Connecticut's unemployment rate is at a 17-year low. The state has stockpiled $1.2 billion in its budget reserve fund. But it's still not in a position to go on anything resembling a spending spree.

This week, we take stock of the positive, and less than positive, indicators of the state's fiscal health, and what they could mean for forthcoming state budget negotiations.

Also factoring into the equation is federal funding. President Donald Trump issued his budget proposal this week. While it may be good news for Connecticut's defense industry, it's distressing to those relying on Medicare, Medicaid, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. We look at who stands to gain and lose the most.

And we discuss renewed calls for a public option health plan, bills to news-bags-bottles-environment-hearing-20190311-xci224w7anhkfjmkej6el3upbm-story.html">ban plastic bags, and the unfolding soccer-coach-implicated-in-college-admission-13682117.php">college admissions scandal that includes Yale University.

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