AGP Executive Report

WNBA Spotlight: Olivia Miles shattered Caitlin Clark’s rookie scoring record as the Minnesota Lynx edged the Connecticut Sun 101-89 at Mohegan Sun, with Miles pouring in 21 points and setting the new mark while the Sun hit a season-high 15 threes. CT Arts & Culture: Stamford’s Cavalier Galleries marks its 40th anniversary, looking back at four decades of expanding from a small downtown space into a multi-location contemporary art presence. Local Stage: Goodspeed Opera House staged the world premiere of “The Snow Goose,” a new production drawing attention for its fresh take on the classic story. Media & Policy: Connecticut AG William Tong is pushing to preserve the independence of CNN and CBS News as Paramount nears an antitrust settlement over its Warner Bros. Discovery merger—though some Democratic states, including CT, are still holding out. Sports Business Watch: A New York Times investigation says DraftKings used an AI “elasticity” score to target customers most likely to lose money on promotions, raising fresh concerns about predatory gambling tactics.

Hollywood Antitrust: Mark Ruffalo urged California AG Rob Bonta not to settle the state-led effort to block Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery’s $111B merger, as a Oct. 1 “ticking fee” deadline adds pressure. Telehealth Scrutiny: The FTC says telehealth firms like Hims & Hers used deceptive tactics, including health-data sharing and hard-to-cancel subscriptions, as regulators pursue more consumer-protection cases. WNBA in CT: The Minnesota Lynx visit the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena Sunday (1 p.m., NBCS-BOS/Victory+), with Olivia Miles and Natasha Howard highlighted for Minnesota. UConn Football: UConn routed Southern Miss 48-20 behind Kalieb Osborne’s big passing day and rushing scores. Local Sports Culture: CCSU volleyball players alleged racist heckling at Fairfield, including use of George Floyd’s name; Fairfield says it’s reviewing the incident. Arts & Community: The Big E’s “17 days of magic” gets a behind-the-scenes look at the people and traditions that power the fair.

WNBA Spotlight (CT): Angel Reese powered the Atlanta Dream to a 103-59 rout of the Connecticut Sun, scoring 30 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in just 25 minutes, while Rhyne Howard broke the Dream’s single-season 3-point mark. Local Sports (CT): Central Connecticut State volleyball player Breanna Ginley says Fairfield fans used racist heckling—including “George Floyd”—and Fairfield is reviewing the incident after her account went public. Arts & Community (CT): Sacred Heart University Community Theatre launches “Music in Context,” pairing concerts with humanities-style discussions; the series begins this weekend with Sonia De Los Santos. Arts (CT): Marion Art Center will exhibit Pamela Dorris DeJong and Sky Hoyt from Sept. 26–Oct. 30, with a reception Saturday. What to Do (CT): The 106th Durham Fair runs Sept. 24–27, featuring a Queen tribute band Friday and Tyler Hubbard Saturday. Arts & Culture (CT): A new High Museum show, “I SPY! Walter Wick’s Hidden Wonders,” spotlights Hartford-born photographer Walter Wick and his legacy in children’s book art. Sports Calendar (CT): The weekend also brings major college football on TV, plus a Sunday WNBA slate that includes the Minnesota Lynx at the Connecticut Sun.

Appalachian Music & Local Culture: Boone native Sammy Osmond and his band, Sammy Osmond and The No-Hellers, recorded a new album inside the historic Todd Mercantile—turning the venue into a one-of-a-kind studio moment tied to Doc Watson memories. WNBA Spotlight (Connecticut): Olivia Miles’ rookie surge and the Connecticut Sun’s playoff push collide as Minnesota Lynx visit Uncasville, with Miles’ playmaking and scoring framed as a key storyline. Community Arts & Poetry: Willimantic marks the 25th anniversary of Julia de Burgos Park with a Sept. 26 celebration featuring remarks, poetry readings, live music, and Puerto Rican and Mexican food. Theater in Connecticut: Goodspeed Opera House stages a world premiere of “The Snow Goose,” with a review noting how the production lands. Music Releases: Burlington folk duo Cricket Blue expands its sound with “Sweet Animal,” a double album built around death, grief, love, and recurring motifs. Public Life & Planning (Arts-adjacent): Old Lyme draws 260 residents to zoning workshops on Halls Road rules—showing how local decisions shape what communities can build and host.

