GOVERNOR LAMONT ANNOUNCES STATE FUNDING TO ADDRESS FLOODING AT JOBS POND IN PORTLAND

State Funds Expected To Unlock a Federal Matching Grant That Will Be Used To Install Pumps and Divert Groundwater to the Connecticut River

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont, who serves as chairman of the State Bond Commission, today announced that he has scheduled the commission to vote at an upcoming meeting on the approval of an allocation of $187,500 in state funding that will be used to install pumps at Jobs Pond in Portland to address an ongoing situation in which rising groundwater has been causing flooding in nearby neighborhoods.

The pumps will be used to divert groundwater from the pond to the Connecticut River.

The governor explained that the approval of these state funds is expected to unlock $562,500 in federal matching funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to assist in the effort. At Governor Lamont’s direction, the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection have been working with the Town of Portland on finding a solution to address the groundwater levels.

“This is a very unique and complex situation because even though rainfall in the region is above normal for this time of year, water levels at the pond have continued to rise even on days when we’ve received no precipitation, and it’s still not clear exactly what is causing it and why this has been unlike any other event the pond has experienced in recent decades,” Governor Lamont said. “By releasing these state funds, we can unlock federal matching dollars that will initiate action to pump waters from Jobs Pond into the Connecticut River, which we are hopeful will mitigate the impact of this flooding. I’ve directed our state emergency management and environment teams to remain in continuous contact with Portland officials on this situation. I thank U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and his staff for their willingness to collaborate with our state and the town on this effort.”

The State Bond Commission will vote on the funding at its next meeting, which will be held on Friday, June 7, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. in Room 1E of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

Norwalk News: Narcotics Arrest

On June 4, 2024, members of the Norwalk Police Special Services Division, in collaboration with the Stamford Police Narcotics/Organized Crime Unit, arrested Hunter Wells after an extensive eight-month investigation. Investigators executed search and seizure warrants on Wells, his vehicle, and his person. Throughout the investigation, Wells sold Percocet pills containing fentanyl, ecstasy, and marijuana to undercover officers on numerous occasions. The investigation remains ongoing. Hunter Wells, aged 31, of Norwalk, CT, faces charges for two counts of the sale of a narcotic substance and three counts of the sale of cannabis. His bond is set at $140,000.

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Bridgeport News: Bus Fire extended to building

Bridgeport Fire Department responded to a school bus fire at Jones Avenue and Oak Street. Everyone was off the bus when units responded. Additional crews were requested due to exposure issues. The fire was declared under control in 30 minutes and is under investigation by the Fire Marshal’s Office. The building next to the bus was also affected, and is also out at this time.

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