Danbury, CT
Lifestyle
Western CT University Grad Now Works On Major Films In Hollywood Western CT University Grad Now Works On Major Films In Hollywood
Western CT University Grad Now Works On Major Films In Hollywood Although it's a lot of hard work spread over many hours, an alumnus of Western Connecticut State University in Danbury has achieved his dream of working on major films in California - and says he would not be anywhere else.  Guillermo “Gizmo” Rivera, a New Britain native who became a first-generation college student, always knew that he wanted to pursue a career in media and entertainment. However, he faced hardships during his upbringing, as his family could not afford a computer, and his high school counselor would not help him in his college application process because of her experie…

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by Ben Crnic
Hartford, CT
News
Man Who Threw Fentanyl Out Window In CT Admits To Distributing Narcotics Man Who Threw Fentanyl Out Window In CT Admits To Distributing Narcotics
Man Who Threw Fentanyl Out Window In CT Admits To Distributing Narcotics After an attempt to get rid of the evidence by throwing it out the window, a New Britain man has admitted to possessing and distributing narcotics.  New Britain resident Rafael Martinez, age 31, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Jan. 25 in Hartford federal court to fentanyl distribution and firearm possession charges, according to the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut.  Martinez was identified in 2022 as a large-scale distributor of the drug by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency and was the subject of an investigation that eventually found that he was distributing t…

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by Ben Crnic
Hartford, CT
News
New Britain Duo Charged In Death Of 4-Year-Old Bristol Girl New Britain Duo Charged In Death Of 4-Year-Old Bristol Girl
New Britain Duo Charged In Death Of 4-Year-Old Bristol Girl Two people have been charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of a 4-year-old girl in June. Hartford County residents Ashley Hernandez-DeJesus, age 28, and Rocky Hernandez-DeJesus, age 31, both of New Britain, were arrested on warrants on Tuesday, Dec. 27 by Bristol Police.  Information surrounding the case was sealed by authorities. The only information available was that the unnamed child died in June. Each was charged with: Manslaughter Unlawful restraint Intentional cruelty to persons Risk of injury to a minor Conspiracy to commit risk of injury to …

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by Kathy Reakes
Hartford, CT
News
9 CT Residents Nabbed Patronizing Prostitutes During Sting, Police Say 9 CT Residents Nabbed Patronizing Prostitutes During Sting, Police Say
9 CT Residents Nabbed Patronizing Prostitutes During Sting, Police Say Nine Connecticut residents were nabbed for allegedly attempting to purchase prostitutes during a sting operation. The sting took place in Hartford on Thursday, Dec. 7 in the Wethersfield and Franklin avenues area. After receiving numerous complaints from citizens and business owners in the Wethersfield Avenue and Franklin Avenue areas concerning prostitution, the Hartford Police Vice and Narcotics Division, Street Crimes Unit, and South Community Service officers conducted an operation to address the activity, said Lt. Aaron Boisvert of the Hartford Police. During the operation,…

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by Kathy Reakes
Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
Obituaries
'Friend To All:' Mount Olive High School Graduate, Financial Analyst Joseph Barish Dies, 24 'Friend To All:' Mount Olive High School Graduate, Financial Analyst Joseph Barish Dies, 24
'Friend To All:' Mount Olive High School Graduate, Financial Analyst Joseph Barish Dies, 24 Mount Olive High School graduate and financial analyst Joseph R. Barish died in Hoboken on Saturday, Nov. 5. He was 24. Born in New Britain, CT, Joseph was raised in Budd Lake, where he played on the Mount Olive High School basketball team and graduated in 2016, his obituary says. Joseph attended the University of South Carolina, double majoring in finance and accounting while passionately supporting the Gamecocks. He also loved the Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, and the New England Patriots. He had been working as a financial analyst at Freshpet in Secaucus, according to his memorial. A…

