#Norwalk CT– On September 21st, 2021 at approximately 1:50 p.m., the suspect pictured robbed the Fairfield County Bank at 121 New Canaan Ave. The suspect was wearing blue latex gloves, a hard hat, sunglasses and a mask resembling a tiger’s mouth. The suspect passed the teller a note demanding cash and that he was armed. The suspect did not display a weapon, but manipulated his backpack to make it seem like he was armed. The suspect was given money and fled the area in a white sedan with no plates, possibly older Hyundai, and was last seen in the area of Parallel Street and Cavanaugh Street.
Norwalk Police Investigators are asking for your help: if anyone has any information about this incident, please contact Det. Sura at 203-854- 3039. You can provide anonymous information in any of the following ways: Norwalk Police Tip Line: 203-854-3111
Anonymous Internet tips can be sent to Norwalk Police website at: www.norwalkpd.com
Anonymous TEXT tips can be submitted by typing “NORWALKPD” into the text field, followed by the message, and sending it to TIP411 (847411)
#BRIDGEPORT, CT – City of Bridgeport announces that the deadline to submit American Rescue Plan (ARP) grant applications in response to the request for proposals (RFP) from small businesseshas been extended to September 30, 2021. City representatives will be onsite hosting a workshop at the BRBC’s Business Expo tomorrow from 12:30pm-1pm for any small business owner that has questions about the application.
Applications were initially due on August 31st and hundreds of small businesses applied for funding. The City is now offering an opportunity for other Bridgeport -based business who may have missed that deadline to submit their applications for ARP funding by 2PM on September 30th.
Mayor Ganim stated, “Supporting our small business community through the ARP funds is a unique opportunity to reenergize our local economy while providing improvements to the landscape of our city storefronts. This is a win for our restaurants, small retailers, the city and for the patrons who will be seeing the visual impacts.”
“We have heard from our business community about the need to extend the deadline for these grants. We want to be fair in this process and allow our small business community the opportunity to apply for funding to help recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and expand their services,” stated City Councilmember Scott Burns.
“I want to encourage all small businesses who have not previously received any help from the City to apply for funding. We need to make sure that our small businesses, especially those who usually do not get any aid, have the opportunity to apply,” stated City Councilmember Ernest Newton.
Last month, the City of Bridgeport released thirteen requests for proposals for funding through the American Rescue Plan Act for Bridgeport based small businesses and non-profits. Over 600 applications were submitted and are currently being reviewed by non-conflicted selection committees comprised of city staff, City Council representatives, and community members. The first round of award decisions is expected to be announced by the end of this month
Two hard copies of the applications and supporting documents must be submitted to the City’s Purchasing Department at 999 Broad Street no later than 2pm on Thursday September 30, 2021. To access the Small Business Expansion and/or the Storefront Improvement Program
WASHINGTON–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, on Tuesday released the following statement on the Biden administration’s decision to increase the refugee admissions target to 125,000 in Fiscal Year 2022:
“Resettling refugees in the United States has long been a bipartisan priority, and I’m glad to see President Biden fulfill his promise to raise the refugee admissions target. It’s our moral obligation to welcome those fleeing persecution and violence, and doing so also strengthens our communities, boosts our economy and furthers our national security goals. As thousands of Afghans and millions of other refugees worldwide are forcibly displaced, this decision ensures the U.S. is part of the solution. As Chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee that funds the Department of Homeland Security, I am going to work hard to fully fund the agencies that were hollowed out by the Trump administration to ensure we have the capacity to welcome more refugees to America,” said Murphy.
(Westport, CT) The Westport Police Department will be taking part in a regional motor vehicle theft task force. Westport and its surrounding communities experience car thefts as well as vehicle break-ins on a regular basis. These crimes are often committed by juveniles and/or young adults. This task force is a collaboration between local law enforcement agencies to combat the proliferation of auto theft in the Fairfield County Region. The task force will work in cooperation with other police departments to develop a comprehensive effort to deter auto theft and arrest those responsible. In addition to Westport, the other police departments participating in the task force include Bridgeport, Fairfield, Stratford, Monroe, and Newtown. Police Chief Foti Koskinas felt that it was important for Westport to be a part of this effort. He stated that “by sharing resources and information with other communities that are also experiencing a large number of motor vehicle thefts our ability to solve these crimes increases exponentially.” He added that “while the theft of cars may seem like a youthful indiscretion to some it is important to keep in mind that these stolen vehicles are often used in the commission of very serious crimes such as robberies and shootings.” In almost every case, the stolen vehicle was unlocked with the keys (key fob) inside. Therefore, even with the assistance of a task force and extra officers on patrol we will never be able to truly solve this problem unless people remember to always keep their cars locked.
