New England News

A Congressional hearing was held Tuesday looking at the Supreme Court decision declaring that corporations are people and can spend unlimited amounts of money in elections.  Both of Vermont’s Senators testified before a subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee that discussed the need for a Constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United.

Figures released in Massachusetts Tuesday show the city of Springfield had the 5th highest unemployment rate last month of any city or town in the state.  WAMC”s Paul Tuthill reports.

The Massachusetts economy,  which had been growing at a much faster rate than the nation’s as a whole is showing signs of slowing.  Experts believe the Baystate is being buffeted by forces beyond its borders.   WAMC”s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports.

   A new report from the Massachusetts Office of Labor and Workforce Development, Tuesday, said seasonally unadjusted  unemployment rates  rose in a majority of the state’s 22  local labor markets in June, reflecting a statewide slow down in permanent hiring.

Connecticut officials are planning an emergency preparedness drill to try to improve communication between utility companies and state and local governments.

The four-day, statewide exercise begins Saturday and is designed to simulate an emergency resulting from a Category 3 hurricane.

Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman said Tuesday that the goal is to spare residents the frustration they endured during the prolonged power outages following a snow storm last October.