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Senator Christopher J. Dodd, the embattled Connecticut Democrat who was facing an increasingly tough bid for a sixth term in the United States Senate, has decided not to seek re-election this year, Democrats familiar with his plans said Wednesday. Mr. Dodd, 65, a pivotal figure in the major debates now confronting Congress, is to announce his decision at a news conference Wednesday afternoon in Connecticut. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In a surprise setback for Democratic leaders, Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, independent of Connecticut, said on Sunday that he would vote against the health care legislation in its current form. The bill's supporters had said earlier that they thought they had secured Mr. Lieberman's agreement to go along with a compromise they worked out to overcome an impasse within the Democratic Party. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

As the Senate geared up for its first full weekend of debate on the health care legislation, lawmakers made plans to break from the rituals of governing to allow time for the rituals of religion. Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, independent of Connecticut and an observant Jew, was prepared to vote on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, following his longtime custom when it comes to important issues, said a spokesman, Marshall Wittmann. Mr. Lieberman would walk to the Capitol, not drive. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Senate Select Committee on Ethics on Friday cleared two senior Democrats of receiving improper discounts on mortgages from Countrywide Financial, the home lending giant. The senators -- Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut, chairman of the banking committee and Kent Conrad of North Dakota, chairman of the Budget Committee -- had come under scrutiny after it was disclosed in June 2008 that they had been part of the ''Friends of Angelo'' V.I.P. program, named for Angelo R. Mozilo, Countrywide's chief executive. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

AS Senate Democrats consider whether, and how, to punish Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut for his ardent support of John McCain, perhaps by stripping him of his chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, some Democrats back in Connecticut have a more basic request: They want Mr. Lieberman to change his voter registration and resign from the party once and for all. Mr. Lieberman, who was Al Gore's running mate in 2000, lost the Democratic Senate primary in 2006 and ran for re-election as an independent. But as a voter, he never left the party. In the Senate, he has continued to caucus with the Democrats, even as he repeatedly voted against them on issues relating to the Iraq war and national security, and became one of the top supporters of Mr. McCain's presidential bid. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article offers news briefs in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. New York City Education Department would pay about 24 million dollars for the additional busing costs of student who attends an after-school tutoring to be effective in February 2006. New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine made a decision to call for a special election in spring to fill the vacant Congressional position left by Representative Robert Mendez. Anthony Autorino, a prominent developer in Connecticut who was accused of fraudulently getting a duplicate stock certificates and selling stocks already used as collateral in another deal, was acquitted.

Discusses the implications of the budget deficit in Connecticut for the job security of employees.

Reports that Connecticut legislative leaders and Governor John Rowland decided to close the state's budget gap. Plans to increase taxes and impose spending cuts; How Rowland postponed his annual budget address; Suggestion that the budget plan will raise the personal income tax rate to five percent; Key components of the budget package; Feelings from Connecticut residents with regard to the tax increase.

Reports on revenue miscalculation that forced the Connecticut General Assembly to delay a vote on a plan to balance the state's budget in January 2003.

Reports on job layoffs among state employees in Connecticut according to Governor John G. Rowland as of January 2003.

Reports the bail issued by a judge in Connecticut on December 31, 2002 for a man with a history of drug-dealing convictions.

Deals with the support given by the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut to the efforts of an American Indian group to build a casino in the city.

Deals with the investigation into the death of a newborn child in Stamford, Connecticut.

Announces that three Roman Catholic priests in Connecticut have resigned in response to accusations of sexual abuse. Resignation of Reverend Sherman Gray, Reverend Albert McGoldrick, and Reverend Robert Morrissey; Response of laity in the towns of Stamford, Greenwich, and Ridgefield; Role of Bishop William Lori of the Bridgeport Diocese.

Reports that the Connecticut state employees' unions and the state administration have resumed negotiations on union contract concessions.

Evaluates the decision of Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland to impose a millionaire's tax. Annoyance of wealthy residents in Fairfield County, Connecticut; Effect of the tax on people in Darien, Connecticut; Possibility that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will tax commuters; Complaints because Rowland had pledged to eliminate the state income tax.

Reports on the plan of Governor John G. Rowland of Connecticut to close the state's budget gap.

Reports that Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland has fulfilled a promise to lay off government workers whose unions refused to make concessions he claims were needed to balance the state budget. Numbers of workers affected; Reaction of union officials; Details of the troubled finances of Connecticut; Forecast that he will impose a tax increase.

Reports on court documents that include detailed evidence and incriminating statements by eight men and women charged in the rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl in New Milford,Connecticut, unsealed by a judge on November 6, 2002.

Reports on the economic growth of Stamford City in Connecticut, based on a census data released on August 13, 2002.

Discusses the opening of a courthouse in Stamford, Connecticut. The numerous delays in construction since the courthouse was first proposed; Conditions of the old courthouse; Reactions of lawyers, judges and other employees; Features of the completed courthouse.

Reports on the decision of a federal appeals court to overturn a lower court ruling that opened primary ballot to any registered voter affiliated with a political party in Connecticut.

Discusses implications of the withdrawal of the lawsuit filed by Bridgeport Hospital in Connecticut against man whose wife died from an infection contracted during cardiac surgery at the hospital.

