Good morning, Hartford.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut is asking for more Hispanic volunteers to meet demand from about 360 Hispanic youth while only about 95 active mentors identify as Hispanic.

Mentor Rebeca Carrasquillo and her mentee Esmeraida Figueroa (13) say shared language and culture help them bond during outings and meals.

The 21st annual Capital Catwalk took place Monday night in Hartford to benefit Dress for Success Hartford, with Channel 3 personalities participating and all proceeds funding the nonprofit’s employment-readiness and retention programs.

University of Hartford held a ribbon-cutting on Oct.

26 for the Vin Baker Outdoor Athletics and Recreation Complex, a ($2.4 million) facility with basketball, tennis, and pickleball courts that will expand club and intramural play, provide NCAA Division III training space, and host community programs.

Nearly half a million moms left the workforce last year, and some employers are adding supports to keep parents on the job; Cakes Body announced a $36,000-a-year child care credit (plus core flexible hours) and a Moms First survey finds family benefits deliver a positive return on investment.

Susan Saint James, the TV star best known for McMillan and Wife and Kate and Allie, is being remembered Tuesday for her decades living in Litchfield and longtime support of Special Olympics Connecticut (which named an annual leadership award after her).

A new Connecticut guide explains how to decode grants, scholarships, and loans on college financial aid offers and shows how to use the state's online net-price calculator (net-price calculator) and FAFSA award letters to compare true costs.

Connecticut's Next Generation Accountability Index rose to 72.2 in the 2025-26 school year (up from 71.8) but remained below the pre-pandemic 74.2; 4-year graduation reached 91.2% and dual-credit participation climbed to 34.6%, and state officials said more funding is needed to meet demand.

Special education attorneys and a UConn professor warned at a Wesleyan conference that the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit lacks oversight, could worsen inequality and prompt cuts to public-school programs, and Gov. Lamont has not said whether he will opt Connecticut in.

Open enrollment on Access Health CT runs Oct.

23–Dec. 15 for plans starting Jan. 1 and through Jan. 15 for Feb. 1 starts, and residents can enroll online, by phone (1-855-805-4325), or in person. Connecticut will continue temporary premium assistance for 2027, including CoveredCT no-cost plans, partial help up to 500% FPL, and $1,000–$1,200 subsidies for qualifying early childhood educators registered in the Early Childhood Professional Registry.