2023-02-02@4:11pm–#Fairfield CT– Firefighters were called to CVS at 1968 Black Rock Turnpike for an “appliance” fire in the store. The fire was out on the firefighters’ arrival… a good thing because higher-up town administrators said during contract negotiations that there are no more fires in Fairfield. It turned out to be a mug printer in the photo department. Firefighters assisted in alleviating the smoke condition.
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today held a news conference in Hartford to announce a proposal he will introduce during the 2023 legislative session that will cancel overdue medical debts for thousands of Connecticut residents who are struggling to pay their bills.
Based on a model that other governments throughout the United States have used recently, the governor’s proposal calls for the state to invest $20 million in federal COVID-19 recovery funding it received from the American Rescue Plan Act and use those dollars to contract with a nonprofit organization that buys medical debt and eliminates it at a fraction of the original cost. The nonprofit will contact local hospitals and hospital systems directly, purchase entire portfolios of debt owed by eligible households, and negotiate with the hospitals to cancel that debt. There is no application process for eligible households to have their debt canceled. In other jurisdictions that have pursued this strategy, the amount of medical debt canceled for households has ranged from $25 to six-figure amounts. Two-thirds of personal bankruptcies are caused by medical debt.
One nonprofit working under this model states that they have been able to generate more than a one-to-100 return on investment of government dollars. This is because hospitals often sell medical debt for pennies on the dollar.
The Lamont administration estimates that this $20 million investment has the potential to eliminate about $2 billion in medical debt for Connecticut residents – an astounding amount of financial relief for a relatively small investment. The investment will be included as a component of Governor Lamont’s fiscal years 2024 and 2025 biennial state budget proposal, which he will present to the General Assembly next week.
“Several state and local governments have seen significant success at canceling medical debt for their residents using this model, and I think this is absolutely the right way to use this COVID-recovery funding,” Governor Lamont said. “This initiative will not only help Connecticut residents who are saddled with debt financially, but it also lifts the significant emotional toll that this type of debt has on individuals who do not have the means to get out, especially for those who are simultaneously experiencing significant medical problems. This debt erasure will put millions of dollars back into the Connecticut economy and provide an economic stimulus to local communities.”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 19% of American households carry medical debt, and the median amount owed is $2,000. Medical debt disproportionately impacts Black and Latino families – 27.9% of Black families and 21.7% of Latino families have medical debt, compared to only 17.2% of White households. About 31% of households with a member in fair or poor health have medical debt, compared to 14.4% of those with no members in fair or poor health. More than one in four households with at least one member with a disability have medical debt, compared to 14.4% of households with no members of disabilities.
Individuals who have their medical debt canceled under Governor Lamont’s proposal will not experience any financial tax burden associated with this assistance because the IRS does not count medical debt canceled via nonprofits as taxable income.
To reduce the chances of medical debt building up again, Governor Lamont is encouraging Connecticut residents to take advantage of a number of no-to-low cost insurance options through qualified health plans under Access Health CT and will seek legislative support for a number of transparency and affordability initiatives. The ultimate solution to this problem is to drive down the unsustainably high costs of medical care, ensure universal access to primary and preventative care, and make sure health care coverage is affordable and easy to access. The governor has called on all parties – including insurers, employers, providers, and consumers – to step up and be part of the solution.
Governor Lamont is scheduled to deliver his annual budget address to the General Assembly on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. Documents containing the full details of his state budget proposal will be released at that time.
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#Shelton CT– On 2-1-23, Shelton Police arrested 20-year-old Zyair Lopez of Bridgeport and charged him with Burglary 3 rd Degree, Larceny 3 rd Degree, Conspiracy to commit Burglary 3rd Degree and Conspiracy to commit Larceny 3 rd Degree. Lopez was released on a $10,000 bond.
The arrest stems from a burglary complaint at a hotel room on 1-22-23. Several items
were reported stolen including the victim’s hairless cat Princess. Police obtained and
executed a search warrant during this investigation. Items were seized by police, but the cat was not located. Police are still trying to locate the cat.
More arrests are expected in this case.
Police UPDATE:
On Wednesday February 1, 2023 at approximately 3:30pm, the Fairfield Police Department
received a 911 call from a resident on Collingwood Avenue reporting two young females ran to
his home very upset. They described an encounter with a male operating a vehicle while they
were walking home from the school bus.
Patrol officers responded immediately to the home and interviewed the two middle school aged
girls who reported the following:
While walking home after exiting the school bus, a white male operating a white vehicle (which
may possibly be a BMW X5 type vehicle) described to have white interior, drove up to them
while they were walking. The vehicle was playing loud music and the male was wearing a black
ski mask upon his approach. There was no conversation with the girls and no further action taken
by the person operating the vehicle. The two girls ran to a nearby home to report the incident.
The Fairfield Police Detective Bureau along with the School Safety Unit responded to assist with
this investigation.
Officers and detectives are actively investigating this incident using all available resources to
them which include video surveillance in attempt to identify this individual.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Fairfield Police Department at 203-254-4800.
“These two girls did exactly what police would want them to do in this type of situation. We
remind them to try to walk in groups, never talk to strangers, and report any suspicious incident
to police immediately.”
This incident is still under investigation.
2023–02-01@3:45pm–#Fairfield CT– Police are investigating a possible abduction of a juvenile on Collingwood Avenue. A white car with blue Connecticut plates opened the door and tried to get the child to enter the car. The child ran to their home on Collingwood Avenue.