WNBA & Eligibility Fight: A House letter to WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert renews the debate over who should be eligible to play, with lawmakers citing player and fan safety and arguing the league should stay limited to biological women. Connecticut Arts & Culture: Yale-area author Leigh Bardugo brought her “Dead Beat” book talk to Trinity Church on the Green, tying her dark-academia magic to real New Haven places. CT Tourism (Spooky): Gov. Ned Lamont and tourism officials unveiled the Connecticut Haunted History Trail, linking more than 130 haunted landmarks and witch-trial lore across the state for Halloween season. Offshore Wind (Regional Arts-Adjacent): Revolution Wind completed installation of its final turbine, a milestone for Rhode Island and Connecticut power plans. CT Sports Leadership: SCSU named Alice Sauriol team captain for 2026-27, with the Huskies opening against UConn. Local Arts Spotlight: A Connecticut River photo exhibit, “Slow, Down River,” is on display at Greenfield Community Television through September. Music News (CT): Black Rock band The GIVE announced a reunion and 2026 re-releases of four albums.

WNBA Spotlight: Angel Reese returned from the FIBA World Cup break and powered the Atlanta Dream to a 103-59 rout of the Connecticut Sun, scoring 30 points with 10 rebounds. The night also brought Rhyne Howard’s WNBA single-season 3-point record (129), plus Reese’s WNBA-record 30th double-double. Theater & Touring: Tony winner J. Harrison Ghee stepped down from the national tour of Oh, Mary! for health reasons, with John-Andrew Morrison taking over—starting with the tour’s Hartford stop this weekend. Local Arts Calendar: Norwalk’s Rowayton Arts Center hosts the free “RAC Masters” exhibition through Oct. 10, and the weekend lineup also includes family-friendly music and story events like “Tunes and Tales.” Arts Policy & Tech: Connecticut cities are moving ahead with noise enforcement cameras, raising new questions about how vehicle sound violations are handled. Connecticut Civic Life: Sen. Chris Murphy introduced a bill to bar ICE enforcement at playgrounds, child care sites, and school bus stops after Danbury raids.

Connecticut Arts & Community: A mystery Red Sox fan video is still being hunted after a Fenway Park proposal went viral—now the couple is asking the internet to identify the stranger who filmed the moment. Arts & Entertainment (Music): Hans Zimmer is bringing his “Hans Zimmer Live – The Next Level” arena show to Hartford in February 2027, with a rave-style, electronic-and-lighting spectacle built for big venues. Sports as Culture (CT): UConn women’s basketball released its full 2026-27 schedule, including major home games at Gampel Pavilion and PeoplesBank Arena. Local Impact: Connecticut’s AG William Tong announced a multistate settlement with auto lender Credit Acceptance, sending $694 million toward consumer relief—plus Connecticut’s share and protections for borrowers. CT Watch: Danbury school officials say ICE raids are driving up student absences, with nearly 700 students reported absent daily. Legal/Policy: Connecticut regulators moved against prediction markets tied to sports-event contracts, ordering platforms to stop.

WNBA & Local Sports: The Connecticut Sun (10-30) head to Atlanta to face the Dream (26-14) on Sept. 17, with the game airing on WANF/Peachtree Sports Network and streaming via Victory+ and League Pass. College Sports Policy: The Senate advanced the Protect College Sports Act, aiming to set federal rules for eligibility, compensation, transfers, and realignment—an issue Connecticut lawmakers have been closely watching. CT Tourism & History: Gov. Lamont and tourism officials launched the Connecticut Haunted History Trail, linking 130+ haunted sites, paranormal lore, and witch-trial history across nine categories. Music & Performance: Westerly High’s marching band debuts “Nocturna,” a theatrical halftime show blending romantic-era ballet, music, and fairy tales. Film in Mystic: The Mystic Film Festival returns for its ninth year (Sept. 24-27) with 131 films, workshops, panels, and a Lifetime Achievement Award for actor William Sadler. Community Arts/Events: Willimantic’s 3rd Thursday glow-in-the-dark festival celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with free salsa lessons and Latin music ensembles. Literary News: Annie Dillard, author of “Pilgrim at Tinker Creek,” died at 81.

