Local News in Bridgeport, Fairfield, Stratford, Norwalk, and Beyond!
Author: Stephen Krauchick
DoingItLocal is run by Steve Krauchick. Steve has always had interest with breaking news even as an early teen, opting to listen to the Watergate hearings instead of top 40 on the radio. His interest in news spread to become the communities breaking news leader in Connecticut’s Fairfield County. He strongly believes that the public has right to know what is happening in their backyard and that government needs to be transparent. Steve also likes promoting local businesses.
#Norwalk CT–In January of 2021, the Department of Children and Families received an anonymous tip regarding the sex trafficking of juveniles in Norwalk. The Department of Children and Families notified the Special Victims Unit of the Norwalk Police Department and an investigation was launched by Detective Patrick English. After a lengthy and complex investigation, Detective English identified multiple victims and the two suspects, Teresa Martinez and Eugene Luini. On December 26, 2022, members of the Special Victims Unit arrested Martinez in the City of Bridgeport and Luini in the Town of Fairfield.
Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to contact the Norwalk Police Department Special Victims Unit at 203-854-3043 or Sergeant David Orr at 203-854-3008. Anonymous tips can be sent to any of the anonymous tip contacts below.
Arrested: Teresa Martinez, 36 of 23 Freeman Street, Bridgeport Charges: Commercial Sex Abuse of a Minor, Trafficking in Persons and Risk of Injury to a Minor
Bond: $1,500,000
Arrested: Eugene Luini, 60, of 73 Autumn Lane, Stamford.
Charges: Commercial Sex Abuse of a Minor and Risk of Injury to a Minor
2022-12-26 @ 10:35pm–#Fairfield CT– A man and woman parked at the northbound rest stop and Fairfield. They went into the convenience store where according to witnesses were arguing very loudly. They were asked to leave the store when the woman allegedly stabbed the man a number of times. State police were first on the scene and the witnesses said state police applied a tourniquet to the leg and arm to stop the bleeding and possibly saved the man’s life.
#BridgeportCT–On December 26, 2022, at approximately 9:10 am Bridgeport Police were dispatched to the 100 block of Sherwood Avenue on the report of a kidnapping. The victim, a 14-year-old child, reported that two women sitting on a bench near the intersection of Wood Avenue & Olive Street attempted to kidnap him. Video surveillance in that area showed suspicious criminal activity. The video surveillance did not indicate an attempted kidnapping.
The Detective Bureau has taken over the investigation and view the suspects behavior to be consistent with felony Risk of Injury to a Minor.
Anyone with information about this crime is requested to contact the case officer, Detective David Garcia, at 203-581-5233. Citizens can also utilize the Bridgeport Police Tips Line at 203-576-TIPS.
2022-12-26@3:20pm–#Bridgeport CT– 2 accidents at exit 2 Route 8/25 southbbound. One in the break-down lane and the other in the right lane. It appears only the left lane is getting by at this time.
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont announced that he has renewed a declaration that will enable Connecticut to continue receiving federal support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This federal support provides funds for supplemental food benefits for households in need and non-congregate housing for individuals experiencing homelessness and survivors of domestic violence. The declaration will continue through June 28, 2023, or until the federal public health emergency ends, whichever is earlier.
This declaration is an extension of the one he issued in June, which is set to expire on December 28, 2022. The governor reiterated, as he did in June, that he will not issue any emergency executive orders under this declaration. The purpose of the declaration is to ensure that state agencies continue to have access to available federal funds.
“We need this declaration in place, otherwise we wouldn’t be able to access the federal support necessary for emergency food benefits and housing services that other states across the country are continuing to receive as a result of the pandemic,” Governor Lamont said. “By issuing this declaration, we are ensuring that this added support can continue for at least several more months.”
Having this declaration in place since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic has enabled the approximately 224,285 Connecticut households that are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – formerly known as food stamps – to receive an additional $929.1 million in emergency benefits that they otherwise would have been ineligible to collect. On average, these households are receiving an additional $156.44 per month in emergency benefits.
Additionally, this declaration has enabled the state to access the funds needed to place 6,970 individuals experiencing homelessness and several hundred survivors of domestic violence into non-congregate housing throughout the duration of the pandemic. Non-congregate housing is a location where each individual or household has living space that offers some level of privacy, such as hotels, motels, or dormitories. To date, the state has received $15.89 million in federal reimbursements for this purpose and is expecting to receive an additional $20.7 million for its continuation.
2022-12-25@9:38pm–#Bridgeport CT– Firefighters on scene in the 200 block of Anton Drive where there was an alarm of carbon monoxide, the resident has a headache and they have readings of 50 parts per million.
The following are the 2022 Connecticut State Police Christmas holiday traffic statistics from Friday, 12/23/2022, at 12:00 AM to Sunday 12/25/22, at 8:00 AM:
HARTFORD, CT – Governor Ned Lamont announced the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) will allow all participating households that heat with deliverable fuels such as home heating oil to receive an additional crisis assistance benefit worth $430 this winter season, above the amount they were already able to receive.
Earlier today, Congress approved the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which includes an additional $1 billion for the national Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that will provide Connecticut with an estimated $20 million in additional funding for CEAP.
This press release was made possible by:
CEAP is administered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) in partnership with the state’s community action agencies and is normally funded entirely through LIHEAP. In November, with federal funding anticipated to fall short of projected need, Governor Lamont and the state legislature allocated $30 million of ARPA State Recovery Funding to the program in order to help mitigate the impact of unusually high energy prices, support growth in program enrollment due to increased demand and streamlined service delivery, and ensure low-income Connecticut residents have the assistance they need to stay warm this winter. Connecticut’s federal delegation also recognized that need and worked to ensure that additional federal funding was made available to support state residents. Under the provisions of the November law, the ARPA funding the state has committed will be expended after the federal funding is exhausted.
“This additional federal support for our energy assistance program and the funding the state has allocated will help provide added heating assistance to households this winter season,” Governor Lamont said. “I urge residents who may need assistance to consider applying for this program to get them through the winter months. I am grateful to Connecticut’s Congressional delegation for securing additional federal funds for this fiscal year.”
Coupled with the existing basic benefit and crisis assistance benefits, the additional $430 benefit means families heating with deliverable fuels like heating oil and propane can now access up to $2,320 per household to help pay their heating bills. Total benefits for deliverable fuel households now range from $1,110 to $2,320, up from $680 to $1,890 or by as much as 63% for certain households.
“The Department of Social Services is dedicated to ensuring that Connecticut families have access to state services that support their basic needs,” DSS Commissioner Deidre Gifford said. “Right now, there is an urgent need to help our state residents with the high costs of fuel and we are proud to be able to deliver additional benefits to help address that need. The additional federal funding will go directly to reducing the energy cost burden of families struggling with high bills and help ensure that they can stay warm this winter.”
Interested households should apply online at ct.gov/heatinghelp or contact their local community action agency. Households can find their local community action agency and other services on the ct.gov/heatinghelp website. Additional assistance is available by calling 2-1-1.
