Gregory B. Hladky
Hartford Courant
Hartford, CT, United States
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Past articles by Gregory:
Connecticut stores are losing their hand-held shopping baskets as plastic bag tax takes effect
One of the unintended consequences of Connecticut’s ban on single-use plastic bags is that stores are now losing their hand-held shopping baskets to people who take them to hold groceries or other goods as they walk to their cars or to home. → Read More
Invasive ticks, insects presenting new threats for humans and deer in Connecticut
A recently arrived disease-carrying tick from down South is spreading through our state, and a fatal deer virus new to Connecticut is being transmitted by gnats. Scientists believe climate change may be responsible for both emerging threats. → Read More
Meet Sena Wazer, the 15-year-old climate change activist and UConn freshman determined to protect the planet
Sena Wazer is a 15-year-old from Mansfield who, like many other young people around the world, is growing increasingly frightened and angry about what unchecked climate change could do to their future. “I’m just going all in,” Wazer said this week in an interview with the Hartford Courant. “I have to push hard. What other choice do I have?” → Read More
Small plane flips on landing at Simsbury Airport
A small aircraft with two people aboard flipped over as it attempted to land at Simsbury Airport Saturday morning, but no serious injuries were reported. The airport was closed for several hours as police and fire officials sought to contain a small fuel leak and to investigate the accident. → Read More
Controversial plan to expand Connecticut’s last major ash landfill toward the Quinebaug River is dividing residents
A controversial proposal to massively expand Connecticut’s last major ash landfill has divided residents of Putnam where the dump is located, raised environmental concerns and created potential financial issues for both the town and the state. → Read More
Expert: Cold overnight temperatures will kill off some EEE mosquitoes
Forecasts that that temperatures in most of Connecticut could fall into the low-to-mid 30’s tonight is good news for residents worried about mosquitoes infected with deadly Eastern equine encephalitis, according to one top state expert. → Read More
Farmington River fish showing high levels of PFAS chemical pollution
Long-awaited test results show “elevated levels” of hazardous PFAS chemicals in fish taken from the Farmington River downstream of a massive June 8 spill of firefighting foam from Bradley International Airport, according to a state official. → Read More
Windsor warns Bradley crash could lead to more PFAS pollution in Farmington River
Windsor town officials warned residents Wednesday that firefighting foam containing the hazardous chemical PFAS that was used to put out a fire at Bradley International Airport could potentially reach the Farmington River.Local officials are worried the large amounts of chemical foam used to extinguish fires around the wreckage of the crashed WW2 bomber could reach sewer lines that would carry… → Read More
State task force recommends legislative action and widespread testing for PFAS chemical contamination
A state task force is recommending that all Connecticut public drinking water systems be regularly tested for hazardous PFAS chemicals and that private wells identified as high risk and all water bottled in this state also be tested for the pollutants. → Read More
Climate change linked to the spread of mosquito-borne viruses like EEE
This year’s outbreak of mosquito-borne Eastern equine encephalitis that has killed two Connecticut residents and three other people in New England fits a pattern that climate change scientists have been predicting for years. → Read More
Connecticut joins coalition suing Trump Administration over Endangered Species Act
Connecticut is joining yet another coalition of states challenging efforts by President Donald Trump’s administration to weaken or roll back environmental protections – this time involving endangered species. → Read More
New England experts: PFAS pollution is extraordinarily widespread and causing increasing concern
More than 100 state regulators, consultants, medical experts, water district officials and environmental activists concerned about how to deal with the growing problem of PFAS attended a recent regional conference. → Read More
Second Connecticut victim dies of Eastern equine encephalitis and officials urge caution
An Old Lyme resident has now become the second person in Connecticut to die this year of the deadly mosquito-borne disease Eastern equine encephalitis and state officials Tuesday urged people to take special precautions around dawn and dusk. → Read More
Norwich, New London restrict evening events in response to EEE threat from mosquitoes
The risks posed by mosquitoes carrying potentially deadly Eastern equine encephalitis convinced Norwich and New London city officials Tuesday to restrict all municipally sponsored evening outdoor activities. → Read More
New “passport to the parks” bringing lots more visitors to state parks
For the second year in a row, estimated attendance at Connecticut state parks and forests increased by double digits this summer and activists say the key reason is the state’s recently enacted “Passport to the Parks” program.“We’ve had back-to-back 10 percent increases and that’s awesome,” Eric Hammerling, executive director of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association. → Read More
Hartford trash-to-energy plant back in operation after another breakdown
The aging regional trash-to-energy plant in Hartford is now back in full operation after another turbine breakdown in June that hampered operations at the facility for nearly two months – the second major malfunction since November 2018. → Read More
Connecticut’s largest saltmarsh to be restored using Superfund money
State and federal officials plan to use more than $1 million from Superfund penalty settlements to restore the largest remaining saltmarsh in Connecticut at the mouth of the Housatonic River in Stratford. → Read More
Everything you need to know about drinking water standards for PFAS chemical pollution
One of the confusing and disturbing things about potentially toxic chemical compounds known as PFAS is that there are currently no legally enforceable federal or state drinking water safety standards for this type of pollution. Here’s what you need to know about drinking water standards for PFAS. → Read More
Chemical industry lobby opposing strong Connecticut action on PFAS pollution
Growing concern about potentially toxic PFAS pollution in Connecticut has brought demands from environmentalists that a new state task force push for tough controls and restrictions over these controversial “forever” chemicals.But strong opposition from the chemical industry helped kill a PFAS-control bill in the 2019 General Assembly. Supporters of that failed measure say they expect the… → Read More
A statewide plastic bag tax takes effect Thursday. Here’s what you need to know before heading to the store.
Starting Thursday, Connecticut shoppers will need to remember to bring reusable bags with them when they go to most stores or they’ll end up paying a 10-cent per bag fee for single-use plastic bags to carry groceries or other items. → Read More