Connecticut fast food workers joined national protests today calling for higher wages. Workers are asking for $15 an hour. Connecticut raised the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour by 2017. The federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour was last raised in 2009. And that works out to about $15,000 a year for a 40 hour work-week.
Connecticut Employers Add Jobs
Connecticut employers added 2,200 jobs in April, helping to cut the unemployment rate to 6.9 percent. The state Department of Labor reported today, it was the third consecutive monthly employment increase. Employers have added 6,900 jobs this year.
Foxwoods Casino Cutting Hours
Foxwoods Resort Casino is planning to cut some hours of operation on a portion of its gaming floor—shutting down slot machines and some game tables in the Rainmaker Casino area from 4 am on Mondays until 9 am on Fridays.
School District Eliminates Final and Midterm Exams
The Danbury Board of Education has voted to eliminate finals and midterms. The school district has become the first in the state to do so, but feels others will soon follow. The elimination of final and midterm exams will take effect next school year.
State Foreclosures Decline
Connecticut's home foreclosure activity in April fell for the first time in more than a year. In a report compiled by RealtyTrac, which tracks and markets foreclosure properties, the state had nearly 1,700 residential properties with at least one foreclosure filing in April. That’s about a 28 percent decline from the same period a year ago.