Hartford News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!

The State of Working America report reveals a staggering statistic: nearly one-third of working adults, or fifty-three million people, earn less than fifteen dollars an hour, struggling to afford basic necessities. This issue is prevalent in states like Florida, Mississippi, and New Mexico, with high percentages of low-wage jobs. Many of these workers are adults, often women and people of color, in sectors like retail and healthcare. The study suggests policies like raising the minimum wage and strengthening unions could help alleviate this financial strain, highlighting a critical challenge facing millions of families.

New Study Links Tire Chemical to Coho Salmon Deaths: A toxic substance found in car tires, six PPD quinone, has been discovered to be highly lethal to coho salmon. This chemical, created when a tire preservative reacts with ozone, is now linked to the mysterious deaths of these fish in urban streams for decades. Researchers hope this discovery will lead to safer tire alternatives and new regulations, protecting these vital fish populations and their ecosystems.

OpenAI forms a new safety and security committee, led by CEO Sam Altman, to review and recommend measures for their AI projects. This move follows the departure of key safety researchers and the disbandment of the superalignment team, addressing concerns about the companys commitment to safe AI development. The committee will have ninety days to provide initial recommendations, with the full board reviewing them and sharing an overview publicly.

Waterbury, Connecticut, faces a severe water crisis following a major water main break, leaving 60% of the city without potable water. Mayor Pernerewski announced progress but no definitive restoration timeline. Schools closed due to safety concerns. The city distributed over 75,000 gallons of bottled water and plans to resume distribution on Tuesday. Safe drinking water may not return until Wednesday, following thorough testing. Residents should expect discolored water and flush their lines. Restaurants advised to remain closed or use alternative water sources.

UConn mens basketball, led by coach Dan Hurley, faces off against Butler in their Big East opener, a team theyve never lost to. UConn boasts a championship-caliber roster with only one loss, while Butler, led by Finley Bizjack and Michael Ajayi, is stronger than expected. UConns Alex Karaban will guard Ajayi, and the Huskies emphasize the importance of defense and rebounding. Coach Hurley highlights areas for improvement, and UConn aims to refine their game as the Big East season begins.

Google unveils Gemini one point five Pro, a major update to its AI model with a massive context window. This new version can process up to one million tokens of information, enabling it to analyze an hour of video, eleven hours of audio, or over thirty thousand lines of code. The initial release is available to developers and enterprise customers, with a smaller version for broader use. Google demonstrated the models capabilities by having it analyze a seventy-five-minute silent film, accurately identifying key events and details. This advancement marks a significant moment in AI development, opening up exciting possibilities for various applications.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont allocates $5.2M from state fund to address homelessness funding gap caused by federal HUD cuts. The state plans to apply for more federal funding in January, but details are uncertain. Thousands rely on these grants for housing, with existing funds set to expire at year-end.

Former Tax Evader, David Adams, Sentenced to Additional Prison Time for Violating Release Conditions

A new study predicts a nearly threefold increase in global dementia cases by 2050, driven by population growth and aging. Key risk factors include high BMI, high blood sugar, and smoking. The study highlights regional differences, with Asia and Africa expected to see the largest increases. However, improving education levels could reduce cases by over six million globally. The findings emphasize the urgent need for governments and healthcare systems to prepare for this growing health crisis.