Jacqueline Rabe Thomas

Nine people froze to death in Connecticut last year. 'No one should die without a home' The questions their stories raise is still the same: Who is responsible when preventable deaths become routine?

Nine people experiencing homelessness froze to death last year. Who is responsible?

www.ctinsider.com/news/article...

197 died while homeless in CT last year — only three reached average life expectancy Nine people experiencing homelessness died of hypothermia in 2025 and 15 died by suicide.

Finally, @jrabethomas.bsky.social broke down the numbers on all 197 people experiencing homelessness who died in Connecticut last year — with individual stories.

www.ctinsider.com/news/article... #nutmegsky

'I’d rather freeze together’: Some unhoused couples refuse Connecticut shelters Each night, about 830 people sleep outdoors in Connecticut, according to an annual count.

We also looked at the policies behind those numbers — why cities clear camps and why people living outside may not want to use shelters or temporary hotel rooms.

Really well done, gutwrenching story by @jrabethomas.bsky.social (with the smallest assist from me) — www.ctinsider.com/connecticut/...

Nine people froze to death in Connecticut last year. 'No one should die without a home' The questions their stories raise is still the same: Who is responsible when preventable deaths become routine?

NEW: Nine people experiencing homelessness died from hypothermia in Connecticut last year.

@jrabethomas.bsky.social and I spoke with friends and family for four of those people about who their loved ones were.

Our latest at @ctinsider.bsky.social — www.ctinsider.com/news/article... #nutmegsky

CT legislature to approve $750k for agency where senator at center of investigation works The Senate on Wednesday is scheduled to codify several grants to nonprofits, including $750,000 for a Hartford school district where Sen. Doug McCrory works.

Senator at center of federal investigation lands a $750k earmark for his employer

www.ctinsider.com/politics/art...

1 in 25 renters face eviction in CT, including a Bridgeport school board member In Connecticut, 1 out of every 25 tenants faced eviction in 2025, according to Princeton University’s Eviction Lab.

1 in 25 renters face eviction in CT, including a Bridgeport school board member. Article below.:
www.ctpost.com/news/article...

1 in 25 renters face eviction in CT, including a Bridgeport school board member In Connecticut, 1 out of every 25 tenants faced eviction in 2025, according to Princeton University’s Eviction Lab.

A single eviction case reveals the human cost of CT's housing crisis: a sitting school board member became homeless after new owners purchased his home and moved almost immediately to evict him. Disabled and without legal representation, he faced court alone...

www.ctpost.com/news/article...

Out-of-state police are using Connecticut license plate camera data for immigration enforcement A full record of which police departments are using the equipment is not kept by state officials.

License plate camera data from Connecticut towns searched to track woman who Texas officials say had an abortion.

And

Out-of-state police are using Connecticut license plate camera data for immigration enforcement.

www.ctinsider.com/connecticut/...

A 7 YEAR WAIT for public records in the state's largest city.

Lawmakers look to reduce homelessness after ‘heartbreaking’ CT Insider probe “I worry about an economy where so many people are still being left behind,” Gov. Ned Lamont said.

Great story from @jrabethomas.bsky.social on response from lawmakers to @ctinsider.bsky.social reporting on homelessness, including some ways their words haven't matched their actions
www.ctinsider.com/news/article...

Hartford student: we are left to find our own transportation to school because yellow bus only picks us up if you live more than two miles from school.

@ctinsider.bsky.social @jrabethomas.bsky.social asked unhoused poeple to share what life is like & what would help them the most

These stories remind us homelessness isn’t just a statistic - if we want to understand, we have to listen to the people living it

📰 www.ctinsider.com/projects/new...

134 unhoused people have died in CT this year. Here are some of their stories. Some who were homeless died from the cold. Others died when their cars caught fire, or they were struck by vehicles. Our obits shine a light on who they were.

"Since the start of the year, at least 134 unhoused people have died. Only two lived long enough to reach the state’s average life expectancy — a sobering reminder of how fragile life can be without stable housing." www.ctinsider.com/projects/new...

Amid housing shortage, CT spends millions managing homelessness other ways Amid a housing shortage, Connecticut is spending millions managing homelessness through foster care, jails and ERs. Lawmakers say the issue can be solved.

