Latest news with #StephenHarding
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A proposal on hunting black bears in CT moved forward. Here's what it says.
After years of unsuccessful attempts to allow black bear hunting in the state, a revised bill has cleared a key hurdle with state lawmakers, possibly making hunting the animals one step closer to reality. The amended bill, SB 1523, which the Senate passed and sent to the House on a 34-2 vote this month, allows the governor to direct the commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environment Protection to adopt regulations and set parameters to permit a bear hunt in the state. But according to the bill's language, a hunt may only be allowed only after the governor and DEEP's commissioner find through an assessment by DEEP that 'bear conflicts with people, pets, and livestock in Connecticut have reached a level that poses a public safety threat.' The bill, which has been added to the state House calendar for a possible vote, would make it lawful to use deadly force to kill a bear if the animal were injuring or killing controlled livestock. The new bill would add to a law passed in 2023 that authorizes certain circumstances to use lethal force against bears and for special hunting permits when a bear is found to be damaging crops. Under Connecticut law, you can kill a bear in self-defense if you reasonably believe it's about to cause serious harm to you or someone else, or if it's entering a building with people inside, according to officials with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. In addition, a bear may be killed if it is injuring or killing one's pet. But if a bear were shot and killed, it must be reported to DEEP, and law enforcement would investigate each case. But a provision added to the bill by state Sen. Rick Lopes, a New Britain Democrat who co-chairs the Environment Committee, and Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding, R-Brookfield, now reopens the possibility of a black bear hunting season. If passed, the bill would give the state DEEP the authority to conduct an assessment and prepare it for the governor. According to the provision, the assessment 'must consider factors like bear entries into occupied buildings and bear attacks on people, pets, and livestock.' According to online records, the House had not acted on the bill as of May 26. DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes told lawmakers in testimony the state agency supports a regulated bear hunt. She said that the bear population has exploded over the past 10 years and that human-bear interactions have increased, leading to a statewide public safety hazard. Connecticut is the only state in New England that prohibits the hunting of black bears, the commissioner said in her testimony on the bill. Why a lawmaker is pushing state to allow bear hunting. CT agency supports 'limited' season. 'Because the frequency and severity of human-bear conflicts have increased significantly over the past decade, DEEP supports this legislation as we believe a regulated bear hunt is a critical and needed addition to the suite of black bear management tools we currently employ to protect the public, reduce human-bear conflicts, and support a healthy and sustainable black bear population,' Dykes said. 'DEEP supports a regulated harvest for two primary reasons: Human-bear conflicts have escalated in frequency and severity over the past decade resulting in elevated risk to the public, and this trend is likely to continue and to affect more Connecticut communities as bear populations increase and expand their range. Non-lethal bear management strategies, such as DEEP's significant investments in public education and outreach, have failed to decrease human-bear conflicts,' she said. The provision comes amid a rise in conflicts between humans and bears, as the number of bear sightings reached 159 out of the state's 169 towns and cities, according to the 2025 'The State of the Bears,' an annual DEEP publication that tracks their growth. Thousands of conflicts between humans and black bears are reported each year and are increasing, according to DEEP. Reports of bears entering or breaking into homes occurred 67 times in 16 different municipalities statewide in 2024. While the majority of human and bear conflicts are in the northwest corner, the agency said they are seeing more conflicts in other parts of the state, including Hartford and Fairfield counties. In 2015, there were less than 10 reports of bears entering or breaking into homes. The yearly report, which was released in March, comes amid renewed interest in a black bear hunting season. DEEP officials said the black bear population remains stable, with between 1,000 and 1,200 bears, and has a high potential for growth due to 'an abundance of suitable habitat and excessive human-related food across their range.' Hunting an fishing contribute to the state's economy, according to many sources. But critics of a black bear hunt say that it is unnecessary and cruel. More than a dozen animal rights groups and environmental advocacy organizations submitted testimony to oppose a bear hunt. Critics argue bears that break into homes or become violent are often in residential areas where hunting is already prohibited. Further, they contend, hunting bears in their natural environment will not help resolve human-bear interactions. 