Rural Health Boost: Four rural Connecticut hospitals—Charlotte Hungerford, Day Kimball, Sharon and Windham—are splitting $46 million in federal grants to expand imaging, telehealth and transport, with extra support for technical help statewide. Utility Rates: AG William Tong says PURA’s final decision locks in lower natural gas rates for Connecticut Natural Gas and Southern Connecticut Gas, after years of fights over rate hikes. Privacy Rules: Tong also outlines new Connecticut consumer privacy rights starting Oct. 1, covering AI, facial recognition, genetic data, surveillance pricing and data brokers. Community Memory Care: Southern Connecticut State University’s Memory Café returns through Nov. 17, pairing dementia-friendly social and creative activities with caregiver support. Arts & Local Culture: A Connecticut artist’s studio show at Hunt Library’s ArtWall in Falls Village spotlights Danielle Mailer’s pattern-driven paintings and garden art, plus community-facing costume work. Music & CT Connection: A Hartford recording session celebrates Laura Nyro’s legacy, framing her as a Connecticut-raised creative force. Pop Culture Apology: Sheryl Lee Ralph issues an apology after comments at the 2026 Emmys red carpet were seen as dismissive. Metallica in CT: The band’s 2027 M72 tour adds two Mohegan Sun dates in Uncasville (Nov. 19 and 21).

Mystic Film Festival: The ninth annual Mystic Film Festival returns Sept. 24–27 with 131 films, plus workshops, panels, and an awards night at Mystic Luxury Cinemas; actor William Sadler gets the Lifetime Achievement Award. Local Arts & Culture: Afarine Rahmanifar’s exhibition is now on display at Jorgensen, adding to a busy week of Connecticut gallery programming. Theater Spotlight: A Moon for the Misbegotten lands in Connecticut with a farm-set drama that’s being praised for its emotional intensity and demanding lead roles. Music in CT: Take 800 brings live music to Quinnipiac and builds a campus audience with regular shows around Connecticut and beyond. Sports Meets Community: The Connecticut Sun heads to Atlanta after Aaliyah Edwards’ big scoring night, while Connecticut’s college-sports debate heats up as Sen. Chris Murphy criticizes a Protect College Sports Act push. Tech & Privacy: Connecticut moves to curb “surveillance” pricing that uses personal data, with new checkout notice requirements coming online. Cricket Development: Delhi Capitals Cricket Academy expands in Plainville, Connecticut, deepening its North American youth pathway.

CT Tourism & Food: Connecticut is rolling out the TV-to-Table Trail, a culinary tourism campaign launching Oct. 5 with celebrity chef Scott Conant, spotlighting restaurants and chefs featured on national TV shows like “Chopped” and “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” plus a contest for one winner to join Conant as a guest judge. Art in Connecticut: At UConn’s Jorgensen Center, “Afarin Rahmanifar: Flesh and Fable” opens now and runs through Oct. 16, exploring memory and identity through layered mixed-media work. Local Exhibits: The Marion Art Center will debut a new show Sept. 26–Oct. 30 featuring Pamela Dorris DeJong and Sky Hoyt. Community Sports Honors: The Riverhead Athletic Hall of Fame adds five inductees for 2026, celebrating local athletic legacy and service. Public Safety/School News: A New Haven assistant principal is accused of sexually assaulting a student twice in his office, with charges filed by authorities.

College Sports Policy Fight: Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy and supporters of the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act are clashing over a Senate vote that could reshape athlete compensation and NIL rules, with Cantwell and Cruz arguing for order and opponents warning of an antitrust exemption that could entrench exploitation. Connecticut Courts & Health: AG William Tong says a state court challenge to Connecticut’s school vaccine requirements was dismissed, affirming the rules after the religious exemption was eliminated in 2021. Voting Rights: Tong also hailed a U.S. Supreme Court decision keeping a block on USPS mail-voting requirements that would have forced states to meet new federal design and portal steps. WNBA, Connecticut in the Mix: Indiana Fever is publicly backing Makayla Timpson for Most Improved Player as the Fever and Connecticut Sun jockey for late-season momentum. Arts Calendar: Fairfield University’s Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts highlights its community-first mission, while UConn’s Jorgensen Center hosts “Afarine Rahmanifar: Flesh and Fable” through Oct. 16. Local Culture Spotlight: Burlesque in Connecticut gets a closer look, and Rufus Wainwright brings his “Wanted” show to Jorgensen on Nov. 21. Arts & Design: “Sol LeWitt: Open Structure” lands in Seoul, noting the Connecticut-born artist’s conceptual-art legacy. Community Impact: Fairfield residents report flash-flood damage and say they didn’t get emergency alerts before water hit.

