(Hartford, CT) – Attorney General William Tong released the following statement regarding a $4.25 billion agreement framework with Teva Pharmaceuticals and states regarding the generic drug manufacturer’s role in the opioid epidemic. Specific details of the settlement are still being finalized. Precise state allocations have yet to be disclosed, although the agreement would follow the same basic allocation structure as previous opioid settlements, including the landmark $26 billion agreement with opioid distributors and Johnson & Johnson.
“This $4.25 billion agreement with Teva is a significant breakthrough in our fight to hold the entire addiction industry accountable for the devastation of the opioid epidemic. While we are still negotiating final details with Teva over precise terms, this agreement would provide yet another infusion of critical resources to combat the opioid crisis here in Connecticut,” said Attorney General Tong.
Today’s announcement has no impact on the ongoing multistate price-fixing case Connecticut is leading against Teva.
Plainville, CT– Bob Stefanowski, candidate for Governor of Connecticut, today joined Carrier Home Builders, Inc. in Plainville to share his plan to provide real relief and support to Connecticut’s Small Businesses.
“Connecticut is ranked at the bottom of states to do business. CNBC just gave CT’s economy an F. Small business owners are struggling with rampant inflation. And Governor Lamont’s solution is for these business owners to take on even more debt – while he sits on a $4.3 Billion surplus? The governor is completely out of touch with people’s pain. My plan offers real tax relief now and a tangible road to recovery – and still leaves the governor with $3.8 Billion to spare,” said Stefanowski.
John Carrier, of Carrier Home Builders, added, “As a second-generation builder, I am very aware of how expensive it is to build and run a business in Connecticut. Our company very seriously considered moving the business south because of the increasing challenges we face here in Connecticut – especially over the past two years. Everything is more expensive: not just wood but all supplies including doors, lighting, everything.”
Bob Stefanowski’s Plan for Small Businesses includes a 2 pronged approach:
Cut the taxes Ned Lamont raised on Small Businesses
Sales tax on safety equipment and PPE
Tax on food and restaurants
Diesel fuel tax
Truck tax / Highway Use Tax
$400 Million Unemployment Tax
$53 Million back from restored pass-through entity tax
Foster A Healthy Business Climate
Restore and expand the R&D tax credit system
Eliminate small business filing fees that Ned Lamont quadrupled
Reform costly state programs and regulatory burdens
Invest in workforce development
Streamline economic development websites and virtual entry points to be more user friendly
CT FAST FUNDS PROGRAM: Enable local community banks manage the applications and funding
2022-07-26@34pm–The Merritt Parkway is Shutdown in exit 41 thru 43 areas in BOTH directions according to radio reports. Emergency vehicles are coming down the wrong way to get to the scene.
2022-07-24@8:44pm–#Bridgeport CT– #cttraffic–A van driven by Wilber Martinez was traveling in the wrong direction on Route 8 and struck an Acura driven by Monica Wilson, 41 of Westport head-on. Wilson died from her injuries, just two days shy of her birthday. Two other vehicles were involved in the crash. Ananias Castillo-Icabalzeta of Bridgeport was a passenger in the car and was pronounced dead at the scene. The other passengers in the vehicle sustained non-life threatening injuries according to the state police reports. A male in the van was reported to have a weak pulse when extricated from the van according to radio reports. He remains in critical condition at Saint Vincent’s Medical Center. Route 8 south was closed for over 5 hours for a police investigation.
2022-07-26@1:36pm–#Fairfield CT– A car hit Dailey’s Flower Shop located at 2151 Black Rock Turnpike. A witness told me the driver hit the car as he pulled into the plaza from Black Rock Turnpike, not another case of confusing the gas for the brake. There were no reported injuries. The building inspector was called to the scene to inspect the integrity of the building.
Legislation would help address gun violence epidemic by tackling proliferation of automatic gun conversion devices and seizing profits from illegal trafficking
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) joined eight of their Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to combat the increased use and proliferation of dangerous gun conversion devices. The Preventing Illegal Weapons Trafficking Act would help tackle the ongoing gun violence epidemic by requiring federal law enforcement to coordinate efforts to prevent the importation and trafficking of “auto-sears” — and other illegal gun modification devices that can convert semi-automatic weapons into fully-automatic weapons — and seize all profits that come from the illegal trafficking of these devices.
“Gun conversion devices like auto-sears take a deadly weapon and make it even deadlier. After a quick and cheap installation, you transform a semi-automatic weapon into one that sprays bullets like a machine gun. This bill would crack down on the illegal trafficking of these devices and stop their proliferation,” said Murphy.
