Good morning, Hartford.

Taylor Swift donated $50,000 to support Ledyard mother Ashley Taunton, who was injured helping after a July crash on I-95 in Hopkinton.

Her GoFundMe has raised over $90,000+ to aid her recovery.

Puerto Rican sculptor José Buscaglia, 88, is cataloging eight decades of work with UConn to create a cultural archive that bridges his homeland and its diaspora - a vision that echoes through Hartford’s local Monumento a la Familia Puertorriqueña.

A new study from SmartAsset shows that a family of four in Connecticut needs nearly $300,000 a year to live comfortably while a single adult requires about $108,000.

Experts say rising housing, food, and transportation costs keep family budgets under pressure.

The Department of Education said student scores in English, math and science improved while chronic absenteeism dropped to 16.4%, adding nearly 35,000 more students attending school regularly.

Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker said math and science performance now matches pre-pandemic levels — and officials plan further steps to raise achievement.

Holmes Elementary School in New Britain welcomed students on Monday after a $70 million renovation—updating classrooms with interactive whiteboards, digitized gym lessons, and an ADA-compliant playground—after two years in a temporary location.

Kim Haidinger and her daughter Luna introduced their new children’s book connecting economic choices with environmental impact through storytelling and illustrations by Luna.

They discussed the project at Subherban Livin (a local business in Simsbury) and hope the book inspires kids to make mindful spending decisions.

The University of Hartford welcomed its strong Class of 2030—averaging a 3.45 GPA—during move-in weekend Aug.

20–23, where first-year and transfer students took part in the Big H photo and campus events to kick off a promising fall semester.

Hartford forester Sophia Rodbell said the invasive tree-of-heaven fuels spotted lanternfly infestations by providing sap that makes the bugs toxic to predators.

The city is removing these fast-growing trees and treating hotspots with insecticide to limit the pest spread.

The FDA approved Mounjaro to lower heart attack and stroke risk in diabetes patients, potentially giving Hartford adults a new treatment to manage their condition.

The treatment will be available soon for those in need.

The state’s community health centers earned national recognition when the federal Health Resources and Services Administration awarded badges based on 2025 performance data.

Seventeen centers, including one in Waterbury, received honors for high value, advanced technology, and heart health.

Consumer columnist Harlan Levy (a West Hartford resident) detailed promising advances from an international Alzheimer’s conference where a tau-lowering therapy slowed cognitive decline.

He also warned local shoppers to avoid online back-to-school scams that target personal data and money.

The Noah Webster House and West Hartford Historical Society will host the 11th annual Real Ale Harvest Fest on Sept.

12, 2026 from 1-4 p.m. Brewers will create casks of real ale using historical ingredients while guests sample brews, vote on favorites, and enjoy live music to support the museum.

UConn football will open its season Saturday at Rentschler Field, marking the start of coach Jason Candle's era with over 70 new players and Channel 3 will air a preview special Friday night (highlighting roster changes).