On December 22, 2023, at around 11:00 pm, Bridgeport Police Officers swiftly responded to a report of a shooting in the 100 block of Dekalb Avenue. Upon arrival, the officers located the victim, a 21-year-old Naugatuck man, who had sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound (a graze) to the head. The victim was promptly transported to a nearby hospital by AMR Ambulance for medical treatment. The Detective Bureau assumed control of the investigation, conducting a thorough examination of the scene, collecting evidence, and conducting interviews. It was determined that the victim, seated in a parked car with friends from the Dekalb Avenue neighborhood, was shot. Despite the frightening incident, the victim and his friends managed to seek refuge inside a residence on Dekalb Avenue, from where they contacted the police. Authorities believe this to be an isolated occurrence and encourage anyone with information to reach out to Detective Kenneth McKenna, the case officer, at 203-581-5245 or use the Bridgeport Police Tips Line at 203-576-TIPS.
Author: Alex
three significant tax relief measures in Connecticut at the beginning of 2024
Governor Ned Lamont has announced the implementation of three significant tax relief measures in Connecticut at the beginning of 2024. These measures, stemming from the fiscal year 2024-2025 state budget, include the largest income tax reduction in state history, an increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for low-income workers, and an expansion of exemptions on certain pension and annuity earnings to benefit seniors. The total tax reduction is estimated at approximately $460.3 million, reflecting the state’s commitment to providing relief to middle-income workers, low-income workers, and seniors. Governor Lamont attributes these tax cuts to the fiscal discipline implemented over the past five years, stabilizing the state’s fiscal situation and ending years of deficits.
Starting January 1, 2024, Connecticut’s income tax rates will decrease, marking the first rate reduction in the state since the mid-1990s. The reduction targets middle-class tax filers, capping benefits at $150,000 for single filers and $300,000 for joint filers, and is estimated to benefit over one million tax filers. Additionally, the EITC for low-income workers will increase from 30.5% to 40% of the federal EITC, providing an additional $44.6 million in state tax credits to around 211,000 low-income filers. The third measure involves an expansion of deductions for certain IRA distributions and pension and annuity earnings for seniors, benefiting approximately 300,000 filers.
Governor Lamont emphasizes that these tax relief measures are made possible by prudent financial management, and the state’s fiscal guardrails are expected to ensure revenue growth surpasses fixed costs for the coming years. The changes align with Connecticut’s commitment to creating a more equitable tax structure, providing meaningful relief to a broad spectrum of taxpayers.
Stratford Library Offers Yarn SwapCrafters Invited to Exchange on January 27
The Stratford Library Reference Department and its Knit Wits program present a Yarn Swap on Saturday, January 27 (2024) at 11 am. The program is free and open to the public. One crafter’s unwanted yarn is another’s inspiration. Do you have a yarn stash that is languishing, unused and unappreciated?
Crafters are invited to bring their unwanted yarn to the Library’s first-ever Yarn Swap. Participants should package their yarn in clear bags and be ready to negotiate with fellow yarn lovers. Tables will be available to set-up and display yarns and crafters can also bring knitting accessories (books, needles, project bags) which need to be in good and clean condition. Attendees are also encouraged to stay and knit. Light refreshments will be available.
The Yarn Swap will be held in the Stratford Library Lovell Room from 11 am – 2 pm
on January 27. Due to limited space, registration is required by calling the
Stratford Library at 203.385.4164 or online at: https://stratfordlibrary.libcal.com/event/11364456.
$6.6 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for eight traffic safety projects in Connecticut.
The Connecticut congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, along with U.S. Representatives John B. Larson, Rosa DeLauro, Joe Courtney, Jim Himes, and Jahana Hayes, has announced $6.6 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for eight traffic safety projects in Connecticut. The funds, awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program, aim to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. The federal investment seeks to enhance the safety of Connecticut’s roadways for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists, addressing the concerning rise in traffic-related fatalities.
The funding will support various projects across the state, including a regional transportation safety plan for the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments, a Silas Deane Highway Corridor Study in Wethersfield and Rocky Hill, a sidewalk inventory and safety planning initiative in the City of Hartford, a Comprehensive Traffic Safety Plan in Middletown, a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan Grant for the City of Danbury, and similar safety action plans for Ridgefield and Glastonbury. The Western Connecticut Council of Governments will receive substantial funds for safety improvements, including new crosswalks, curb extensions, bus stops, and speed reduction efforts. These projects align with the Safe Streets and Roads for All program’s goal of achieving zero deaths and serious injuries on the nation’s roadways.
