ABA Task Force on Legal Education

The American Bar Association has recently established a task force to examine legal education. The task force will be chaired by retired Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall Shepard, and will consist of judges, practicing attorneys, legal educators, and others. 

The task force is expected to consider the cost of legal education, the legal job market, and how legal education meets the needs of employers.  It is expected to conclude in 2014.

As quoted in the press release announcing the task force’s creation, past ABA President Wm. T. (Bill) Robinson III noted that “legal education must be evaluated in the context of the marketplace and the nation’s and world’s unprecedented challenges in an ever-more complex global economy.”

NTSB Provides Recommendations from Air Show Crash Investigation

On September 16, 2011, a plane crash at a Reno, Nevada air show left 11 people dead and over 60 seriously injured. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated the accident and recently made a number of safety recommendations to help prevent such an accident in the future. Recommendations were made to the (1) National Air Racing Group Unlimited Division, (2) Reno Air Racing Association, and (3) Federal Aviation Administration.

An Associated Press article explains that it appears the pilot in the Reno accident experienced a force of 9 gs, which incapacitated him and led to the crash. Several of NTSB’s recommendations focused on pilot safety during high g-force periods including providing high g-force training and evaluating the feasibility of wearing g suits when racing at air shows. Other safety recommendations included (1) developing a system to track pre-race technical inspection discrepancies and verify that the discrepancies are resolved, (2) changing course layout to protect spectators, and (3) requiring pilots to provide an engineering evaluation showing that any plane modifications are structurally sound.

Health Care Exchanges Explained

Under the Affordable Care Act, each state is charged with setting a minimum level of coverage in order for a health plan to be sold on the exchange — a requirement called "essential health benefits." Insurers may also offer plans with more generous benefits for a higher price. Health plans will be ranked based the quality and generosity of benefits, from platinum to gold to silver or bronze.

The July 13 Hartford Courant has an interview with Kevin J. Counihan, the chief executive officer of Connecticut’s health exchange, in which he explains the role of the exchange and how it will communicate with the state and federal agencies that offer Medicaid and other state health-care plans.

New FDA Food Safety Rules Delayed

In 2011, President Obama signed into law the Food Safety Modernization Act, the first major overhaul of the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s food safety laws in over 75 years. Among other things, the law authorizes the FDA to issue a mandatory, rather than voluntary, recall of contaminated food. According to the Pew Health Group, the FDA’s corresponding rules have been delayed by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for over eight months. Pew suggests, and the OMB denies, that the delay may be due to election-year politics.

From Owning to Renting

In an earlier post, we discussed Allison Arieff’s 2011 article about why the homebuilding industry must “stop thinking about the home as a decorative object and begin considering it as part of a larger whole.” A new Demand Institute study cited more reasons for the industry to change, primarily a shift in consumer preference from owning homes to renting them, especially among young people and immigrants.

But this shift isn’t limited to these demographic groups. As it turns out, baby boomers and younger workers, feeling their purchasing power slip, are looking to downsize. And as they do, their spending patterns will change. “For example, people who rent their home tend to own fewer cars, so demand for neighborhood rental cars should rise.” The shift to rentership may create opportunities for other industries to design new products and services addressing renters’ particular needs and concerns.

The shift could affect classrooms as well as neighborhoods. “The rentals can mean shifting student populations that present more challenges for schools, says Roger Freeman, superintendent of the Littleton Elementary School District in Avondale, Arizona… Half of the district’s 5,000 students are new this year, a far higher percentage than normal. Foreclosures are part of the reason, he says.”

What does the shift mean for public policy?

The Shifting Nature of U.S. Housing Demand, Demand Institute, May 2012 (http://www.demandinstitute.org/sites/default/files/blog-uploads/tdihousingdemand.pdf)

Money, “Home Rentals—the new American Dream?” June 6, 2012 (http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/story/2012-06-05/are-home-rentals-the-new-american-dream/55402648/1)

What Will the Expiration of Bush-Era Tax Cuts Mean to You?

Take a look at the Tax Foundation’s recently updated interactive tax calculator.  By plugging in some basic information (filing status, number of dependents, and income), it will estimate your federal tax rate under three scenarios: (1) the full expiration of the Bush and Obama tax cuts, (2) the Republican plan to extend the Bush tax cuts, and (3) President Obama’s plan to partially extend them.

If you need a refresher on the Bush tax cuts and why they are expiring, The Tax Foundation breaks it down here.

