On February 15, 2024, the Bridgeport’s Police C-shift Patrol Division responded to 361 Madison Avenue on a report that a male was seen displaying a firearm while in a dispute with his uber driver. Responding officers came upon a male, while approaching the male a pistol was observed sticking out of his pocket. The suspect, who was later identified as Alex Rosado apparently vomited in the uber car before getting out and arguing with the uber driver. At one point the uber driver stated Rosado pulled out a firearm. Officers seized the firearm before calling for medics due to Rosado’s intoxicated behavior. The suspect was transported to St. Vincent’s for further review and evaluation. Officer checked the firearm through the State and learned that it was a reported stolen firearm. Rosado’s history showed he is a convicted felon and has no legal right to possess a firearm or ammunition. He was released from the E.R. and transported to Bridgeport PD to be processed. Rosado was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, criminal possession of a firearm / ammunition, theft of a firearm and breach of peace. Bond was set at $10,000.
2024-02-18@10:38pm–#Fairfield CT– One person was taken to hospital by EMS after a one-car crash on Buena Vista Road. It appears the car hit a parked car and rolled over.
Gear up for summer job opportunities with Job Applications 101 on February 20th from 4:00 to 5:00 pm in the Board Room. Open to those aged 16 and above, no registration is required. Learn tips on successfully completing applications, and don’t forget to bring your resume.
On February 22nd at 4:00 pm in the Lovell Room, Grades 6-12 can unleash their artistic side at Paint & Sip. All art supplies, including canvas, easels, paints, oil pastels, and brushes, will be provided, along with hot chocolate, tea, and treats. No registration is required, and it’s first come, first served.
Anime enthusiasts, Grades 6-12, can join the Anime Club on February 26th at 3:30 pm in the Board Room. Watch the latest anime while enjoying Japanese snacks. No registration is required for this entertaining event.
Explore the world of Microbit on February 29th at 6:00 pm in the Board Room with uCreate: Microbit Mania! Part 1 (6-6:45 pm) introduces Microbit, a pocket-sized computer with versatile applications. Part 2 (6:45-7:30 pm) dives into creating more complex and fun programming projects. Registration is required, and the event is open to Grade 6 – Adult.
Governor’s Budget Proposal Includes Historic Investments For Both K-12 Schools and Early Childhood Education Providers
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today expressed his support for sending state funding intended for education services directly to classrooms, saying that students will benefit best when this money is used to support the hiring of teachers and the purchasing of necessary classroom equipment.
The governor’s fiscal year 2025 budget proposal that he presented to the legislature earlier this month recommends:
Increasing education cost sharing (ECS) funds to K-12 school districts by $128.8 million over the current fiscal year; and
Increasing state funding for early childhood education by $43.4 million over the current fiscal year.
The increase in ECS funding will help Connecticut reach full funding of the formula by fiscal year 2026, a full two years sooner than the original ten-year goal. Additionally, the increase in funding for early childhood education will increase the number of families eligible for Care 4 Kids and go directly to child care providers, enabling them to support the expansion of services in classrooms, such as through the hiring of more teachers and purchasing of necessary classroom equipment.
Combined, these will be some of the largest investments ever made for Connecticut’s K-12 schools and early childhood education providers.
“Money intended for education works best when it goes to the classroom,” Governor Lamont said. “I am proposing that we use critical state resources to ensure that our state’s children have access to the classroom support they need to succeed. We can accomplish this by increasing ECS funding for our K-12 schools, working with schools to fully expend the $400 million in remaining ARP ESSER funds, and supporting an expansion of early childhood education services. The ability of our K-12 education system to succeed depends in great part on the success of our early childhood education system, and we have a desperate need to expand these services, including through the hiring of more teachers. There are thousands of families in our state who are unable to enroll their children in early childhood education because of a lack of resources. We have an opportunity this year to increase access to education for our youngest residents, and we should do it.”
“The governor’s proposed budget increases funding for classrooms, providing resources where it can make a real difference in improving student outcomes,” Jeffrey Beckham, secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and Governor Lamont’s chief budget advisor, said. “The current budget disguises municipal aid as education funding, essentially sending aid budgeted for magnet and vo-ag students back to their home district as a tuition subsidy rather than adding resources for classroom learning. Our proposal increases ECS funding, fully funds charter schools and vo-ag schools at the statutory amount, and increases the per pupil grant for both magnet schools and open choice schools. It supports the continuation of free school breakfast statewide, subsidizes the student’s share of reduced-price meals, and permanently funds the nationally recognized LEAP program, addressing chronic absence. If the General Assembly is truly serious about ensuring that all Connecticut students will be successful, they will support the governor’s proposal.”