This federal investment comes at a crucial time when traffic fatalities have reached record highs. The delegation emphasizes the significance of these projects in promoting safer roadways for all users and addresses the urgent need to reduce traffic-related deaths and enhance overall roadway safety. The announcement coincides with ongoing efforts, including Senator Blumenthal’s reintroduction of the Road to Zero resolution, aiming to eliminate roadway fatalities by 2050 through improved data collection and access to safe transportation options.
GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES NEW ELIGIBILITY LEVELS ALLOWED NEARLY 10,000 ADDITIONAL PEOPLE TO RECEIVE SNAP BENEFITS THIS YEAR
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced his administration’s decision to increase the income eligibility limits for Connecticut’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) effective in October 2022 is allowing an additional 8,959 individuals in 4,980 households to benefit from the program. The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS), which administers the program, estimates those individuals will access $19,868,553 in SNAP benefits over the coming year, or an average of $185 per month.
Connecticut’s SNAP program provides more than 229,000 households – including 140,700 children – a monthly allowance for purchasing food. Formerly known as food stamps, the federally-funded service combats food insecurity for eligible working families, other qualified adults, older adults, and persons with disabilities. SNAP enrollees are also automatically eligible for other federally-funded services including the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program, Head Start, and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
Under the revised eligibility benefit levels, Connecticut residents qualify for SNAP if their monthly gross income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (for example, $2,430 for a single person and $5,000 for a four-person household). Until October 2022, Connecticut’s limit was 185% of the federal poverty level ($2,248 for a single person and $4,625 for a four-person household). The federal government allows monthly gross income limits up to 200% and Connecticut is now one of approximately 15 states to take full advantage of that allowance.
“This simple change brings in new federal funding to help Connecticut families put food on the table and supermarkets, grocery stores, and farmers markets operate in neighborhoods that might otherwise become food deserts,” Governor Lamont said. “I hope residents across the state will take a second look at whether they can benefit from SNAP and thank the federal government for allowing actions like this that support our efforts to combat hunger and food insecurity.”
“The Department of Social Services is proud to deliver essential benefits to Connecticut residents,” Social Services Commissioner Andrea Barton Reeves said. “SNAP benefits are proven to improve overall health and nutrition, and families at this income level will benefit from this assistance. These fully federally funded benefits also have a positive secondary effect by boosting local food economies around the state. We thank Governor Lamont for his support in ensuring that Connecticut families are healthy, secure, and thriving.”
SNAP enrollees are issued electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, which work like a debit card and are replenished for every month of eligibility. The cards can be used at thousands of participating food markets and grocery stores, convenience stores, farmers markets, and online at many retailers for food items approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service. DSS recommends that SNAP enrollees change their EBT PINs each month to prevent benefits from being stolen due to illegal scams or skimming operations.
For more information on SNAP, visit www.ct.gov/snap.
Two Juveniles Arrested in Stolen Vehicle
On 11-19-23 at approximately 2:15am, police were advised that a vehicle was just
stolen from a driveway in Shelton. Officers on patrol were able to locate the stolen
vehicle and another vehicle that appeared to be connected with the stolen vehicle.
Officers attempted to stop the vehicles, but the vehicles fled and police disengaged.
Officers were then advised that the vehicle following the stolen car crashed and
that the operator was fleeing on foot. Police headed towards the crash and located the
stolen vehicle as well. The stolen vehicle attempted to flee and struck a police vehicle.
Three people then fled the stolen vehicle on foot. Two of the three individuals were
apprehended by police following a foot chase.
Both individuals arrested were 14 year old juveniles from Hamden. The juveniles
were charged with Larceny of a Motor Vehicle, Engaging in Pursuit, Reckless Driving,
Interfering, and Operating a MV without a license. Both were released to a parent. One
arrestee was wearing an ankle bracelet and his probation officer was notified as well.
It was reported to police that the stolen vehicle was unlocked and the keys were
left in the vehicle. Police again are reminding residents to lock their vehicles and take the
keys inside.
The charges in the press release are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Bridgeport Police Arrest Robbery Suspects
On the morning of Friday, November 17, 2023, the Bridgeport Police apprehended two local men, 33-year-old Carlos Souffront and 46-year-old Angel Martinez, for assaulting and robbing a 75-year-old man in his East Main St. backyard the previous day. The victim suffered a minor head injury as the assailants repeatedly punched him, pushing him against a dumpster and stealing his wallet. Detectives from the Robbery/Burglary Unit located Souffront and Martinez at the corner of Kossuth St. and Maple St. on the East Side around 8:00 AM, where they were seen with the black Nissan Rogue stolen from Stratford, the vehicle they had used to escape the scene. Souffront was arrested on the spot, while Martinez attempted to flee in the Rogue, eventually being apprehended by officers from the Gang Unit at East Main St. and Arctic St.
