 The long-term goal includes safeguarding 130,000 acres as farmland near the Connecticut River, which is well known for its fertile soil, faces significant threats from industrial development. The U.S. Department of Labor announced an update to overtime pay regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act, raising the salary threshold from $684 per week to $844 per week, effective this July 1st, and to $1,128 a week starting January 1st, 2025.