AGP Executive Report

Stage & Screen: TheaterWorks Hartford and Hartford Stage are teaming up for “Sweeney Todd” with Bristol native Matt Faucher, running June 5–July 5, with Sondheim music and lyrics. Streaming Picks: Prime Video added the Connecticut-set thriller “Thoroughbreds,” starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Olivia Cooke. WNBA Spotlight: The Connecticut Sun’s Brittney Griner was fined $500 after a Flagrant 1 in a game vs. Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream, while Reese’s flopping accusations keep swirling. Local Education & Community: Stamford broke ground on the new Westhill High School rebuild (opening Aug. 2029) and Hartford evacuated Breakthrough Magnet School South after an HVAC leak. Pride & History: New Haven’s Closet Tour keeps expanding queer history storytelling across the city. Connecticut Watch: CT AG and Consumer Protection are investigating the Mayor’s Trophy Charitable Fund handling by former New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart.

WNBA & Fashion: Angel Reese kept the spotlight on the Connecticut Sun–Atlanta Dream matchup, showing up in a Givenchy all-pink look that went viral while a late-game tangle with Brittney Griner led to a Flagrant 1 call and Reese’s tumble. Live Music: The Andante String Quartet brings an outdoor concert to the Leroy Anderson House in Woodbury on June 13, featuring works by women composers and free admission (reservations required). Baseball in CT: The Bristol Blues kick off their New England Collegiate Baseball League season Thursday at Muzzy Field with promotions like Bark in the Park and fireworks. Community Arts & History: Middlebury’s Rochambeau Monument Project hits a milestone ahead of its June 27 dedication, with the bronze statue being cast and interpretive signs nearing completion. Local Arts/Community Spotlight: Southern Connecticut State University’s “Barbershop Talks” pop-up model uses free haircuts and conversation to build relationships and mentorship for young men of color on campus.

WNBA Spotlight: The Atlanta Dream beat the Connecticut Sun 91-75 in the first Commissioner’s Cup matchup, with Rhyne Howard scoring 36 and Angel Reese adding 12 points, 13 rebounds and five assists—though the night also turned physical when Brittney Griner was assessed a Flagrant 1 after a clothesline-style foul on Reese’s neck area. Community & Inclusion: Special Olympics Connecticut’s 2026 Summer Games kick off this weekend in the New Haven area, with competitions in cycling, soccer, swimming, tennis and track & field plus free Healthy Athletes screenings. Arts & Culture: Stamford’s Ferguson Library hosted a conversation with Sam Shepard biographer Robert Dowling, spotlighting the playwright/actor’s legacy. Local Events: Windham’s Boom Box Parade will be followed by a July 4 America 250 celebration at Jillson Park featuring music, history and storytelling. Public Safety: Norwalk is cracking down on drivers who don’t yield to pedestrians in crosswalks with $588 fines.

Climate & Courts: Connecticut AG William Tong joined a coalition urging the Federal Judicial Center to reverse its removal of a peer-reviewed climate science guide from the judicial evidence manual. Offshore Wind Fight: Tong also sued the U.S. Department of the Interior to block the cancellation of a TotalEnergies offshore wind lease, arguing it violates federal law and shortchanges Connecticut ratepayers. AI & Kids Online: Gov. Lamont is set to sign a bipartisan law tightening rules for minors’ social media feeds and AI chatbots, including clear AI labeling and suicide/self-harm referrals to 988. Gun Policy Clash: The National Shooting Sports Foundation says it will challenge Connecticut’s new Glock “switch” ban in court. Arts & Culture: A new book spotlights John Constable’s art through the seasons, while Pride Month listings across Connecticut point to a busy calendar of LGBTQ events. Sports Spotlight: Caitlin Clark and coach Stephanie White played down a viral sideline spat as “coaching,” as the Connecticut Sun head to Atlanta for a June 2 matchup.