"A monthslong investigation ... found impossibly long waitlists for housing assistance coupled with an underresourced state housing crisis hotline that frequently turns away dozens of people seeking emergency shelter."

Incredible work by @jrabethomas.bsky.social. www.ctinsider.com/projects/new...

48 hours of homelessness in CT: The faces and stories of a growing crisis With affordable housing hard to find in Connecticut, the number of people who are homeless — young and old, in cities and towns — is rising fast.

Really proud to have contributed to this package of stories on homelessness across Connecticut that published today, spearheaded by my amazing CT Insider colleague @jrabethomas.bsky.social. www.ctinsider.com/projects/new... #nutmegsky

Amid housing shortage, CT spends millions managing homelessness other ways Amid a housing shortage, Connecticut is spending millions managing homelessness through foster care, jails and ERs. Lawmakers say the issue can be solved.

And @jrabethomas.bsky.social expertly explored how public policy in Connecticut contributes directly to this crisis
www.ctinsider.com/projects/new...

134 unhoused people have died in CT this year. Here are some of their stories. Some who were homeless died from the cold. Others died when their cars caught fire, or they were struck by vehicles. Our obits shine a light on who they were.

A group of reporters also profiled people in Connecticut who have died while homeless, from a newborn baby to a 67-year-old whose car caught fire
www.ctinsider.com/projects/new...

48 hours of homelessness in CT: The faces and stories of a growing crisis With affordable housing hard to find in Connecticut, the number of people who are homeless — young and old, in cities and towns — is rising fast.

Highly, highly recommend this project from a team of us at @ctinsider.bsky.social, led by the incomparable @jrabethomas.bsky.social.

Over two days, reporters fanned across CT to tell the story of homelessness here.

I promise you will learn something.
www.ctinsider.com/projects/new...

Thanks!

"It doesn't read like 12,500 words. The other editors agree."

They get me.

State

Public agencies can - & are - destroying public records & there is nothing the state watchdog that determines if records must be released can do about it.

No fines. No ordering agency to change policy to retain records. No violation of open records law.

Nothing.

And that should scare everyone.

CT nonprofit named in federal probe shut down due to finances, lawyer says The Hartford nonprofit, which has been named in a federal investigation surrounding state Sen. Doug McCrory, said it has effectively closed.

An organization that landed more than $14 million in state funding says it shouldn't have to turn over records anytime soon that would provide clarity to how the money was spent because they have effectively shut down.

🚨
40% of marriages in Bridgeport were between an immigrant and a U.S. citizen, neither of whom were born in Connecticut or lived here at the time they received their marriage license

Connecticut state senator pressed state officials to steer money to associate State Sen. Doug McCrory pushed for millions for a Hartford nonprofit. As much as $800,000 went to his associate's organization, records show.

"Senator McCrory called (ed department's budget chief) and would like the full $2 million released now"

At least $250k of that went to a woman who federal investigators are looking into whether the senator is in a personal relationship with

www.ctinsider.com/connecticut/...

Hearst management continues to violate the law by changing our working conditions without bargaining.

Today, employees gathered for lunch at our different offices and asked a simple question of the company:

We’re ready to bargain. Why aren’t you?

Lunch! #meetusatthetable

Federal probe into state senator’s relationship brings investigators to Bloomfield home An owner of the property in Bloomfield, Dana Higgins, said federal investigators reached out to her recently.

Federal investigators have interviewed the owner of a home in Bloomfield as they probe the relationship between state Sen. Doug McCrory and Sonserae Cicero-Hamlin, whose businesses and nonprofit have landed millions from the state.

www.ctinsider.com/news/article...

The long wait for public records in CT ....

Feds probing CT lawmaker's relationship with state-funding recipient, records show. 'I did nothing illegal' State Sen. Doug McCrory and Sonserae Cicero-Hamlin have said neither has benefited financially from their relationship.

Come for the story about no money made it to low income homeowners, stay for this quote from a state senator under investigation

"I might have multiple girlfriends. I might not want the public to know who I am sleeping with and where I’m going."

www.ctinsider.com/news/article...