Bridgeport Activates Cold Weather Protocol
BRIDGEPORT, CT –All residents should be cautious from 12pm on Wednesday, February 1st until 12pm on Sunday, February 5th as temperatures drop with very low wind chill. Residents may utilize the below checklist as a guide to safety during cold weather:
Check heating devices.
Do not use a stove or oven to heat your home due to potential gas, carbon monoxide, and fire hazards.
Ensure that pets are brought inside.
Watch for ice on pipes and ground cover.
Bundle up if you must go outside.
Check on elderly neighbors and family members during colder temperatures.
Warming Centers
Senior Centers (Open only weekdays):
Black Rock Senior Center – 2676 Fairfield Avenue, (9:00am-3:00pm)
East Side Senior Center – 268 Putnam Street, (9:00am-3:00pm)
Eisenhower Senior Center – 307 Golden Hill Street, (9:00am-3:00pm)
North End Bethany Senior Center – 20 Thorme Street, (9:00am- 3:00pm)
GBT Station
710 Water Street, Mon- Fri (9am-9pm),
Bridgeport Public Library Branches:
Main Branch – 925 Broad Street, Mon & Tues (10:00am-6:00pm), Wed & Thurs (12:00pm-8:00pm), Fri & Sat (10:00am-5:00pm). Sunday (Closed).
Black Rock Branch – 2705 Fairfield Avenue, Mon & Tues (10:00am-6:00pm), Wed & Thurs (10:00am-6:00pm), Fri & Sat (10:00am-5:00pm). Sunday (Closed).
Newfield Branch – 755 Central Avenue, Mon & Tues (10:00am-6:00pm), Wed & Thurs (11:00am- 7:00pm), Fri & Sat (10:00am-5:00pm). Sunday (Closed).
North Branch – 3455 Madison Avenue, Mon, Tues & Wed (10:00am-6:00pm), Thurs (12:00pm- 8:00pm), Fri & Sat (10:00am-5:00pm) Sunday (Closed).
East Side Branch – 1174 East Main Street, Mon (10:00am-6:00pm), Tues (12:00pm-8:00pm) Wed (12:00pm-8:00pm) Thurs (10:00am-6:00pm), Fri & Sat (10:00am-5:00pm) Sunday (Closed).
South End Community Center- Overnight Stay/Case Worker Support
650 Park Ave– Open 24/7, November 16th, 2022, to April 16th 2023.
Limited overnight capacity
This press release was made possible by:
2023-02-01@12:00AMish—#Bridgeport CT– A viewer said Sergio’s Pizza on 780 Madison Avenue was robbed at gunpoint today shortly after 12am. Two black males robbed cash from the register.
On January 29, 2023, officers were dispatched to the Parsons Center Gymnasium for a fight. The victim stated that they were at a youth basketball game when a woman from an opposing team began using profanity and yelling very loudly. The victim asked the woman not to use offensive language and moved away from the
woman. After the game, the victim was waiting in the vestibule when two women approached them and began swearing at them. The victim walked outside, and the two women followed and assaulted them. Janet and Lawry Jefferson were identified as the assailants, along with a juvenile suspect. All were charged with Breach of Peace 2nd degree and released on a promise to appear in court.
This news report is made possible by:
At approx. 7:55am Stratford Fire Rescue was dispatched to Route 1 at the Devon Bridge for a 55-year-old female who had fallen through a hole in the bridge and landed on a construction barge below.
Stratford Fire Rescue responded to the scene with Car 3, Engine 1, Tac 5, Truck 1,
Marine Rescue 233, and Safety Car 5. Under the command of Assistant Chief Mike
Camperlengo, Stratford Firefighters using Marine 233 moored alongside the barge.
Stratford Firefighters and Stratford EMS Paramedics treated, stabilized, and using a rope rescue system extricated the 55-year-old female who had fallen through a 3’x5’opening and fell approx. 40-50 feet landing on a construction barge below.
The Devon Bridge is currently under repairs on the southbound side. The female is an
employee of Mohawk North East, the contractor repairing the bridge. She suffered
serious injuries and was transported to Bridgeport Hospital by Stratford EMS.
The rescue involved a team-oriented effort of all Stratford Public Safety Departments
including Dispatch, Fire, Police, and EMS.
This press release was made possible by:
2023-01-31@4:47pm–#Fairfield CT– #cttraffic– Today’s vehicle fire was a box truck on I-95 southbound near the exit 18 on ramp.
Stratford CT – The Stratford Health Department will be conducting free health screenings under their “Know Your Numbers” campaign at Town Hall, the Stratford Library, South End Community Center and Stratford YMCA. February is American Heart Month and the Stratford Health Department is encouraging all residents to participate in free heart health screenings.
Dates:
“Know Your Numbers” campaign is part of an overall strategy created by the Health Improvement Alliance, comprised of Bridgeport Hospital, St. Vincent’s Medical Center, community health centers Optimus and Southwest and health departments of Bridgeport, Stratford, Fairfield, Trumbull, Monroe and Milford.
“We want to raise awareness of heart disease and diabetes among residents of Stratford, especially the underserved,” said Andrea Boissevain, Stratford’s Health Director, adding “this campaign helps people make informed health decisions based on their own personal health data.”
The “Know Your Numbers” campaign teaches individuals the link between personal health data such as blood pressure, blood sugar and overall health. Promoting free health screenings connects people with information about their health, connecting them with primary care doctors. Visit www.gethealthct.org or https://www.stratfordct.gov/KYN for more information on Know Your Numbers.
For questions, please call the Stratford Health Department at 203-385-4090.
This press release was made possible by:
