In a tragic incident on Route 8 in Beacon Falls, Connecticut, two children from Bridgeport lost their lives, and several others sustained serious injuries in a collision that took place around 3:30 p.m. near Exit 23. The vehicles involved were a Honda Civic, carrying two adults and two children, and a Ford F600 with one adult. The children, identified as Riquelme Alves Brito, 3, and Laura Alves Brito, 6, tragically did not survive the accident.
According to the Connecticut State Police report, both vehicles were in the left lane when the Ford rear-ended the Honda. The impact caused both vehicles to collide with the concrete barrier on the left side of the road. The Honda’s 33-year-old male driver from Stratford and the 25-year-old female front passenger from Bridgeport sustained suspected serious injuries. The two children were rushed to Waterbury Hospital, where they were pronounced dead. The Ford was driven by a 40-year-old man from Oxford, who suffered suspected minor injuries, as stated by the state police. Authorities are urging witnesses to come forward with any information related to the crash.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong has announced a groundbreaking $350 million national settlement with Publicis Health, a global marketing and communications firm, to resolve investigations into its alleged role in the prescription opioid crisis. Connecticut, part of a ten-state executive committee leading the investigation, will receive nearly $4.44 million from the settlement to address the opioid crisis, along with $332,000 covering the costs of the extensive multistate inquiry. Publicis agreed to the settlement terms, acknowledging the harm caused by its conduct. The firm will publicly disclose thousands of internal documents related to its work for opioid companies like Purdue Pharma and cease accepting client work connected to opioid-based Schedule II or other Schedule III narcotics.
The settlement follows revelations in court documents describing Publicis’ contribution to the opioid crisis by assisting Purdue Pharma and other manufacturers in marketing and selling opioids. Publicis served as Purdue’s agency of record for all branded opioid drugs, developing sales tactics that relied on farming data from personal health-related conversations between patients and providers. The company played a pivotal role in Purdue’s decision to market OxyContin to providers through electronic health records. Connecticut, having lost 1,464 people to opioid overdoses in 2022 alone, sees the settlement as a crucial step in combatting the opioid crisis, with funds dedicated to treatment, prevention, and recovery. Attorney General Tong has been actively pursuing actions to hold those responsible for the crisis accountable, securing over $50 billion nationwide in the past five years, with Connecticut receiving $600 million for opioid epidemic initiatives. The Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee, composed of health professionals, individuals with lived experience, and state and municipal leaders, oversees the allocation and management of settlement funds. The multistate investigation was led by Colorado, with an executive committee including attorneys general from California, Connecticut, Idaho, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, and Vermont, joined by attorneys general from all states, territories, and the District of Columbia.
In Hartford, CT, Attorney General William Tong released a comprehensive report outlining the efforts of the Office of the Attorney General in educating consumers and businesses and enforcing compliance with the Connecticut Data Privacy Act (CTDPA) since its enactment on July 1, 2023. Mandated by the Act, the report, issued no later than February 1, discloses the number and nature of violations, the status of cured violations, and any relevant matters deemed significant by the Attorney General. The CTDPA, among the nation’s first and most robust consumer privacy laws, empowers consumers with rights to access, correct, and delete data, opt-out of personal data sale and targeted advertising. The report highlights actions taken since the law’s inception, including over a dozen notices of violation and broader information requests. Identified deficiencies in various industries encompassed lacking, inadequate, and confusing disclosures, as well as issues with rights mechanisms. The Attorney General emphasized the ongoing commitment to balancing privacy and data use in the global economy and presented the report to contribute to the evolving dialogue in this legal domain. For more information about the CTDPA, the public is directed to the Attorney General’s FAQ page. The report was prepared and reviewed by the entire Privacy Section, featuring Deputy Associate Attorney General Michele Lucan as Section Chief, along with assistant attorneys general and paralegal specialists.
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the fiscal year 2025 budget adjustment proposal that he will present to lawmakers when they meet in February to convene the next legislative session will include a recommendation that licensure application fees required for workers to obtain certain jobs in the education, childcare, and healthcare fields be eliminated.