Reports that Connecticut's Bureau of Indian Affairs has granted federal recognition to the Eastern Pequot and Paucatuck Eastern Pequot tribes on June 24, 2002, which offers them access to government benefits and economic opportunities.

Details how the jurors in the Martha Moxley murder trial in Connecticut came to a guilty verdict against Michael Skakel. View that their method of sifting through evidence was similar to a corporate decision-making session; Topics of Skakel's alibi, the jurors' concern of acting according to law, witness testimony, and the closing arguments; Comments made by the jurors, who are characterized as a well-educated group, after the trial.

Reports that Michael C. Skakel was convicted of the murder of Martha Moxley, 27 years after her death, by a jury in Norwalk, Connecticut. How Skakel, a nephew of Ethel Kennedy's, faces a sentence of up to life in prison; Skakel's reaction to the verdict; Comments of the victim's mother, Dorthy Moxley; Response of defense lawyer Michael Sherman; Role of lead prosecutor Jonathan C. Benedict and his co-counsels; Background on the case, in which Skakel was tried as an adult.

Offers a look at the evidences used by prosecutors to convince the jury in Connecticut on Michael C. Skakel's role in the murder of Martha Moxley.

Presents the closing arguments in the Norwalk, Connecticut trial of Michael C. Skakel, who is charged with the 1975 killing of Martha Moxley. Arguments of state prosecutors, who accused Skakel and his family of thwarting investigators; Background on the trial, in which Skakel is being tried as an adult; Lead prosecutor Jonathan C. Benedict's closing remarks; Issues addressed by Michael Sherman, Skakel's defense lawyer.

Reports that Andrea Shakespeare Renna, a prosecution witness in Connecticut who disputed Michael C. Skakel's alibi for the night Martha Moxley was killed in 1975 was called back to stand by the defense on May 24, 2002.

Presents updates on the murder trial of Michael C. Skakel in Connecticut, as of May 22, 2002.

Reports on testimony of two witnesses in the trial charging Michael C. Skakel with the 1975 murder of Martha Moxley in Connecticut. Both Andrew Pugh and Michael Meredith saying that Skakel denied killing Moxley, but admitted to masturbating in a tree outside the Moxley home on the night of her death; Speculation about the impact of their testimony on jurors; Background on the case.

Highlights the testimony heard on May 15, 2002 at the trial facing Michael C. Skakel in Connecticut over the alleged murder of Martha Moxley.

Reports on the trial of Michael C. Skakel on charge of murder in Norwalk, Connecticut on May 10, 2002.

Reports that prosecution witness Andrea Shakespeare disputed the alibi of Michael C. Skakel, suspect in the killing of Martha Moxley in Connecticut in 1975.

Reports on the controversy surrounding the bonuses paid to the mayor and top city officials of Bridgeport, Connecticut, for not taking any sick days, as of May 2002.

Reports that lawyers for 'The New York Times' and 'The Hartford Courant' newspapers urged a judge to officially unseal confidential court records related to more than two dozen lawsuits involving Connecticut priests who were accused of sexually abusing children.

Reports on the silence of Cardinal Edward Egan on the public disclosure of court records related to his handling of sexual abuse allegations against priests while he was bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Description of court documents; Failure of Egan to act decisively against priests; Issue of sex abuse by clergy members in the United States.

Reports that the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut, has begun levying property taxes against nonprofit charitable groups on January 4, 2002.

Reports on the refusal of the Connecticut Supreme Court for an appeal made by alleged killer Michael C. Skakel in relation to the Martha Moxer murder case in Connecticut on November 19, 2001.

Reports on the interfaith service conducted on August 26, 2001 by residents in Waterbury, Connecticut, to help the city recover from the arrest of city Mayor Philip A. Giordano in July 2001.

Focuses on the decision of state officials in Connecticut to suspend ticket sales for the Powerball lottery jackpot in the city of Greenwich on August 24, 2001.

Reports on the suspension of the sales of Powerball multistate lottery tickets in Greenwich, Connecticut on August 24, 2001.

Presents update on the murder trial of Michael C. Skakel in Stamford, Connecticut, as of August 16, 2001.

Reports on the refusal of Judge Alan H. Nevas to grant bail to Connecticut Mayor Philip A. Giordano on charges of luring a child for sex.

Reports the telephone call made by imprisoned Philip A. Giordano, mayor of Waterbury, Connecticut, to his office on August 3, 2001.

Focuses on reaction to a Connecticut State Supreme Court ruling that struck down the residents-only beach policy of the town of Greenwich. Comments of residents; Reason for the decision; Possibility that the judgment will be appealed by the town.

Reports that Connecticut's State Supreme Court ruled on July 26, 2001 that the residents-only policy for the town beach of Greenwich violated both the federal and state Constitutions.

Reports on the move of the Hartford Police Department in Connecticut to step up their efforts to reduce crime rate in the area.

Reports that stockbroker Frank W. Sullivan pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge, in relation to a municipal corruption case in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Reports the guilty plea of asbestos removal contractor Brian Brannon for defrauding the city of Bridgeport in Connecticut by inflating fees for his services on July 13, 2001 in connection with the federal investigation in municipal corruption.