INVESTIGATIONS

Terminated: St. Francis fires neurosurgery tech waiting for lung transplant

Johnny Kotcher has worked as a surgical technician for over 40 years, first while serving in the United States Army and then as a travel technician, taking jobs across the country. In 2019, a friend told Kotcher about an opening at Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford. “My contract was finishing in Missouri, so I said, ‘Okay, cool, let’s do that,’” said Kotcher. “I think I did three contracts, and they said, ‘Look, we like your work, we like what you do, you caught on super quick, why don’t you stay permanently?’ I said, ‘Okay.’” Kotcher worked for five years at…

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by Brandon Whiting

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Balance of Justice: Hundreds of attorneys donate to Probate Judge election campaigns

The probate court system is unique among justice systems in Connecticut. It is the only court where judges are elected, not appointed. And, as with any elected figure, members of the public can donate to a judge’s election campaigns—including attorneys who work with them. Inside Investigator reviewed probate judge election donations over the last five years, during which there were seven contested elections: three in 2022, three in 2024, and a special…

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by Alex Simard

Connecticut’s got milk, but can we keep it that way?

On May 15, 2026, Gov. Ned Lamont announced the third iteration of a plan to use a $500 million emergency set-aside fund created to help Connecticut agencies, programs, and nonprofits absorb anticipated federal spending cuts. While much of the first two plans revolved around Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, this round led off with a $22.5 million appropriation to the Connecticut Department of Agriculture to support Connecticut dairy farmers. According to…

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by Marc E. Fitch

Displaced and Displeased: Bridgeport tenant denied help after forced relocation

When Tamekia Lemus moved her and her family into their new apartment at 8 Elm Court in Bridgeport, she was an active member of the Bridgeport community; for seven years, she has run her own business selling handcrafted goods, and in 2024, she began participating in Bridgeport’s First Thursday Fiesta, a monthly pop-up shop held at the City Government Center meant to promote and support local small business owners. “That’s how I…

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by Brandon Whiting

Extended Hold: Juveniles in detention facilities for months, and the alternatives being explored

Connecticut officials often speak with pride about the state’s juvenile justice system, and by some measures, rightly so—the state far and away surpasses most of the country in key benchmarks that juvenile justice advocates use to measure a fair system. These metrics include the number of juveniles tried in adult court, the overall number of delinquency charges, and the number of juveniles in detention facilities, all of which, they say, indicate success.  But there is…

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by Alex Simard

Policymakers consider prison diversion for the disabled, but costs are uncertain

According to 2025 Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) statistics, 64 of Connecticut’s 11,028 incarcerated people have an intellectual disability, 39 have autism, and another four have both. That number, however, is reliant on Connecticut’s use of IQ tests, rather than the modern psychological evaluations used by all but seven states. Advocates say dated evaluation strategies are leaving many disabled people without needed support after they commit a crime. The Connecticut Sentencing Commission…

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by Brandon Whiting

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