The governor said that he is proposing the change in an effort to encourage workers looking for employment to seek jobs in fields in which there is a significant need to fill available openings. The proposal will save these workers about $3.5 million annually.
“Right now, there are many job openings in essential fields that employers need to fill, and by eliminating these licensure application fees we can help encourage those who are seeking employment to consider entering a career in these sectors,” Governor Lamont said. “I am hopeful that legislators will agree and vote to approve these fee reductions.”
In particular, the governor is proposing the following changes:
Eliminate the initial application fee for educator certificates. Administered by the State Department of Education, this fee costs $200 and generates about $1,000,000 in annual revenue.
Eliminate the initial application fee for home childcare licenses. Administered by the Office of Early Childhood, the home childcare license fee costs $40 and the initial application fee for staff costs $15. Combined, they generate about $20,000 in annual revenue.
Eliminate the initial application fee for registered nurse licenses. Administered by the Department of Public Health, this fee costs $180 and generates about $2,005,000 in annual revenue.
Eliminate the initial application fee for practical nurse licenses. Administered by the Department of Public Health, this fee costs $150 and generates about $174,300 in annual revenue.
Eliminate the initial application fee for advanced practice registered nurse licenses. Administered by the Department of Public Health, this fee costs $200 and generates about $260,000 in annual revenue.
This is the first legislative proposal Governor Lamont has unveiled so far in 2024. He is set to deliver his State of the State and Budget Address on February 7, 2024, at noon. At that time, his full fiscal year 2025 budget adjustment proposal will be released, along with other legislative proposals that he is asking lawmakers to consider this year.
Bridgeport, CT – Today, Chief Porter detailed Bridgeport Police Department’s latest initiative of accepting lateral transfers for officers to increase the manpower within the department. Lateral transfers are now being offered within the department which allows police officers from other cities, towns, and states to apply to join the Bridgeport Police Department. This comes after the Bridgeport City Council made an amendment to accept lateral transfers from other municipalities without having to start from the beginning stages of the typical hiring process for Bridgeport Police officers.
Chief Porter stated, “The Bridgeport Police Department has much to offer to anyone who is interested in applying to become a police officer. We plan on streamlining the process for lateral transfers to get new officers started at a faster rate, with the hopes that we can reach our goal of having 100 new officers. We’re very excited about opening our department to lateral transfers and I want to thank our City Council as well as the Civil Service Commission for allowing this to happen.”
The Bridgeport Police Department has been advertising the opening of lateral transfer positions by detailing salary ranges and comprehensive benefits being offered when joining the department. Officers from other municipalities who are interested in applying are encouraged to visit Police App to begin the application process. The application is also open to officers who have formerly worked for the department and wish to transfer back to Bridgeport. The application currently has no cutoff date, which allows for officers from other municipalities to apply whenever they see fit.
“I’m very pleased to see Chief Porter and the rest of the police department taking all the necessary steps to increase their number of police officers,” stated Mayor Ganim. “I’m hopeful that with the heavy social media presence and consistent community-building that the police department has been doing, there will be a time very soon where the Bridgeport Police Department is fully staffed.”
Coalition Urges Appellate Court to Reverse Decision of Procurement Act Violation
(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief supporting the federal government’s actions to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour for certain federal contractors. The policy was first enacted by presidential executive order in April 2021, and then implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor in November 2021 in the final rule, “Increasing the Minimum Wage for Federal Contract Workers.”
Attorney General Tong and the coalition submitted the amicus brief in Texas v. Biden, a case involving a challenge to the executive order and final rule raising the minimum wage for federal contractors. The coalition argues that both the president and the Department of Labor acted well within their authority when implementing the policies to ensure federal contract workers are paid fair living wages. In addition, the coalition argues that the minimum wage increase is fully supported by empirical evidence and is consistent with state and local experiences in raising the minimum wage for contractors.
“Every worker deserves a fair wage. The Biden Administration acted lawfully and appropriately in raising the minimum wage for federal contractors. This partisan challenge is without merit,” said Attorney General Tong.