Emerald Ash Borer Found in Connecticut

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) recently announced that the emerald ash borer, an invasive destructive beetle, was detected in Prospect, Connecticut on July 16, 2012 by CAES staff.  This is the first time the insect has been recorded in Connecticut, which joins 15 other states where infestations have occurred.  According to DEEP, the emerald ash borer is responsible for the death and decline of tens of millions of ash trees from the mid-west to New York to Tennessee.  Connecticut has over 22 million ash trees and the insect’s presence represents an environmental threat to the state. 

DEEP and CAES have also announced steps to prevent the spread of the emerald ash borer, including a (1) quarantine zone that prohibits the movement of certain wood products out of New Haven county and (2) ban on the importation of firewood through New York or Massachusetts, unless it is properly certified or known to come from an area not infested.

Town vs. State Over ‘Fracking’ Regulations

According to a recent Stateline.com article, at least 246 municipalities in 15 states have passed laws restricting oil and gas development.  Responding to what their proponents see as lax state laws, these regulations generally limit “fracking,” a controversial method of extracting oil and natural gas, by injecting millions of gallons of water and chemicals into deep underground wells.  While the process has helped unlock previously unobtainable resources, lower natural gas prices, and create economic booms, it has also raised fears of damaging the environment, property values, and local infrastructure.

With so many new local laws, state courts have become involved in determining how much local rule towns have.  But even at that level, there’s no widespread consensus on how to proceed.  In New York, the court upheld drilling bans passed by the small towns of Dryden and Middlefield.  In West Virginia, the court ruled against Morgantown’s fracking ban.  And in Pennsylvania, the state’s Commonwealth Court recently struck down a provision in state law that would have overridden local ordinances.  In response, Governor Corbett announced that the state would appeal the court’s decision.

Economic Development Policy’s Outer Limits

Much of the talk in economic development circles today is about making a place (a town, county, state, or country) more attractive to businesses by cutting taxes, regulations, and financing costs—the very things that drive up business costs and eat into profits. Public policy options generally include tax breaks; expedited permitting; and low-cost loans, state-guaranteed bank loans, and tax increment financing. But, a new book by business strategist Gary Hamel suggests that factors beyond public policy’s reach may have as much to do with business success as the traditional policy options.

In What Matters Now: How to Win in a World of Relentless Change, Ferocious, Competition, and Unstoppable Innovation, Hamel identifies five paramount issues that can make or break a business: (1) innovation, (2) adaptability, (3) passion, (4) ideology, and (5) values.

In 1994, the General Assembly took a step toward economic development policy’s outer limits when it directed the labor and economic development agencies to (1) give priority for state assistance to businesses that continuously improve their operations; (2) allow workers to participate in decision making; (3) use flexible, cross-functional teams; and (4) meet other specified “high performance work organization” criteria (PA 94-116).

Hot Report: Criminal Background Checks for Non-School-Sponsored Sports Coaches

OLR Report 2012-R-0359 explains (1) if Connecticut law requires background checks for nonschool-sponsored sports program coaches and volunteers, (2) whether any other states or any national youth sports leagues require such checks, and (3) for information on any recent Connecticut proposals to require non-school-sponsored youth sports coaches and volunteers to undergo background checks. This report is an update of OLR 2004-R-0615.

Criminal Background Checks for Non-School-Sponsored Sports Coaches
Connecticut law does not require criminal records background checks of school volunteers or nonschool-sponsored sports coaches.

We found three states with laws on criminal background checks for non-school youth sports organization personnel. Two of the states, New Jersey and Oregon, expressly encourage or allow the checks. Florida's background checks are mandatory.

Several youth sports leagues, including Little League Baseball and Pop Warner Leagues, require annual background checks for all league employees and volunteers. The national leagues require local leagues to check the names of their volunteers against their state sex offender registry.

Since 2004, three bills were introduced to extend the law on sports-related criminal background checks to nonschool employees and volunteers. None became law.

For more information, read the full report.

Primary Day

Connecticut voters go to the polls today to choose their party nominees for a number of offices on the November ballot. The most prominent contests are those for U.S. Senate and the fifth congressional district, both of which are open and have primary races in both parties. However, there are a total of 19 races taking place, including one additional congressional contest (for the Republican nomination in the second district), three in the state Senate and 12 in the House of Representatives, two registrars of voters contests, and one for probate judge.

A press release from the secretary of the state’s office lists the primary contests taking place around the state. It also has the number of voters registered with each political party, broken out by congressional district, and the number of new voters registered since January 1.