The robbery, captured on video, showed Martinez and Souffront approaching the victim with gestures implying they were armed. Souffront faced charges of Robbery in the First Degree, Assault on an Elderly Person in the Third Degree, and Larceny in the Sixth Degree, with a bond set at $150,000. Martinez faced charges of Robbery in the First Degree, Assault on an Elderly Person in the Third Degree, Larceny in the First Degree, and Larceny in the Sixth Degree, along with unrelated warrants for Burglary in the Third Degree and Larceny in the Third Degree. Martinez’s bonds totaled $178,000. Additionally, 40-year-old Patrick Brittin, present during Souffront’s arrest, faced charges related to Failure to Appear in the Second Degree and being a Fugitive from Justice from Pennsylvania, with bonds totaling $252,500. Sherri Caro, a 39-year-old Milford resident and passenger in the stolen Rogue, faced warrants for Failure to Appear in the First Degree and Failure to Appear in the Second Degree, with bonds amounting to $60,000.
GOVERNOR LAMONT AND SECRETARY BECKHAM STATEMENTS ON NOVEMBER 2023 CONSENSUS REVENUE FORECAST
Governor Ned Lamont and Office of Policy and Management Secretary Jeffrey Beckham have issued statements in response to the November 2023 consensus revenue forecast jointly released by the Office of Policy and Management and the Office of Fiscal Analysis. Governor Lamont highlighted the positive impact of the state’s policies, emphasizing Connecticut’s ability to reduce legacy debt and implement the largest income tax cut in state history. He underscored the significance of revenue and volatility caps, providing the state with a safeguard against economic downturns. Secretary Beckham acknowledged a softening in revenue projections but emphasized the overall positive fiscal position. He stressed the importance of adhering to the constitutional spending cap during budget adjustments for fiscal year 2025 and advocated avoiding gimmicks that circumvent fiscal guardrails.
According to the consensus revenue forecast, projected revenues have decreased by a net $57.1 million from the October 20 letter to the comptroller, but they remain $24.4 million higher than the adopted budget. The Office of Policy and Management anticipates ending fiscal year 2024 with a surplus. The downward revisions in personal income tax and pass-through entity tax are attributed to weaker-than-anticipated trends in estimated payments. However, federal grants have increased by $138.5 million due to the final reconciliation of funds earned for medical services in the second half of fiscal year 2023. Investment income has risen by $60 million, reflecting higher interest rates and greater assets under state management. The transfer to the budget reserve fund pursuant to the volatility cap is expected to be $478.5 million, with half allocated to pension liabilities and the remainder to boost the budget reserve fund. Special transportation fund revenues decreased by $11.5 million, primarily in the highway use tax, but interest income rose by $8.2 million.
Evading Motor Vehicle Accident – Witnesses Sought
The Norwalk Police Department’s Detective Bureau is seeking the community’s assistance in an ongoing investigation. In the early hours of November 7, 2023, Norwalk Combined Dispatch received reports of an evading motor vehicle accident that occurred at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Madison Street. Responding swiftly to the scene, Norwalk Police Officers discovered an individual who had been struck by the fleeing vehicle. The injured individual was promptly transported to Norwalk Hospital for medical treatment.
Authorities are now urging anyone who witnessed the accident or possesses relevant information to come forward and assist with the investigation. Detective Daniel Fitzmaurice is leading the inquiry and can be reached at 203-854-3180 or via email at dfitzmaurice@norwalkct.gov. Additionally, anonymous tips can be submitted through multiple channels, including the Norwalk Police Tip Line at 203-854-3111, the Norwalk Police website at www.norwalkpd.com, or via text by typing “NORWALKPD” followed by the message and sending it to TIP411 (847411). Your help in this matter is greatly appreciated as law enforcement works to resolve the incident.
Arrest Made in Fatal 2023 Bridgeport Car Crash Case
On November 6, 2023, Nathan Antonio Roman turned himself in regarding a fatal motor vehicle accident from January 17, 2023. He was identified and taken into custody, facing charges of Evading Responsibility causing Death, Improper Service Braking System, and Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle. A $20,000.00 bond was set. This arrest resulted from an investigation led by Officer Quiles and the Bridgeport Police Department’s Traffic Division.
On January 17, 2023, at approximately 10:44 AM, a pedestrian was struck by a dark green Toyota Camry at the intersection of East Main Street and Pulaski Street. The pedestrian, 52-year-old Rafael Davila from Bridgeport, was transported to Bridgeport Hospital but did not survive his injuries. The Bridgeport Police Serious Crash Team conducted an investigation, and the vehicle involved was impounded.
If you have any information regarding this fatal crash, please contact Officer E. Quiles at 475-422-6141 or use the Bridgeport Police Tips Line at 203-576-TIPS.