Report of a fire in the basement at the 2000 block of East Main Street. The fire is out at this time.
Bridgeport News: Basement Fire
GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES PRESIDENT BIDEN APPROVES EMERGENCY DECLARATION FOR CONNECTICUT IN RESPONSE TO EXTREME FLOODING
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has received notification from the White House indicating that his request for President Joe Biden to authorize a federal emergency declaration for Fairfield County, New Haven County, and Litchfield County in response to the extreme flooding from the historic rainfall that portions of the state received earlier this week has been approved.
The declaration means that state agencies can coordinate with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on the deployment of federal personnel and equipment to augment emergency recovery efforts already underway by the state and its municipal counterparts. This includes actions to protect lives and property, and restorative efforts that defend public safety.
Staff from several state agencies, including the Connecticut Department of Transportation, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, among others, have been on the ground since the initial impact of the storm to provide emergency services.
“This federal emergency declaration means that additional equipment and crews could be mobilized to Connecticut to support our many state and local crews who have been on the ground working to repair damaged roads, bridges, and dams, and also clean up waterways that have been contaminated by all kinds of hazardous items from the storm,” Governor Lamont said. “There is still much work to do to repair and reopen the roads and make sure those who live in the area remain safe, and we are committed to completing this task. I thank President Biden for taking these actions and providing Connecticut with these lifesaving resources.”
The Lamont administration is continuing to work with towns, businesses, and individuals to conduct detailed damage assessments and calculate whether the cost thresholds have been met that would enable the state to receive a major disaster declaration from the federal government, which could result in the release of federal funding to support the rebuilding and repairing of damage to eligible public and uninsured private property. Any such funding to support those efforts requires the approval of a separate declaration. The process of conducting these assessments typically takes several weeks to complete and is already underway.
Bridgeport Man Arrested After Infant Found Dead in Milford Motel Room
On August 21st, 2024 at 11:06am Milford Police received a call from the Mayflower Motel, reporting that their cleaning staff had discovered an unresponsive infant lying in the bathtub of a vacated room.
Milford Police performed CPR on the infant until Paramedics arrived and took over life saving measures. The infant was transported to Yale New Haven Hospital and was pronounced deceased at 11:56am. Milford PD Detectives and the Milford State’s Attorney’s Office responded and assumed the investigation.
Investigation revealed that Dale Kirkland, 31, of Bridgeport had been renting said room and checked out on the morning of August 21, 2024.
It is believed that Kirkland arrived at the motel with the infant on the evening of August 20, 2024, and checked out, leaving the infant behind.
Kirkland was located in Bridgeport with the assistance of the Bridgeport Police Department. He was taken into custody and transported to Milford Police Headquarters where he was charged with Risk of Injury to a Minor and Cruelty to Persons.
He is currently being held on a $1 million bond. Kirkland is expected to be arraigned in Milford Court today with additional charges possibly pending.
Bridgeport News: Stabbing!
At 5:43PM Bridgeport ECC received calls of an assault with a dangerous weapon in the 500 block of East Washington Ave. Officers responded finding a male victim stabbed in the upper body. The victim was transported to the hospital. This is an active investigation, we will update you as information comes to light.
Bridgeport News: Arrest Made with incident involving unresponsive baby
At 7:30pm Bridgeport Police Department, Milford Police Department, and Connecticut State Police apprehended suspect Dale Kirkland in Bridgeport at the corner of East Main St. and Berkshire Ave. Kirkland had a warrant out for his arrest due to the incident this morning in Milford, where an unresponsive baby was found. This is an active investigation.
Photo Credit: Frank Recchia
Bridgeport News: Norwalk Man Arrested for Violent Kidnapping and Sexual Assault
A Norwalk man, Leroy Martin Pressley Jr., is in custody following a violent kidnapping and sexual assault in Bridgeport. On August 16, 2024, a woman reported that she was kidnapped at gunpoint, threatened, and assaulted in her eastside Bridgeport apartment by Pressley, with whom she had a prior domestic relationship. An investigation by the Bridgeport Police Department’s Special Victims Unit led to two felony warrants for Pressley’s arrest. On August 20, Norwalk police, assisted by the FBI, located Pressley and arrested him during a traffic stop. Pressley was also found in possession of illegal narcotics. After being charged with drug violations in Norwalk, he was transferred to Bridgeport Police custody, where he faces multiple charges, including first-degree sexual assault and first-degree kidnapping. His bond is set at a combined $750,000
Harding HS Growing!
Bridgeport, CT – Harding High School, a growing institution both academically and culturally, is grappling with the challenges of increased enrollment. The school’s expanding student body has strained its existing facilities, leading to overcrowding and limitations on athletic programs.
Dr. Carmela M. Levy-David, Superintendent of Bridgeport Public Schools has outlined the school’s efforts to address these issues. One significant step is the conversion of three open collaborative spaces into classrooms, providing an additional 90 seats for students. This strategic move aims to alleviate the pressure on existing classroom capacity.
To further support students’ academic and personal growth, the school has also added counseling support. This increased presence of counselors will allow for more frequent interactions with students, providing them with valuable guidance and support as they navigate their educational journey.
Athletic programs at Harding High School have been particularly impacted by the overcrowding. The school’s gymnasium, originally designed for 850 students, now accommodates a student body of 1,250. This limited space has hindered the school’s ability to host state tournament games.
To address these challenges, the district is undertaking a comprehensive demographic study and a facilities master plan. These initiatives aim to identify potential locations within the city where a new sports complex can be built, serving all of the local high schools. Such a facility would provide much-needed space for athletic programs and enable the schools to host regional and state tournaments.
As Harding High School continues to evolve and grow, the district’s commitment to providing a quality education and supportive environment for its students remains unwavering. The proposed solutions, including the classroom conversion, increased counseling support, and the development of a new sports complex, reflect the district’s dedication to addressing the challenges posed by the school’s growing enrollment.
Milford News: Infant Found Unresponsive at Mayflower Motel, Pronounced Dead at Hospital
At 11:06am Milford Police received a call from the Mayflower Motel, reporting that their cleaning staff had discovered an unresponsive infant lying in the bathtub of a vacated room. Milford Police performed CPR on the infant until Paramedics arrived and took over life saving measures. The infant was transported to Yale New Haven Hospital and was pronounced deceased at 11:56am.
Milford PD Detectives and the Milford State’s Attorney’s Office are investigating
Field Of Flags Sponsorship
The Port 5 Naval Veterans are bringing the Vietnam Memorial Wall That Heals to Bridgeport, CT. You can help Port 5 fund the wall visit by purchasing a 12″x18″ American flag with an attached yellow commemorative ribbon honoring an armed service member either active duty or veteran, a loved one or a friend. The flags will be displayed with THE WALL THAT HEALS at Veterans Memorial Park, 4450 Park Ave, Bridgeport CT, on September 26-29, 2024 and you will be able to keep the flag. We are also offering an IN MEMORY PROGRAM described in the attached website. The deadline for both programs is August 26.
For more information please visit: https://www.vietnamvetswall.com/field-of-flags
Car Hits PT Barnum Building
A car hit building 4 at PT Barnum Housing. It is unknown if there were any injuries.
2024-08-21@12:45pm–#Bridgeport CT