Bankruptcy Filings Falling

According to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, bankruptcy filings for the 12-month period ending March 31, 2012 fell 13% percent compared to the prior 12-months. Filings fell from 1,571,183 to 1,367,006 nationwide.

Nonbusiness (i.e., personal) filings were also down 13% while business bankruptcy filings were down 14%. With 1,320,613 bankruptcy filings for the 12-month period ending March 31, 2012, that's the lowest level since 2009.

Beware of Utility Credit Scammers

The Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) is warning state residents to beware of telephone scammers offering them credits on their utility bills in return for their Social Security numbers and bank routing numbers.

The scammers claim they need the numbers so that consumers can take advantage of a federal utility payment assistance program. There is no such program.

DCP says people in a many states have fallen victim to the ploy, making it one of the most successful recent scams. Victims include 2,000 people in Tampa, Florida, and at least 10,000 people in New Jersey, according to the department. Other states reporting the same or similar scams include California, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Utah. At least two people in Connecticut have received such calls.

New Orleans’ “Sophie’s Choice”

“You have a choice,” said David Gilmore, the private contractor the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development hired to oversee the New Orleans Public Housing Authority: “Do you serve 800 families in deplorable conditions or 300 in much better conditions?” Gilmore added, “I know what choice I would make.” Do you know what choice you would make?

Why does New Orleans have to choose? For a several reasons.  Before 2005, much of the public housing consisted of vintage 1930s units that had been deteriorating for decades, driving residents away. Then Hurricane Katrina came along, scattering even more residents from the projects. But, in doing so, Katrina created an opportunity for New Orleans to start over. The city’s 12,000 housing units were occupied by only 5,000 residents.

So the city reversed course—instead of continue to corral all government-funded housing in a few locations, it built new housing mixing subsidized and market-rate units in several different locations. Decaying projects have given way to town homes with ornate balconies and manicured lawns. Okay, so what’s the problem?

The problem is the city now has 3,500 fewer public housing units, and the waiting lists for the new units are very long. Normally, people who can’t get into public housing can get a rent voucher and live in a private unit. But the list for vouchers is long, too. Hence the Sophie’s Choice: “Shrinking budgets and lack of federal support have led housing authorities across the USA to partner with private developers and build mixed-income projects that are better for the community but lower the overall number of subsidized units.” 

Appeals Court Rejects Ruling on U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs Handling of Its Mental Health Care System

According to a May 7 Stars and Stripes article, “…a federal appeals court on Monday found that Congress, not the courts, is responsible for fixing the VA’s troubled mental health care system, overturning a previous court that found the program riddled with ‘unchecked incompetence.’”

The article states, “[i]n a 10-1 decision, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a lawsuit that sought to force the Department of Veterans Affairs to overhaul the treatment program and reversed an earlier ruling that would have forced the government to speed up treatment requests and benefit claims.”

It goes on to say that , “the decision came in a lawsuit filed in 2007 by a veterans’ group that alleged the VA’s system could be blamed for suicides and other suffering because of its slow approach to treating returning soldiers.”

Writing for the court, Judge Jay Bybee stated “[The lawsuit] sounds a plaintive cry for help, but it has been misdirected to us.”

“As much as we may wish for expeditious improvement in the way the VA handles mental health care and service-related disability compensation, we cannot exceed our jurisdiction to accomplish it.”

The article notes that only one judge dissented, expressing concern that the ruling “…leaves veterans in a ‘Catch-22’ position because they can’t turn to the courts if the VA fails to respond to their cases.”

Study: Many Children Not Restrained When Riding in Cars

A study that will be published in the September issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reveals which drivers aren’t placing children in child seats when riding in a car. The study also shows many parents are placing their children in the front seat, where they are much less safe if involved in a collision.

The researchers examined data from three years of the National Survey of the Use of Booster Seats, where the use of restraints was directly observed, and found that a driver who didn’t wear a seatbelt was 23 times more likely to leave a child unrestrained in a car than a driver who did wear a seat belt.

Researchers also found evidence that (1) non-whites were more likely to leave a child unrestrained and (2) drivers in the northeast are most likely to restrain a child, drivers in the south are least likely, and drivers from the west were most likely to place children in the front seat.

