Hartford Courant -- January 18, 2022

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by  Hartford Courant

SMSA remains closed Rabbi details escape UConn women routed Chill returns
Hartford school where student OD’d still Says he threw chair at gunman before The Huskies have 19 turnovers in a game Partly sunny, breezy and cold;
being decontaminated. News, Page 3 escaping with two others. News, Page 4 Oregon dominates. Sports, Page 1 high of 28. Sports, Page 6
VOLUME CLXXXVI CCOOUURRAANNTT..CCOOMM TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2022
CORONAVIRUS IN CONNECTICUT
Lamont urges extension of orders
With emergency powers set to expire, governor extensions after they were already “Politically, it would be, but look, are our 10 or 15 [executive orders]
granted by the legislature six times. the big red-flag items are masks that we’d like to see extended,”
appeals to lawmakers to codify some measures
With no immediate request to and vaccinations. Weigh in, legis- Lamont said after an event in
extend his emergency powers, lature. I would love your input on Windsor.
By Christopher Keating orders in an election year. Lamont’s sweeping authority — that. Should we continue that or “Here’s your opportunity to
Hartford Courant Both Lamont and the legisla- which has prompted critics to not? Here’s your opportunity.” legislate that. Make adjustments
ture are trying to figure out the give him the moniker “King Ned” Lamont plans to meet with top to it, if you don’t want kids wear-
HARTFORD — After making next steps because his emergency — would end less than nine months leaders this week as his chief legal ing masks, if you want to close
sweeping decisions for nearly powers during the COVID-19 before the November election. counsel, Nora Dannehy, crafts a list schools,” Lamont said. “Here’s
two years, Connecticut Gov. Ned pandemic expire on Feb. 15 — and When asked by The Courant if of the orders that could be contin- your chance to weigh in on the
Lamont is calling upon the legisla- all Republican legislators and some it would be easier not to extend ued.
ture to codify some of his executive Democrats do not want any more the powers, Lamont responded, “Nora is putting together — here Turn to Orders, Page 2
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY
Biden:
Commit
to King’s
mission
Voting rights, justice
are key themes of
messages on holiday
By Jeff Martin
and Michael Warren
Associated Press
ATLANTA — Americans must
commit to the unfinished work of
Martin Luther King Jr., deliver-
ing jobs and justice and protect-
ing “the sacred right to vote, a
right from which all other rights
flow,” President Joe Biden said
Monday.
Martin Luther King Day is a
moment when a mirror is held
up to America, the president said
in a video address.
Mariah Cubano, a 12-year-old author and activist from New Britain, works with her brother Tyshawn Yopp, 6, at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day event at the “It’s time for every elected offi-
New Britain Museum of American Art. Cubano has written two inspirational books for children, “I’ve Been Told” and “Beauty Begins in Me,” both dealing cial in America to make it clear
with love, respect and the importance of how a person acts rather than looks. STAN GODLEWSKI PHOTOS/SPECIAL TO THE COURANT where they stand,” Biden said.
“It’s time for every American to
stand up. Speak out, be heard.
POWER
Where do you stand?”
Major holiday events included
marches in several cities and the
annual Martin Luther King Jr.
service at the slain civil rights
leader’s Ebenezer Baptist Church
OF LOVE
in Atlanta, where Sen. Raphael
Warnock, D-Ga., is the senior
pastor. Pews have been packed by
politicians in past years, but given
the pandemic, many offered
pre-recorded speeches.
MLK Day celebration in West Hartford This holiday marks what
would have been the 93rd birth-
honors civil rights icon’s enduring message day of the Rev. Martin Luther
King Jr., who was 39 when he
was assassinated in 1968 while
By Jesse Leavenworth an African American preacher widely helping sanitation workers strike
Hartford Courant available to a white audience, according for better pay and workplace
to Stanford University’s Martin Luther safety in Memphis, Tennessee.
S
ingers and speakers in West King Jr. Research and Education Insti- King’s eldest son criticized
Hartford celebrated the legacy tute. Biden and Congress as a whole
of the Rev. Martin Luther King Similar celebrations — some of them on Monday for failing to pass
Jr. on Monday, focusing on the virtual due to the pandemic — of King’s voting rights legislation, even
civil rights leader’s message life and messages were held across as 19 GOP-led states have made
about the transcendent power of love. Connecticut and the nation to commem- it harder to vote in response
The theme of the town’s 26th annual orate the slain civil rights leader’s birth- Abby Mari, 12, and Katie Mari, 10, of West Hartford, to former President Donald
MLK Day celebration, a virtual event day. King was born on Jan. 15, 1929. listen to a historic speech by the Rev. Martin Trump’s false claims about elec-
featuring music by local students, drew President Joe Biden said, in a Monday Luther King Jr. on a screen at the New Britain tion-rigging.
from King’s 1963 book, “Strength to Museum of American Art, where visitors enjoyed “You were successful with
Love,” the first volume of sermons by Turn to Love, Page 3 free admission and activities.
Turn to King, Page 3
CORONAVIRUS IN CONNECTICUT
Physicians plead for pregnant
women to get fully vaccinated

Miscarriages and other off getting her booster shot. the coronavirus, Morosky told
“She actually ended with severe members of a state committee
complications are virus
illness and required a Caesarean examining the impact of COVID-
risks, doctors caution delivery because of respiratory 19 on those who are pregnant.
complications,” said Christopher Both mother and newborn are
By Daniela Altimari M. Morosky, an associate profes- now recovering at home.
Hartford Courant sor of obstetrics and gynecology “However, the trauma the
at the University of Connecticut patient had with this COVID-pos-
Pregnant with her first child, the School of Medicine and a practic- itive baby and the mom recovering
patient arrived at UConn Health ing OB-GYN. from COVID infection and recov-
critically ill with COVID-19. She Even more alarming for the ering from major surgery was just Two obstetricians’ groups are recommending COVID-19 shots for all
had received two doses of the patient and her family, the baby pregnant women, citing concerns over rising cases and low vaccination
vaccine months earlier, but had put she delivered tested positive for Turn to Pregnant, Page 2 rates. CHARLES KRUPA/AP
‘Bushnell South’ is taking shape Opinion .....................News, 10 Puzzles ...Connecticut, 6, 8
Obituaries .........News, 12-14 Comics ...Connecticut, 7-8
Plan for Hartford’s Bushnell South — a long envisioned redevelopment of a jumble of parking lots
Lottery ........................News, 2
east of The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts — is finally in motion. CONNECTICUT, PAGE 1
Classified ..................News, 11
2 Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Tuesday, January 18, 2022
FROM PAGE ONE
Orders Pregnant “The risk of miscarriage
is real, the risk of
from Page 1 from Page 1
[fetal] demise is real
executive orders. And I’d love to overwhelming to this family,”
have legislative input on that. I Morosky said. “They were brand and the risk of preterm
think it’s really important.” new parents, and you can imag-
delivery is real as well.”
Separately from the specific ine putting all that on top of it.”
orders, Lamont wants to know if At a meeting last week, the
there could be a narrow excep- Women and Children’s Health — Dr. Vero Pimentel, a specialist
tion for extending his powers in a Committee, which is part of in maternal and fetal medicine at
limited way. the state Medical Assistance St. Francis Hospital
“Sometimes when it comes to Program Oversight Council,
purchasing, you’ve got to be able heard other harrowing tales from according to the CDC.
to move fast,” Lamont said. “We OB-GYNs on the frontlines of the (The state does not track vacci-
ran into that when we were trying COVID-19 crisis. nation rates among pregnant
to get the rapid tests about two Dr. Vero Pimentel, a specialist residents, but state Rep. Jillian
weeks ago.’’ in maternal and fetal medicine at Gilchrest, D-West Hartford, said
Republicans have complained St. Francis Hospital, cited studies she is pushing to change that.)
repeatedly that they have been that show a higher risk of miscar- Pregnant people were not
shut out of the process as Lamont riage among pregnant patients included in clinical trials for the
has made unilateral decisions with the virus. COVID-19 vaccines, which has
during the ongoing pandemic. Gov. Ned Lamont announces the arrival of 426,000 home COVID-19 “In our hospital just this past fed skepticism about the vaccine,
“Here’s their chance,” Lamont tests on Dec. 31 at the state commodities warehouse in New Britain for week, we had a third trimes- Pimentel said. Other factors
said. “I think it’s a good time for distribution to cities and towns. CLOE POISSON/SPECIAL TO THE COURANT ter loss of somebody who was include misinformation, mistrust
them to weigh in. Input, here’s COVID-positive and a second of “the system,” the legacy of
your chance.” COVID-19 positive patients are mandate mask wearing in schools trimester loss of someone who racism in medicine and a fear that
But House Republican leader being introduced into nursing and require state employees to be was COVID-positive,” Pimentel the vaccine could harm the fetus.
Vincent Candelora of North Bran- homes, and the voices of nursing vaccinated. The orders include said. “The risk of miscarriage is The plea for pregnant patients
ford said that the legislature tradi- home residents and their loved requiring nursing home employ- real, the risk of [fetal] demise is to get vaccinated has taken on a
tionally holds committee hearings ones are being ignored. ees to continue to get vaccinated real and the risk of preterm deliv- new urgency with the increase in
and votes before making any final “Connecticut would bene- and to continue wearing masks, ery is real as well.” cases driven by the omicron vari-
decisions in a process that is often fit from legislative input and along with requiring public school A COVID-19 infection during ant. “Over the last two weeks, half
not done quickly. The next legis- co-equal branches of government. students to wear masks. pregnancy brings an increased of the patients who came to the
lative session starts on Feb. 9 — It is the legislature’s responsibil- State Sen. Cathy Osten, a chance of other serious complica- hospital have been COVID-posi-
just days before Lamont’s powers ity to fight for the people’s right Sprague Democrat, agrees with tions, including preeclampsia and tive,” Morosky said.
expire. to be part of this process. It’s the Republicans that Lamont’s powers maternal death. It also increases “And even though the majority
“Generally, we are running out people’s government, and their should not be extended. the likelihood the newborn will of them are fine, it is an additional
of time in order to have options voices must be heard.” “The governor said that he be admitted to the neonatal stress on top of their pregnancy,”
to put on the table,” Candelora Lamont declared both public wasn’t going to ask for an exten- intensive care unit. he said.