WNBA Spotlight: Caitlin Clark and coach Stephanie White are insisting their viral sideline spat was “just coaching” and that their relationship is “great,” as Indiana’s loss to Portland keeps fueling debate. Local Arts & Community: Newington Children’s Theatre Company will stage “Miss Nelson Is Missing” June 6–7 as a fundraiser in memory of 12-year-old Regan Martins, with performances featuring dozens of local kids. Connecticut Culture: A Hampton author-artist is set to discuss “Stardust’s Journey” at Fletcher Memorial Library, continuing her dressage-themed children’s series. Sports & CT Connections: The Connecticut Sun’s Hailey Van Lith is back on a development contract after being waived, while UConn adds Arkansas center Elmir Dzafic via the transfer portal. Tech & Safety: Fairfield’s school-zone speed cameras begin issuing fines after a May warning period, and CT officials warn businesses about a spoofing email scam. Cyber/Parenting Watch: State leaders are urging parents to stay alert to online exploitation groups targeting Connecticut teens.

Sports Gambling & Prediction Markets: Courts are weighing whether sports-event contracts on CFTC-regulated exchanges are “swaps” under the Commodity Exchange Act, with early rulings favoring Kalshi’s framing while other courts apply stricter anti-preemption rules. Mental Health Access: Feeling Good Psychotherapy is expanding evidence-based therapy options (including CBT and online care) across New York and surrounding states, including Connecticut, for Mental Health Awareness Month. Cancer Research: ASCO 2026 updates highlight promising cancer vaccine trial results across melanoma, glioblastoma, and head-and-neck cancers, alongside concerns about politicized vaccine funding. Local Arts & Community: Art Night Bristol Warren returns as a grassroots mix of artists, makers, and music across town galleries and public spaces. Connecticut Arts/Entertainment Spotlight: The Righteous Brothers (Bill Medley and Bucky Heard) bring their classic blue-eyed soul to the Warner Theatre in Torrington. Connecticut Business/Tech: Interactive Brokers is integrating AI agent tools via Claude, letting clients connect AI to brokerage accounts for portfolio research and trading actions.

Marilyn Monroe at 100: Stew Leonard’s Wines & Spirits in Newington is hosting a Monday celebration for Monroe’s centennial, with champagne tastings, a Marilyn look-alike contest, and limited-edition bottles. Stadium upgrades: East Hartford’s Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium received $9 million for a new field, scoreboard and LED bowl lighting, plus repairs—aimed at keeping the venue ready for UConn football and major events. Pride across Connecticut: June events are rolling out statewide, with towns including Milford, West Hartford, Glastonbury and Enfield spotlighting community programs and public support. Groton apartment fire: A three-alarm blaze at The Ledges Apartment Homes displaced 47 families; no residents were hurt, but two firefighters were injured. WNBA roster drama: Hailey Van Lith is back with the Connecticut Sun on a developmental contract after being waived, while coach Natalie Nakase discussed health-related rotation limits for Valkyries rookie Juste Jocyte. Food safety reminder: Connecticut officials are urging cottage food makers and shoppers to follow licensing, labeling and safety rules as farmers markets kick off.

WNBA & Local Sports: Hailey Van Lith is back with the Connecticut Sun on a player development contract just days after being waived, limited to 12 games, after averaging 8.1 points in nine appearances. Arts & Theater: Hartford Stage and TheaterWorks Hartford are teaming up for Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd,” running June 5–July 5, with both staffs deeply involved. Live Entertainment: PigPen Theatre Co.’s “Water for Elephants” brings circus arts and puppetry to The Bushnell in Hartford for eight performances. Food & Community: Hanmi Foods opened in New Haven with Korean grab-and-go staples like kimchi, bibimbap and kimbap, selling out fast on busy days. Arts Education/Global Reach: The University of New Haven is set to open a Riyadh campus in Autumn 2026, including business, technology, analytics and sport programs. Public Safety (Food): Connecticut officials are reminding cottage food vendors and shoppers about licensing, labeling and food safety ahead of farmers market season.

