DoingItLocal

Hartford, Conn. (WTNH) – The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) will have to shut down 18 residential sites, 10 respite centers and lay off hundreds of workers as part of the Malloy’s budget following the failed concession deal with the unions……The state agency has been providing services for people with disabilities since 1917. But with sweeping cuts from the state capital, DDS’s workforce is being reduced by more than 670 employees. Read more….

Budget cuts hit DDS hard: wtnh.com

Robert Bellitto Jr. wins GOP caucus for First Selectman.
Totals: Bellitto-493 Becker-376 Dolan-68

A fire that appears to have started inside a van parked in front of Kingsway Motors on Kings Highway in Fairfield extended outside the building causing damage to the building’s siding and lighting fixture. The blaze was quickly contained by the fire department.

Borders, which employs about 10,700 people, scrapped a bankruptcy-court auction scheduled for Tuesday amid the dearth of bids. It said it would ask a judge Thursday to approve a sale to liquidators led by Hilco Merchant Resources and Gordon Brothers Group.  Read more….

We have confirmed from various sources that America Online’s Fairfield Patch has fired Editor Andrew Brophy via e-mail Thursday night.  We did briefly speak to Brophy , he confirmed his termination but he would not elaborate or go into detail.  A few of our sources who did not want to be identified told me it was a conflict over content and that Brophy felt the Patch was getting too generic,

American Online’s  Patch site has changed quite a few times over the year.  Initially they were emphasizing online “hyper local” news specific to each town.  A year ago the regional editor directed Patch editors to have at least 2 videos on the site and to emphasize breaking news.   All this came to a halt after AOL purchased The Huffington Post for $315 million, apparently tying up much of the AOL’s cash flow.    Today the Patch’s intro is: “Hi there, we’re Patch, your source for local knowledge you can’t live without.”    In an internal memo titled “Platform for Growth” acquired by the website All Things D (click here to see the memo) shows big changes in store for the Patch, Huffington Post and AOL.

We did contact Michael Dinan, a regional manager now the temporary editor for the Fairfield Patch to confirm or elaborate on Brophy’s termination and he said “We can’t comment on personnel matters”.   Andrew Brophy has been a reporter at the Connecticut Post, Fairfield Minuteman and the Norwalk Hour.  He has a Bachelor of Science degree in  Journalism from Ohio University.  All of the sources agreed that Brophy is a talented writer and will quickly land on his feet.  We wish him well.

Asilin Dorsey, 31  of Hartford died in a wreck after leading police on a pursuit  on the Wilbur Cross Parkway.The chase ended on the exit 58 off-ramp in Orange, where Dorsey crashed a stolen hospital van into a tree.

Second accident on Route 15: wtnh.com

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 17 (UPI) — A pedestrian was killed in Vancouver, Canada, when he was struck by a replica taxi used

in the television series “Cash Cab.”Vancouver police said the 61-year-old Surrey resident died at a hospital after being hit on a downtown street this weekend shortly after the vehicle had been used in a production shoot. Read more….

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) – Passengers will see Metro-North train tickets go up by 15 percent in November.  One of Malloy’s top aides says even with the price hike, the cost of a train ticket in Connecticut is still lower than in New York.  Some Metro-North commuters don’t agree with the comparison.  Read more……

Metro-North fees rising soon: wtnh.com

With the exception of a few frenetic moments when she was released from the Orange County Jail early Sunday, the public has not laid eyes on Casey Anthony as a free woman.

Oh, there’s been plenty of speculation — she boarded a plane for Ohio at the executive airport early Sunday. No, she was on another private jet, probably heading to Los Angeles. Maybe Hollywood?  Read more….

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Bridgeport/Stratford—Cops: Man beaten up, thrown in trunk, then shot while running through woods

9:45pm–#Bridgeport–EMTs on the way to 35 Park Street for a gun shot wound to the hand, one in the butt….details read more here….

9:12pm–#Faifield–Bellitto wins GOP caucus for First Selectman.

Bellitto-493 Becker-376 Dolan-68

1:34pm–#Fairfield–Truck slowing traffic on Mill Plain Road near Post Road because it can’t get under the railroad underpass.  On Berwick Ave. there is a pole smoking at the electrical wires.

2:47am–#Bridgeport– There is no power for Sailors Lane, Gilman, Grover and Old Battery Road due to a blown transformer on GIlman Street.  UI is on the scene.  A few Black Rockers waking up late for work today!

Fire at Kingsway Motors 705 Kings Highway East, Fairfield, no injuries minor damage to building exterior.  Video shortly.

11:32pm–#Bridgeport–Stabbing at 497 Grand Street and a robbery and assault at Madison Ave and Frank Street.  Report of heavy police presence here.    Madison Ave. patient reportedly has minor injuries.  No updates on Grand Street at this time.

1:47am–Bridgeport–Report of a vehicle fire turns out to be trash on the sidewalk on fire at Armstrong Place.