Using Landlords to Strike at Medical Marijuana Retailers

Reuters reports that federal prosecutors in California are trying to wipe out the state’s medical marijuana industry without turning pot shop owners and sick people into felons.  Although the California Legislature legalized medical marijuana sales in 1996, they still violate federal drug trafficking laws, thus putting sellers and their customers at risk of serving jail time and paying stiff fines.

Making novel use of a civil forfeiture statute traditionally used to seize property and assets from drug traffickers, prosecutors have sent out hundreds of letters in the past six months warning commercial landlords that they must either evict tenants who sell medical marijuana or risk losing their property. For-profit storefront shops, especially those (1) opposed by the cities where they operate or (2) located near schools or playgrounds, are the Justice Department's favored targets. 

Reuters estimates that the U.S. medical marijuana industry generates $1.7 billion in annual sales.

Hot Report: Death Penalty

OLR Report 2012-R-0321 describes which states abolished the death penalty and how they did so, which countries have the death penalty, and the history of the death penalty in Connecticut.

Connecticut is one of 17 states without the death penalty. The other states are Alaska, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

In recent years, Connecticut and three other states abolished the death penalty.

1. In 2007, New Jersey abolished the death penalty and legislatively resentenced death row inmates to life in prison without parole.
2. In 2009, New Mexico abolished the death penalty prospectively, leaving two people on death row.
3. In 2011, Illinois' legislature abolished the death penalty prospectively but the governor commuted the sentences of those on death row to life in prison without parole.
4. In 2012, Connecticut abolished the death penalty prospectively, 10 inmates sentenced to death remain on death row, and anyone who committed a crime before April 25, 2012 can be charged with a capital felony and sentenced to death (PA 12-5).

According to Amnesty International, which tracks death penalty laws around the world:

1. 97 countries have completely abolished the death penalty;
2. 57 countries, including the United States, allow it;
3. 36 countries allow it but in practice do not carry out the death penalty; and
4. 8 countries only allow the death penalty in exceptional circumstances.

Connecticut's history with the death penalty stretches back to colonial times. The law changed many times over the years, generally narrowing the types of crimes eligible for the death penalty and later giving a judge or jury an alternative to sentencing a capital offender to death. The legislature also revised the state's death penalty statutes after the U.S. Supreme Court effectively ruled all state death penalty statutes unconstitutional in 1972. Finally, under PA 12-5, Connecticut abolished the death penalty prospectively by eliminating it as a sentencing option for crimes committed on or after April 25, 2012.

Based on information from the Death Penalty Information Center and The Day, Connecticut conducted 127 executions since 1639. The Connecticut State Library lists all executions since 1894 (http://www.cslib.org/executions.htm). In recent years, Connecticut's only executions occurred in 2005 and 1960.

Connecticut is one of 17 states without the death penalty. The other states are Alaska, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

In recent years, Connecticut and three other states abolished the death penalty.

1. In 2007, New Jersey abolished the death penalty and legislatively resentenced death row inmates to life in prison without parole.
2. In 2009, New Mexico abolished the death penalty prospectively, leaving two people on death row.
3. In 2011, Illinois' legislature abolished the death penalty prospectively but the governor commuted the sentences of those on death row to life in prison without parole.
4. In 2012, Connecticut abolished the death penalty prospectively, 10 inmates sentenced to death remain on death row, and anyone who committed a crime before April 25, 2012 can be charged with a capital felony and sentenced to death (PA 12-5).

 According to Amnesty International, which tracks death penalty laws around the world:

1. 97 countries have completely abolished the death penalty;
2. 57 countries, including the United States, allow it;
3. 36 countries allow it but in practice do not carry out the death penalty; and
4. 8 countries only allow the death penalty in exceptional circumstances.

Connecticut's history with the death penalty stretches back to colonial times. The law changed many times over the years, generally narrowing the types of crimes eligible for the death penalty and later giving a judge or jury an alternative to sentencing a capital offender to death. The legislature also revised the state's death penalty statutes after the U.S. Supreme Court effectively ruled all state death penalty statutes unconstitutional in 1972. Finally, under PA 12-5, Connecticut abolished the death penalty prospectively by eliminating it as a sentencing option for crimes committed on or after April 25, 2012.

Based on information from the Death Penalty Information Center and The Day, Connecticut conducted 127 executions since 1639. The Connecticut State Library lists all executions since 1894 (http://www.cslib.org/executions.htm). In recent years, Connecticut's only executions occurred in 2005 and 1960.

For more information, read the full report.