said. “I suspect that his deci- health and civil preparedness sion last time, and I’m expecting Yet vaccination rates among At St. Francis, the labor and
sions are being more driven by emergencies in March 2020 as that that will be the case,” Osten pregnant Americans are lower delivery unit has seen “many
the polls that his campaign has the pandemic was spreading said in an interview. “I voted than among the overall popula- patients who have COVID,”
paid for versus what is the best quickly across the state. Since against the extension a number tion, according to figures from Pimentel said. Some of those who
course of action for the residents the original six-month declara- of times before, but I’m more than the Centers for Disease Control. have experienced symptoms have
of Connecticut.” tion, the emergencies have now willing to look at what he wants In mid-September, just 31% received monoclonal antibodies
Senate Republican leader Kevin been extended six times by the to see extended and see what that of pregnant people were fully to help them fight the infection,
Kelly of Stratford said legislators Democratic-controlled legis- language says.” vaccinated against the corona- she said.
should not grant the seventh lature. But Lamont now has far Osten said she voted against virus, prompting the CDC to The CDC advisory calls on
extension. fewer powers than he did at the the extensions “because I think issue an urgent health advisory health departments and clinicians
“There is no reason why the peak of the pandemic — when we should debate the statutory to encourage inoculation. The to educate their pregnant patients
legislature cannot act as an equal he issued more than 300 differ- changes and vote accordingly to agency said 22 pregnant people on the benefits and safety of the
branch of government to manage ent actions through his executive our districts.” died of COVID-19 complications vaccines, something Pimentel and
the pandemic response and repre- orders, which include many that Despite criticism of Lamont by in August alone. her colleagues at St. Francis have
sent the voices of our constitu- have long since expired. Republicans and conservatives, The CDC health advisory been doing.
ents,” Kelly said. “It is past time to But the legislature would be Senate President Pro Tem Martin strongly recommends COVID- The hospital assesses the
reinstate the oversight and trans- able to block any of Lamont’s M. Looney of New Haven said 19 vaccination either before or vaccination status of every preg-
parency our three-branch system executive orders if a majority of Lamont has not mishandled his during pregnancy because “the nant patient who comes in for an
of government was designed to the top six leaders in the House authority. benefits of vaccination for both ultrasound, Pimentel said. If the
protect.” and Senate were to vote to do “I think it will continue to be a pregnant persons and their fetus patient is not vaccinated, the staff
Kelly added that the state is still that. House Speaker Matt Ritter cooperative effort, as it has been,” or infant outweigh known or provide counseling to explain
having various problems under of Hartford says that if any of the Looney said. “I think the gover- potential risks.” the benefits. The hospital holds
Lamont’s orders. five other leaders want to block nor has done a fine job in using Since that advisory, the a vaccination clinic for pregnant
“Today, under executive an order, they should contact him his emergency powers to this percentage of pregnant Amer- patients twice a week.
powers, residents are still strug- and he would arrange a vote. The point. He has been judicious and icans who have received the “We’re in the trenches,” Pimen-
gling to get PCR tests and timely Democrats control four of the six restrained in them and has not vaccine has climbed to 41.5% of tel said. “My job is to educate one
results,” he said. “The capacity and votes, effectively allowing them to abused them.” the population, a figure Morosky pregnant person at a time ... and
the testing infrastructure do not uphold any of Lamont’s orders if says is still “unacceptably low.” if I change that one pregnant
meet the demand. they vote together. Christopher Keating can be And vaccination rates remain person, I can change her family,
“Teachers feel unsupported. The current executive orders reached at ckeating@courant. proportionally lower for preg- and if I change her family, I will
Staffing challenges persist. give Lamont the power to com. nant Black and Hispanic people, change her community.”
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Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Tuesday, January 18, 2022 3
FROM PAGE ONE
School where boy overdosed to stay closed Tuesday
Decontamination, Department of Health and Among actions the district The district noted these school reopening. building, the HPS Facilities
Human Services (HHS), has taken was a virtual meet- steps have been taken: On Jan. 15: and Custodial teams will
testing will take
with guidance from the ing for SMSA parents and On Jan. 13 and Jan. 14: „ A state certified lab install new air filters and
place, official says Connecticut Department of guardians Monday evening, „ Physical inspections were technician collected wipe resume their regular clean-
Public Health (DPH), is the In addition to an update completed to ensure there samples in the spaces where ing and disinfecting sched-
Staff report entity responsible for ensur- from Torres-Rodriguez was no visible presence of fentanyl was discovered and ule, which will include
ing the safe reopening after and city Health & Human fentanyl. in other areas where traces targeted cleaning to the
The Sport and Medi- the presence of fentanyl was Services Director Liany „ In all areas where fentanyl may have been dropped. decontaminated spaces.”
cal Science Academy in discovered in the building,” Arroyo, the district said the was discovered, a decon- „ The wipe samples were However, Torres-Rodri-
Hartford where a student Superintendent of Schools agenda was to include: tamination process was then delivered to a lab in New guez also noted in the email,
recently overdosed will Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez „ The transition plan and completed with a solution Jersey that is certified by the if fentanyl were detected,
remain closed Tuesday said in a letter to parents student support with Chief of OxiClean detergent and state to conduct the analysis. the school would not open
while authorities continue Monday. “We are working of Schools Evette Avila, water by a certified state On Jan. 17: Tuesday and “the decon-
to test the building for hand-in-hand with our part- Senior Executive Director contractor. “This is the same „ Analysis of samples was tamination process (wipe
fentanyl traces and continue ners at HHS and DPH.” of Special Education & Pupil decontamination solution being conducted and a sampling and wipe analy-
to decontaminate, according District spokesman John Services Jennifer Hoffman, all students and staff walked report was to be produced sis) will be repeated until no
to the district. Fergus said in an email late and acting Principal Alison through while departing the for review by Health and fentanyl is identified.”
The process of imple- Monday that test results Giuliano. building last Thursday. All Human Services with assis- “Please know that the
menting safety protocols received just before the start „ An overview of the walls and floors in the tance from the Department decontamination of the
had been expected to take of a family meeting showed substance/opioid aware- identified areas were wiped of Public Health. spaces where fentanyl was
several days, officials said in “one of the samples coming ness and prevention with down with the decontami- Torres-Rodriguez noted discovered is taken very seri-
an email. It started Thurs- back slightly over the limit.” local health experts includ- nation solution as well.” that if fentanyl were not ously, and are working hand-
day, on the day a 13-year-old He said the testing process ing Dr. Melisa Santos, chief „ All air filters in the spaces detected, HHS would have in-hand with HHS and DPH
overdosed on what police would be repeated Monday of pediatric psychology at where fentanyl was discov- produced a written order to ensure that the reopen-
said was fentanyl. The teen evening and the next testing Connecticut Children’s, and ered, as well as all of the Monday allowing her to ing of the school can occur
died Saturday, according to update would come Tuesday Dr. Craig Allen, vice presi- surrounding spaces, were reopen the school on Tues- as soon as it is deemed safe
police. afternoon, when families dent of addiction services at removed. New air filters day. “Prior to staff and to do so,” Torres-Rodriguez
“The City of Hartford’s would be updated. Hartford HealthCare. will be in place prior to the students re-entry into the wrote.
Love change, the efficacy of reli-
gious faith in surmounting
from Page 1 evil and the vital need for
true human integration, or,
video address, that Ameri- as he defined it, ‘genuine
cans must commit to the intergroup and interper-
unfinished work of King, sonal living,’ ” according to
delivering jobs and justice the King Institute at Stan-
and protecting “the sacred ford University.
right to vote, a right from Wright-Goodison
which all other rights flow.” recalled King’s remarks on
“It’s time for every elected “agape” love, a universal,
official in America to make unconditional love distin-
it clear where they stand,” guished from romance and
Biden said. “It’s time for friendship.
every American to stand up, “When we rise to love on
speak out, be heard. Where the agape level,” King said,
do you stand?” “we love men not because
In West Hartford, speak- we like them, not because
ers highlighted the duty of their attitudes and ways
all citizens to fight discrim- appeal to us, but we love
ination. them because God loves
“We get to choose where them. Here we rise to the
we stand,” said keynote position of loving the person
speaker Janée Woods who does the evil deed while
Weber, executive director hating the deed that the
of the Connecticut Women’s person does.”
Education and Legal Fund. Wright-Goodison spoke
“Let love mark that spot.” against cancel culture,
Focusing on the responsi- which she said cannot func-
bility to confront both indi- tion with agape love because
vidual biases and others’ Marley Brunette, 12, and her mother, Teley Quarshie, both of Enfield, work on art of their own at the New Britain Museum of forgiveness and hope for
racism, Woods Weber asked American Art in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. STAN GODLEWSKI PHOTOS/SPECIAL TO THE COURANT change are absent in efforts
whether people were willing to destroy people.
to call out their neighbors’ said the town is moving The celebration also
casual racism or interrupt a toward a more loving included band and choral
relative’s racist joke. People community, in part by cele- performances by local
need to interrogate them- brating Juneteenth, by host- students. Bristow Middle
selves for complicity in ing murals that celebrate School students sang “Lead
white supremacy, she said, King and other Black lead- with Love,” by Melanie
and “white people, espe- ers and by obtaining body DeMore:
cially, have a lot of introspec- cameras for local police “You’ve got to put one foot
tion to do in this regard.” “to add another layer of in front of the other/And lead
Quoting King, Woods accountability.” with love... Don’t give up
Weber said there is no King fought for voting hope/You’re not alone/Don’t
room for moderation in this rights, and U.S. Sen. Richard you give up/Keep movin’ on/
campaign. Blumenthal, D-Conn., spoke Lift up your eyes/Don’t you
“I have almost reached of the ongoing effort, saying despair/Look up ahead/The
the regrettable conclusion,” Republican suppression of path is there
King wrote in his Letter voting in 19 states must be “I know you’re scared/And
from a Birmingham Jail in overturned. I’m scared too/But here I am/
1963, “that the Negro’s great Attorney General William Right next to you.”’
stumbling block in the stride Tong said the strength to King was 39 when he was
toward freedom is not the love includes “loving people assassinated in 1968 while
White Citizen’s Counciler we depend on,” including helping sanitation work-
or the Ku Klux Klanner, but police officers, firefighters ers strike for better pay
the white moderate who is and health care workers, and workplace safety in
more devoted to ‘order’ than and also people who take Ernest Adams, of Hamden, views a work by American artist Thomas Hart Benton at the New Memphis, Tennessee.
to justice’ ” an opposing stand, includ- Britain Museum of American Art, which offered free admission and activities Monday.
West Hartford Mayor ing those who refuse to be Jesse Leavenworth can be
Shari Cantor also quoted vaccinated against COVID- Grace Wright-Goodison Nelson said teachers must King’s “Strength to Love” reached at jleavenworth@
King: “At the center of 19. also spoke. Describing her step out of their comfort sermons promoted his courant.com. An Associated
nonviolence stands the Local high school own struggles for accep- zones and work to inspire vision of love “as a potent Press report is included in
principle of love.” Cantor students Skylah Nelson and tance into advanced classes, confidence in all students. social and political force for this story.