Connecticut Pride Organizing: New Haven hosted the Connecticut Pride Summit, bringing together dozens of groups to share safety, organizing know-how, and allyship resources. Arts Leadership: Ilene Frank steps in as the new Executive Director and CEO of the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History, reflecting on the museum’s 200-year legacy and why kids need more history. Theater & Books: Andrew Keenan-Bolger returns to the spotlight with Limelight, a 1996 coming-of-age YA novel drawn from his performing and writing life. Broadway Memoir: Marc Shaiman talks through his memoir Never Mind The Happy, pairing showbiz triumphs with personal stories. Local Festival Spotlight: Bridgeport’s Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church kicks off its annual Greek Festival with food, music, dance, and family activities. Community Journalism Honors: News 12 Connecticut earns two 2026 Edward R. Murrow Awards for Holocaust-era violin restoration and sports remembrance. Norwalk Beach Dining: Luca’s Beach Kitchen opens at Calf Pasture Beach, continuing the area’s music-and-vibes tradition. CT Arts Calendar: A roundup highlights what’s happening in Connecticut arts this week, from major concerts to smaller, local performances.

Connecticut Online Safety Act: Gov. Ned Lamont signed the state’s Online Safety Act, a broad AI and platform rules package with key parts starting Oct. 1, 2026, including duties tied to consumer AI, AI companions, and covered online services. Local Arts & Community: The Connecticut Accordion Orchestra returns to the Congregational Church of Plainville for a free concert Sunday at 3 p.m., featuring classical, jazz, Broadway, and movie themes. CT Conservation Art: A Mansfield 8th grader’s acrylic painting of a goldeneye (“Taking Off From Water”) was selected as Best of Show for the 2027 Connecticut Duck Stamp. Sports on TV/Local Interest: Saturday’s schedule includes WNBA action with Los Angeles at Connecticut (6 p.m.). Fairfield Speed Cameras: Fairfield’s autonomous speed cameras in school zones are rolling out amid debate over safety versus “cash grab” concerns, with officials projecting $3M+ in June revenue for road safety. Media Recognition: RTDNA named regional Murrow Awards winners, advancing to national judging in August.

Privacy & Tech Policy: Gov. Ned Lamont signed a law banning the sale of precise geolocation data, with added limits on “surveillance pricing,” facial recognition, and louder ad delivery. Consumer Safety & Health Coverage: UnitedHealthcare will expand Synapse Health’s role managing durable medical equipment orders for Medicare Advantage members in Connecticut and other states starting Sept. 1, 2026. Local Arts & Schools: Norwalk’s Citywide Student Art Show at Norwalk Art Space spotlights creativity across grade levels, from cut-paper collage to mixed-media sandpaper work. Music & Fashion Culture: Olivia Rodrigo pushed back on backlash over her babydoll dress look, arguing the controversy is really about how people frame younger women’s style. Sports (CT spotlight): The Connecticut Sun waived Hailey Van Lith after nine games, activating Leila Lacan as the team sits at 1-9. Community Arts/Storytelling: North Canaan’s New England Accordion Connection & Museum keeps instrument history alive, including accordions tied to Dachau. Arts-Adjacent Local Media: WSHU highlighted how Connecticut’s arts, food, and walkable coastal towns are being reframed by social media influencers.

Connecticut Sun roster shake-up: Hailey Van Lith was waived again by the Sun, this time to make room for Leila Lacan’s return from France, a move that reshuffles the team just as the season ramps up. Local privacy fight: Connecticut lawmakers are pressing Home Depot and Lowe’s over Automated License Plate Readers used in store parking lots, raising concerns about how plate data is collected and whether it’s shared. Public safety cameras: Fairfield’s speed safety cameras move from a May warning period into citations, with police citing a 33% drop in speeding violations during the notice window. Community spotlight: Waterbury honored foster parent Brenda Russo during National Foster Care Awareness Month for nearly two decades of care, including adopting three children. Arts & culture listings: Greenwich Library’s Flinn Gallery is set to host “extraORDINARY things,” turning everyday objects into art, as part of the area’s ongoing exhibition season. Sports in the spotlight: The Hartford Yard Goats will hand out 1,000 David Ortiz bobbleheads, tying local minor-league fun to a major baseball legacy.