New Report Highlights Issues with Private Student Loans

A recent report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau highlights several issues with private higher education loans, some of which resemble those that surrounded subprime mortgages. According to the report, private student loan volume spiked from $5 billion in 2001 to $20 billion in 2008 before shrinking to $6 billion in 2011. It now represents $150 billion of the approximately $1 trillion in outstanding student loan debt.

When You Have to Drop a Dime on Your Own Employee

If you are in business long enough the chances a pretty good that one day you will discover that one of your employees has done something not just stupid, but possibly criminal.

The Connecticut Employment Law blog recently considered the subject of when an employer should report a crime by an employee. The Penn State child abuse scandal has brought this issue to light in stark terms.
Blogger Daniel Schwartz reminds us that some employers are, by law, mandated reporters for certain types of crimes. Other situations may fall in more of a gray area.

Schwartz cautions that employers should take seriously situations that suggest criminal activity – even if it is by your top salesman or a legendary football program.

Hot Report: Federal and State Law on Cable TV Competition

OLR Report 2012-R-0356 explains federal and state law on cable TV competition, specifically whether they permit more than one cable company to serve an area.

Urban Farms: A New Use for Vacant and Blighted Property

San Francisco joins a growing number of cities across the country that have created programs to encourage agriculture and gardening within city limits.  On July 17, San Francisco’s board of supervisors approved legislation that will make it easier for urban farming advocates and neighborhood organizations to install vegetable farms, chicken coops, and bee hives on vacant land and rooftops.

As part of the program, the city will create a central office dedicated to urban farming.  The office is designed to coordinate efforts among the city’s departments and provide residents, businesses, and organizations with a “one-stop shop” for urban farming information and technical assistance.  The city will also develop incentives for landowners to allow temporary urban farms on their property, particularly on vacant and blighted land. 

NCSL Website Tracks State Legislative Responses to Federal Health Reform

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has created an online database tracking state legislation related to the federal Affordable Care Act.  The database provides information on the status of such bills, date of last action, a brief summary, the bill’s history, and more. 

Topics covered by the database include actions related to Medicaid, health insurance exchanges, health insurance reform, health information technology, prevention and wellness, providers and workforce, and state challenges and alternatives to the federal law.

Calculating a Superhero’s Income Tax Liability

In its Block Talk blog, tax preparation company H&R Block recently had a little fun comparing the lifestyles of two comic book superheroes, including calculating their estimated tax liability for 2012. The two are billionaire industrialist Bruce Wayne (“Batman”) and freelance news photographer Peter Parker (“Spider-man”).

Block estimates Wayne’s 2012 adjusted gross income (AGI) at $145 million, based on his $102 million salary as CEO of Wayne Enterprises and $43 million in capital gains from stock options. (Wayne ranks 8th on Forbes Magazine’s list of the 15 wealthiest fictional characters, with an estimated net worth of $6.9 billion.)  Parker’s estimated AGI of $50,000 comes from his work as a freelance news photographer.

Based on Block’s very simplified calculations, Wayne’s estimated 2012 federal tax liability is $17 million, an effective tax rate of 11.7%. Wayne’s liability is reduced by a charitable deduction of $72.5 million, based on total 2012 charitable donations of $279 million. (Block originally deducted the entire amount only to hastily revise its calculation after bloggers pointed out that the IRS limits annual charitable deductions to 50% of AGI.) Parker’s estimated federal tax liability is $6,250, an effective tax rate of 12.5%.

If the two lived in Connecticut instead of Gotham City and Forest Hills, N.Y., respectively, Wayne’s state income tax would be $9.58 million, while Parker would owe $2,070. Wayne’s effective Connecticut tax rate would be 6.6% and Parker’s, 4.14%. Neither would be eligible for the maximum $300 property tax credit. Wayne, though he owns an estate worth an estimated $600 million, doesn’t qualify because his CT AGI is too high. Parker would qualify based on AGI, but since lives with his Aunt May and doesn’t have a car, he doesn’t pay property tax. 

Designing Elections to Protect Votes

A new Brennan Center report examines how design flaws in ballots, voting machines, and voter instructions led to thousands of lost votes in the 2008 and 2010 elections. The authors contend that technology (e.g., smartphones and computer tablets) has prompted large segments of the private and public sectors to employ design and usability research to improve customers’ ability to use their products. Yet within elections, progress has been slow, resulting in too many design defects. The report recommends that election officials take the following measures to cure these defects and protect votes in 2012:

1. review lost vote data,
2. create a checklist of design best practices,
3. conduct usability testing, and
4. make voters aware of potential problems.

