News
State gained 20,100 jobs in 2024
HARTFORD – Connecticut employers added an estimated 5,100 jobs in December to bring 2024 jobs gains to 20,100. The state Department of Labor on Monday reported an overall employment level of 1,715,900 in December, and, critically, private employment hit an all-time high of 1,475,800 workers. Private employers added 7,400 jobs in the final quarter of […]
Explosive devices, fuse, powder found at scene of Waterbury explosion
WATERBURY – Firefighters and police at the scene of an explosion that killed a resident on Horseshoe Drive earlier this month found improvised explosive devices, fuses, unidentified black powder and other material, according to a copy of the search warrant. The discovery of items prompted Waterbury police to request warrants from the court to search […]
Expansion of Medicaid for immigrants will cost $250M
HARTFORD – Expanding state Medicaid coverage to all currently ineligible immigrants in Connecticut could cost approximately $250 million, according to an updated estimate. Supporters of expanding eligibility for the state’s four HUSKY programs to all Connecticut residents regardless of immigration status will renew their lobbying campaign today with a news conference at the Legislative Office […]
Police: Woman slipped heroin to brother in court
TORRINGTON – When Shawna Roberts slipped a manila envelope to her brother’s lawyer after both had entered Superior Court in Torrington, its illegal contents of heroin had nothing to do with an attorney client privilege. The envelope, marked “medical records,” was handed by Roberts, 41, to Ryan Marston’s attorney, Kaila Calling, in a first floor […]
Biomedical waste burning proposal’s hearing Friday
HARTFORD – The legislative environment committee has scheduled a hearing at 10 a.m. on Friday to receive and hear testimony regarding several bills, including one on the burning of biomedical waste. The committee will hold the hearing in Room 2C of the legislative office building in Hartford, and by Zoom. The public can also view […]
Lawmakers to vote on benefits for trooper’s widow
HARTFORD – Lawmakers are expected today to vote on a legislative fix that will grant death benefits to the families of state employees killed in the line of duty, regardless of age or years of service. The legislation is in response to the death of Trooper Aaron Pelletier, who was struck and killed by a […]
Waterbury drug trafficker gets 18-year sentence
WATERBURY – A judge on Friday sentenced a 49-year-old Waterbury man with a history of drug-related convictions to 18 years and one month in federal prison for orchestrating a major drug trafficking operation while on supervised release for a prior federal offense. Gawayne Fisher pleaded guilty last year to one count of conspiracy to distribute […]
Final Hotchkiss building plan in draft stage
TORRINGTON – All but one of the buildings from the former Hotchkiss Bros. Co. have come down and developers are planning what’s next. “I just learned today that they are hoping they can get a substantial amount of the work done in 2025,” Mayor Elinor C. Carbone said Monday. William R. Deickler of Pay Dirt […]
Robotics collaboration first between UConn, Waterbury schools
WATERBURY – Jovoni Crosby focused intently on his robot Monday along with his teammates from the Wilby High School Robotics Team at the newly opened Waterbury Robotics Institute at 36 North Main St., the site of the University of Connecticut Waterbury’s expansion of academic, research, and administrative operations. The senior at Wilby High School hopes […]
Craig ‘Bumper’ R. Alvarez
HARWINTON – Craig “Bumper” R. Alvarez, 64, of Harwinton, passed away Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. He was the devoted husband of Pamela (Groden) Alvarez for 38 years. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Kristin Thaler (Jack), from Nahant, Mass., his son, Tyler Alvarez (Julia Sheahan), of […]
Kimberly Anstett
GOSHEN – Kimberly Anstett passed away unexpectedly on Jan. 22, 2025, at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. Born Oct. 19, 1960, in Torrington, Kim was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and aunt. A longtime resident of Goshen, she enjoyed spending time with family and friends at the lake, where her family grew up together. She […]
Thomas DeVylder
SOUTHINGTON – Thomas DeVylder, age 67, of Southington, passed away unexpectedly at his home Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. Visitation at Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Cheshire, 615 S. Main St., Friday, Jan. 31, from 4 to 7 p.m. Remembrance service: 5 p.m. Mass at St. Bridget of Sweden Church, 175 Main St., Saturday, Feb. 1, 10 […]
Nicole R. Giannetti
WATERTOWN – Nicole Rhiannon Giannetti, age 46, of Watertown, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025 at her home. Nicole was born on July 3, 1978 in Waterbury, a daughter of Lewis J. and Debra P. (Ramponi) Giannetti. She was a graduate of Watertown High School. Nicole was an avid animal lover and treasured […]
Faith W. Goetz
WINSTED – Faith Weinert Goetz, 72, of Winsted, departed this earth on Jan. 23, 2025. She is now in everlasting peace with her Heavenly Father. Faith was a fighter, and fought back against the cancer that eventually took her body, but not her spirit, for well more than two years. Faith was born in Alameda […]
Paula Lynn Jablonowski
WATERTOWN – Paula Lynn (Stone) Jablonowski, 75, of Watertown, passed away peacefully on Jan. 15, 2025, after a long illness. Born on Aug. 19, 1949, Paula graduated from Southington High School and was employed by The Travelers, Laidlaw in Litchfield (Bus 4), and J.E. Kelleher. Paula is survived by her husband of 43 years, John […]
Robert W. Mellette