Connecticut Arts & Culture: Fairfield University dedicated a new Holocaust memorial sculpture, “She Wouldn’t Take Off Her Boots,” honoring five Jewish women and girls and the message “The opposite of love is not hate. It is indifference. You are a witness.” Arts & Design: Rafael Prieto is bringing new furniture to Emma Scully Gallery, building on his studio’s mix of found objects and past collaborations. Performing Arts Spotlight: “Dancing with the Stars” Season 35 premieres Sept. 15–16 with Connecticut contestants Jackson Olson and Jenna Dewan. Community & Learning: Southern Connecticut State University marked Sept. 11 with a campus observance featuring music, reflections, and tributes to alumni lost in the attacks. Local Arts/Industry Crossover: Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense was inducted into the American Manufacturing Hall of Fame for its 190-year legacy and work on NASA’s Artemis II. Arts-adjacent public life: Flash flooding hit Westport hard, with emergency crews responding to 120 calls and making 13 rescues.

FIBA Women’s World Cup: Team USA roared back from a double-digit deficit to beat France 97-79 and win its fifth straight title in Berlin, with Breanna Stewart named MVP and Caitlin Clark sparking the comeback off the bench. WNBA & UConn sports culture: The Indiana Fever’s one-word “aura” post about Clark and the broader Clark-Reese chatter kept attention on women’s basketball’s biggest stars heading into the next season. Connecticut arts & entertainment: A Connecticut ceramic artist is using AI to rethink an ancient craft, while Broadway in CT gets a boost with “Oh, Mary!” director prepping a tour stop at The Bushnell. Local community & events: The Norwalk Boat Show returns Sept. 24–27 at Norwalk Cove Marina, and the Norwalk Oyster Festival kicks off with a big weekend lineup at Veterans Memorial Park. Weather impacts: Flash flooding across coastal Connecticut disrupted transit, including Amtrak service near New Haven, with rescues reported in Westport.

Severe Weather: Flash flooding from drenching rains hit coastal southeastern Connecticut and the I-95 corridor, triggering road closures, water rescues, and Metro-North/Amtrak disruptions on the New Haven line; Tweed New Haven Airport also closed its departures terminal. Arts & Culture: Hartford’s The Bushnell will host the first tour stop of the Broadway comedy “Oh, Mary!” (Sept. 19–23), bringing Cole Escola’s Tony-winning hit to Connecticut. Local Arts Spotlight: Hartford Art School curator/ceramic artist Adam Chau is using AI alongside porcelain traditions to expand what queer stories can look like in clay. Music & Community: The Revivalists’ bassist George Gekas reflects on the band’s Madison Square Garden milestone and upcoming Red Rocks headline date. Sports & Spotlight: Tina Charles launches 78 Brewing Co., a beer brand inspired by UConn’s historic 78-0 run, aiming to bring her basketball storytelling into a new arena.

FIBA Women’s World Cup: Team USA is set for a gold-medal rematch with France in Berlin after beating Spain 76-66, with Breanna Stewart and the Americans aiming to keep their title streak alive. Connecticut Sports Spotlight: Maryland visits UConn at Rentschler Field in East Hartford on Saturday (CBS Sports Network), as the Huskies look to build on their early-season momentum. Maritime Heritage in New London: The Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival drew crowds to the waterfront with tall ships, live music, kids’ activities, and an America 250 tribute featuring drones over the Thames. Music & Performance (CT): Musical Masterworks launches its 36th season in Old Lyme (Oct. 10–11) with a program exploring what makes music “American,” featuring Copland, Montgomery, Clarke, and Dvořák. Community Arts & Culture: The Lenape/Lunáapeew Nations Pow Wow returns to Prospect Park’s Lefrak Center (Oct. 3–4), bringing free cultural programming, vendors, and ceremonial events. Local Service: VFW Post 1467 in Old Lyme hosts a benefit dinner Oct. 10 supporting veterans’ programs, with food, music, and a mystery box fundraiser.