Good morning, Hartford.

Julia DeFeo, the executive director of Wilson-Gray YMCA in Hartford's North End, led a Q&A on August 4th about building safe community programs and empowering local youth; she drew on her first-generation Latina experience & personal challenges to push for more inclusive leadership. She stressed that hard work & community support are key to opening doors for future Latina leaders.

Attorney General William Tong joined the Federal Trade Commission—along with 22 state agencies—Friday in a multistate settlement to shut down Kars-R-Us’s deceptive charity fundraising scheme that raised over $45.5 million for the United Breast Cancer Foundation while funneling most donations for personal benefit.

Panda Fest begins today at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza in Hartford with over 50 food vendors, live music, a 15-foot inflatable panda, and a lineup of Asian cultural performances.

Tickets for Sunday’s 5:30 to 8 p.m. time slot are still available while other sessions are sold out — general admission is $16.97 and VIP starts at $29.34.

West Hartford's University of Saint Joseph received the Frank Murray Leadership Recognition for Continuous Improvement Award at CAEPCon (Sept.

18 in Arlington, Virginia) as the only CT school to earn the honor. The award highlighted the school’s strong educator preparation programs that met national standards.

The Connecticut Automatic Admission Program—open to in‐state seniors with a 3.0 weighted GPA or 2.75 unweighted GPA—provides automatic entry to 10 colleges and universities.

Nearly 300 group home caregivers in Manchester began a strike Friday morning at Purnell Place because agency owners did not agree to boost a 0.2% pension contribution needed to prevent default — the workers, who are members of SEIU 1199 New England, planned the walk-off if an agreement was not reached by 6 a.m.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal demanded that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg release internal research on safety risks to kids during a press conference Friday morning in Hartford; he said the company blocked studies that could show the harms young users face on social media.

Six whistleblowers recently alleged that Meta deleted key research, and Blumenthal’s Kids Online Safety Act—passed last year—aims to address these issues.

Marissa Gillett left PURA last week, leaving the authority with two members and creating uncertainty over major rate cases for electric, water and gas services.

Gov. Ned Lamont will name new members soon— a step needed to meet the legal quorum for final decisions.

Governor Ned Lamont is weighing a plan that uses state pension funds to buy a stake in the Connecticut Sun basketball team to keep the team in state.

Lawmakers have asked for more details on the proposal—state officials and private investors will finalize the plan in the coming months.

A woman sued St. Francis Hospital after staff shortages delayed her induced labor and led to the death of her 2-day-old infant—Isabella was born via emergency caesarean section and died after a transfer to Connecticut Children's hospital.

The lawsuit states that negligence in monitoring the mother and baby caused the delay in care and seeks damages over $15,000.

UConn football team is gearing up for its game today in Buffalo as it tries to improve its 2-2 record after two overtime losses.

Coach Jim Mora said the team must handle Buffalo’s tough defense—rated for 16 sacks—and rely on a balanced offense led by quarterback Joe Fagnano to secure a win.

BASWA's 25th Anniversary Celebration

3-7 p.m. — Farmington Gardens — Free venue parking — Celebrate 25 years of beauty and culture with live entertainment and local vendors.

Twenty One Pilots Live in Hartford

8:00 p.m. — Xfinity Theatre — Tickets starting at $82 — Experience the cinematic spectacle of Twenty One Pilots on their Clancy Tour: Breach 2025.

Twenty One Pilots - The Clancy Tour: Breach 2025

8:00-9:30 PM — Xfinity Theatre — Last-minute tickets available — Experience the electrifying performance of Twenty One Pilots live in Hartford.

The Notebook - The Musical

7:30-9 p.m. — William H. Mortensen Hall — Ticket prices vary — Experience the emotional journey of love in this captivating musical adaptation of the beloved story.

Live Music with The Boomers

6-9 p.m. — Cotton Hollow Kitchen — Free entry — Enjoy classic rock and pop hits while savoring great food and drinks.

Zain Zohaib Qawwali Mehfil

7-11 p.m. — Belding Theater — Ticket info not specified — Experience mesmerizing Qawwali performances by the talented Zain and Zohaib Ali, grandsons of legendary musicians.

English - A Captivating Play

7:30 PM — TheaterWorks Hartford — Tickets from $194 — Immerse yourself in the drama and magic of English on stage.

Connecticut Code + Coffee

11 AM – 2 PM — West Hartford CoWorking — RSVP required — Bring your laptop for coding and coffee in a supportive community atmosphere.

English Play at TheaterWorks Hartford

7:30-11:30 p.m. — TheaterWorks Hartford — Tickets from $188 — Experience an unforgettable theatrical performance with captivating drama and magic on stage.

Crusita Birthday Bash Hosted by Gigi

9:00 p.m. — 321 Sports and Bar — Ticket info available — Celebrate Crusita's birthday with great music and fun at this local hotspot.