2021-09-20@2:27pm–#Bridgeport CT– St. Vincent’s Hospital called police about a person that came into the emergency room with an eye injury as the result of an assault. The person was assaulted in the eye by a key in the area of Fairfield Avenue and Andover Street.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the BPD at 203-576-TIPS.
SPECIAL DISCOUNTS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES ON FRI., OCT. 1 AT THE MARITIME AQUARIUM AT NORWALK
NORWALK, CT – Homeschool families can take a special educational dive into the marine world through discounted admission and grade-appropriate programs on Fri., Oct. 1 during “Homeschool Day” in The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. This focused day makes available to homeschool students many of the educational classroom programs regularly presented to traditional school groups by Aquarium educators. Options on Oct. 1 include story times for preschoolers and a selection of classroom programs for kids in all grades, from K-12.
“You shouldn’t have to be enrolled in a formal school setting to have access to the unique educational programs of The Maritime Aquarium, so we’re happy to offer this special day and these unique learning opportunities to the homeschooling parents and students in the tri-state area,” said Tom Naiman, the Aquarium’s vice president of Education. Nine drop-off-style programs include: a “Shark Safari” program and a “Similarities & Differences” animal-adaptations program for ages 4 and up; a squid dissection and examinations of marine animals using microscopes for ages 7 and up; and a careers tour and an ocean advocacy program for ages 10 and up.
With advance registration, discounted Aquarium admission for “Homeschool Day” participants is $19 for children (ages 3-12), $24 for adults, and $23 for seniors (65+). Tickets include the choice of a 4D movie: “Shark: A 4D Experience” or “Ice Age: No Time for Nuts 4D.” Cost of any optional classroom programs varies from $5 to $10 per student. (Story times for preschoolers – at 10:15 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. – are free and require a parent or caregiver to be present.) Spaces in the programs are limited, so advance registration is required. Deadline for admission and program registration is 5 p.m. Wed., Sept. 29. Get details about all of the “Homeschool Day” offerings – and register – by going to www.maritimeaquarium.org/homeschool-students.
2021-09-20@2:30pm–#Stratford CT– Today’s vehicle fire is being hosted by Stratford on Freeman Street in a backyard. Firefighters got there before it extended to the house that was two feet away.
2021-09-20@11:52pm–#Bridgeport CT– Firefighters quickly extinguished an electrical fire in a 3rd floor apartment in the 1800 block of Barnum Avenue. Red Cross was called to accommodate 5 adults and 3 children.
Attorney General William Tong filed formal notice today with the United States Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of New York that Connecticut will appeal a controversial and unprecedented decision that purports to extinguish Connecticut’s claims against both Purdue Pharma and the non-bankrupt Sackler family.
“The Sacklers are not bankrupt. We cannot allow our bankruptcy laws to be abused and misused as a loophole for the rich and powerful to avoid justice and accountability. This decision was an unprecedented and unacceptable overreach by the bankruptcy court. Connecticut has filed notice that we will appeal and will continue to fight on behalf of the victims and families of the opioid epidemic until we see justice,” said Attorney General Tong.
Judge Robert Drain ruled earlier this month that he will approve a bankruptcy plan for Purdue Pharma that grants a lifetime legal shield to the Sackler family for civil opioid-related claims.
Purdue’s bankruptcy plan requires the Sackler family to pay $4.3 billion- though they are worth multiple times that amount- over nine years to help abate the opioid crisis they fueled. By the time they are finished paying this settlement, the Sacklers will be wealthier than they were when they started.
Attorney General Tong joined eight other attorneys general filing objections in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. The objections note that the Sackler family made at least $11 billion in profits from producing and deceptively marketing OxyContin, a major driver in the rise of the opioid crisis and, importantly, the Sacker family is not bankrupt or even claiming bankruptcy. The crisis has cost the nation millions of lives and more than $2 trillion in damage.
Attorney General Tong testified before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law in July in support of bankruptcy reform.
