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.
Applications for Operation Fuel, which provides emergency energy and utility assistance to Connecticut households facing financial challenges, are now open and available at www.operationfuel.org. Applicants can receive grants of up to $1,000 to heating customers earning up to the state median income, which is currently $66,270 for individuals and $127,443 for households of four. Applicants can visit www.operationfuel.org/gethelp/ for aid, with applications available online or in-person at a fuel bank partnering with Operation Fuel. The program’s website says that applicants should gather proof of the last four weeks of income for all household members, the name of their fuel vendors for deliverable fuel customers, or their utility bill and payment history for electric/gas/water customers.
Information received leads to surveillance resulting in an arrest for a firearm and narcotics. On December 13, 2022 the Norwalk Police Special Services Division received detailed information that an individual was armed with a handgun and selling drugs in the South Norwalk area. Officers conducted surveillance and located the subject who matched the information they were given. The subject was safely detained and found to be in possession of a fully loaded Taurus semi-automatic handgun, with its hammer cocked back. He was also in possession of crack cocaine, powder cocaine, marijuana, scales and drug paraphernalia. Along with the above, the subject also had $22,785 dollars in US Currency which was seized and will be applied for under asset forfeiture laws. The subject was arrested and is identified as: Sequon Satawhite (DOB 12-3-1999)(Norwalk) Charges: 2 counts Possession of a Controlled Substance. CGS. 21a-279(a)(1) 2 counts Sale of Narcotics. CGS .21a-277(a)(1)A 1 count Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. CGS. 21a-267 1 count Illegal Sale of Cannabis. PA. 21-1(13b1A). 1 count Carrying a Pistol Without a Permit. CGS. 29-35(a) Bond: $200,00 Court date: 12-20-22 The Investigation is ongoing.
Norwalk Police Tip Line: 203-854-3111
Anonymous Internet tips can be sent to Norwalk Police website at: www.norwalkpd.com Anonymous text tips can be submitted by typing “NORWALKPD” into the text field, followed by the message, and sending it to TIP411 (847411)
2022-12-21@6:35pm–#Stratford News: A man was pulled from people nearby outside of Out Riggers at 605 Broad Street. First responders are currently looking for the man’s dog which has been heard barking.
Trumbull Police charged a juvenile boy after he ran from a stolen car that was parked at the Westfield Trumbull Mall, on Monday, December 19. The fifteen (15) year old suspect from Bridgeport was arrested and charged with auto theft for his involvement in this incident.
At approximately 5:30 PM, an officer patrolling the area of the mall observed a Toyota RAV4 driving onto mall property. The vehicle had been reported stolen to the Bridgeport police on December 18, and was also reported to have been involved an evading motor vehicle accident, where a pedestrian had been hit earlier in the evening.
The Toyota, occupied by two (2) males, parked on mall property when five (5) additional males walked towards the vehicle. As officers approached the Toyota, both occupants of the vehicle then exited the vehicle and began running away engaging Trumbull officers in a foot pursuit.
The fifteen (15) year old suspect was then apprehended on the Main Street ramp, as the others fled the scene. The apprehended suspect was placed under arrest, and a search of him revealed a flat head screw driver located in his sweatshirt pocket.
He was then transported to Trumbull Police Headquarters, where he identified himself to police under a false name and date of birth. Officers were later able to positively identify the teen who was then charged with Larceny 1st degree, and Interfering with Police. He was later released to the custody of his aunt on a Promise to Appear in Bridgeport Juvenile Court on December 28, 2022.
Bridgeport, CT – Today, Mayor Ganim announced a tentative collective bargaining agreement with the International Association of Firefighters AFL-CIO Local 834. The negotiations between the International Association of Firefighters AFL-CIO Local 834 and the City of Bridgeport Department of Labor Relations occurred during an agreement on proposed issues that were considered for alteration.
Mayor Ganim stated: “I want to compliment the men and women who serve as firefighters in the City of Bridgeport. It took a lot of perseverance and leadership from both sides to reach this tentative agreement.”
Most of the major concerns that were mentioned for adjustment included wage increases, sick and paid leave, health care premiums, tuition reimbursement, vacation time, and stipends to cover uniform costs. Both parties came to an agreement that the new adjustments were just and fair and will be submitted to City Council for approval.
2022-12-21@1:22pm–#Fairfield CT– A Centro Restaurant employee at 1435 Post Road called police to report his car was parked in the back parking lot and that someone smashed a car window and took items.
(Hartford, CT) — Attorney General William Tong is leading a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general urging the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to take stronger measures to protect consumers from airline abuses, and to work with state attorneys general to meaningfully address the unacceptable level of airline consumer complaints.
A recent draft rule from DOT proposes several important new protections for airline consumers, yet falls short of the robust protections and enforcement measures required to effectively reduce preventable flight cancellations and delays, compensate consumers for disruptions, and hold airlines accountable for unacceptable service.