At issue in the underlying lawsuit is an executive order and follow-on rule increasing the minimum wage for certain federal contractors, which had been set at $10.10 per hour since 2014. Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi filed a lawsuit challenging the validity of the executive order and final rule as unlawful. The district court concluded that the president exceeded his statutory authority under the Procurement Act and enjoined the federal government from enforcing the executive order and rule against those three states. The federal government appealed that decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.
The coalition argues that the appellate court should reverse the lower court’s decision. The coalition points to the ways an increased minimum wage benefits employers, employees and consumers, citing studies and reports demonstrating that an increased minimum wage leads to improved morale and productivity, reduced turnover and absenteeism, as well as improved income equality and decreased poverty for federal contractual workers. Those benefits lead to improved service and enhanced consumer experiences.
Joining Attorney General Tong in filing the brief are attorneys general from California, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.
On 01/28/2024 at approximately 10:15 PM, the Shelton Police were dispatched to 819 River Rd. Cumberland Farms Gas Station, on a report that shots were fired. Responding officers discovered a broken window and recovered a spent shell casing in the parking lot of the gas station. No one was reported to be injured in the incident. Shelton Detectives conducted a follow up investigation and identified Joshua Vazquez, Age 18, of Shelton as a suspect. Detectives obtained search warrants for Vazquez’s vehicle and residence. Detectives with the assistance of CT State Police Gangs and Narcotics Task force later located Vazquez in Ansonia, where a firearm and clothing matching the description worn in surveillance footage at the gas station was recovered. Vazquez was placed under arrest, processed, and charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm, reckless endangerment, carrying a pistol without a permit, Threatening 1st degree, breach of peace, and illegal possession of high capacity magazine. Vazquez was placed on a $300,000.00 bond. Vazquez will appear in Derby Superior Court on 01/30/2024 if he is unable to post bond. ***The charges in the press release are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.***
On Saturday January 27, 2024, Bridgeport Police Officer Salce was patrolling the area of the Greens Apartment Buildings when he observed a vehicle parked in a limited parking zone for beyond the extended timeframe. While approaching the vehicle the male party exited the vehicle holding his waistband and proceeded to flee from the approaching officer. Officer Salce gave chase and apprehended the party without incident and subsequently located a loaded firearm on this male party, ( GLOCK 19) with an extended magazine containing 30 live rounds of 9mm ammunition as well as 1 loaded in the chamber. The firearm was tucked into his waist and then in spandex type leggings, no holster. The male party later identified as a juvenile was also previously involved with 4 other gun charges. The juvenile was charged with the following: Carrying Pistol w/o permit Illegal Possession of Weapons in a M/V Carrying a Dangerous Weapon Violation of Large Capacity Magazine Req. Reckless Endangerment 2nd Interfering with an Officer An order to detain was also completed and the juvenile was taken to JDC. Officer Salce was also assisted by Officer Santoro helping him subdue this male safely as well as Officer Mendoza.
On January 28, 2024, at approximately 12:50 pm the Bridgeport Emergency Operations Center received reports of shots fired and a motor vehicle accident within the 1100 block of Main Street in downtown Bridgeport.
Officers arriving on scene located a 2-car motor vehicle accident with one of the striking vehicle occupants suffering from a gunshot wound to the buttocks. That victim, identified as a 27-year-old Milford man, was taken to an area hospital via AMR Ambulance for treatment. He is listed in stable condition.
A 29-year-old Naugatuck woman and 57-year-old Naugatuck women sustained injuries during the motor vehicle crash. Both were transported to an area hospital via AMR Ambulance and are listed in stable condition.
While Officers were securing the crime scene on Main Street, a 23-year-old Bridgeport man presented at an area hospital suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen. That victim is being treated in the intensive care unit. Preliminary information indicates the 23-year-old was shot during the same incident on Main Street.
A vehicle believed to be involved in this crime was identified and quickly located by Bridgeport Police within the 100 block of Wilcox Street in Bridgeport.
The Detective Bureau has responded and taken charge of the investigation. The crime scene, located within the 1100 block of Main Street, is being processed at this hour. Additional evidence is being collected within the 100 block of Wilcox Street.
Anyone with information about this crime is requested to contact the case officer, Detective Kevin Cronin, at 203-581-5292. Citizens can also utilize the Bridgeport Police Tips Line at 203-576-TIPS.