King needs for racial equality on
Martin Luther King Day.
from Page 1 Yellen referred to King’s
famous speech in remarks
infrastructure, which is a she recorded for delivery
great thing — but we need at the Rev. Al Sharpton’s
you to use that same energy National Action Network
to ensure that all Americans breakfast in Washington,
have the same unencum- noting the financial meta-
bered right to vote,” Martin phor he used when describ-
Luther King III said. ing the founding fathers’
Senate Republicans promises of equality.
remain unified in opposition King said on the steps of
to the Democrats’ voting the Lincoln Memorial that
bills. Biden described their “America has defaulted on
stonewalling as part of “a this promissory note inso-
true attack on our democ- far as her citizens of color
racy, from the Jan. 6 insur- are concerned.” He called it
rection to the onslaught of “a bad check, a check which
Republican anti-voting laws has come back marked
in an number of states.” insufficient funds. But we
“It’s no longer just about refuse to believe the bank of
who gets to vote. It’s about justice is bankrupt!”
who gets to count the vote. “It is compelling rhet-
And whether your vote oric, but I also think Dr.
counts at all. It’s about King knew it was a more
two insidious things: voter than a metaphor. He knew
suppression and election that economic injustice
subversion,” Biden said. was bound up in the larger
Vice President Kamala injustice he fought against.
Harris spoke virtually to the People march down Auburn Avenue and past a mural of Rep. John Lewis during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day march Monday, in From Reconstruction, to Jim
Ebenezer service, saying Atlanta. BEN GRAY/AP Crow, to the present day, our
that “in Georgia and across economy has never worked
our nation, anti-voter laws Black Republican, coun- traitors to the country is not you can not remember Dr. ton and was awarded the fairly for Black Americans —
are being passed that could tered with a series of King only insulting and infuriat- King and dismember his Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, or, really, for any American
make it more difficult for as Day-themed videos he said ing, it’s dead wrong,” Scott legacy at the same time,” considered racial equality of color,” Yellen said.
many as 55 million Ameri- would emphasize posi- told The Associated Press. Warnock said. “If you will inseparable from alleviating She said the Biden admin-
cans to vote ... that is one out tive developments on civil Warnock, now running speak his name, you have poverty and stopping war. istration has sought to ensure
of six people in our country.” rights. Scott sidestepped for reelection as Georgia’s to stand up for voting rights, The U.S. economy “has that no economic institution
“We know that this assault criticism about GOP actions first Black senator, said in his you have to stand up on never worked fairly for Black fails to work for people of
on our freedom to vote will and accused Democrats of speech to the sparse crowd behalf of the ... oppressed Americans — or, really, for any color, building equity into
be felt by every American, in labeling his party members at Ebenezer that “every- and the disenfranchised.” American of color,” Treasury the American Rescue Plan
every community, in every as racists. body loves Dr. King, they King, who delivered his Secretary Janet Yellen said in and injecting $9 billion into
political party,” she said. “To compare or conflate just don’t always love what historic “I Have a Dream” a speech delivered Monday, community and minori-
Sen. Tim Scott of South people who oppose his posi- he represents.” speech while leading the one of many by national lead- ty-run financial institutions
Carolina, the Senate’s only tions as being racists and “Let the word go forth, 1963 March on Washing- ers acknowledging unmet poorly served by Wall Street.
4 Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Tuesday, January 18, 2022
Rabbi details escape from standoff
Leader said he threw purchased a weapon on the
a chair at gunman streets.
Federal investigators
in Texas synagogue
believe Akram purchased
the handgun used in the
By Jake Bleiberg hostage-taking in a private
and Eric Tucker sale, according to a person
Associated Press familiar with the matter
who spoke on condition
COLLEYVILLE, Texas — of anonymity because the
The rabbi of a Texas syna- investigation is ongoing.
gogue where a gunman took Akram arrived in the U.S. at
hostages during services John F. Kennedy Interna-
said Monday that he threw tional Airport in New York
a chair at his captor before about two weeks ago, a law
escaping with two others enforcement official said.
after an hourslong standoff, Akram arrived in the
crediting past security train- U.S. on a tourist visa from
ing for getting himself and Great Britain, according
his congregants out safely. to a U.S. official who spoke
Rabbi Charlie Cytron- on condition of anonym-
Walker told “CBS Morn- ity because the informa-
ings” that he let the gunman tion was not intended to be
inside the suburban Fort public. London’s Metropoli-
Worth synagogue Satur- tan Police said in a statement
day because he appeared that its counterterrorism
to need shelter. He said the police were liaising with
man was not threatening or U.S. authorities about the
suspicious at first. Later, he incident.
heard a gun click as he was Akram used his phone
praying. during the course of nego-
Another man held tiations to communicate
hostage, Jeffrey Cohen, with people other than law
described the ordeal on A vehicle is parked Sunday near the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas. The synagogue’s rabbi and three enforcement, according to
Facebook on Monday. others were taken hostage Saturday. One hostage was released and the others later escaped. BRANDON BELL/GETTY a law enforcement official
“First of all, we escaped. who was not authorized to
We weren’t released or away,” Cytron-Walker said. targeted” and said the Joint having ties to al-Qaida who could be heard. discuss an ongoing investi-
freed,” said Cohen, who “I told them to go. I threw Terrorism Task Force is was convicted of trying to Authorities have declined gation by name and spoke on
was one of four people in the a chair at the gunman, and investigating. The agency kill U.S. Army officers in to say who shot Akram, condition of anonymity.
synagogue for services that I headed for the door. And noted that Akram spoke Afghanistan. saying it was still under It wasn’t clear why Akram
many other Congregation all three of us were able to repeatedly during negotia- “The last hour or so of the investigation. chose the synagogue, though
Beth Israel members were get out without even a shot tions about a prisoner serv- standoff, he wasn’t getting The investigation the prison where Siddiqui
watching online. being fired.” ing an 86-year sentence in what he wanted. It didn’t stretched to England, is serving her sentence is in
Cohen said the men Authorities identified the the U.S. look good. It didn’t sound where late Sunday police Fort Worth.
worked to keep the gunman hostage-taker as 44-year-old The statement followed good. We were terrified,” in Manchester announced Akram, who was called
engaged. They talked to the British national Malik Faisal comments Saturday from Cytron-Walker told “CBS that two teenagers were Faisal by his family, was from
gunman, he lectured them. Akram, who was killed the special agent in charge of Mornings.” in custody in connection Blackburn, an industrial
At one point as the situation Saturday night after the last the FBI’s Dallas field office Video of the standoff’s with the standoff. Greater city in northwest England.
devolved, Cohen said the three hostages ran out of that the hostage-taker was end from Dallas TV station Manchester Police tweeted His family said he’d been
gunman told them to get on the synagogue in Colleyville focused on an issue “not WFAA showed people that counterterrorism offi- “suffering from mental
their knees. Cohen recalled around 9 p.m. The first specifically related to the running out a door of the cers had made the arrests health issues.”
rearing up in his chair and hostage was released shortly Jewish community.” synagogue, and then a man but did not say whether the “We would also like to
slowly moving his head after 5 p.m. Akram could be heard holding a gun opening the pair faced any charges. add that any attack on any
and mouthing “no.” As the The FBI on Sunday night ranting on a Facebook lives- same door just seconds later President Joe Biden human being, be it a Jew,
gunman moved to sit back issued a statement calling tream of the services and before he turned around and called the episode an act of Christian or Muslim, etc. is
down, Cohen said Cytron- the ordeal “a terrorism-re- demanding the release closed it. terror. Speaking to reporters wrong and should always
Walker yelled to run. lated matter, in which the of Aafia Siddiqui, a Paki- Moments later, several in Philadelphia on Sunday, be condemned,” his brother,
“The exit wasn’t too far Jewish community was stani scientist suspected of shots and then an explosion Biden said Akram allegedly Gulbar Akram, wrote.
Former president’s arrival
adds to tension in Ukraine
Poroshenko mired dymyr Zelenskyy, has been “With the situation on the
in a long-standing embroiled in a long-running border, when everybody is
feud with Poroshenko, who yelling, ‘There will be a war,’
feud with Zelenskyy
was president from 2014 to it’s very strange,” Yermo-
2019. lenko said of the spectacle of
By Andrew E. Kramer His appearance in the Ukraine’s two leading poli-
The New York Times capital where he once ticians squabbling despite
governed comes after a the existential threat to their
KYIV, Ukraine — week of mostly futile nego- country. “It just seems ridic-
Ukraine’s former president tiations between Russia and ulous.”
and a leading opposition the West seeking a solu- Polls have consistently
figure, Petro Poroshenko, tion to tense disagreements shown Zelenskyy and Poro-
returned Monday to Kyiv, over the security of Eastern shenko to be Ukraine’s most
where he faced possible Europe. popular politicians. Poros-
arrest, adding internal polit- In Kyiv, opinions differed henko has a base of support
ical turmoil to the mounting on whether the threat of in Ukrainian nationalist
threat of a Russian invasion. an arrest was just another politics, particularly in the
Poroshenko’s return maneuver in Ukraine’s typi- country’s west, which wants
brought into focus Ukraine’s cally byzantine politics at closer ties with Europe, and
wobbly politics, which were home or something more he has criticized Zelenskyy
mostly in the background in ominous related to the for giving ground in peace Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko greets supporters on Monday in Kyiv, Ukraine.
recent weeks as the United Russian threat. negotiations with Russia to Poroshenko returned to the country he led from 2014 to 2019 as he was scheduled to appear in
States and its allies in Analysts suggested that resolve the war in eastern court to face charges of high treason and supporting terrorism. MIKHAIL PALINCHAK/AP
Europe scrambled to fore- Zelenskyy might be seiz- Ukraine.
stall Russian military inter- ing on the distraction of the Poroshenko left Ukraine the Ukrainian news media In an interview before his way just stop Ukraine from
vention. Russian military buildup last month, saying he had that a court had issued a return to Ukraine, Poros- our future membership in
He arrived Monday morn- on the Ukrainian border meetings in Europe. Prose- sealed order for his arrest. henko said that his arrest NATO and in the EU.”
