2022-03-30@10:27am–#Fairfield CT– Firefighters on the way to Notre Dame High School on Jefferson Street for numerous calls of an odor of gas indoors.
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#Bridgeport CT— (March 30, 2022) – After an extremely successful first annual event which was attended by over 600 people across three days last summer, the Bridgeport Film Fest, is making its return to the historic Klein Memorial Auditorium July 22-24, 2022. The festival plans to offer both in-person and virtual screenings, as well guest speakers from the film industry and creative workshops for both youth and adults. Led by Bridgeport Native and Artistic Director Jason A. Coombs, the festival aims to highlight the diversity of the film community in Bridgeport and the surrounding regions by showcasing films directed by over 50% women and POC filmmakers. The programming team will curate a lineup that includes short narrative films, short documentary projects, music videos, student films, environmental-themed works and more. In a ceremony that concludes the weekend, prizes will be awarded to winning films chosen by a jury of acclaimed filmmakers, actors and producers including Allison Miller (A Million Little Things, 13 Reasons Why), Aizzah Fatima (Americanish, High Maintenance), Chris Ruggiero (Minding the Gap, The Voice) and Liz Ortiz (I Ain’t Playin Films), among others. Reflecting the festival’s mission of “philanthropy through film,” the festival will provide five scholarships for Bridgeport students looking to pursue higher education in the arts.
Making its official world premiere is the feature length documentary, The Greatest Radio Station in the World about local Bridgeport radio station WPKN, produced by Cob Carlson. The Bridgeport Film Fest is currently seeking corporate sponsors and will be accepting submissions from local and international filmmakers until April 29, 2022– if you are interested in becoming a sponsor or submitting your film, please reach out to info@BridgeportFilmFest.org. For more information, visit bridgeportfilmfest.org or check out the festival’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
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(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong and U.S. Attorney Leonard C. Boyle today announced a $601,759 civil settlement with American Medical Response of Connecticut resolving allegations that the ambulance service overbilled the Connecticut Medicaid program.
A joint state and federal investigation found that between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2019 AMR-CT billed the state Medicaid program for “Advanced Life Support” services when they provided only “Basic Life Support” services. The investigation found that even when local fire departments, including West Hartford, Milford, and North Haven had already provided and billed Medicaid for the “Advanced Life Support” services, AMR-CT continued to claim and bill Medicaid for those services they did not provide.
In addition to the $601,759 financial settlement, AMR-CT has entered in a consent agreement with the Department of Public Health to ensure future compliance with primary service area responder laws and billing laws. The DPH consent agreement requires AMR-CT: (1) to cease and desist from providing and billing for advanced life support level of care unless it is the recognized provider of that level of care in that service area or a specific exception applies ( 2) to cease and desist from engaging in false or fraudulent billing; (3) to comply with DPH quarterly reporting and compliance monitoring requirements for one calendar year; and (4) to pay a civil penalty of $25,000 for having engaged in the prohibited conduct in the past.
“AMR-CT billed the state for Advanced Life Support services that local fire departments had already provided. In addition to the significant financial penalty, AMR-CT has entered into a strong consent agreement to ensure this unacceptable overbilling never happens again. Working in coordination with our state and federal partners, our office is prepared to take aggressive action against anyone who abuses our taxpayer-funded healthcare programs,” said Attorney General Tong.
“Connecticut residents should be rest assured that state and federal agencies are always on the watch and ready to collaborate in the investigation and prosecution of organizations whose business practices are not only unethical but illegal as well,” said DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD. “This settlement should serve as a notice to all that while providing safe and high-quality care is a priority, inaccurate billing processes like this will not be tolerated.”
“This substantial civil penalty and consent agreement reinforce the fact that improper billing to Medicaid triggers investigatory and enforcement action,” said Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Deidre S. Gifford. “I thank Attorney General Tong and U.S. Attorney Boyle and their staffs for their ongoing work with DSS investigators and, in this case, Department of Public Health staff to help safeguard the financial integrity of our public health coverage programs.”
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2022-03-23@11:11pm–#Bridgeport CT– First responders on the scene in the 200 block of Orchard Street for another stabbing. Earlier a person was stabbed at Maple and Kossuth Street.
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#Bridgeport CT– On March 29, 2022, at approximately 3:45 pm the Bridgeport Emergency Operation Center received the report of a male party who walked into an area hospital with multiple stab wounds to his torso. The victim, identified as a 39-year-old Bridgeport man, is listed in critical condition.
