2020-09-16@1:10am–#Bridgeport CT–State police are investigating a shooting involving a Bridgeport Police Officer. This afternoon during a press conference, Police Chief Rebecca Garcia said that at 1:10am police were called to a stabbing at 351 Clinton Avenue. The chief said the suspect was “making stabbing motions toward the victim,” Garcia said. Police attempted to de-escalate the incident without success. Police officers Elioz Henry and Sean Curran used a taser in an attempt to stop the suspect 27-year-old Juan Villa. Officer Henry fired his service weapon striking the suspect on the right side. Garcia said the victim thanked the officer for saving his life. Bridgeport Captian Brian Fitzgerald who is in charge of the Bridgeport Police Detective bureau said his department is assisting state police with downloading police bodycam footage and a liaison with personnel records. It is protocol that the officers involved in a shotting go on paid administrative leave and that the State Police investigate the incident. State Police Trooper Josue Dorelus said body camera footage of the incident will be released “as soon as practically possible” and that the State’s Stamford Attorney General is overseeing the investigation.
2020-09-16@2:44pm–#Stratford CT– A basement fire on Th0mpson Street. Firefighters were called for smoke in the building which turned out to be flames coming from the ceiling in the basement.
2020-09-16@1:34am– #Bridgeport CT– There was a police-involved shooting in the 300 block Clinton Avenue overnight where two people were shot according to my sources. Police have not confirmed this at this time. State Police have taken over the investigation.
#HARTFORD, CT– Governor Ned Lamont announced today that nearly 25 percent of the 81,000 devices purchased through his administration’s Everybody Learns initiative is scheduled to arrive earlier than anticipated, with some districts seeing deliveries this week. Taken together with the 60,000 Dell laptops provided by the Partnership for Connecticut, the State of Connecticut has now provided more than 141,000 devices targeted primarily to high-need districts and their students.
The state has also made substantial progress on its delivery of 60,000 at-home internet connections in the way of personal hotspots and broadband service. All of the 12,744 personal hotspots that were ordered have been delivered, and fulfillment of broadband service is underway for approximately 40,000 students.
“From the beginning of this pandemic, we knew that our state had an obligation to tens of thousands of school children around Connecticut to make sure they had the tools necessary to further their educations, as we didn’t know how long this public health emergency would last,” Governor Lamont said. “Now, our students are in a position where they have the tools necessary to participate and engage with this technology, and we can keep as many students as possible connected throughout this school year.”
“While remote learning can take many forms, the predominant approach going forward is trending toward technology-based, online options that require a device and internet connection,” Connecticut Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona said. “We are prioritizing access to needed technology and connectivity to narrow gaps in opportunities and outcomes between students with means and those without. Educational equity will be our continued focus as we work together to support districts and educators with effectively employing remote learning methods that meet the needs of every student. We are grateful to all of our partners, vendors, and service providers in this effort for their cooperation and commitment to working with us to connect our most vulnerable students and get these critical learning devices into their hands.”
In July, the Lamont administration launched the Everybody Learns initiative to empower children and families across the state to more effectively learn from home by purchasing 61,000 Chromebooks and 20,000 Windows laptops; providing 12 months of access to at-home internet for 60,000 households; and creating public hotspots free to the public at 250 community sites across the state. A total of $43.5 million was made available for the program and is a combination of Connecticut’s allocation of Coronavirus Relief Funds, the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund, and the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund.
Following its receipt of federal CARES Act funding for PK-12, the state began coordinating with providers, internet companies, and school districts to ensure students receive the computers and internet coverage they need to participate in high-quality, at-home learning whether hybrid or fully remote. The number of students identified as needing access to laptops and at-home internet is based on survey information that was submitted to the State Department of Education and the Connecticut Commission for Educational Technology.
The more than 81,000 devices ordered include:
· 20,474 Windows laptops, which will be delivered beginning this week and continuing over the next several weeks; and
· 61,628 Chromebooks, which are expected to be delivered beginning in October.
These devices are in addition to the 60,000 laptops that were already distributed in May through the Partnership for Connecticut.
The state purchased at-home internet access through several broadband internet companies, including Altice USA/Optimum, Atlantic Broadband, Comcast, and Cox. Personal cellular hotspots will come from Kajeet, which specializes in K-12 connectivity solutions. The state is providing orientation sessions to district leaders on connecting students to cable broadband partners, and is working with those carriers to prioritize connections to students and schools in greatest need.