ing at Kyiv’s Zhuliani airport, to sideline an opponent cutors say he left to avoid a Poroshenko left the pres- might help Zelenskyy side- Poroshenko offered no
where a scene erupted at or that he hoped to tamp court hearing. idency in 2019, when he lost line a rival but that the polit- evidence of a Russian hand
passport control. Poros- down possible opposition Zelenskyy’s aides have an election to Zelenskyy, a ical instability would play in the political turmoil
henko said border guards protests if he is forced to said that the charges against former comedian who ran into the hands of President and described internal
for some time refused to make unpopular conces- Poroshenko are justified as an outsider to politics Vladimir Putin of Russia. Ukrainian feuds as the most
allow him to enter the coun- sions to Moscow to avoid an and that courts decided who would fight corruption “He wants to undermine likely cause of the legal pres-
try, although he was due to invasion. the timing of the arrest and and uproot the entrenched the stability in Ukraine,” sure he faced.
appear at a court hearing on “Maybe he thinks that other actions, including the interests of Ukraine’s politi- Poroshenko said of Putin. But he said Zelenskyy
charges of high treason and with forces on the border, freezing of Poroshenko’s cal class. Zelenskyy’s popu- “He analyzes two versions: might hope to win conces-
supporting terrorism later in Ukrainians won’t protest” assets earlier this month. larity has since slumped. One version is a mili- sions from Russia by arrest-
the day in Kyiv. an arrest of the opposi- The former president Opinion polls today show tary aggression through ing a politician aligned
He later passed the border tion leader, said Volodymyr was accused of missing a only a slight advantage in the Ukrainian-Russian with the nationalist wing of
control but said authorities Yermolenko, editor-in-chief court hearing last month a potential future election or Ukrainian-Belarusian Ukrainian politics.
had confiscated his pass- of Ukraine World, a journal while traveling abroad. He against Poroshenko, now a border. The second is just “I am absolutely confident
port. covering politics. If so, he returned to Ukraine on member of Parliament in the to undermine the stability this is a very important gift
Ukraine’s president, Volo- said, it is a risky move. Monday despite reports in European Solidarity party. inside Ukraine, and in this to Putin,” Poroshenko said.
Funeral held for 12 killed in Philadelphia fire
Associated Press were invited and asked to cle Baptist Church. “We’re the city center near the Phil-
wear white. in a space of grief and pain adelphia Museum of Art.
PHILADELPHIA — Those in attendance at the we wish on no one else.” Three sisters — Rosalee
Funeral services were held three-hour service listened One speaker, an aunt of McDonald, Virginia Thomas
Monday for nine children to Bible readings, official the children, tearfully said and Quinsha White — and
and three adults who died in proclamations and music. she believed there was “a nine of their children died
a Philadelphia fire five days Relatives spoke about their family reunion in heaven.” in the blaze, according to
into the new year, the dead- loss and their memories of “I believe they’re with family members.
liest blaze in the city in more their loved ones from two their dad. I believe they’re The city last week iden-
than a century. microphones behind tables with my mother. I believe tified the other victims as
A funeral procession on bearing caskets amid white they’re with my father, their Quintien Tate-McDonald,
the rain-soaked streets of flowers and large pictures of uncles and aunts,” she said. Destiny McDonald, Dekwan
the city Monday morning the victims. “The hurt is deep, but it will Robinson, J’Kwon Robin-
was followed by services “None of us know what subside.” son, Taniesha Robinson,
Mourners embrace during services Monday for the 12 victims at Temple University’s to do with a funeral with 12 The victims of the Jan. Tiffany Robinson, Shaniece
of a deadly rowhouse fire on Jan. 5 in Philadelphia. The mass Liacouras Center, to which people,” said the Rev. Alyn 5 fire were all on the third Wayne, Natasha Wayne and
funeral was held at Temple University. MATT ROURKE/AP members of the community Waller of the Enon Taberna- floor of a duplex north of Janiyah Roberts.
Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Tuesday, January 18, 2022 5
WORLD & NATION
NEWS BRIEFING
Fund to help preserve,
assist Black churches
gets $20M donation
From news services the next three years, includ-
ing some that are vacant or
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — set for demolition or are
A new effort to preserve struggling with inadequate
historic Black churches funding, aging members and
in the United States has dwindling membership.
received a $20 million
donation that will go to help Anne Frank: A cold case
congregations including one team that combed through
that was slammed during evidence for five years in a
the tornado that killed more bid to unravel one of World
than 20 people last month in War II’s enduring myster-
Mayfield, Kentucky. ies has reached what it calls
Lilly Endowment Inc., the “most likely scenario” of
which supports religious, who betrayed Jewish teen-
educational and charita- age diarist Anne Frank and
ble causes, contributed her family.
the money to the African Their answer, outlined
American Cultural Heritage in a new book called “The
Action Fund as seed fund- Betrayal of Anne Frank A
ing for the Preserving Black Cold Case Investigation,”
Churches Project, accord- by Canadian academic and
ing to the National Trust author Rosemary Sulli-
for Historic Preservation, van, is that it could have Divine protection: Priest Cesar Magana blesses pets and their owners on Monday during the feast of St. Anthony in Pamplona,
which launched the fund. been a prominent Jewish Spain. St. Anthony is Spain’s patron saint of animals. Each year on Jan. 17 pets are brought into churches across the country in
The announcement about notary called Arnold van search of blessing. ALVARO BARRIENTOS/AP
the donation was timed to den Bergh, who disclosed
coincide with the Martin the secret annex hiding
Luther King Jr. national place of the Frank family to Older people failing to get stani. Six people were also NKorea weapons launch: a train on Friday in an appar-
holiday on Monday. German occupiers to save vaccinated will face penal- wounded at an industrial North Korea fired two ent reprisal for new sanc-
The project will provide his family from deportation ties, starting with a $57 fine area where Abu Dhabi’s suspected ballistic missiles tions imposed by the Biden
assistance with things and murder in Nazi concen- in January and followed by state-owned energy into the sea Monday in its administration last week for
including asset manage- tration camps. a monthly fine of $114 after company runs a pipeline fourth weapons launch this its continuing test launches.
ment and helping historic The Franks and four that. network and an oil tanker month, South Korea’s mili-
churches tell their own other Jews hid in the annex, About 69% of Greece’s storage facility. tary said. Milley tests positive: Joint
stories, said Brent Leggs, reached by a secret stair- 10.7 million people are Senior Emirati diplomat South Korea’s Joint Chiefs Chiefs of Staff Chairman
executive director of the case hidden behind a book- fully vaccinated, just under Anwar Gargash blamed of Staff said North Korea Gen. Mark Milley has tested
fund. case, from July 1942 until the EU average of 70.3%. the Houthis for the attack, likely fired two short-range positive for COVID-19 and
St. James AME Church, they were discovered in COVID-19 deaths and daily saying on Twitter that ballistic missiles from an is experiencing very minor
founded in 1868 just three August 1944 and deported hospitalizations in Greece Emirati authorities were area in Sunan, the site of symptoms, a spokesperson
years after the Civil War and to concentration camps. have increased following handling the rebel group’s Pyongyang’s international said Monday.
crumpled by the Mayfield Only Anne’s father, Otto the arrival of the highly “vicious attack on some airport. The Marine Corps said its
twister, will receive Frank, survived the war. contagious omicron variant, civilian facilities” in the The missiles were commandant, Gen. David
$100,000 as the first recip- Anne and her sister died in although the overwhelm- United Arab Emirates’ capi- launched four minutes apart Berger, also has COVID-19.
ient of the project’s special the Bergen-Belsen concen- ing majority of people in the tal with “transparency and and flew about 236 miles Milley, who has received
emergency funding, Leggs tration camp. Anne was 15. hospital or dying of the virus responsibility.” with a maximum altitude the vaccine and a booster
said. The diary Anne wrote have the delta variant. Three transport tankers of 26 miles before landing shot, tested positive on
“Historically Black while in hiding was Health Minister Thanos caught fire at the oil facil- in waters off the country’s Sunday, Joint Chiefs spokes-
churches deserve the same published after the war Plevris said the fines will ity, while another fire was northeastern coast, it said. person Col. Dave Butler said
admiration and stewardship and became a symbol of help fund state hospitals. sparked at an extension of The U.S. Indo-Pacific in a statement. Milley was
as the National Cathedral in hope and resilience that has Abu Dhabi International Command said the missiles isolating himself and work-
Washington or New York’s been translated into dozens Persian Gulf tensions: A Airport. did not pose an immediate ing remotely from a location
Trinity Church,” Leggs said. of languages and read by drone attack claimed by Police said preliminary threat to U.S. personnel or where he can perform all his
Trinity, where Alexander millions. Yemen’s Houthi rebels findings indicate there were territory, or to its allies, but duties, Butler said.
Hamilton and other historic targeting a key oil facility small flying objects, possibly highlighted the destabiliz- The Marine Corps said in
figures are buried, was near Greece shot mandate: in Abu Dhabi killed three belonging to drones, that fell ing impact of North Korea’s a statement that Berger also
Ground Zero and became Greece imposed a vaccina- people on Monday and in the two areas and may “illicit” weapons program. tested positive, giving no
a national touchstone after tion mandate Monday for sparked a fire at Abu Dhabi’s have caused the explosion North Korea conducted other details except to say
the Sept. 11 attacks. people 60 and older as a international airport. and fire. They said there was flight tests of a purported his ability to work is unaf-
In all, the project plans to spike in infections has put Emirati police identi- no significant damage from hypersonic missile on Jan. fected. Other Joint Chiefs of
assist more than 50 Black sustained pressure on Greek fied the dead as two Indian the incidents, without offer- 5 and Jan. 11 and also test- Staff members tested nega-
churches nationwide over hospitals. nationals and one Paki- ing further details. fired ballistic missiles from tive, Butler said.
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6 Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Tuesday, January 18, 2022
WORLD & NATION
ANALYSIS
Cracks fill Biden’s 1st year in office
Partisan divisions, innate civility and predict-
virus rage on ahead ability brought the sort of
climate change that the
of midterm elections
world could get behind.
Here once more was a
By Zeke Miller president who believed
and Calvin Woodward in alliances and vowed to
Associated Press repair a U.S. reputation
frayed by the provocateur
WASHINGTON — From in office before him.
the inaugural platform, There would be no more
President Joe Biden saw puzzling feelers about
American sickness on two buying Greenland. No more
fronts — a disease of the doting looks at Russian
national spirit and the one President Vladimir Putin
from the rampaging coro- — instead, Biden stepped
navirus — and he saw hope, up diplomatic confronta-
because leaders always must tion over Putin’s designs
see that. on Ukraine. There would
“End this uncivil war,” be no eerie uplit gatherings
he implored Americans last around glowing orbs with
Jan. 20. Of the pathogen, he rulers of dissent-crushing
said: “We can overcome this Arab countries like Trump’s
deadly virus.” photo op with the Saudis.