Bridgeport Police received information that the incident occurred at the intersection of Kossuth Street and Maple Street; just outside the Agua Miel Market. Patrol Officers located a crime scene at this location. B.P.D. Detectives responded to the incident and took charge of the investigation.
As a result of information secured by the Bridgeport Police Detective Bureau and the Narcotics & Vice Division, a location for the suspect wanted for this crime became rapidly available. Uniformed Patrol Officers and Detectives located and subsequently apprehended the suspect inside a 3rd floor apartment at 240 William Street. The suspect, identified as 19 year old Dwayne McBean of Bridgeport CT, has been taken into custody and is charged with Criminal Attempt, Murder, Assault in the 1st Degree, Carrying a Dangerous Weapon, and Tampering with Evidence. Bond is set at $250,000.
Anyone with additional information regarding this crime is asked to contact the case officer, Detective Anthony Caiazzo, at 203-581-5231 or utilize the Bridgeport Police Tips Line at 203-576-TIPS.
2022-03-29@5:30 PMish– Police are investigating a stabbing that took place at Kossuth and Maple Street. The condition of the person is not know at this time. Many thanks to all of you who text and message me about this!
2022-03-29@11AMish– Bridgeport School Superintendent Mike Testani says students at Fairchild Wheeler‘s Information Technology School are back in class this afternoon after a brief walkout that was contained to inside the building late this morning, in response to an ongoing personnel matter.
2022-03-29@2:01pm– #Seymour CT– #ctfire– A gas leak resulted in an explosion at the Anna Lopresti School now converted into condos at 29 Maple Street. 2 people were burned. Leak was located in first floor unit.
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#Stratford CT– Mayor Laura R. Hoydick and State Senator Kevin Kelly are calling on Governor Ned Lamont and the City of Bridgeport to prevent a state takeover of the Sikorsky Memorial Airport, and requesting that any change in management or ownership be undertaken through a transparent competitive bidding process. The call comes as the Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) is attempting to proceed with a no-bid acquisition of the Airport from the City of Bridgeport which has owned it since 1937. The entire airport is within the territorial boundaries of the Town of Stratford.
“If the City of Bridgeport is interested in selling the airport, then it is the time for the Town of Stratford to take ownership of the SikorskyMemorial Airport. We will ensure capable management commensurate with the concerns of the region and surrounding community, and the sensitive environmental assets located there,” said Mayor Hoydick. “The future of Stratford and the future of the airport are intertwined, and Stratford would like the fair and proper opportunity to direct this shared destiny.”
“Sikorsky airport, located in Stratford, is very much a piece of our community and history,” said Sen. Kelly. “Stratford must have a fair opportunity to acquire the airport in a transparent and open process. The airport must not fall subject to a no bid state takeover. Local control is vital to ensure proper management of the airport with respect for the local community and environmental protection concerns. We must honor the 1978 and 2012 agreements. We are seeing a disturbing overreach of power by the state, with little to no transparency or respect for the local community.”
In a letter last week to Governor Ned Lamont, Mayor Joseph Ganim of Bridgeport, and members of the Sikorsky Airport Commission expressing interest on behalf of Stratford in acquiring the airport and asking for a delay in the state takeover process, Mayor Hoydick cited a recent draft study by the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis at the UConn School of Business. The report notes many improvements and enhancements the Town would like to pursue, while providing no indication that the airport would be better served by the CAA rather than Stratford and its partners.
“The CAA was created by the legislature in 2011 to develop, improve, and operate Bradley International Airport and the state’s five general aviation airports,” added Hoydick. “The legislature did not authorize the CAA to own or operate a general aviation airport of ‘National Importance’ such as Sikorsky Memorial Airport. The legislature no doubt recognized that such general aviation airports were best managed without State intervention. What was true in 2011 remains true today.”
#Bridgeport CT–This evening, detectives arrested Tivon Taylor (DOB: 10/19/81 of 44 Eric Street, Bridgeport) for fatally shooting Fredrick Shelby on March 18, 2022. Based on the evidence, we believe Taylor followed Shelby out of Tae’s Lounge, a bar located at 1014 Stratford Avenue, after the two men exchanged words inside. Taylor then allegedly shot Shelby multiple times before walking away. In a statement to investigators, Taylor admitted to shooting Shelby. Taylor is charged with Murder, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, and Carrying a Pistol Without a Permit. He is being held on a $1,000,000 bond and will be arraigned in court tomorrow morning.
This arrest is the result of excellent work done by all of the detectives that assisted in this case, specifically, Detective Heanue, the lead investigator.
