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Naugatuck River Valley

Absent Absentee Ballots Send Voters In Search Of Answers

By • Jul 28, 2020
Courtesy: State of Connecticut

Secretary of the State Denise Merrill says that absentee ballots are mailed 21 days prior to a primary election. For this year’s Aug. 11 primary, that date was Tuesday, July 21. Now some voters have taken to social media to ask where their ballots are and when they can expect them to arrive.

How The End Of The $600 Unemployment Benefit Is Already Impacting Connecticut Workers

By • Jul 24, 2020
Christine and Steve Schwartz interview job candidates in a parking lot outside their business, Express Employment Professionals in Shelton. Christine Schwartz says with the extra $600 unemployment benefit running out, more people are looking for work.
Ali Oshinskie / Connecticut Public Radio

The weekly $600 in additional federal unemployment benefits -- a payment more than 20% of Connecticut’s workforce has been relying on -- disappeared as of July 25. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin last week announced a plan to replace it with a lower payment -- Republicans contend that the $600 per week discourages work.

Pro-Police Group Pledges More Rallies As Lawmakers Consider Accountability Action

By • Jul 22, 2020
David LaManna, co-founder of United American Patriots, spoke at the Naugatuck green Tuesday night about the need to support police. He said the Facebook group for the United American Patriots has gained 3,600 followers in two weeks.
Ali Oshinskie / Connecticut Public Radio

A group of fewer than 40 people gathered on the Naugatuck Town Green Tuesday night in a demonstration of support for police. The event was organized by Thomaston businessman David LaManna, who also arranged a rally in Torrington last Saturday that drew a larger crowd.

Business Owners In Naugatuck Valley Consider Loan Program As Customers Stay Home

By • Jul 22, 2020
Renee McFarlin prepares her client, Jacob, for his dredlock retwist. McFarlin completes a thorough cleaning before each new client enters her Ansonia salon, Lisa's Beauty & Barber, and wears a mask throughout the appointment.
Ali Oshinskie / Connecticut Public Radio

Gov. Ned Lamont recently announced $1.5 million in loans available to women- and minority-owned small businesses in the Lower Naugatuck River Valley. The money comes from a public-private partnership created to address the needs of those more vulnerable businesses as they try to stay afloat in the COVID economy.

Ahead Of COVID-Delayed Tax Day, Volunteers Help With Tax Prep

By Ali Oshinskie • Jul 14, 2020
Volunteer Bernie Grant stands in the parking lot of the Naugatuck Senior Center where he meets the people he will be filing taxes for through the free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.
Ali Oshinskie / Connecticut Public Radio

The Naugatuck Senior Center closed on March 13 because of the pandemic -- and with it, VITA, or the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Bernie Grant, who’s been the volunteer site coordinator in Naugatuck for 13 years, had hoped the senior center would open back up in short order.