Alex

The City of Bridgeport and the Downtown Special Services District to Host Reception for the Conclusion of the “Color it In” Mural Program

Bridgeport, CT – The City of Bridgeport’s Office of Planning and Economic Development (OPED) has partnered with the Bridgeport Downtown Special Services District (DSSD) to close out its second year of the “Color It In” mural project. The project produced over 30 murals in the downtown area of Bridgeport; helping to utilize vacant walls and spaces to add to DSSD’s initiatives to beautify the City. Murals have been placed throughout all areas of downtown, leaving no stone unturned with exposing residents and visitors to public art. “I would like to thank the Bridgeport DSSD for partnering with the OPED department to help make our downtown area an oasis for artists in our City,” Mayor Ganim stated. “It has been a pleasure…

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ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG, BIPARTISAN COALITION OF ATTORNEYS GENERAL SUE META FOR HARM TO YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH

(Hartford, CT) -- Attorney General William Tong today joined 42 attorneys general throughout the country suing Meta in federal and state courts alleging that the company knowingly designed and deployed harmful features on Instagram and its other social media platforms that purposefully addict children and teens. At the same time, Meta falsely assured the public that these features are safe and suitable for young users. The attorneys general assert that Meta’s business practices violate state consumer protection laws and the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). These practices have harmed and continue to harm the physical and mental health of children and teens and have fueled what the U.S. Surgeon General has deemed a “youth mental health crisis” which…

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MURPHY, BLUMENTHAL PUSH TO FUND PROGRAM TO LOWER COST OF HIGH-SPEED INTERNET

WASHINGTON–U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined a group of 32 colleagues in urging Congressional leaders to extend funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides financial assistance to access high-speed internet for 172,54 households in Connecticut and more than 21 million working families across the nation. “We write to urge you to extend funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides over 21 million working families with financial assistance for broadband access, to help bridge the digital divide so they can continue to afford the broadband services they need for work, school, health care, and more,” wrote the senators. “Should ACP funding not be extended, millions of Americans could be at risk of losing access…

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Arrest of shooting suspect

On October 20, 2023 Silas Dedrick, age 18, of Ansonia was arrested by warrant for his involvement in a shooting on September 17, 2023 on Rockwood Avenue. Dedrick was charged with Assault Second Degree with a Firearm, Assault Second Degree, Reckless Endangerment Second Degree, Threatening First Degree, Unlawful Discharge and Altering Identification Marks on a Firearm, he was held on a $50,000.00 bond to be arraigned at Derby Superior Court on October 23, 2023. The shooting occurred when Dedrick, armed with a gun, attempted to intervene in an altercation between a 47-year-old female relative and her boyfriend. There was a struggle over the gun and the female was shot once in the arm. The female was transported to the hospital…

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The City of Bridgeport to Begin Black Rock Streetscape Project

The City of Bridgeport has set out to begin the first parts of construction in the Black Rock area, known as the Black Rock Streetscape Project. The project will focus on improvements to two sections of Fairfield Ave which consists of the intersection of Fairfield Ave and Brewster Street and median improvements at the entry from the Town of Fairfield. “While it is great to see this project finally moving forward – many years after former State Rep. Auden Grogins helped secure the funding – it is just the first step in making Fairfield Avenue safer,” said State Rep. Steve Stafstrom (D-Bridgeport). “‘The Ave,’ as we call it, is Black Rock’s lifeblood and one of Bridgeport’s premier entertainment destinations. I am…

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STRATFORD HOSTS INAUGURAL VETERANS DAY PARADE

Saturday, November 11, 2023 STRATFORD- The Town of Stratford and the Marine Corps League Housatonic Detachment #1129 are pleased to announce the inaugural Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, November 11th. The parade steps off at 10am from Stratford Town Hall, traveling south on Main Street. The parade will conclude at the annual Veterans Day ceremony at Academy Hill, which is hosted by Stratford’s VFW Post 9460. “On Veterans Day we take time to honor and celebrate the sacrifices and contributions of all who served our country in the military and their families,” said Mayor Laura R. Hoydick, who will serve as Parade Marshal. “The Town is privileged to host this inaugural parade. Please join us as we salute our local…

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Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident

On October 21, 2023, at 4:46 PM, multiple calls flooded Norwalk Combined Dispatch, urgently requesting assistance at the intersection of Grist Mill Road and the Route 7 connector due to a reported single motor vehicle accident. Tragically, this incident claimed the life of the vehicle's sole occupant and operator. Swiftly responding to the distress calls, the Norwalk Police, Norwalk Fire Department, and Norwalk Hospital Emergency Medical Service were dispatched to the accident site. Upon arrival, the responding officers discovered the vehicle situated in an embankment area off the roadway. Their immediate efforts were directed toward safely extricating the operator from the wreckage. Regrettably, the operator, identified as Joshua Chapman, 37, from Naugatuck, did not survive the accident, and he was…

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Westport Police to Participate in DEA Prescription Drug Take Back Day

On Saturday, October 28, 2023, from 10:00am to 2:00pm, the Westport Police Department will again partner with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration for the twenty-fifth National Prescription Drug Take Back Day along with community partners at the Aspetuck Health District and Westport Together. The event will be held at the Aspetuck Health District located at 180 Bayberry Lane, Westport. According to a report published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), most people who misused a prescription medication obtained the medicine from a family member or friend. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that last year, more than 93,000 people died of drug overdoses in the United States, marking the largest number of drug-related…

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Senator Gaston Welcomes Over $1 Million To Support Tutoring In Bridgeport Schools

State Senator Herron Keyon Gaston has welcomed the allocation of $1,070,514 in funding to Bridgeport-based schools to enhance tutoring services and boost student outcomes, particularly in mathematics. This funding is part of the state's High-Dosage Tutoring Program, aiming to provide additional educational opportunities and bridge educational disparities throughout Connecticut. The primary focus of this funding is to improve mathematics proficiency among middle and high school students. In response to state data indicating the need for progress in mathematics education, these funds will support in-person tutoring, which has proven to be the most effective way to address learning gaps. Schools in Bridgeport will utilize these funds to integrate or expand in-person tutoring during school hours, starting in January 2024. The state…

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CONNECTICUT LEADS $20 MILLION MULTISTATE SETTLEMENT WITH ACI WORLDWIDE OVER UNAUTHORIZED WITHDRAWALS

Connecticut, alongside a coalition of 50 states and territories, has reached a $20 million settlement with payment processor ACI Worldwide. This settlement stems from a 2021 testing error by ACI, which led to the unauthorized withdrawal of $2.3 billion from Nationstar Mortgage (also known as Mr. Cooper) customers. In Connecticut, the state will receive $558,740 from this settlement, which includes a $220,000 additional payment due to the state's leadership role in the multistate, multi-agency action. The violations occurred on April 23, 2021, when ACI Payments erroneously used live customer data during a test of its Speedpay platform, leading to unexpected and sometimes multiple mortgage payments being withdrawn from customer accounts. In some cases, this exposed consumers to overdraft or insufficient…

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