Neither malady has But the world also
abated. witnessed Biden’s debacle
For Biden, it’s been a in Afghanistan, a chaotic
year of lofty ambitions withdrawal that brought
grounded by the unrelent- more than 124,000 to safety
ing pandemic, a tough hand but stranded thousands of
in Congress, a harrowing desperate Afghans who had
end to a foreign war and been loyal to the U.S. and
rising fears for the future hundreds of U.S. citizens
of democracy itself. Biden Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol. ANDREW HARNIK/AP 2021 and green-card holders.
did score a public-works Discounting warnings
achievement for the ages. social safety net wallowed in “You’re not going to have age that had eluded his rights historian at Dart- from military and diplo-
But America’s cracks go Congress. And people under to think about them every two predecessors, coming mouth, expected more matic advisers, Biden
deeper than pavement. 40 have never seen inflation single day,” Obama said. “It away with a legacy-shap- from Biden by virtue of his misjudged the Taliban’s
In this midterm election like this. just won’t be so exhausting. ing fix for the rickety pillars decades of experience as a tenacity and the staying
year, Biden confronts seeth- After his lacerating speech You’ll be able to go about of industry and society. savvy operator in the capital. power of Afghan security
ing divisions and a Repub- in Atlanta invoking the dark- your lives.” Biden steered more judges He had anticipated a far forces that had seen crucial
lican Party that propagates est days of segregation, he Indeed, America saw through Congress to the more effective COVID-19 U.S. military support vanish.
the delusion that the 2020 saw his voting rights legisla- normalcy return to the federal bench than any response and more urgency, He then blamed Afghans for
election — validated as fair tion run aground when Sen. White House. Pets came recent predecessor. He sooner, in countering the all that went wrong. Millions
many times over — was Krysten Sinema, D-Ariz., back and so did daily press won approval of a Cabinet rollback of voting rights and of Afghans face the threat of
stolen from Donald Trump. announced her opposition briefings for the public. that was half women and tilting of election rules that famine in the first winter
That mass lie of a rigged vote to changing Senate rules to The Trump-era politi- a minority of white people Republicans are attempting. following the Taliban take-
has become a pretext in state allow the bill to pass by a cal muzzle came off public- for the first time. More than “There’s something to be over.
after state for changing elec- simple majority. health authorities, freeing 6 million people are back said for the professionalism All presidents enter the
tion rules and fueling even Altering the rules would them to confuse the public at work and a half-billion of the White House and not world’s most powerful office
further disunity. only “worsen the underlying all on their own. COVID-19 vaccines have going from one fire to the buoyed by their victory only
In the dispiriting close of disease of division infecting First lady Jill Biden’s stud- been put in arms, but the next,” Delmont said. “What to confront its limitations
Biden’s first year, roadblocks our country,” she said. ded “Love” jacket at a global nation has a long way to I worry is that the Wash- in time. For Biden, that
stood in the way of all big For all of that, former summit not-so-subtly coun- go to return to its pre-pan- ington he understands isn’t happened sooner than for
things pending. President Barack Obama tered the “I Really Don’t demic state. the Washington we have most. A polarized public,
The U.S. Supreme Court was on to something when Care, Do U?” jacket Mela- “I think it’s a lot of anymore.” Trump’s impeachment
blocked his vaccinate- he paid his old vice presi- nia Trump wore in a visit to achievements, a lot of Political science profes- trial and an evenly divided
or-test mandate for most dent an odd compliment late a migrant child detention accomplishment, in the face sor Cal Jillson at South- Senate saw to that.
large employers. Monthly in the 2020 campaign. Elect center. of some very serious obsta- ern Methodist University Meantime, day after
payments to families that Joe Biden, he said, and after The discipline, drive cles,” Biden’s chief of staff, in Dallas said Biden has day, it was the virus that
had slashed child poverty four years of flamboyant and baseline competence Ron Klain, said on the cusp displayed “warning track commanded Biden’s atten-
ran out last Friday, with Trump dramas, folks could from the new White House of Biden’s second year. “The power” — the ability in base- tion.
no assurance they will be feel safe ignoring their pres- produced notable results. Biden presidency remains a ball to hit long but not, as yet, “That challenge casts a
renewed. Biden’s historic ident and vice president for Biden won a biparti- work in progress.” over the fence. shadow over everything we
initiative to shore up the a spell. san infrastructure pack- Matthew Delmont, a civil In large measure, Biden’s do,” Klain said.
Man who killed 77 in Norway
seeking parole after 10 years
By Mark Lewis
Associated Press
STAVANGER, Norway
— Norwegian mass killer
Anders Behring Breivik
goes to court, Tuesday, after
10 years behind bars, claim-
ing he is no longer a danger
to society and attempting to
get an early release from his
21-year sentence.
The far-right terrorist has
shown no remorse since
slaying 77 people in a bomb
and gun massacre in 2011,
Liz Barre and Sarah Stapleton, students at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University, enjoy the and families of victims and
snow Monday in Oakland, Pennsylvania. ALEXANDRA WIMLEY/PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE survivors fear he will grand-
stand his extreme views
Winter storm pummeling during the hearing, which
experts say is unlikely to People hold flowers with placards as thousands rally in 2011
deliver him an early release. in Oslo, Norway, in memory of the 77 victims of mass killer
Northeast with snow, rain Randi Rosenqvist, the Anders Behring Breivik. JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/GETTY-AFP
psychiatrist who has
followed up Breivik since government headquarters neo-Nazi Per Oberg to speak
his 2012 jailing, says “I can in Oslo, killing eight people in his defense. He would not
By Julie Walker instituted a travel ban. on Long Island. say that I do not detect great and wounding dozens. He otherwise outline the basis
and Karen Matthews “WOW! (Latest) snow Sleet and rain were the changes in Breivik’s func- then drove to the island of of Breivik’s case, but made
Associated Press measurement at 1 AM was main threats for much of tioning,” since his criminal Utoya, where he opened it clear that nobody should
4.6 inches in the last hour Massachusetts, Connecti- trial when he bragged about fire on the annual summer expect contrition.
NEW YORK — A danger- at the Buffalo Airport!” the cut and Rhode Island. Peri- the scale of his slaughter, or camp of the left-wing Labor “According to the law
ous winter storm brought National Weather Service ods of snowfall transitioned his 2016 human rights case, Party’s youth wing. Sixty- there is no obligation that
significant snowfall, strong in Buffalo tweeted over- to rain overnight. NWS when he raised his hand in nine people there were you have to be remorseful,”
thunderstorms and blustery night. “And tack on another meteorologists in Boston a Nazi salute. killed, most of them teenag- said Storrvik. “So it is not
winds to the Northeastern 4 inches in the last hour said wind gusts could reach “In principle and prac- ers, before Breivik surren- a legal main point. Abso-
U.S. on a holiday Monday. ending at 2 AM! Total so 70 mph. tice someone seeking dered to police. lutely the legal problem is
The storm system far since late Sun evening — The howling winds parole would have to show In 2012 Breivik was whether he is dangerous.”
dropped a foot or more 10.2 inches.” spread a fire that destroyed remorse, and to show that handed the maximum Lisbeth Kristine Royne-
of snow in parts of New Weather service meteo- a motel and two other they understand why such 21-year sentence with a land, who heads a family
York state, Ohio and Penn- rologist Alexa Maines said structures in coastal Salis- acts cannot be repeated,” clause — rarely used in the and survivors support
sylvania on Sunday night 15 inches or more of snow bury, Massachusetts, early she said. Norwegian justice system group, fears giving Breivik a
through Monday morning were reported in Cleve- Monday. She will give evidence at — that he can be held indef- platform could inspire like-
after pummeling parts of land and 25 inches in parts The storm brought simi- his hearing and submit the initely if he is still consid- minded ideologues.
the Southeast on Sunday. of Ashtabula County in the lar conditions Sunday to psychiatric report, which is ered a danger to society. “I think he is doing this
“We’ve had a very strong northeast corner of Ohio. the Southeast, where thou- typically crucial if criminals The clause allows him to as a way of getting attention.
area of low pressure that’s Power outages affected sands were still without are to demonstrate they are demand a parole hearing The only thing I am afraid of
kind of moved up the coast, tens of thousands of power Monday. no longer dangerous. after 10 years. is if he has the opportunity
with pretty heavy snow- customers in the North- Multiple states reported “That is unlikely to And while this likely to talk freely and convey his
fall accumulations from east, and hundreds of heavy snowfall, and two happen,” said Berit means a lifelong sentence, extreme views to people
Tennessee, North Caro- flights were canceled. Many people died Sunday in Johnsen, research profes- it also opens the possibil- who have the same mind-
lina all the way into the COVID-19 vaccination and North Carolina when their sor at University College ity that Breivik can demand set,” she said.
Northeast,” said meteorol- testing sites had to close car drove off the road. The of Norwegian Correctional annual parole hearings She pointed to the case of
ogist Marc Chenard at the down. roof of a dormitory partially Service. “I think it is quite where he can broadcast his Norwegian shooter Philip
weather service’s headquar- New York City got less collapsed in the state at obvious that there still views, says Johnsen. Manshaus who, inspired
ters in College Park, Mary- than an inch of snow, which Brevard College, with offi- is a high risk that he will “According to Norwegian by the 2019 New Zealand
land. was washed away by rain cials saying it broke under commit new crimes if he is law he has a right now to go terror attacks, murdered his
Forecasters in Buffalo, overnight. The weather the weight of snow. There released.” before a judge,” said Oystein stepsister and attempted to
New York, said almost 18 service said spotty showers were no injuries. The hearing is due to last Storrvik, Breivik’s defense storm a mosque.
inches of snow fell by 1 p.m. and snow showers might Severe thunderstorms in three days, but the verdict lawyer. “He emphasizes The court that convicted
Monday. continue through Monday Florida spun up a tornado will not be announced for that right. And his motiva- him in 2012 found him
The city advised people night. with 118 mph winds, several weeks. tion for doing so is difficult criminally sane, rejecting
not to travel if they didn’t Forecasters said wind destroying 30 mobile homes It was July 22, 2011, when, for me to have an opinion the prosecution’s view that
need to on this Martin gusts in New York City and damaging 51 more. after months of meticulous on.” he was psychotic.
Luther King Jr. Day, while could top out around 45 Three minor injuries were preparations, Breivik set Storrvik confirmed that Breivik didn’t appeal his
some surrounding towns mph, and around 60 mph reported. off a car bomb outside the Breivik will call the Swedish sentence.
Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Tuesday, January 18, 2022 7
WORLD & NATION
Alaska hopes new electoral system is a winner
One aim is to have ture, said party primaries
the last four years have
candidates appeal
been used as a “weapon”
beyond their base to punish lawmakers who
have worked in a bipartisan
By Becky Bohrer fashion or who don’t vote
Associated Press in lockstep with their party
platform. The new elec-
JUNEAU, Alaska — As tion system would promote
partisan warfare has become working together, he said.
the norm in state legislatures “Now ... as opposed
and Congress, Alaska is set to worrying about my
to embark on an experiment primary and having some-
to see if voters themselves one outflank me on the right
can disarm the combatants. or the left, now I can think
A new election system, about good policy because
narrowly passed by voters I will be rewarded for that,”
in 2020 and set to be used in he said.
this year’s races, is aimed at Former Alaska state
getting candidates to appeal Senate President Cathy
to a broad range of voters Giessel plans to run for
beyond their traditional the Senate again this year
base. The system would end after losing a Republi-
party primaries and send can primary in 2020. She
the top four vote-getters, said she believes her work
regardless of party affilia- across party lines and that of
tion, to the general election, another Republican senator
where ranked-choice voting was a “major part, possibly
would determine a winner. the only part of the reason
The model is unique that we lost reelection.”
among states and viewed Giessel initially opposed
by supporters as a way the election reforms and was
to encourage civility Former Alaska lawmaker Jason Grenn explains ranked-choice voting Friday in Anchorage. A new election system, narrowly concerned about ranked-
and cooperation among passed by voters in 2020, is slated be used for the first time in the state’s races this year. MARK THIESSEN/AP choice voting, a system in
elected officials. A sponsor which voters rank candi-
of the initiative, Republi- A state court judge last year Kendall said he sees the ing wrong with Republican as six Republicans. dates by order of preference
can-turned-independent upheld the new system. potential for new legisla- or Democratic majorities “so In 2013, after Republicans and a consensus winner
former state lawmaker This year’s midterm ballot tive alliances and coalitions long as those elected officials reclaimed control of the is selected if no one wins
Jason Grenn, called Alaska a will feature races for U.S. under the system and for are willing to compromise.” chamber and with Republi- more than 50% of the first
test case “in a major way” for Senate, the state’s lone seat those to become more of the Alaska lawmakers have cans leading the House and choices. Giessel said her
similar efforts being consid- in the U.S. House of Repre- norm. A reliably Republi- a history of crossing party in the governor’s office, oil concerns have eased after
ered in other states, includ- sentatives and governor. And can or Democratic district lines to form majorities in taxes were rolled back. Since she has learned more about
ing Nevada. under a new redistricting isn’t likely to flip, but the the state House or Senate, then, Senate majorities have the system, which also has
He said the new system plan that also is the subject kind of lawmaker elected to in contrast with most other been largely Republican. been used in Maine.
will reward candidates who of litigation, all but one of the represent that district could states. Between 1993 and As lawmakers struggled Giessel said she thinks
are willing to work with legislature’s 60 seats is up for become more collaborative, 2016, governing majorities with deficits following a the open primary “is going
others, no matter their party election. All will be subject he said. generally favored Repub- tank in oil prices, long-time to more accurately result
affiliation, and that voters to the election reforms if the “I think it’s actually going licans, sometimes heavily, Republican-led control of in a representative repub-
will be “empowered in a high court allows them. to punish people when they according to a Legislative the House gave way, starting lic form of government in
different way.” Scott Kendall, an attor- are obstructionists just for the Research Services report. in 2017, to a series of coalition Alaska.”
“We’re excited that Alaska ney who helped write the sake of obstruction,” he said. Rural Democrats in the state majorities predominantly Lance Pruitt, a Republi-
gets to lead the way on some- ballot initiative, said working Harlow Robinson, a have often joined majorities comprised of Democrats, can who narrowly lost his
thing that we feel is really across party lines seems to self-identified nonparti- to ensure their constituents’ even as Republicans were Anchorage House seat to a
monumental towards chang- be part of Alaska’s “political san, said he is not heav- needs are heard. elected to a majority of the Democrat in 2020, questions
ing the way voters act and DNA.” He cited as an exam- ily involved in politics but An exception to the seats. The number of Repub- whether the new process
candidates act in our politi- ple the late Republican Sen. volunteered in support Republican grip on power licans who have been part of will play out as supporters
cal system,” Grenn said. Ted Stevens, who once said of the campaign for the came between 2007 and the coalitions, however, has believe it will.
For the changes to kick his motto during his decades election initiative. The 2012, a period that included fallen from as many as eight “The reality is, if this was a
in, they must survive a chal- in Congress had been “to hell Anchorage resident said a 10-10 split between Repub- in 2019 to just two in the solution and everything was
lenge before the Alaska with politics; just do what’s partisanship has made licans and Democrats in the current Legislature. going to be hunky-dory and
Supreme Court, which is right for Alaska.” One of the government in general state Senate, adoption of a Republicans who joined it’s all get along and in the
scheduled to hear argu- state’s current U.S. senators, “dysfunctional” and hopes new oil tax system under Democrats and indepen- middle, then redistricting
ments Tuesday. Republican Lisa Murkowski, the new system provides then-Gov. Sarah Palin and dents as part of a coalition in would not be an issue. There
Critics are challenging the also is known for being able more middle ground. a windfall in oil revenue. recent years have faced back- would not be lawsuits,” he
measure’s constitutionality to work with Democrats on Robinson said he likes the During that era, Democrats lash from within their party. said. “There’s still a recog-
and allege that it would dilute some issues and occasionally idea of coalition governance. held an edge in the majority Grenn, who served nition that you have people
the power of political parties. bucks her own party. But he also said there’s noth- coalitions alongside as many one term in the Legisla- that lean left, right.”
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8 Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Tuesday, January 18, 2022
Army prepared to pay big Ponzi
schemer
for highly skilled recruits
gets over
Top enlistment bonus of $50K offered to combat shortfall amid the pandemic
17 years
By Lolita C. Baldor public events, and the competition for qual- special forces, signals intelligence and fire
Associated Press ity workers has intensified as young people control specialists who coordinate battle-
weigh their options. field weapons operations — can often come Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army, for the Some, said Vereen, are taking what he with the maximum bonuses. But other key
first time, is offering a maximum enlistment calls a gap year, and “are making the deci- jobs include infantry, intelligence analyst, ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A man once dubbed
bonus of $50,000 to highly skilled recruits sion that they don’t necessarily need to combat medic specialist, military police and “King Perry” has been sentenced to more
who join for six years as the service strug- work right now.” combat engineer. And those may change than 17 years in prison for his role in master-
gles to lure soldiers into certain critical jobs The annual recruiting goal fluctuates as every month, based on available spots in the minding a long-running investment scam
during the continuing pandemic. currently serving soldiers decide whether training pipeline and other service needs. that collected more than $115 million from
Maj. Gen. Kevin Vereen, head of Army to reenlist or leave. In the last two years Until now, the Army has offered a maxi- 1,000 investors nationwide.
Recruiting Command, said recently that many decided to stay in, lessening the pres- mum bonus of $40,000. Perry Santillo appeared in federal court
shuttered schools and the competitive job sure on recruiting to help keep the Army “We’re in a competitive market,” said Thursday in Rochester, New York, more
market over the past year have posed signif- at its full strength of 485,000. Last year’s Vereen. “How we incentivize is absolutely than two years after pleading guilty to mail
icant challenges for recruiters. So heading recruiting goal was 57,500, and Vereen said essential, and that is absolutely something fraud and conspiracy. A federal judge also
into the most difficult months of the year it will be about the same this year. that we know that is important to trying to ordered him to pay $103 million in restitu-
for recruiting, the Army is hoping that some To entice recruits, those who sign up get somebody to come and join the military.’ tion.
extra cash and a few other changes will for a six-year enlistment in one of several According to Vereen, the total amount According to court documents, Santillo
entice qualified young people to sign up. high-demand career fields can get bonuses of bonuses available hasn’t been set. But and his conspirators in the Ponzi scheme
“We are still living the implications of that total as much as $50,000. Given the the money has decreased every year since coaxed clients to cash in their retirement
2020 and the onset of COVID, when the high standards, it will be difficult for many a peak of more than $485 million in 2018, accounts and invest in sham companies
school systems basically shut down,” said to qualify for the top bonus. after the Army failed to meet its annual under their control, using the money from
Vereen. “We lost a full class of young men The final figure depends on when recruiting goal. In the fiscal year that newer investors to repay earlier investors.
and women that we didn’t have contact they agree to ship out for training, if they ended last Sept. 30, the Army spent more To ensure a fresh supply of victims,
with, face-to-face.” already have critical skills and if they than $233 million on bonuses, with about Santillo and his confederates bought the
Two years of the pandemic has made it choose airborne or ranger posts. Certain 16,500 recruits getting an average enlist- businesses — and client lists — of several
more difficult to recruit in schools and at careers — such as missile defense crew, ment bonus of more than $14,000. investment advisers and brokerages, pros-
ecutors said, acquiring firms in Tennessee,
Ohio, Minnesota, Nevada, California, Flor-
ida, South Carolina, Texas, Pennsylvania,
Maryland and Indiana.
Federal securities regulators have said
Santillo used some of the proceeds to fund
a lavish lifestyle of cars, casino junkets and
houses in multiple states. Lyrics to a song
written for Santillo boasted that “King
Perry” wears a “$10,000 suit everywhere he
rides.”
Some of Santillo’s victims lost hundreds of
thousands of dollars in retirement savings.
In a letter to the court, Santillo expressed
regret and said he is “haunted by the devas-
tation I have caused to so many.”
Several other figures in the scheme have
pleaded guilty, including another ringleader,
Christopher Parris, who faces sentencing
next month.
BUSINESS BRIEFING
Amazon in UK
revises Visa plan
LONDON — Amazon’s British website has
backed away from plans to stop accepting
Visa credit cards issued in the United King-
dom, saying Monday that the move has been
put on hold while talks between the two
sides continue.
The online retailer said the change would
Trucks line up to enter a shipping terminal Nov. 10 in Oakland, Calif. Currently, truckers who cross state lines must be 21. NOAH BERGER/AP 2021 not be implemented as planned on Wednes-
day. Amazon had announced the move in
November, blaming “the high fees Visa
Teen semi drivers get a pilot
charges for processing credit card transac-
tions.”
Amazon didn’t rule out future action but
told customers it would give them “advance
notice” of any changes related to the accep-
Apprenticeship program damage when they hit lighter vehicles. turn in a report to Congress analyzing the tance of Visa credit cards.
