Big shakeup in race for Governor
New law on how to deal with the penny shortage
News and notes from the State Capitol
CRN Golf Outing update
News and notes from around the state
- This weekend is convention weekend as both parties hold nominating conventions for statewide officeholders.
- Yesterday, two days ahead of the Republican nominating convention, former New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart suspended her campaign for Governor Thursday after an investigative report concluded that her personal use of a city credit card as mayor was a “circumvention of the city’s purchase order system.” CT Mirror has details here, and the Hartford Courant here.
- With Stewart now out of the race, it clears the way for State Senator Ryan Fazion (R- Greenwich) to take home the nomination as the Republican candidate for Governor.
- Former NY State Lieutenant Governor Betsy McCaughey remains in the race, and the intrigue will be whether she can get enough delegates to primary Fazio in August.
- Meanwhile, the Democrats are poised to re-nominate Governor Ned Lamont for his attempt at a third term.
- Representative Josh Elliot (D-Hamden) is pushing Lamont from the left and may gain enough delegates to secure the right to primary Lamont.
- We will keep you posted on how the conventions go in next week’s FF.
Dealing with Penny Shortage
- In last week’s FF, we mentioned that CRN was successful in getting some language passed that will help retailers with the shortage of pennies that are in circulation due to the US Treasury decision to stop minting pennies.
- The final language that was used allows retailers to use a rounding formula to help in determining the change to give to consumers. Of course, this only applies to cash transactions.
- Here is the best way to describe what the General Assembly rounding rule looks like:
- After the final total is calculated, the business can round the amount to the nearest 5 cents.
- If the total ends in:
- 1¢, 2¢, 6¢, or 7¢ → round DOWN to the nearest nickel (5 cents)
- If the total ends in:
- 3¢, 4¢, 8¢, or 9¢ → round UP to the nearest nickel
- Here are a few examples:
- $10.21 becomes $10.20
- $10.22 becomes $10.20
- $10.23 becomes $10.25
- $10.24 becomes $10.25
- $10.27 becomes $10.25
- $10.29 becomes $10.30
- If the amount already ends in 0¢ or 5¢, no rounding happens.
- The new rounding rules go into effect January 1, 2027.
- We hope this helps. As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
News and notes from the State Capitol
- On Monday, the 1st Congressional District Democrats held their convention to nominate a candidate for Congress. What happened at that convention was surprising to some, as former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin defeated 13-term incumbent John Larson for the party’s nomination.
- Bronin had been pushing Larson and was expected to gain enough delegates to qualify for a primary, but it was unexpected that he would walk away with the nomination.
- Larson will most certainly primary Bronin in August. And State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest also gained enough delegates to enter the August primary.
- The CT Mirror takes a deeper look at that story here.
- As we mentioned in last week’s FF, the state Senate did not take action on a bill that would have pushed out the date that tire retailers had to participate in Connecticut’s first-in-the-nation tire recycling program.
- CT Mirror has details here.
- Gov. Ned Lamont announced plans to deliver $22.5 million in aid for Connecticut dairy farmers on Wednesday, saying that state support is necessary to help farmers cope with rising costs and falling commodity prices. CT Mirror reports on the plans here.
- The Connecticut Office of Health Strategy, an agency with the dedicated mission to control and lower health care costs in Connecticut, was dissolved by Gov. Ned Lamont and the General Assembly as part of the 2026 budget package. Details here from CT Inside Investigator.
- The Connecticut State Dental Association presented Sen. Saud Anwar, D-South Windsor, with the 2026 Salvadore Squatrito Legislative Achievement Award this week. Details here from CTNewsJunkie.
Sign up today for CRN Golf Outing, sponsored by Liberty Bank
- The Golf Committee of the Connecticut Retail Network invites you to the 24th Annual CRN Golf Outing. Registration is now open!
- Our 2026 Golf Outing will take place on Tuesday, June 30, and we’ll be returning this year to the Farms Country Club in Wallingford. The day begins at 11:30 AM.
- It promises to be a special afternoon for all – along with golf, there will be many options for sandwiches, refreshments, and snacks throughout play, and then following golf, attendees and guests can join us for a special reception and BBQ.
- We look forward to your participation! To learn more and for registration information, please go to the CRN website here.
- Our lead sponsor for this year’s event, once again, is Liberty Bank. We greatly appreciate their support of CRN and Connecticut retailers.
News and notes from around the state
- Phillip Morris International, with US-based Headquarters in Stamford, announced the release of their recent white paper entitled, The Forgotten Smoker, Modern Solutions to America’s Oldest Public Health Problem.
- Nearly two months after the news was first announced, the WNBA and NBA board of governors has officially approved the sale and relocation of the Connecticut Sun to Houston, ending the team’s 23-year run in New England. Details reported here by CT Mirror.
- Westfarms Mall is increasing security ahead of a scheduled “teen takeover” this weekend, which has been circulating over social media, according to the Farmington Police Department. WTNH News 8 has details here.
- The national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement campaign is underway in Connecticut, running through May 31. The campaign is a joint effort of the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), the Connecticut State Police, and local law enforcement agencies. Details reported by CTNewsJunkie here.
- Every day, about 90 people in Connecticut turn 75. By the end of the year, more than 30,000 people in the state will have celebrated their 75th birthdays over the prior 12 months. CT Insider has the demographics details here.
- Connecticut’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, helped by a recent flurry of private philanthropy, got underway this week, as CT Mirror reports here.
- Immersive experiences, educational programs, commemorative events, and community-driven celebrations across all 169 municipalities in the state will highlight the anniversary here, as CTNewsJunkie reports here.