Malloy Announces $170 Million In Budget Cuts

Governor  Malloy is unveiling $170 million in spending reductions across state agencies, the first part of a plan to close Connecticut's current $365 million budget shortfall. The Democrat released the list Wednesday. It includes nearly $161 million worth of reductions to executive branch agencies that range from a $33,957 cut to the governor's office to a $32.2 million reduction at the Department of Social Services. Malloy has the statutory authority to rescind up to five percent of any budget line and three percent of any fund without legislative approval. The governor's budget director, Ben Barnes, said legislative leaders have also agreed to $3 million in reductions while the Judicial Branch has agreed to $5.75 million. A plan to address the remaining $195 million shortfall is expected next month.

Father Of Boy Who Drowned Says He Could Not Swim

The father of a 14-year-old boy who died after he was pulled from a Manchester High School pool says his son was healthy but did not know how to swim. Daniel Ofori-Mintah tells WFSB-TV that he is trying to encourage his wife and two surviving sons as he mourns the death of Malvrick Donkor. The family is originally from Ghana. Malvrick was found in the deep end of the pool during a swim class the day before Thanksgiving. The swimming teacher who was leading the class is on paid administrative leave. The drowning is under investigation by school officials and the police department. Ofori-Mintah says he will never forget seeing his son on a stretcher after he was taken from the pool.

DSS: Boxes Of Unprocessed Forms Reaches About 125

The Department of Social Services says it has discovered approximately 125 boxes of unprocessed welfare and food stamp forms in the agency's Hartford regional office. David Dearborn, a spokesman for the agency, could not say on Wednesday how many documents were in those boxes. Five DSS staff members, including three managers and two human resources workers, have been placed on administrative leave pending personnel investigations. A low-level supervisor initially alerted office management about the unprocessed forms, but the commissioner's office only learned about them through an unnamed third party. Secretary of the State Denise Merrill said it's disturbing that some of the documents included requests for voter registration assistance. She plans to meet with DSS and other agencies mandated to make voter registration information and materials available to the public.

Hearing Set On Early Parole For Juvenile Convicts

Connecticut officials will hear public comment on whether the state should offer parole earlier to juvenile offenders and make it easier for convicts to get jobs and housing. The state Sentencing Commission will hold a public hearing at noon Thursday at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. It intends to recommend the proposals to lawmakers. Officials say they have to change state law on parole for people imprisoned for serious crimes they committed when they were under 18, because of U.S. Supreme Court rulings that say juveniles shouldn't be punished as harshly as adults. Current state law makes juvenile offenders ineligible for parole in some cases. Another proposal calls for issuing special certificates to nonviolent convicts that prospective employers and landlords would have to consider when deciding on convicts' applications.

Connecticut. Expanding Childhood Vaccination Program

The Connecticut Department of Public Health is expanding its childhood vaccination program. The agency is adding three immunizations, including one for influenza, to the list of vaccines required for all children in the state. Under the new Connecticut Vaccine Program, the state will now cover 14 of the 16 vaccines currently recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Starting Jan. 1, a new state law will require all health care providers who administer vaccines to children under the age of 19 to obtain the vaccines through the Connecticut Vaccine Program. With a combination of state and federal funds, the state is able to purchase vaccine at the lowest price off a federal contract and provide them to clinics, private doctors and other health care providers at no cost.

Election Day Turnout Hit 74 Percent

Secretary of the State Denise Nappier says 74 percent of registered voters in Connecticut turned out to cast their ballots in the recent presidential election. While the figure is slightly lower than the state's 78 percent turnout for the 2008 presidential election, she said Wednesday that Connecticut still ranks seventh in the U.S. this year for voter turnout. The town of Bridgewater had the highest turnout in the state, with 94.75 percent of voters going to the polls. Merrill said she was pleased with the turnout considering the challenges after Superstorm Sandy hit the state, leaving many polling places without electricity in the days leading up to the election. Merrill also officially certified the election winners. A full statement of the vote, including the tallies, will be published in January.

UConn Scrambling Again, Left Out Of ACC Plans

University of Connecticut President Susan Herbst says the school will remain a successful athletic institution despite not being invited to join the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Huskies were thought to be a leading contender to join the ACC as a replacement for Maryland, which announced last week that it was leaving for the Big 10. But UConn was snubbed Wednesday in favor of Louisville, which becomes the fifth Big East football program in just over a year to announce it is leaving for another conference. Herbst called it a difficult day, but said UConn's teams will continue to be successful no matter what conference they end up in. "We are winners," she said. "We win, we like to win and we will continue to play the best possible opponents."

Court Rejects Mass. Ports' Suit Against Fish Law

A federal appeals court has rejected claims by New England's largest fishing ports that federal fishing law was improperly enacted and would lead to the destruction of local fleets. In its decision Wednesday, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a 2011 lower court decision in the suit brought by the ports of New Bedford and Gloucester, as well as fishermen and fishing groups. The plaintiffs argued the new rules installed in 2010 should have been subject to a two-thirds referendum by fishermen. They said without those safeguards, the rules foster a broad consolidation that will squeeze out smaller fishing businesses. But the court said federal regulators installed the law properly. And it noted some believe that, rather than destroying smaller business, the rules provide better protection.

Authorities Say Bags Of Sheep Remains Found

State authorities say 26 bags containing the carcasses of sheep have been found at a vacant house in Middletown. Chief State Animal Control Officer Ray Connors tells WVIT-TV the remains found Wednesday included entrails, heads and fleece, likely from a slaughtering. The remains had tags that will help determine where they came from. State Department of Agriculture spokesman George Krivda tells the Hartford Courant a state veterinarian is reviewing the evidence. The site where the sheep remains were found is on River Road along the Connecticut River.