The apprenticeship pilot program was safety record of the teen drivers and making Credit card fees have been a growing
would let teenage truckers
required by Congress as part of the infra- a recommendation on whether the younger source of tension between Amazon and Visa.
drive out of their home state structure bill signed into law Nov. 15. It drivers are as safe as those 21 or older.
requires the FMCSA, which is part of the The test is part of a broader set of
By Tom Krisher Transportation Department, to start the measures from the Biden administration to
Associated Press program within 60 days. deal with the trucker shortage and improve DirecTV to drop
The American Trucking Associations, working conditions for truck drivers.
DETROIT — The federal government a large industry trade group, supports the In a statement, Nick Geale, vice presi-
OAN channels
is moving forward with a plan to let teen- measure as a way to help with a shortage of dent of workforce safety for the trucking
agers drive big rigs from state to state in a drivers. The group estimates that the nation associations, noted 49 states and Washing-
test program. is running over 80,000 drivers short of the ton, D.C., already allow drivers under 21 to
Currently, truckers who cross state lines number it needs, as demand to move freight drive semis, but they can’t pick up a load BOSTON — DirecTV plans to drop One
must be at least 21 years old, but an appren- reaches historic highs. just across a state line. America News Network, significantly
ticeship program required by Congress to Under the apprenticeship, younger driv- “This program creates a rigorous safety shrinking the reach of the right-wing TV
help ease supply chain backlogs would let ers can cross state lines during 120-hour training program, requiring an additional channel friendly to Donald Trump and
18-to-20-year-old truckers drive outside and 280-hour probationary periods, 400 hours of advanced safety training, in widely criticized for spreading misinforma-
their home states. as long as an experienced driver is in which participants are evaluated against tion including the former president’s false
The pilot program, detailed last week the passenger seat. Trucks used in the specific performance benchmarks,” Geale claim that he won the 2020 election.
in a proposed regulation from the Federal program have to have an electronic brak- said. The satellite television provider said
Motor Carrier Safety Administration, ing crash mitigation system, a forward But Peter Kurdock, general counsel for Saturday that it has informed OAN’s owner,
would screen the teens, barring any with facing video camera, and their speeds must Advocates for Highway & Auto Safety, said Herring Networks, Inc., that it will no longer
driving-while-impaired violations or traffic be limited to 65 mph. federal data shows that younger drivers carry its two channels when their contract
tickets for causing a crash. After probation, they can drive on their have far higher crash rates than older ones. expires. The other, AWA, is a lifestyle chan-
But safety advocates say the program own, but companies have to monitor their “This is no surprise to any American who nel. The decision is believed to remove OAN
runs counter to data showing that younger performance until they are 21. No more drives a vehicle,” he said. from millions of homes.
drivers get in more crashes than older ones. than 3,000 apprentices can take part in the Putting them behind the wheel of trucks The spokesman would not say when the
They say it’s unwise to let teenage driv- training at any given time. that can weigh up to 40 tons when loaded contract expires, but Bloomberg News,
ers be responsible for rigs that can weigh The program will run for up to three increases the possibility of mass casualty which first reported development on Friday,
80,000 pounds and cause catastrophic years, and the motor carrier agency has to crashes, he said. said it expires in early April.
Fed’s waning support has Wall Street rattled Realearnings
Monthlypercentchangeinreal(adjusted
forinflation)averagehourlyearnings
By Stan Choe While the first possibility would be a The bond purchases and record-low forallemployees,seasonallyadjusted
Associated Press negative for Wall Street, it’s something short-term rates of nearly zero helped push 0.8
0.8
investors have been gearing up for. The up prices across markets in recent years.
NEW YORK — The shakiness hitting second possibility, though, was a surprise It also made investing notably easy, with 0.6
Wall Street isn’t just because the Federal when it was included in the minutes for relatively shallow scary patches marring
0.4
Reserve’s money printer that’s supporting the Fed’s latest policy meeting, which the big returns.
markets is slowing, but that it may soon go were published on Jan. 5. Fed Chair Jerome But now, instead of just a “taper” of 0.2 0.1 0.1
into reverse. Powell talked about the possibility again in purchases, with the Fed on track to close -0.1 -0.1 -0.5 -0.4
With inflation high and the economy testimony on Capitol Hill last week. out its bond buying in March, markets are 0.2
strengthening, the Fed has warned inves- It was only recently that investors got expecting an abrupt shift to “quantitative -0.1
-0.2
tors the ultra-easy conditions it has created used to the idea of the Fed merely slowing tightening.” -0.2
-0.3
for them in recent years are likely to disap- its monthly purchases of bonds. Since early At Deutsche Bank, economists say the -0.4 -0.4
pear. It appears on track to raise short-term in the pandemic, the central bank has been Fed could trim $300 billion to $400 billion
-0.6
interest rates earlier and more aggressively creating money to buy bonds in hopes of off its balance sheet in the second half of
-0.7
than previously expected, and it may also keeping long-term interest rates low and 2022. It could trim another $1 trillion in
DEC. DEC.
soon start letting go of some of the trillions juicing the economy. The practice is called 2023, which would have roughly the same 2020 2021
of dollars of bonds it’s bought since the “quantitative easing” by economists. More effect as two hikes in short-term interest
SOURCE:BureauofLaborStatistics TNS
pandemic began. colloquially, it’s called “printing money.” rates.
Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Tuesday, January 18, 2022 9
BUSINESS
Bank of America reducing
fees for overdrawn accounts
By Ken Sweet draft-fee revenues. changed this courtesy into
Associated Press “This is the final step in a routine source of revenue
the journey we’ve been on,” for banks. If a customer
NEW YORK — Bank of said Holly O’Neill, president lacked funds in their
America is slashing the of retail banking at BofA, account, a $5 coffee could
amount it charges custom- in an interview. “We have end up costing $35 because
ers when they spend more good financial solutions for of overdraft fees.
than they have in their clients without them having Overdraft fees became
accounts and plans to elim- to rely on overdraft, but we lucrative for the industry
inate entirely its fees for will still have overdraft if it but made banks a target
bounced checks. is needed.” for consumer advocates
It’s the latest move by the For years, it was common and regulators. After the
nation’s biggest banks to that one large bank would financial crisis, Democrats
roll back the overdraft fees increase the fee it was put the Consumer Finan-
they long charged custom- charging for overdraft, cial Protection Bureau and
Brian Dervishi, an Italian student, prepares a meal in the kitchen of housing he rents in the ers, fees that often amount which would cause other other regulators in charge
Livensa Living student dormitory in Malaga, Spain. LAURA LEON/THE NEW YORK TIMES 2021 to hundreds of dollars a year banks to respond in kind. It of reining in overdraft fee
for frequent overdraft users. remains to be seen whether revenue.
Foreign capital fueling rise The bank based in Char- the decision by BofA — a For years, BofA has cut
lotte, North Carolina, will leader in the retail bank- back on overdraft fee prac-
cut the overdraft fees it ing industry — to cut over- tices. It got rid of over-
charges customers to $10 draft fees will pressure draft fees tied to debit card
in student dorms in Spain
from $35 starting in May. It other banks to take similar purchases in 2010 and
will also stop charging fees measures. created a checking account
for non-sufficient funds The bank is also elimi- in 2014 that did not allow
By Raphael Minder His studio apartment, ularly eager to enjoy the — which are levied when nating two smaller fees as customers to overdraft. The
The New York Times which includes a kitchen- community lifestyle that it rejects a transaction — well. It will no longer allow SafeBalance account is now
ette and a bathroom, costs they missed while much of better known as bouncing customers to overdraft the bank’s most commonly
MALAGA, Spain — close to $800 a month, the world was on lockdown. a check. their accounts at the ATM opened account.
While learning how to paid for by his parents. The Real estate investors have While checks are no and will eliminate a $12 fee But BofA and the broader
develop video games, David Malaga residency is among followed suit. longer widely used, NSF it charged customers when industry were not ready to
Leon Serrano, 21, has been 13 such student housing In Malaga, the number of fees can come from auto- the bank automatically get rid of overdraft fees
enjoying a fairly novel expe- facilities run by Livensa student housing beds rose mated payments like util- moved money from one until recently. Many banks
rience for a Spaniard: living Living, which is partly almost 50% over the past ity bills. Bank of America, account to another to avoid froze the fees they charged
in student accommoda- owned by Brookfield Asset year, according to a study the nation’s second-largest an overdraft, often moving customers during the first
tions on the southern coast Management in Toronto. published in September by bank, says roughly 25% of money from a long-term year of the pandemic and
of Spain, a five-hour drive The rising mobility of JLL, a real estate services its overdraft/NSF fee reve- savings account into the industry still booked record
from his home in Madrid. Spain’s student population company. Underlining the nue each year came from customers’ primary check- profits.
Studying away from is fueling a surge in invest- rebound, new investments NSF fees. ing. So starting in 2021,
home is a familiar experi- ments in student dorms, in the sector reached $160 Altogether, Bank of Overdraft has its origins some larger banks started
ence in many parts of the largely funded by foreign million in the first half of America estimates the steps in banks providing a service announcing they were
world, but a relatively new capital. Investors are also 2021, up 140% from a year will cut its overdraft-fee for a fee to customers who dropping overdraft fees
phenomenon in south- tracking the growing appeal earlier. revenues by 97% from may have not balanced their entirely. Ally Bank, PNC,
ern Europe. In Spain, only of Spain among foreign Spanish lawmakers where they were in 2009, checkbook correctly and Santander and Capital One
about 17% of students get students wishing to study are also making it easier the year before it started wanted a bank to honor a were among the bigger ones
their higher education there. for developers to obtain taking incremental steps purchase. But the wide- to effectively eliminate
outside their home region, The sunshine and construction licenses for toward reining in over- spread use of debit cards overdraft fees.
according to the Spanish outdoor lifestyle of Spain dorms, not only to help
government. In the United have helped make it the top students but also to free up
States, residents account for choice for students taking housing for other residents
less than 20% of the student part in Erasmus+, the Euro- in their crowded cities.
population in most states. pean Union’s university Spain has about 1.6
“I think that young exchange program. Spain million students in its
people now are starting has also increasingly begun universities. There are
to understand that if we to attract Latin American about 100,000 beds in
at least move around our students, especially those student dorms, a short-
own country, it is good for whose mother tongue is fall of about 450,000 beds
our development,” Leon Spanish, and it is a popular needed, according to JLL.
