPLIFTING
A Montville woman is being accused of stealing from the same store she was employed-at to stop shoplifters. 37-year old Janise Gabco-Bowles pleaded not guilty Monday to a charge of first-degree larceny. Police say the suspect stole more than 55-thousand dollars from the Groton Kohl’s store between March 2016 and December 2017, by fraudulently returning merchandise for cash. Police believe Gabco-Bowles was able to disarm the store’s surveillance system while she made the returns. She’s out on bond, and is due back in court April 23rd. Gabco-Bowles is also accused of shoplifting groceries from the East Lyme Stop and Shop on Christmas Eve, and is serving probation on a September 2016 domestic dispute.
CRUMBLING HOMEOWNERS PUSHING FOR HELP
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) – Connecticut homeowners say they need additional financial assistance to help with crumbling home foundations that threaten to collapse their houses. Dozens of homeowners arrived in Hartford Monday to support a bill that proposes every insurance company cover the peril of collapse due to decay or the use of faulty construction materials. The Hartford Courant reports that insurance companies do not cover the replacement of a failing foundation currently. Since the issue of failing foundations was detected in Connecticut, Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy has estimated that as many as 34,000 homes in 36 towns might have failing foundations. Insurance companies have denied homeowners’ claims, saying the problem does not qualify for coverage under their definition of collapse, leaving homeowners to cover costs for foundation repairs or replacement.
RENTING THE GOVERNOR’S MANSION
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) – A Connecticut gubernatorial candidate won’t be allowed to rent out rooms in the governor’s mansion, unless he wins the election. Airbnb has pulled a listing placed by Democrat Mark Stewart Greenstein, who was offering rooms in the 19-room Governor’s Residence for $200 a night starting in Jan. 2019. The ad said the rentals would be contingent on Greenstein winning the November election. Airbnb says the listing did not meet its community standards. Greenstein, who has never held public office, is part of a field of more than two dozen candidates. He is running on a platform that includes bringing an NHL hockey team back to Hartford. Greenstein, who is single, says he would rent an apartment rather than live in the 15,000-square foot mansion, which was built in 1909.