“This measure will crack down on dangerous firearm modification devices that threaten public safety,” said Blumenthal. “Access to cheap, easy to use conversion tools allows common firearms to be turned into fully-automatic weapons of war. Our legislation will prevent trafficking and seize the profits of wrongdoers intent on causing harm – key efforts needed to address our nation’s gun violence epidemic.”
The Preventing Illegal Weapons Trafficking Act of 2022 would:
Direct the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of the Treasury to develop a coordinated national strategy to prevent or intercept the importation and trafficking of automatic gun conversion devices;
Ensure that proceeds from the illegal trafficking of automatic gun devices are subject to forfeiture; and
Require that the Attorney General include data and information about illegal gun modification devices in the Justice Department’s annual firearms trafficking report.
Auto-sears and other gun conversion devices can be installed in about a minute, and 3-D printed or purchased online for less than $20. An investigation by The Trace and VICE News this March found that federal prosecutions involving gun conversion devices have increased over eight-fold from 2017-2021. Additionally the investigation reported that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) seized 1,500 weapons modified with auto sears in 2021, a five-fold increase from the year before .
“These updates to Connecticut’s criminal justice statutes make juvenile arrest and delinquency proceedings swifter with more information for courts to review, provide more intensive responses to the small number of juveniles with serious and repeated charges, and restructure motor vehicle theft laws to focus on people with prior offenses,” Governor Lamont said. “This bipartisan legislation shows the good that comes when policymakers on both sides of the aisle seek common ground to develop solutions together. Connecticut is a safe state, and keeping it safe requires continuous policy improvements and investments in needed areas.”
At the start of the legislative session, Governor Lamont introduced legislation (Senate Bill 16) containing several provisions that were later incorporated into this public act as state lawmakers hammered out bipartisan agreement. Several provisions included in Public Act 22-115 are:
Makes juvenile arrest and delinquency proceedings swifter and more effective
Requires youth who are arrested but not detained to be brought before the court within five business days.
Increases from six to eight hours the amount of time a youth can be held if police are awaiting a judicial ruling on a detention order or are trying to locate a parent or guardian.
Grants municipal police officers investigating a juvenile access to electronic records containing statewide pending charges and 90 days of prior arrest records.
Allows courts to formally order that a youth be assessed for services.
Provides more intensive responses to the small number of juveniles with serious, repeated charges
Expands the special juvenile probation docket to include homicide and firearm crimes.
Allows courts to order GPS monitoring for a youth charged with a second or subsequent motor vehicle offense.
Focuses motor vehicle theft penalties on people with prior offenses
Establishes a new structure for motor vehicle thefts with penalties that grow more serious for subsequent offenses rather than basing penalties on the value of the vehicle.
In addition to this legislation, the budget adjustment bill that Governor Lamont signed into law this spring (Public Act 22-118) makes several significant investments, using American Rescue Plan Act authorizations and state appropriations, to increase public safety, including:
$11.4 million for law enforcement-led strategies and partnerships to trace recovered firearms to their source, reduce stolen cars and violence, expand support for communities experiencing increases in violent crime, and promote safety on rural roads;
$7.5 million for community- and public- health-led strategies to prevent and reduce gun violence;
$4.1 million for upgrades to forensic science technology to speed up and improve the investigation and clearing of criminal cases; and
$3.3 million to provide at-risk juveniles with access to services and diversion programs.
HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he has signed into law Public Act 22-115, which updates Connecticut’s criminal justice statutes to enable law enforcement and the courts to provide swifter, more effective responses to youth charged with repeated motor vehicle theft and other crimes. Combined with increased investments in the recently approved state budget, the improved responses implemented under the law will help connect youth with services and treatment to reduce recidivism.
“These updates to Connecticut’s criminal justice statutes make juvenile arrest and delinquency proceedings swifter with more information for courts to review, provide more intensive responses to the small number of juveniles with serious and repeated charges, and restructure motor vehicle theft laws to focus on people with prior offenses,” Governor Lamont said. “This bipartisan legislation shows the good that comes when policymakers on both sides of the aisle seek common ground to develop solutions together. Connecticut is a safe state, and keeping it safe requires continuous policy improvements and investments in needed areas.”
At the start of the legislative session, Governor Lamont introduced legislation (Senate Bill 16) containing several provisions that were later incorporated into this public act as state lawmakers hammered out bipartisan agreement. Several provisions included in Public Act 22-115 are:
Makes juvenile arrest and delinquency proceedings swifter and more effective
Requires youth who are arrested but not detained to be brought before the court within five business days.