Serrano said, “not only in choice for participants in Even as the pace of housing
terms of finding the best U.S. study-abroad programs. construction picks up, the
place to study what we Life on campus was gap is expected to grow over
want, but also in terms of mothballed for much of the next decade, because
gaining independence and 2020 by the pandemic, but the number of students in
becoming a more complete students have returned need of housing is likely to Bank of America is slashing what it charges customers when they spend more than they have
person.” in high numbers, partic- rise even faster. in their accounts and plans to eliminate fees for bounced checks. ELISE AMENDOLA/AP 2021
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10 Hartford Courant | Section 1 | Tuesday, January 18, 2022
OPINION
Helen Bennett
Executive Editor
[email protected]
COURANT.COM/OPINION
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Study the facts:
No way election
was stolen
Let the actual facts of how the
2020 election was conducted
decide the issue. Mere assertions
aren’t enough. Republicans need
to tell us how a “steal” could be
organized and coordinated, given
that there were tens of thousands
of polling places, many differ-
ent kinds of voting machines and
procedures and probably tens of
thousands of election workers
across the country. The practical
difficulties of coordinating a “steal”
in multiple voting districts and
states would be a more complex
operation than D-Day. How is it
that not a single person among the
alleged perpetrators later broke
ranks to reveal the mechanics
of the conspiracy, even though
millions in rewards was being
offered to those who could prove
voter fraud? So far, Republicans
have not convinced any court that
any of their assertions are true, and
their lawyers have been disciplined
for bringing frivolous suits. New citizens raise their hands and take the oath of allegiance at a special naturalization ceremony in Hartford in 2017. International in-migration drove
Until credible facts are produced an uncharacteristic gain in population for Connecticut in 2021. COURANT FILE PHOTO
to support their claims, it seems
fair to believe the many voting offi-
OP-ED
cials of every political persuasion
who continue to say that Joe Biden
fairly won the election. After all, How immigration contributes
“innocent until proven guilty” is
the American ethic.
Daniel P. Brown, Jr., West
Granby
to changes in Connecticut
Unfair mug shot policy
I recall about a year or so ago, The
Courant announced that it would
stop publishing mug shots of those By Daisy Karega from CT Data Collaborative home to increasing numbers of of a region suffering from
accused of crimes. Since then, this and Urban Institute is domes- newcomers. This time around, sustained domestic out-migra-
has not applied to anyone pres- As reported recently in The tic out-migration. Average net however, Connecticut’s immi- tion.”
ent at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. In Hartford Courant, Connecti- domestic out-migration has grants are coming from across Between April 1, 2010 and
order for The Courant to salvage cut had an uncharacteristic nearly doubled from minus the globe. July 1, 2018, the four-state,
its reputation, it needs to lose the gain in population in 2021. The 10,047 in 2010-2014 to minus According to the American 35-county metropolitan region
left-leaning political bias and return state has been losing people to 21,831 in 2015-2019. Accord- Immigration Council, immi- encompassing New Jersey, New
to proper journalistic standards. other states or regions for many ing to CT Data, average inter- grants make up 14.5% of the York, Connecticut and Pennsyl-
Ron McKinley, Middletown years, including a decline over national in-migration has state’s population, and about vania lost 1.4 million people due
the past couple of years, losing helped with an increase of 29% 16% of Connecticut residents to net domestic out-migration.
Basketball and 0.11% of its population per year. post-recession compared to are native-born Americans with While this inflow from
Connecticut’s total population prerecession, but overall net at least one immigrant parent. international migration is still
advanced curriculum in 2018 fell below 2010 levels. migration continues to show The top countries of origin approximately one-half million
It remains unknown whether an increased loss starting from for immigrants are India (9% less than total domestic losses,
thoughts
population will drop again soon 2012. Connecticut’s population of immigrants to Connecti- without it the region would
The discussions on the Sacred or how long-lasting the current is becoming more racially and cut), Jamaica (7%), Dominican have had to deal with multiple
Heart Academy vs. Lyman Hall population bump is. ethnically diverse. Children and Republic (5%), Poland (5%) and repercussions and a struggle to
girls’ basketball game has me New populations create new young adults are more racially Ecuador (5%). Nearly half of all remain economically competi-
thinking (Sacred Heart beat Lyman patterns of need and demand. and ethnically diverse than immigrants in Connecticut are tive, the researchers said.
Hall 92-4). “Be thoughtful of The same applies to housing. To older adults, implying the state’s naturalized U.S. citizens. “Immigration has become
others” is what we try to teach our provide Connecticut residents population will continue to be Immigrant entrepreneurs the primary source of popula-
children, but at the same time we with equitable and affordable diverse well into the future. highly contribute to the state’s tion stability in our region —
try to teach them, “always do the housing for now and in the How has international migra- economy, with almost one in the demographic locomotive,”
best you can.” This predicament future, we must examine and tion into Connecticut contrib- four self-employed business said James Hughes, a university
came to mind when I read of some understand these demographic uted to changes in the state? owners in Connecticut being professor and dean emeritus of
school districts wanting to elimi- trends, so we may best address Connecticut has a sizable an immigrant, generating $1.85 Rutgers’ Edward J. Bloustein
nate advanced curriculum courses our new residents’ specific community of immigrants, with million in total annual revenue School of Planning and Public
in order to equalize the students at needs and demands. Does our one in seven Connecticut resi- (American Immigration Coun- Policy. “Without it, the region
a lower level. It doesn’t make sense state favor and promote interna- dents being an immigrant. Like cil). Immigrant households would have to bear fully the
to me. What is the real lesson here? tional in-migration in terms of other New England states and also strengthen the economy by economic consequences of what
In high school sports, couldn’t housing affordability and equi- New York City, Connecticut contributing about $3.3 million has become a virtual domes-
the school authority set rules as table access to services? These has a long history of welcom- in federal taxes and $1.8 million tic population hemorrhage — a
to when a game should come to are the questions we must ing immigrants or newcomers. in state and local taxes (Ameri- vast exodus of regional residents
closure? That would eliminate a answer to better understand Connecticut was a key desti- can Immigration Council). moving to the rest of the country.”
teenager having to make the deci- how to make favorable policies nation for hundreds of thou- International in-migration
sion to undermine their ability. for the immigrant population in sands of U.S. immigrants at the has helped to reduce the effects Daisy Karega, a recent Trinity
As for the advanced curriculum Connecticut and for the state’s turn of the 20th century. Start- of domestic out-migration from College graduate, researches
courses, I’ll leave the “dumbing of demographic and economic ing in the 1990s and continu- Connecticut. A new Rutgers and writes on policies impacting
America” to you voters. health. ing through today, the United Regional Report documented housing in Connecticut as part of
Mary Healey, Avon The primary driver of States is undergoing another the rise of international migra- Partnership for Strong Com-
Connecticut population wave of large-scale migration, tion as “a primary demographic munities’ Research Associates
declines as shown by studies and Connecticut is once again engine of growth as the result Program.
Tell Us
Your Story
OP-ED
Please send us your true
stories, written in your voice.
Are Connecticut consumers
Love Etc. Stories
from the heart —
your essays about
emotional life in the 21st
ready for electric vehicles?
century.
Why I… In which
you explain why
you feel so trongly
about something in By Adam Gallaher For starters, the average range trip you took: commuting to frequently and will take some
Connecticut. of the modern electric vehicle work, dropping off the kids at adapting to break old habits.
The electric vehicle indus- is 260 miles. A few examples their extracurricular activities, Each electric vehicle comes
First Person: In try is primed and ready. But are include the Ford Mustang Mach- grocery shopping, or to spend standard with a level 1 char-
which you explain consumers? E, Chevy Bolt, Tesla Model 3 the evening with some friends. ger. For most Americans, the
a deeply private On Dec. 2, U.S. Energy Secre- and the Hyundai Kona Electric. Whatever it might have been, I included charger — which
issue against the backdrop tary Jennifer Granholm visited According to the Department of bet the cumulative miles driven plugs into a normal 120-volt
of social and economic Connecticut to talk about Energy’s Alternative Fuel Data in one day did not exceed 260 outlet — will provide enough
forces. clean energy investments and Center, there is a list of 89 differ- miles. overnight charge to meet any
toured two companies work- ent light duty electric vehicles, According to the 2017 daily driving needs. Those who
Living Here: What ing on providing clean energy including the same models with National Household Travel have longer commutes or who
is it really like to infrastructure to Connecticut different battery configurations. Survey, the average American tend to drive more through-
live in Connecticut? residents. Currently, there are I encourage you to take a look for drives 49 miles a day accom- out the year can fully recharge
11,667 electric vehicles regis- yourself. You might be surprised plishing all the errands, jobs their electric vehicle overnight
We welcome all submis- tered in Connecticut, and new at what you find. The car sitting and trips mentioned above. using a level 2 charger. Level 2
sions and will publish the sales account for only about next to you at the traffic light this The average electric vehicle, if chargers use a 240-volt outlet
best. We especially look 2% of total vehicle sales. This weekend very well could be elec- driven only 49 miles a day, could just like common household
for younger writers and is a problem. Why? Because tric without you even knowing it. last an entire workweek before appliances (washer and dryer)
those whose voices aren’t Connecticut has committed to There are a few EV models needing another charge. When and provide more miles per
heard often enough. Essays an ambitious goal of deploying that can go 500 miles or more. we stop and consider the aver- hour of charging. You can start
should be 600-700 words, 125,000 to 150,000 electric vehi- So what? Some of the most age daily use of our vehicles, to imagine, each day before call-
written in the first person cles on the road by 2025. fuel-efficient non-hybrid gas it becomes clear how little we ing it a night, plugging in your
and emailed to In order to meet that goal, cars can go just as far, if not actually drive, and how practical electric vehicle so that it is fully
[email protected]. there needs to be rapid deploy- farther; the 2021 Honda Accord the modern electric vehicle is. charged and ready for you in the
ment of electric vehicles and has a range of 488 miles, for The traditional relationship morning. We do the same with
alleviation of one of the largest example. we have with our vehicles and our phones, laptops and other
barriers to adoption — range While this is certainly true, their range goes very much devices; why not with our cars
anxiety. electric vehicles are still worth like this: We fill the tank with as well?
Hear our There are multiple meth- considering. Moreover, the gas and then forget about it. When it comes to consider-
ods for reducing range anxiety. cost of operating a gas-pow- Generally, we do not think of ing an electric vehicle, it seems
top news.
What I am suggesting is that ered vehicle is far higher than getting gas until we notice the to me that range anxiety — as a
consumers need to consider the cost of operating an electric needle approaching E and the barrier to adoption — is a thing
Start now at charging their electric vehicles vehicle. Consider that the aver- fuel symbol is lighting up. The of the past.
like they do their phones: fully, age American driver does not fill-up-and-forget mentality
PlayOurNews.com overnight. That will break the use the vehicle’s entire range will become a thing of the past. Adam Gallaher is a graduate
traditional refueling mentality. in one day. Think about the last Charging will happen more student at UConn.