Hartford political trailblazer Marie Kirkley-Bey dies
Kirkley-Bey served on the Hartford Court of Council and Hartford City Council.
She was born in New Britain and lived in Hartford for 57 years, where she helped found the Asylum Hill Organizing Project and organized fundraising efforts to provide Thanksgiving groceries to Hartford families and seniors for 24 years.
State officials kick off construction at new Hartford apartments
'Marie was a true champion for the people of our City and State,' said Speaker of the House Rep. Matt Ritter. 'She was a tireless advocate for Hartford schools, summer youth employment for children, and common-sense sentencing reforms. She also had a great sense of humor and passion for her UConn Huskies. We both had the privilege to serve with Marie, and we will miss her dearly.'
Kirkley-Bey is survived by her three children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
'It is with deep sadness that we mourn the loss of Marie Kirkley-Bey, a dedicated public servant and tireless advocate for our community,' said Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam. 'Her two decades of service in the Connecticut House of Representatives left an indelible mark on Hartford and beyond. Marie's commitment to justice, equity, and the well-being of our residents inspired many and strengthened our city. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and all who were touched by her leadership and compassion.'
She was 83.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
New Hartford superintendent addresses school board for the 1st time
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — A new leader is at the helm of the Hartford Public Schools. Dr. Andraé Townsel addressed the Hartford community for the first time as superintendent during a school board meeting Tuesday. 'Ladies and gentlemen, I've hit the ground running,' he said at the board meeting. It's been an eventful start so far for Dr. Townsel, who has spent the last three weeks exploring Hartford and learning about the community. 'I'm learning as much as I possibly can, because the reality is young people do not get their time back,' Dr. Townsel said. 'So, I have to learn as quickly as possible' Dr. Townsel said he will soon release a 100-day plan as he gets ready to take over a school district that has recently dealt with budget issues and low staffing. RELATED: Community describes qualities wanted for new Hartford superintendent 'You know what? We do have some vacancies, but we're working every single day to fill that,' Dr. Townsel said. 'We are going to be fine once school starts, we have our people locked and loaded.' Dr. Townsel said he plans to visit all 39 of Hartford's public schools during the first few weeks of the school year. Some community members say there will be a lot for him to investigate. 'We need a superintendent that is going to fight for our kids, not just give in to the powers that are out there,' Carol Gale, president of the Hartford Federation of Teachers said. Gale spoke about areas in need of attention to the school board during the Tuesday meeting, including special education, opportunity gaps and the district's relationship with labor unions. She said the root of many of the school district's problems is lack of staff retention. 'It has to do with raising the culture and climate in this district,' Gale said. 'It comes from treating people professionally, respecting people, valuing staff.' One displaced teacher is Mike Soucy, who said that a lack of money has forced him to teach at different schools within the district. He believes Dr. Townsel might be the perfect man for the job, but he must see action in his plan. 'I just want to know that he is committed to the city,' Soucy said. 'If he's committed to the city, then I'll be 100%. I'll be extremely hopeful and that little doubt that's in me can go away.' A native of Detroit, Michigan, Dr. Townsel was previously the school superintendent in Calvert County, Maryland, where he helped to improve the school district's ranking for fourth-best in the state. He was approved unanimously by the Hartford Board of Education after a nationwide search that began in the spring. RELATED: Hartford Public Schools announces new superintendent Dr. Townsel's first school year as superintendent will officially kick off on Tuesday, Aug. 26, when all Hartford students are back in session. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Donald Trump's Ridiculous White House Renovations Have The Internet Comparing Him To A Not-So-Loved Historical Figure