'Hunting bears is unnecessary, inhumane, and will not solve the concerns about human-bear interactions,' said Samantha Dynowksi, state director for the Sierra Club, in testimony. 'There is much evidence that a bear hunt will not work to decrease human-bear interactions.' 'The bear that is being killed deep in the woods where hunting occurs is very unlikely to be the same bear in the neighborhood or near houses. People would be unable to hunt a bear near neighborhoods and residential areas as it is extremely dangerous. It is counterproductive to kill bears in their natural habitat exhibiting normal behaviors and teaching their cubs to do the same,' she said. Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
In unprecedented move, CT Senate GOP to boycott vote on top utility regulator
In an unprecedented move, the entire Senate caucus will boycott a vote Tuesday on the state's top utility regulator in a protest against the process. Senate Republican leader Stephen Harding of Brookfield said the 11 Republican senators would 'walk out' of the scheduled debate on the re-nomination of one of the state government's most controversial employees: Chairwoman Marissa Gillett of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. The surprise move marked another twist in a long-running drama at the state Capitol as the state's electric utilities have sharply criticized Gillett, a Simsbury resident who critics say acts like a consumer advocate instead of an impartial utility regulator. Harding said he will deliver a speech on the Senate floor on the issue, but that had not yet happened on Tuesday morning. At the start of the debate, Sen. John Fonfara of Hartford and Sen. John Kissel both recused themselves. Earlier this month, Gov. Ned Lamont's choice to be the chief utility regulator moved a step closer to a second term with a 91-52 vote of approval from the state House of Representatives. There was some sharp criticism of Gillett during about two hours of House debate and a handful of defections among Democrats in the overwhelmingly Democratic chamber. But the favorable vote for an increasingly controversial public figure was effectively preordained two months ago by a deal between Lamont and the legislative leadership that guarantees her approval. Under Gillett's leadership, PURA has moved from a formerly obscure public agency to one now subject to regular political scrutiny as customer bills have risen steadily due to both market forces outside the state's control and state policy decisions related to zero carbon energy goals and rate relief to low income customers. Over the same period, Gillett's relationship with the state's major utilities has grown increasingly hostile. CT GOP leaders want state chief utility regulator subpoenaed for records in wake of text messages utilities have accused her of issuing illegal rate decisions that have slashed revenues, caused their bond ratings to crater and threatened their ability to invest in their systems. Her supporters claim she is bringing to account companies that have sacrificed customers to shareholders. This story will be updated. Reporting by Courant staff writer Edmund H. Mahony is included. Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bomb threat made against Connecticut state senator
BROOKFIELD, CT. (WWLP) – Republican State Senator Stephen Harding received a bomb threat at his home in Brookfield. Two suspects arrested in Connecticut for alleged retail thefts across New England The threat was made in an email and was sent to police, claiming there was a pipe bomb in the mailboxes of Harding's home and his parents, according to NBC Connecticut. Harding confirmed no explosives were found at either location. Harding issued a statement Wednesday night stating that he and his family are safe and grateful for the help of local law enforcement. The FBI said that they can't comment on the matter at this time. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
CT state senator says family safe after bomb threat called in to his home
Authorities are investigating a bomb threat made Wednesday toward the Brookfield home of state Sen. Stephen Harding. The Republican senator issued a statement late Wednesday saying he and his family were safe. 'Thank you to our state and local police for their work in responding to this threat,' Harding said. 'We are safe. And we are grateful to law enforcement for their professionalism and dedication.' The agencies that investigated the threat included the Brookfield Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut State Capitol Police. 'Their action and attention to this matter has been extremely reassuring in a difficult time,' Harding said. Harding called the incident a 'distraction' but said it will not stop him and other Connecticut Republicans from focusing on 'the issues that matter to Connecticut's working families,' which he described as 'affordability, safety, accountability' and 'transparency.' Brookfield police did not immediately respond to a request for more information about the investigation into the threat.
