New Haven Mayor Will Not Run Again

Longtime New Haven Mayor John DeStefano announced during a press conference Tuesday evening that he will not seek re-election. The announcement means that he ends his 20-year career with the city of New Haven. DeStefano, who is the 49th mayor of New Haven, has been re-elected to the same office nine times, making him the longest-serving mayor in the Elm City's history. In 2007, DeStefano made national news when the city began issuing ID cards to people who live in New Haven and it didn't matter their immigration status. In 2006, DeStefano, who is a Democrat, lost the race for governor to Republican Jodi Rell. During his tenure, DeStefano has added more than 3,000 apartment units to the downtown area, built 37 new schools and developed a bio-medical economic sector in New Haven.

Obama Signs $50.5B Superstorm Sandy Aid Bill

President Barack Obama has signed into law a $50.5 billion emergency measure for Superstorm Sandy victims. Congress gave the measure its final approval late Monday. Obama signed it Tuesday night, minutes after returning to the White House from a visit to Nevada. It took Congress three months after Sandy devastated areas along the East Coast to approve the emergency funding. Obama scolded lawmakers for delaying recovery efforts even as he commended them for providing the long-awaited aid. Conservatives concerned about billions in debt opposed the measure. Earlier this month, House Republicans removed unrelated spending from the bill.The Oct. 29 storm was one of the worst to strike the Northeast and is blamed for more than 130 deaths and tens of billions of dollars in property damage.

Lawmakers Travel To Newtown For Public Hearing

The General Assembly's bipartisan task force on gun violence and children's safety is traveling to Newtown to hear from residents about what should be done after the deadly shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The full 52-member group has scheduled an informational public hearing on Wednesday, from 6 p.m. to midnight, at Newtown High School. Wednesday's event follows similar hearings held at the Legislative Office Building by task force subcommittees reviewing possible law and policy changes affecting gun violence, school safety and mental health. A portion of the hearing will be reserved for testimony from local officials, local first responders and families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School system. The speaking order for the general public will be determined by a lottery system. Capacity for the event is 850 people.

After School Shooting, Connecticut Debates Mental Health

Connecticut lawmakers are reviewing mental health care following the Newtown school shooting, even though they and the public have little insight into what might have been ailing the 20-year-old gunman. A prosecutor says he cannot release any information about Adam Lanza's mental health because of state conduct rules for attorneys. His office is reviewing whether details of Lanza's mental state can be released to the public after the police report is completed, possibly in June. A legislative panel on Tuesday took testimony on potential changes to the state's mental health system. State Rep. DebraLee Hovey says she and others who represent Newtown are "nervous about different conversations occurring without all of the information." But she says it's never too soon to analyze the system.

NRA Says More Gun Control Not A Serious Proposal

A top National Rifle Association official says proposing more gun control laws without better enforcement of those already on the books is not a serious solution to crime. In testimony prepared for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, Wayne LaPierre says a ban on certain assault weapons has been tried before and failed. He says background checks will never be universal because criminals won't submit to them. Both are among measures that President Barack Obama is seeking. LaPierre is executive vice president of the NRA. His prepared testimony is milder in tone than some of his earlier comments in the wake of the shooting deaths of 20 elementary school students in Newtown, Conn., late last year, without any change in position.

Connecticut Honored For Tourism Campaign

Connecticut's tourism advertising campaign has been honored by an international marketing group. The two-year, nearly $27 million tourism campaign, "Still Revolutionary," was launched in May. It focuses on the state's economic development efforts as well as attractions for visitors. The Hospitality, Sales and Marketing Association International gave the campaign three Adrian Awards announced Tuesday night, including a gold for television creativity. The state Department of Economic and Community Development says its recent brand tracking statistics showed 53 percent of those who saw the new ad campaign were interested in visiting, claimed to have visited or planned to visit Connecticut as a result of seeing or hearing the ads. The ads have been heavily directed at the New York market.