In addition, the report provides a:

1. ballot design checklist,
2. primer on how ballots are commonly lost (e.g., overvotes and undervotes), and
3. summary of common design and usability issues in 2008 and 2010.

Health Insurance Rebates Expected in Connecticut

The Hartford Courant recently reported that Connecticut employers and individuals will receive $12.95 million in health insurance rebates by August 1, 2012 resulting from the federal health care reform act.  Across all types of health plans, rebates are due to 137,452 Connecticut consumers and the average rebate check will be $168.  Nationally, $1.1 billion in rebates is due on health plans representing 12.8 million Americans, resulting in an average payment of $151.

Under the federal Affordable Care Act, insurers that do not spend a required amount on medical expenses must pay rebates to consumers. For every premium dollar an insurance company receives in revenue for individual and small-group plans, the company must spend 80 cents for medical expenses for customers in those plans. For large groups, the insurer must spend 85 cents of each premium dollar.  This is called the medical loss ratio rule. 

Avoid Scam Promising to Pay Utility Bills

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) recently warned consumers to steer clear of scammers pretending to represent a federal program that helps people pay their utility bills. These scammers tell consumers that they must provide their social security numbers and bank routing numbers over the phone in order to process the payment to the utility company. Consumers are then given a fraudulent bank routing number to pay their utility bill through an automated phone service. Until the utility company recognizes the fake account number, the payment is initially credited to the consumer (who will also receive a payment confirmation notice).  Generally, consumers only realize they have been scammed after the false payments are rescinded.

Blue Lobsters for Dinner?

A recent Associated Press (AP) article reported on an increase in accounts of odd-colored lobsters found in New England and Atlantic Canada fishing grounds. According to the AP, reports of blue, orange, yellow, calico, white, and split lobsters occur each month, but such reports used to be rare. According to Michael Tlusty, the New England Aquarium’s research director, the reason for the increase in colorful lobsters is unknown, but may be due to (1) advances in technology such as cell phone cameras and social media which make sharing pictures easier and (2) an increase in the overall lobster harvest, resulting in the capture of a greater number of these lobsters. The executive director of The Lobster Conservancy, Diane Cowan, also explained that the population of uniquely colored lobsters may have increased because of a decline in predators. These lobsters are unable to blend into the ocean floor like normal colored lobsters and are generally more likely to be a predator target.

Saving Energy (And Money) In State And Municipal Buildings

In July 2012, the departments of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and Administrative Services (DAS) submitted their report to the legislature on the Lead by Example program. The program is designed to help Connecticut reduce energy use in state facilities by 10% by January 1, 2013 and provide support for municipalities to achieve energy reductions in their buildings. The program is supported by a partnership between DEEP, DAS, the Department of Construction Services, Office of Policy and Management, Board of Regents, Office of the Treasurer, Attorney General’s Office, and the program administrators of the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund; no funds are available for outside consultants.

Under the program, $8.3 million in bonding has been committed to 37 energy efficiency projects across the state, with an average payback of 5.45 years. An estimated 75% of these projects, plus additional projects the program funds in the coming months, will be completed by January 2013. These projects will achieve energy reductions that are the annual equivalent of 358,700 fewer gallons of gasoline, 3.5 million pounds of coals, and 322,900 fewer gallons of home heating oil used.

Among other things, the report also describes progress in energy performance contracting, which enables state agencies and municipalities to implement multi-million dollar retrofit projects that are paid through future energy savings and structured to require no upfront capital investment.

Apocalypse Now! (Or How Mexico Has Connecticut Beat When It Comes To “End-Of-The-World“ Tourism Destinations)

Clearly all economic growth would end when the world ends. But that’s not going to stop Mexico from making a buck before December 21, 2012, the day marking the end of the current cycle of the Mayan “Long Count Calendar.” Tapachula, located on Mexico’s border with Guatemala, installed a big digital clock that counts down to that date. The town is not far from Izapa, the archeological site where the “Tree of Life Stone” was discovered during the 1950s.

Cancun and Playa del Carmen already hold their own as top tourist destinations, but that’s not stopping them from cashing in on the end-of-the-world act. If you go these spots, you can put messages and pictures in time capsules that will be buried for 50 years. Looking for a more collective experience? Try the ruins at the large ceremonial centers at Tulum, Palanque, and Chichen, where officials are busy prepping things for the arrival of thousands of expected “apocalypse tourists.”