Connecticut Network to Cover Governor’s Inauguration
and Legislature’s Opening Day
Connecticut’s Old State to Host Free Public Viewing
Hartford, CT – Dramatic change is coming to Connecticut - a new governor, a new legislative session and the start of one of the most difficult budget years in history. Watch it begin as the Connecticut Network brings you live, uninterrupted coverage of Inauguration Day and the Legislature’s Opening Session. Hosted by CT-N’s Diane Smith, the coverage will begin at 9 a.m. and will cover the House of Representatives’ and Senate’s opening sessions, the inaugural parade, swearing-in ceremonies and Governor Malloy’s Inaugural Address. The public is invited to watch the live coverage in a building with history of its own as Connecticut’s Old State House will host a free public viewing from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on a large screen in the courtroom.
Throughout the day, Smith will be joined by legislative leadership, new constitutional officers and members of the Malloy administration. Returning commentators throughout the day are retiring legislators Sen. Jonathan Harris and State Rep. Bill Hamzy and Connecticut Mirror reporters Mark Pazniokas and Keith Phaneuf. Also joining Smith at the Capitol will be Former First Lady Nikki O’Neill and Gov. Jodi M. Rell’s staff to discuss the transition that Malloy’s administration will be faced with.
Connecticut’s Old State House was the state’s seat of government from 1796 to 1878 when the legislature moved to its current building on Capitol Ave. Now, the Old State House operates as a history museum and democracy center. Through living history, exhibits, historically-restored rooms, lunchtime lectures and special programs, the Old State House explores the past and connects it to our future. In 2011, the Old State House will join other museums across the state in honoring the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Visit www.ctoldstatehouse.org for information about these upcoming events and more.
As the regular work of session begins, much of it will initiate in the committee process; legislation will be drafted and discussed, public hearings held, and decisions made on what items will be sent to the House and Senate floors for debate. As always, CT-N will cover meetings and hearings of all legislative committees on a regular basis, as well as provide gavel-to-gavel coverage of all House and Senate sessions continuing through the closing day of this session on June 8, 2011. Many of these events will also be carried live.
At the same time, CT-N will continue regular coverage of the executive and judicial branches, as well as Capitol Report – CT-N’s weekly highlights program –that turns its attention to the legislative session as well. Coverage of miscellaneous public policy and public interest events will round out the network’s programming lineup.
CT-N is available full-time on U-Verse Channel 83 and on expanded basic cable statewide. Visit ct-n.com to find the channel location for the network in your community or to watch online. All Connecticut Network programming is closed captioned for the hearing impaired.
Winner of the 2007 Helen M. Loy Freedom of Information Award and national Sunshine Award from the Society of Professional Journalists, Connecticut Network is the state’s source for complete and balanced television and webcast coverage of state government and public affairs. CT-N is managed and operated by the Connecticut Public Affairs Network, Inc., a nonprofit company founded to educate citizens about state government. For more information, become a fan of CT-N on Facebook, follow the network at www.twitter.com/CTNetworkTV or visit CT-N’s website at www.ct-n.com.
Located in Hartford just minutes from the Connecticut Science Center, Wadsworth Athenaeum and the riverfront, Connecticut’s Old State House invites visitors of all ages to discover that their voices matter, and that words, ideas, persuasion and debate really can change minds – and, quite possibly, the world. The building served as the Constitution State’s original seat of government from 1796 to 1878. For more information on admission prices, upcoming events and parking discounts nearby, become a fan of Connecticut’s Old State House on Facebook, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CTOldStateHouse or visit us online at www.ctoldstatehouse.org.