The proposed rule would declare it an unfair business practice under DOT’s regulatory authority for airlines to fail to provide appropriate refunds to consumers whose flights are significantly changed or cancelled by carriers. The rule would further require airlines to provide non-expiring travel vouchers or credits to consumers with non-refundable tickets who are unable to travel due to serious communicable disease.
While a significant step in the right direction, Attorney General Tong’s comment letter expresses concerns that the proposed rule does not go far enough to protect consumers. Despite bipartisan urging from attorneys general nationwide, including a letter to Congress from Attorney General Tong and others in September, federal law does not grant attorneys general authority to enforce state and federal consumer protections relating to airline passengers. Federal law currently places that responsibility within DOT, but the agency has failed to keep up with escalating issues and has failed to partner with state attorneys general, who have unique experience and expertise in addressing consumer issues.
Since the pandemic, Attorney General Tong has received over 260 complaints directly against airlines, including many from families who were denied refunds when forced to cancel their travel due to illness or health concerns.
“We are in the midst of the busiest flying times of the year, which means added delays, disruptions, and headaches. Travelers deserve strong protections—and enforcement– against these unacceptable airline practices. Federal regulators at the U.S. Department of Transportation are ill-equipped to handle the volume of complaints, and rules have not kept up with the kinds of abusive practices passengers are experiencing. DOT’s efforts are a first step in the right direction, but consumers need and deserve stronger action and accountability,” said Attorney General Tong.
Attorney General Tong’s suggested improvements include:
• DOT should require airlines to advertise and sell only flights that they have adequate personnel to support.
• DOT should make clear that it will impose significant fines for cancellations and extended delays that are not weather-related or otherwise unavoidable.
• DOT should require airlines to provide partial refunds to passengers for any cancellation that results in a rescheduled flight which the passenger accepts but that is later, longer, or otherwise less valuable than the originally purchased flight.
• DOT should prohibit airlines from canceling flights while upselling consumers more expensive alternative flights to the same destinations. For example, an airline could cancel a consumer’s $200 flight from City A to City B, then explain to the consumer that he or she could either accept a full refund, as required by FAA rules, or purchase an alternative ticket for $300. Such a circumstance forces consumers to either cancel their travel plans or pay an upcharge–while the airline would receive a windfall profit from any such sale as the result of its cancellation. DOT should prohibit airlines from disadvantaging consumers and benefiting from its flight cancellations in such a way.
• DOT should require that credits and vouchers for future travel that are provided by airlines in the event of cancellation can be used easily without inappropriate limitations.
• DOT should require airlines to provide additional compensation to consumers who, as the result of delays or cancellations, are forced to assume additional costs because they must pay for meals, hotel stays, flights on other airlines, rental car reservations, or gas to eventually make it to their destinations.
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that based on a weather forecast indicating that Connecticut may experience below-zero wind chills over the weekend, he will be activating the state’s severe cold weather protocol beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, December 23, 2022, and remaining in effect through 12:00 p.m. on Monday, December 26, 2022. This is the first time the protocol is being enacted during the 2022-2023 winter season.
The purpose of the protocol is to ensure that the most vulnerable populations receive protection from the severe cold conditions, which could be life threatening if exposed to the elements for extended periods of time. While enacted, a system is set up for state agencies and municipalities to coordinate with United Way 2-1-1 and Connecticut’s network of shelters to make sure that anyone in need can receive shelter from the outdoors, including transportation to shelters.
Anyone in need is urged to call 2-1-1 to get connected to these services. Safety measures have been enacted at shelters and warming centers throughout Connecticut to adhere to the needs of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have an interesting set of weather conditions coming to our area over the next several days, first with a storm on Friday during the daytime that has the potential for heavy rain and very strong wind gusts, and then that will be followed by plummeting temperatures that night and remaining throughout the Christmas weekend, particularly during the evening hours,” Governor Lamont said. “This is the first time this season that we will have a stretch of frigid temperatures this low, and we want to remind everyone that shelters are available throughout Connecticut. Anyone in need can call 2-1-1 to get connected to a nearby location, and they can even provide transportation if necessary.”
The following actions are implemented while the protocol is enacted:
The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security activates its WebEOC communications network, which is an internet-based system that enables local, regional, and state emergency management officials and first responders to share up-to-date information about a variety of situations and conditions. The system is used to monitor capacity at shelters across the state, enabling 2-1-1 to act as a clearinghouse to assist in finding shelter space for those who need it. Local officials, working through WebEOC, can alert 2-1-1 and the state when they open temporary shelters or warming centers.
The Connecticut Department of Social Services, Connecticut Department of Housing, and Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services coordinate with 2-1-1 and the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, along with community-based providers, to provide transportation for people seeking shelter