The following chart represents the increase in ECS funding Governor Lamont is proposing to send to K-12 school districts for fiscal year 2025, as well as the balance of federal ARP ESSER funding available to K-12 schools for the year:
2024-02-17@4:14pm–#Shelton CT– A strong-armed robbery occurred in the parking lot at the Starbucks, Bridgeport Avenue in Shelton. The suspect took the item and fled in a black Mercedes SUV.
2024-02-17@11:54am–#Bridgeport CT– Just before noon, a car crashed into Liscio’ Meat Land at 541 Broadbridge Avenue. No word on injuries. The building inspector was called to the scene due to structural damage.
Nearly 400 Recent Lead Poisoning Cases Connected to Recalled Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches Highlight Urgent Need for Stronger Protections
(Hartford, CT) — Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take urgent action to protect babies and young children nationwide from lead and other toxic metals in baby food. In a letter sent this week, Attorney General Tong and the coalition urged FDA to act on their October 2021 petition and subsequent June 2022 petition and letter, which asked FDA to issue specific guidance to the baby food industry to require testing of all finished food products for lead and other toxic metals. The coalition emphasizes the critical need for FDA to act, citing recent findings of hundreds of childhood lead poisoning linked to recalled cinnamon applesauce pouches that were sold in stores throughout the country without first being tested for toxic metals.
“There is zero excuse for toxic metals in baby food. For years, we have urged the FDA to adopt strong, specific guidance around testing for toxic metals in baby food. For years, FDA has delayed its duty. Now, hundreds of children have been permanently harmed due to untested toxic lead in cinnamon applesauce pouches. The FDA cannot wait any longer to protect our children and the safety of our food supply,” said Attorney General Tong.
Despite the agency concluding years ago that babies’ and young children’s smaller bodies and metabolisms make them more vulnerable to the harmful effects of toxic metals, FDA has established only one action level for one type of toxic metal (inorganic arsenic) in one type of baby food product (infant rice cereal) to date. Under current FDA policy, baby food manufacturers are left to decide whether or not to even test their products for toxic metals and other contaminants.
This delay in FDA action is both a public health concern and a matter of environmental justice, as children from low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately impacted by lead through exposure to lead-based paint, lead in drinking water pipes, and other sources. Lead in their food only exacerbates the existing inordinate and inequitable hazards these children face.
In April 2021, FDA announced the “Closer to Zero” plan, under which the agency committed to proposing “action levels” for lead in various baby foods by April 2022, inorganic arsenic in various baby foods by April 2024, and cadmium and mercury sometime after April 2024. FDA has since removed those deadlines from its Closer to Zero website. In October 2021, Attorney General Tong joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general in filing a petition with FDA urging the agency to issue clear industry guidance on testing for lead and other toxic metals in finished baby and toddler food products. After FDA denied the 2021 petition, Attorney General Tong and the coalition sought reconsideration of the decision in June 2022. The letter sent today renews the call for FDA to take urgent action to protect families from lead and other toxic metals in baby food products.
In the letter, Attorney General Tong and the coalition highlight recent widespread childhood lead poisonings related to high levels of lead detected in WanaBana, Schnucks, and Weis brand cinnamon applesauce pouches, that were not tested for toxic metals and have since been recalled. The now-recalled WanaBana pouches were sold in Dollar Tree stores throughout the country. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has identified nearly 400 confirmed or probable childhood lead poisoning cases in connection to consumption of these cinnamon applesauce pouches.
3 things all parents should do following the FDA’s pouch recalls | BabyCenter
WanaBana Recalls WanaBana, Weis, and Schnucks Apple Cinnamon Fruit Purée Pouches & Cinnamon Apple Sauce Due to Elevated Lead Levels | FDA
Weis brand applesauce pouches among recall for lead levels: FDA, CDC
Consumers who have purchased these recalled products and may still have them in their homes should not feed them to children or anyone else. Instead, these products should be safely discarded by carefully opening each pouch and emptying the contents into the garbage to prevent others from possibly salvaging and consuming the recalled products. For more information on these recalled products, consult FDA.
Joining Attorney General Tong in sending this letter to FDA are the attorneys general of New York, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Assistant Attorney General Jill Lacedonia and Deputy Associate Attorney General Matthew Levine, Chief of the Environment Section, assisted the Attorney General in this matter.
Report of a car into a building at the 100 block of Norman Street. First responders on scene are saying it’s a car that went into the porch of the home and that there is structural damage to the building, and appears to be unoccupied.