Increases from six to eight hours the amount of time a youth can be held if police are awaiting a judicial ruling on a detention order or are trying to locate a parent or guardian.
Grants municipal police officers investigating a juvenile access to electronic records containing statewide pending charges and 90 days of prior arrest records.
Allows courts to formally order that a youth be assessed for services.
Provides more intensive responses to the small number of juveniles with serious, repeated charges
Expands the special juvenile probation docket to include homicide and firearm crimes.
Allows courts to order GPS monitoring for a youth charged with a second or subsequent motor vehicle offense.
Focuses motor vehicle theft penalties on people with prior offenses
Establishes a new structure for motor vehicle thefts with penalties that grow more serious for subsequent offenses rather than basing penalties on the value of the vehicle.
In addition to this legislation, the budget adjustment bill that Governor Lamont signed into law this spring (Public Act 22-118) makes several significant investments, using American Rescue Plan Act authorizations and state appropriations, to increase public safety, including:
$11.4 million for law enforcement-led strategies and partnerships to trace recovered firearms to their source, reduce stolen cars and violence, expand support for communities experiencing increases in violent crime, and promote safety on rural roads;
$7.5 million for community- and public- health-led strategies to prevent and reduce gun violence;
$4.1 million for upgrades to forensic science technology to speed up and improve the investigation and clearing of criminal cases; and
$3.3 million to provide at-risk juveniles with access to services and diversion programs.
#Bridgeport News: In view of the continued gun violence in the area of Park Avenue and Vine Street, the Bridgeport Police Department (BPD) Narcotics and Vice Division conducted a criminal investigation at the Scotch Bonnett Studio located at 22 Vine Street. Narcotics and Vice Officers were able to secure a search warrant for the business, its gated parking area, and all motor vehicles positioned within said parking area where narcotics and marijuana transactions were occurring.
On July 23, 2022 at approximately 8:00 PM the BPD Emergency Services Unit and Narcotics & Vice Division served the search warrant assisted by members of the BPD Patrol Division.
As a result of this warrant service (8) individuals were placed under arrest, (2) vehicles, 15.68 pounds of marijuana, over $2000 in cash, and (3) semi-automatic handguns were seized.
The arrests and charges are as follows:
55-year-old Orville Brown of Bridgeport, CT is charged with: Possession WITS hallucinogen (21a-277(b)(2A*).
55-year-old Andrew South of Bridgeport, CT is charged with: Possession WITS hallucinogen (21a-277(a)(1B+).
47-year-old George John of Bridgeport, CT is charged with Criminal Possession of a Firearm (53a-217), Risk of Injury to a Minor (53-21(a)(1), Carrying a Pistol without a Permit (29-35(a), and Interfering with a Police Officer (53a-167a).
44-year-old Courtney Campbell of Stratford, CT is charged with Conspiracy to Possess 1 kg. or More of Cannabis (21a-278(b)(1D*) and Interfering with a Police Officer (53a-167a).
41-year-old Kirk Robinson of Milford, CT was charged with Possession with Intent to Sell Hallucinogen (21a-277(b(2A*) and Operation of a drug factory (21a-277(c).
39-year-old Valmore Bennett of Bridgeport, CT is charged with Illegal Possession of Weapons in a Motor Vehicle (29-38).
36-year-old Eibisay Rosario of New Haven, CT is charged with Possession with Intent to Sell 1 kg. or More of Cannabis (21a-278(b)(1D*).
28-year-old Delroy Westney of Bridgeport, CT is charged with Illegal Possession of Weapons in a Motor Vehicle (29-38), Illegal Possession of a large capacity magazine (53-202w(c2), Possession with Intent to Sell Hallucinogen (21a-277(a(1B+), an Operation of a Drug Factory (21a-277(c).
Westport firefighters were dispatched to a report of a structure fire on Island Way. The initial dispatch was four Engines, one Rescue company, and the Shift Commander. A mutual aid Truck company from Norwalk also responded. Companies arrived and reported an exterior deck fire on the 2nd floor with an extension into the wall and mechanical room of the house. A hose line was deployed from Engine 4 and the fire was quickly extinguished. Arriving companies provided salvage, overhaul, and ventilation.
The fire was contained to the area of origin and is being investigated by the Westport Fire Marshal’s office. Westport PD and EMS assisted on the scene along with Norwalk FD. Fairfield FD provided station coverage during the incident. The last fire department unit cleared the scene at 3:34 AM.