Local Dance & Community: Hamden’s Tia Russell Arts Center (TRAC/TRDS) marked its one-year anniversary with a ribbon cutting and a dance party that drew more than 200 people, including town and state leaders, celebrating a creative “cultural village” built through movement. Photo Exhibit in Hartford: “The Fight to Protect Immigrants in CT” opens as a one-day display Saturday, May 30, featuring youth-led photography and community stories from Hartford Deportation Defense. Modern Dance on Tour: Connecticut-based Momix is set to kick off the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet summer season July 8, part of a lineup that brings three modern dance companies to the Aspen District Theater. Arts in Libraries: Gunn Memorial Library’s Stairwell Gallery will host Marisabel Artieda’s “Here and There” (June 6–Aug. 15), inspired by Connecticut and Peru. WNBA on the CT Radar: The Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark returns to action Thursday vs. Golden State, with Connecticut Sun coverage also in the mix this week. Homeschool Policy Fight: A new Connecticut homeschooling law faces pushback from the Home School Legal Defense Association, which calls for background checks as an overreach.

Local Arts Spotlight: UConn’s William Benton Museum of Art opens “Birds Up Close,” a free summer exhibit running through Aug. 2, featuring more than 30 preserved specimens plus a scientific illustration workshop. Arts & Ideas: A new discussion on Marcel Duchamp zeroes in on how his “readymades” and display choices still wrestle for control long after his death. Sports Meets Culture: The WNBA’s Indiana Fever keeps drawing attention off-court, with Sophie Cunningham and Caitlin Clark sharing a playful practice-court moment that fans can’t stop talking about. Connecticut Community & Safety: The state Department of Consumer Protection reminds shoppers and cottage-food sellers of food safety rules ahead of farmers market season. Policy Watch (Online Safety): Connecticut officials are investigating Roblox over child exploitation concerns, with Attorney General William Tong calling it a “predator’s playground.” Local Sports Business: University of Hartford reports its women’s basketball spending for 2024, showing a sharp drop in Connecticut.

Fitness & Community: FS8, the Pilates–Tone–Yoga concept, hit 100 studios worldwide and announced a new Connecticut opening in Stamford as part of its U.S. expansion. Local Arts & History: Woodbury Public Library hosts “Women and Their Wardrobes During New England’s Revolution,” an experiential program with costumed historians and fabric samples on June 2. Music & Performance: Great Hill United Methodist Church in Seymour holds a free Open Mic Night and Bluegrass Jam on June 1, with an open bluegrass jam and a featured troubadour-led evening. Arts Education: Chabad Lubavitch of Northwest Connecticut opens registration for its Southbury Hebrew School (2026–2027), with hands-on learning, music, and holiday programming. Sports Spotlight: Staples repeats as FCIAC boys basketball top team, while Bristol Eastern girls lacrosse advances to defend its CCC South title after a late surge. Food Safety: A specialty beverage recall includes boba tea and other mixes distributed in Connecticut due to possible salmonella contamination.

Roblox Crackdown: Connecticut Attorney General William Tong launched a state investigation into Roblox after reports of child exploitation, demanding records tied to Connecticut users and probing what the company knew, when it knew it, and how it profited—plus whether a Roblox game tried to recreate the Sandy Hook shooting. Online Safety Push: The move lands amid a broader fight over federal kids’ online bills, with Connecticut joining other states and AGs urging Congress to reject the KIDS Act in favor of stronger “duty of care” approaches. State Budget Momentum: Gov. Ned Lamont signed the FY 2027 budget, boosting education and municipal aid while keeping taxes steady. Public Health Fallout: A New Jersey cheese maker pleaded guilty over adulterated queso fresco tied to a multistate listeria outbreak that sickened people in multiple states, including Connecticut. Arts & Community: The Nutmeg Symphony Orchestra brought “Hello Haydn” to Bristol’s Barnes Chapel, and the Garden of Dreams Talent Show returns to Radio City with kids performing despite serious challenges.