Connecticut

NEW DELHI — Officials said the second strong earthquake in two days has shaken India’s Andaman Islands.

The Indian Meteorological Department said the magnitude 6.1 quake hit Saturday evening about 95 miles southwest of the Andaman capital, Port Blair.

It said no tsunami alert was issued and no injuries or damage were reported.

A day earlier, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck about 75 miles southwest of Port Blair. Police said no damage or injuries were reported.

The remote islands off India’s east coast were badly damaged by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

WASHINGTON — Presidential rivals Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama are seeking the support of Hispanic voters, beginning a courtship with a pivotal constituency that will span the next four months.

The two have been making back-to-back speeches to some 700 Hispanics attending the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials conference in Washington Saturday.

McCain spoke first and said that comprehensive immigration reform, coupled with border security, “will be my top priority yesterday, today and tomorrow.”

Obama is making the first of three major speeches to Hispanic organizations in less than a month. He has plans to speak to two other major Hispanic groups in July. (Read the full post about ‘Obama, McCain Campaign For Hispanic Vote’…)

BEIJING — Chinese media said Tropical Storm Fengshen has killed at least 14 people in southern China.

The storm hit China this past week after killing at least 540 people in the Philippines.

Chinese authorities said the storm destroyed more than 1,200 houses and damaged roads, crops and power lines in Guangdong province, which abuts Hong Kong.

The government’s Xinhua News Agency said Saturday that 14 people were killed and nine others were missing, but gave no details. (Read the full post about ‘Chinese Gov’t Says 14 Dead In Fengshen Storm’…)

PIEDRAS NEGRAS, Mexico — The first of 400,000 trees are being planted in northern Mexico to form a “green wall” along the border.

It’s a protest against the huge fence the United States is building along the border.

The treeline will eventually stretch for 318 miles along the border between Mexico and Texas.

The governor of the Mexican border state said the trees will be a “wall of life” in contrast to what he said is the U.S. wall of “shame and hate.”

Washington said the border fence is critical to U.S. security. Critics said it fuels animosity between the two countries and raises environmental and private property concerns.

The mayor of a Texas border town attended Friday’s tree planting in the town of Piedras Negras. (Read the full post about ‘Mexicans Plant Trees To Protest Border Fence’…)

You can read about the Prescott Bush dinner over at The Everyday Republican.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is the headliner tonight. He’s one of the names most mentioned as a possible running mate for John McCain. You can read a little more about him at Capitol Watch.

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Bill Murray and his wife of nearly 11 years are divorced.Documents filed in Charleston County in South Carolina show that a judge approved a divorce agreement on June 13, barely a month after Jennifer Butler Murray, wife of the 57-year-old actor-comedian, filed divorce papers.Under the agreement, the couple’s four children will live with their mother. Bill Murray will have visitation rights and will pay child support.Jennifer Murray also will get the couple’s home on Sullivans Island, S.C., and their second house in Hemet, Calif. Other documents were sealed at the couple’s request.Messages left for attorneys for the Murrays weren’t immediately returned.The court papers were first obtained by the Web site TMZ.com. (Read the full post about ‘Bill Murray’s Divorce Finalized’…)

Well, not all of it. 22 miles of it, from Greenwich to Bridgeport.

I am in general a fan of walking, and the longer the walk the better I like it. So I like this.

Here’s where he’ll be stopping (letters correspond to locations on map below):

7:00 AM: Greenwich - Start (16 Hassake Road) A
8:00 AM: Stamford - Rinaldi’s Deli (872 East Main St.) B
9:15 AM: Darien - Mama Carmela’s Italian Deli (1981 Post Road) C
10:30 AM: Darien - Uncle’s Deli (1041 Post Road) D
12:45-1:45 PM: South Norwalk - “Unite for Change” BBQ (Ryan Park, Day St.

(Read the full post about ‘Himes to Walk Across District’…)

As many of you already know, there will be a question on the ballot this November asking whether or not Connecticut should hold a constitutional convention. This is mandated by the constitution itself. Every twenty years, this question is asked. In 1986, the answer voters delivered was no.

And the Secretary of the State thinks that should be the answer again this time.

“As chief elections official for the state of Connecticut, it is my duty to inform voters that this question will appear on the ballot,” said Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz, “however, in my opinion, a convention to amend our state Constitution is not necessary. I support our constitution as written.

(Read the full post about ‘Bysiewicz: No Constitutional Convention Necessary’…)

According to this page, Bradley Airport is one of many that could find itself losing service due to rising fuel costs.

The first thing to go? Nonstop service to the west coast.

Come September, the Hartford Courant is going to be a lot trimmer, with fewer pages devoted to news and fewer reporters to report it.

The cuts were announced today. Here’s the highlights:

Nearly 60 jobs will be eliminated, most by July 31, as The Courant reduces its newsroom staff from 232 to about 175.
[…]
The number of pages devoted to news in The Courant will fall to 206 a week, from 273. At the end of September, the newspaper will roll out sweeping changes in design and presentation, including possible combinations of some sections. Those changes are still being worked out.

According to the memo sent to staff today, buyouts will be offered to all news staff.

(Read the full post about ‘Courant Announces Cuts’…)