The 60,000 at-home internet connections purchased in the form of wired broadband or personal hotspots include:
· 12,774 Kajeet hotspots, 100 percent of which have been shipped to districts; and
· Cable broadband for 40,000 students, the delivery of which is already underway, with installation beginning in the next two weeks.
The state is in communication with districts about the process by which they will receive their laptops, broadband vouchers, and Kajeet hotspots.
The 200 public hotspots will be available at no cost to Connecticut residents. The state has partnered with the Connecticut Education Network to utilize the fiber and infrastructure it already provides to sites in communities across the state and boost signals for the public at large to access the Internet for free.
Everybody Learns is complemented by an ongoing initiative of Dalio Education and the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities to ensure students across the state have access to computers and internet connectivity. Dalio Philanthropies was also involved in the Partnership Connecticut’s donation of 60,000 laptops to students from some of the state’s most under-resourced high schools.
2020-09-14#Bridgeport CT– Overnight there was a stabbing at 50 Freemont Street. There were no further details on the circumstance or extent of injuries
There were also shots fire to the back door in the 500 block of Jane Street. Two shell casings were found. No one was injured.
2020-09-15@11:30pm–#Bridgeport CT– Police are investigating a shooting on 5th Street near Connecticut Avenue. One man was hit, no word on his condition or the circumstances about the shooting at this time.
2020-09-13@8:37am–#Fairfield CT– Monday morning a concerned citizen requested the help from police who located an elderly male who appeared to be lost and confused off Brookside Drive and Burr Street. The citizen said the 86 year-old male appeared to be confused and could not tell where he lived. The missing man was identified as Segundo Cruz who said he was out for a walk but didn’t know for how long he had been walking. Segundo told officers he lives with family but could not remember if he had children or not. A search of the National Crime Information Center system revealed he was missing from Bridgeport.
The Bridgeport Police Department. Fairfield Officers responded to Segundo’s residence in Bridgeport and made contact with Segundo’s daughter. She confirmed Segundo has been missing since approximately 0400 hours this morning. She was given an escort to the scene by Fairfield Officers where she picked up Segundo and transported him back home.
#Bridgeport CT–The City of Bridgeport Engineering Department and Public Facilities has moved into Phase 2 of a $2.5 million City-wide milling and paving project as well as a continuation of a $15 million, 100% federally funded safety improvement project to improve City of Bridgeport intersections on Main Street.
In Phase 2 of the city-wide street paving project, milling and paving will include two remaining streets in the 132nd district and streets in the 133rd – 136th districtsto be completed by September 25th, 2020. 130th and 131st districts were completed in Phase 1.
Additionally, paving is now underway with the Main Street safety improvement project. Residents are advised to expect detours or closures due to construction from North to South at the intersections of Keachele/Main Street, ending at the intersection of Golden Hill/Main Street.
Keachele/Main St
Vincelette/Main St
Frenchtown/Main St
Summitt/Main St
Hunting/Main St
Hawley/Main St
Capitol/Main St
Grand/Main St
Golden Hill/Main St
Milling and paving were completed at seven intersections and state of the art equipment was installed at each intersection, including decorative black mast arms, signal lights, ADA compliant ramps, and sidewalks. This project is administered by the city, with signals being owned and maintained by the City of Bridgeport. The improvement provides signals, markings, signage, and accessibility to all drivers and pedestrians, especially those pedestrians with disabilities.
The city is reminding residents, and specifically, drivers to give yourself time traveling, be cautious, and
Adhere to “No Parking” signs that may be posted to roadways 24 hours prior to paving. These areas will be enforced, and towing will take place if a car is parked on a road that is planned to be paved.
Follow detour signs that will be posted while paving is taking place. Please plan accordingly and understand that it may take extra time to get to your destination.
Drive carefully and look out for raised structures and manhole covers that may still be exposed and raised until paving has taken place.
11:30pm–UPDATE: Second alarm called, roof in the back just collapsed.
2020-09-14@10:19pm–#Milford CT– #ctfire– Firefighters were called to a commercial building on Roses Mill Road which is between Walmart and Taco Bell. Firefighters were greeted with heavy fire on their arrival. My travel time was 16 minutes and the bulk of the fire was knocked down when I got there. Firefighters are still chasing hot spots an hour later.
2020-09-14@7:27pm–#Bridgeport CT– Police are investigating shots fired on Clearance Street at the street formerly known as Prince. So far only one car hit, no reports of anyone being hit.