MIDDLEBURY – Robert W. Mellette, a longtime resident of Middlebury, sadly passed away on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 at Saint Mary’s Hospital, surrounded by his family. He leaves his longtime companion, Barbara Mellette, of Southbury; his identical twin brother Richard, of Middlebury, his partner Sally Torrence, of Thomaston; his brother Roland “Butch” Mellette and his […]
Jacklyn A. Welsh
WATERBURY – It is with profound sadness that the family of Jacklyn Ann (Shaw) Welsh, age 69, shares the news of her peaceful passing at New Britain General Hospital on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. She was the beloved widow of Alan Welsh Sr. Jacklyn was born on Aug. 10, 1955, in Waterbury, the son of […]
Lisa D. White
WATERTOWN – Lisa Diane (Witham) White, 59, passed away, surrounded by family, at Saint Mary’s Hospital after a long battle with illness. She was born on May 3, 1965, in Manchester. Lisa was the daughter of the late David Witham and Barbara (Starkweather) Witham. Lisa was raised in Manchester, then moved to Watertown when she […]
Watertown Police Blotter
WATERTOWN Watertown police recently filed the following charges: ALONI MARIE FIGUEROA, 20, of 58 Sunset Ave., evading responsibility, unsafe backing. DEREK TERRILL JOHNSON, 33, of 58 Young St., Waterbury, interfering with officer/resisting arrest, sixth-degree larceny. JALEESA MARIE ROY, 34, of 57 Falls Ave., Oakville, disorderly conduct. BERTRAND BOUCHARD, 53, of 57 Falls Ave., Oakville, disorderly […]
Waterbury Police Blotter
WATERBURY Waterbury police recently filed the following charges: LOUIS LEWIS, 31, of no certain address, Waterbury, three counts first-degree failure to appear, violation of protective order, first-degree criminal trespass. PETAGAY BECKFORD, 26, of 7 Ridgewood St., third floor, three counts sixth-degree larceny, third-degree assault, interfering with officer/resisting arrest, third-degree robbery. JUSTICE HILL, 24, of 1610 […]
Sen. Blumenthal is the reason we need to term-limit politicians
It must be a tough time for Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., a proven liar about his service to our country. He tried to go after Pete Hegseth, a real soldier who fought for our country and who was awarded medals for his recognized service. Mr. Hegseth was greeted by a full house of veterans who […]
Pot proposal needs scrutiny
There was plenty of happy talk in Kent during a recent informational meeting conducted via Zoom, regarding the possibility the town will allow marijuana dispensaries or growers to do business there. Skepticism is warranted. “(P) eople may think having cannabis establishments in their towns will have a negative impact on nearby real estate, but that […]
What is ‘Onyx Storm,’ the new book flying off shelves?
The hotly anticipated follow-up to the bestselling books “Fourth Wing” and “Iron Flame” was released last Tuesday, accompanied by midnight release parties and retailer website crashes. “Onyx Storm” is the third in the “Empyrean” series by author Rebecca Yarros. It’s credited with fueling the popularity of a new genre dubbed “romantasy,” combining romance and fantasy […]
Review: A look at the trailblazing musicians who came ‘Before Elvis’
“Before Elvis” by Preston Lauterbach. (Hachette, 299 pages, $30) Music is the most cannibalistic creative endeavor, with musicians not only drawing inspiration from predecessors and contemporaries, but often imitating specific techniques, stealing catchy riffs or covering entire songs. For music historian Preston Lauterbach, Elvis Presley stands out as an artist who synthesized a remarkable range […]
Think new rules have screwed up college sports? Satiric ‘Big Time’ shows their effect on schools
In an age when name, image and likeness (NIL) deals for college athletes have turned rosters into revolving doors, so that you barely know who’ll be the quarterback next season, fans may be wondering what’s next. Rus Bradburd’s novel “Big Time” may contain the satirical answer. Welcome to Coors State University in Colorado, where the […]
Funny tale about an actor’s mid-life crisis
Have you ever woken up on Thanksgiving morning to a house full of company and just wanted to flee? In Mischa Berlinski’s extravagantly brilliant and darkly funny new novel, “Mona Acts Out,” the eponymous heroine does just that. Mona Zahid, a celebrated stage actor, has a lot on her mind. She is worried that her […]
Grady Hendrix gets chills from the plight of a mother-to-be in ‘Witchcraft for Wayward Girls’
Childbirth is a beautiful thing – bringing life into the world, and all that – but it’s also scary as heck and pretty gross. Combine that with the dark arts, as Grady Hendrix does in “Witchcraft for Wayward Girls,” and you’ve got the makings of a fantastic body horror novel. Actually, it’s so much more […]
Kyle Paoletta’s ‘American Oasis’ offers lessons for a hotter, drier world
Albuquerque-born author Kyle Paoletta takes readers on a virtual road trip around his native region, transporting us across hundreds of years and thousands of miles in his new book “American Oasis: Finding the Future in the Cities of the Southwest.” As cities worldwide grapple with drought and rising temperatures from climate change, Paoletta describes how […]
‘I Wrote That!’ series gives a voice to the unheard
It’s the thing you lose, innocuous and essential. It hangs from your belt. Snuggles into the folds of your purse. Goes missing and makes you believe you have lost your mind. A key ring, lacy with ownership, is the unheralded-yet-vital contrivance that signifies liberty. Not to most of us, perhaps, but to Ian C., a […]
Route 8 Waterbury crash nets one arrest
WATERBURY [Dash] A Watertown man on parole was arrested by state police on Sunday following a motor vehicle crash on Route 8 North. Joselito Santiago Jr., 35, was speeding, struck another vehicle and went down an embankment where he then attempted to flee first responders, according state police. Police charged Santiago with reckless driving, driving […]