Hi, I'm Alexa, and I usually track the unemployment rate, cost of eggs/beef, gas prices, inflation, and more under the Trump administration. BUT, the numbers aren't enough anymore. Actions speak just as loud. Somehow, we've left A LOT in the hands of this guy. And that guy? Well, he's been giving major ✨Marie Antoinette Energy✨ lately. You know Marie, the French queen who became a symbol of the rich and powerful during the French Revolution. She lived in opulence while many were starving, and has been most popularly attributed (perhaps mistakenly) to the phrase, "Let them eat cake!" At the time, her subjects were starving and had no money for bread (let alone cake, which was even more expensive). Related: Consider how, for example, nearly 70% of Americans say they're experiencing financial stress amid continually rising prices. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is bragging about all the money supposedly made from tariffs — aka, money partially coming directly out of your pockets via those rising prices. (At least Marie didn't hear that her people were starving and then add an additional tax on bread.) For many online, the leaders' relationships with their disgruntled and financially struggling public isn't where the similarities end. Instead, the glaring overlap seems to be both Marie and Trump's extravagant spending. Universalimagesgroup / Getty Images, Win Mcnamee / Getty Images Look at the difference in the Oval Office. Here's what it looked like under Biden. And now under Trump. Trump's team has added a LOT of gold. Gold decor on the fireplace mantle... Related: ...and on the fireplace itself. Gold around the crown molding. Gold around the presidential seal on the ceiling. Gold details on the walls. Related: Gold on the doors. Twitter: @patriottakes Personalized, golden coasters. Tacky gold drapes. And whatever this gold thing is above the Oval Office door. Trump has also taken it upon himself to (in my opinion) needlessly renovate the White House. He took the famed Rose Garden from this... ...to this. And according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, more expansions are on the way... Related: Including a gold and white ballroom that's expected to cost around $200 million. And just like the French in the 1790s, Americans are less than impressed. "building a giant ballroom while half the country loses healthcare and is in poverty and can't find housing or rent... i feel like I'm reading about pre-revolution france," one X user wrote. "Listen man, if you wanna live in the palace of Versailles then that's fine, but you can't act surprised when the people eventually start sharpening the guillotine," another added hyperbolically. (This particular tweet was among the most widespread, with 3.3 million views.) Sigh. This administration promised to get rid of wasteful government spending. That was the whole point of DOGE. Yet we're plastering gold on White House walls and building out $200-million ballrooms while nearly 14 million children face hunger in the US as of 2023. Maybe the call is coming from inside the House. Want to know if Trump's economy is actually doing as well as he promised? Subscribe to the Economy Hate Watch newsletter and never miss our monthly update. Also in In the News: Also in In the News: Also in In the News: Solve the daily Crossword
Buzz Feed
5 days ago
- Buzz Feed
People Are NOT HAPPY With Trump's White House Renos
Hi, I'm Alexa, and I usually track the unemployment rate, cost of eggs/beef, gas prices, inflation, and more under the Trump administration. BUT, the numbers aren't enough anymore. Actions speak just as loud. Somehow, we've left A LOT in the hands of this guy. And that guy? Well, he's been giving major ✨Marie Antoinette Energy✨ lately. Consider how, for example, nearly 70% of Americans say they're experiencing financial stress amid continually rising prices. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is bragging about all the money supposedly made from tariffs — aka, money partially coming directly out of your pockets via those rising prices. (At least Marie didn't hear that her people were starving and then add an additional tax on bread.) For many online, the leaders' relationships with their disgruntled and financially struggling public isn't where the similarities end. Instead, the glaring overlap seems to be both Marie and Trump's extravagant spending. Look at the difference in the Oval Office. Here's what it looked like under Biden. And now under Trump. Trump's team has added a LOT of gold. Gold decor on the fireplace mantle... ...and on the fireplace itself. Gold around the crown molding. Gold around the presidential seal on the ceiling. Gold details on the walls. Personalized, golden coasters. Tacky gold drapes. And whatever this gold thing is above the Oval Office door. Trump has also taken it upon himself to (in my opinion) needlessly renovate the White House. He took the famed Rose Garden from this... ...to this. And according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, more expansions are on the way... Including a gold and white ballroom that's expected to cost around $200 million. And just like the French in the 1790s, Americans are less than impressed. "building a giant ballroom while half the country loses healthcare and is in poverty and can't find housing or rent... i feel like I'm reading about pre-revolution france," one X user wrote. "Listen man, if you wanna live in the palace of Versailles then that's fine, but you can't act surprised when the people eventually start sharpening the guillotine," another added hyperbolically. (This particular tweet was among the most widespread, with 3.3 million views.) Sigh. This administration promised to get rid of wasteful government spending. That was the whole point of DOGE. Yet we're plastering gold on White House walls and building out $200-million ballrooms while nearly 14 million children face hunger in the US as of 2023. Maybe the call is coming from inside the House. Want to know if Trump's economy is actually doing as well as he promised? Subscribe to the Economy Hate Watch newsletter and never miss our monthly update.