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by Valerie Musson
Hartford, CT
Police & Fire
Teen Nabbed With Crack Cocaine, Firearm After Motor-Vehicle Stop On CT Roadway, Police Say Teen Nabbed With Crack Cocaine, Firearm After Motor-Vehicle Stop On CT Roadway, Police Say
Teen Nabbed With Crack Cocaine, Firearm After Motor-Vehicle Stop On CT Roadway, Police Say A 19-year-old Connecticut man was nabbed with alleged crack cocaine and a firearm during a traffic stop. The incident took place in Hartford on Barker St., on Thursday, Nov. 17. Detectives from the Connecticut State Police and the Hartford Police Department were conducting a narcotics interdiction operation in the Hartford area when Jonas Efer Deaza-Escobar, of Hartford, was stopped for multiple traffic violations, said the state police. During the stop, narcotics detection K-9's alerted on narcotics. Detectives seized 11 grams of crack cocaine, a firearm, and a digital scale, state police…

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by Kathy Reakes
Quincy, MA
Police & Fire
Franklin Car Crash Leads To Recovery Of Stolen Vehicles, Triple Arrest: Police Franklin Car Crash Leads To Recovery Of Stolen Vehicles, Triple Arrest: Police
Franklin Car Crash Leads To Recovery Of Stolen Vehicles, Triple Arrest: Police Three people tried getting away after stealing a car in Franklin but were unsuccessful, according to authorities.  A woman called police saying someone tried breaking into her car that was parked in her driveway at 418 Partridge Street around 1:11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17, Franklin Police said on Facebook.  After yelling at them, the person ran to a nearby vehicle and drove toward Lincoln Street. The woman also said there were multiple people inside the car, according to police.  A short time later, another resident told officers patrolling the area that someone tried …

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by David Cifarelli
Hartford, CT
Police & Fire
CT Man Who Fled After Nearly Crashing Into Cruiser Apprehended, Police Say CT Man Who Fled After Nearly Crashing Into Cruiser Apprehended, Police Say
CT Man Who Fled After Nearly Crashing Into Cruiser Apprehended, Police Say A man who allegedly almost hit a Connecticut State trooper before fleeing a traffic stop in May has been arrested. State police in Hartford County arrested Christopher Nunez, age 32, of New Britain on Monday, Oct. 3 in connection with the Thursday, May 5 incident. According to state police, the incident took place around 3:30 p.m. on Whitehead Highway when a state trooper reported being nearly struck by a gray Toyota Highlander which merged into the trooper's lane without using a signal, according to an arrest warrant. The trooper activated his lights and sirens in an attempt to conduct a …

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by Kathy Reakes
Windham-Willimantic, CT
Business
Winning $100K Lottery Ticket Sold At Convenience Store In CT Winning $100K Lottery Ticket Sold At Convenience Store In CT
Winning $100K Lottery Ticket Sold At Convenience Store In CT A Connecticut resident won a $100,000 lottery prize from a ticket purchased at a convenience store. An unnamed resident of the Windham County town of Putnam claimed the CASH5 prize from a ticket purchased at Haris & Ayesha Food Mart, Connecticut Lottery announced on Monday, Sept. 26. CT Lottery said the store is located at 162 School St. in Putnam. The lottery also announced that Hartford County resident Janet Pizzella, of Newington, claimed a $50,000 Powerball prize from a ticket purchased at Quick Stop Convenience Store, located at 1125 Willard Ave. in Newington. …

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by Nicole Valinote
Hartford, CT
Police & Fire
Man Found With Loaded Revolver, 2 Pounds Of Marijuana During CT Traffic Stop, Police Say Man Found With Loaded Revolver, 2 Pounds Of Marijuana During CT Traffic Stop, Police Say
Man Found With Loaded Revolver, 2 Pounds Of Marijuana During CT Traffic Stop, Police Say A 32-year-old man was charged after police said he was found in possession of a loaded revolver, more than a kilogram of marijuana, and illegal mushrooms during a traffic stop in Connecticut.  The incident happened on I-84 westbound in Hartford on Wednesday, Sept. 21, Connecticut State Police said. Troopers saw a Mercedes-Benz swerving and failing to maintain a proper lane position near Exit 44 at about 11 p.m., police said. Police pulled the vehicle over on the Exit 40 off-ramp, according to the report. State Police said the driver, identified as Steven Samuels, of New Britain,…

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by Nicole Valinote
Hartford, CT
Schools
Investigation Underway At CT University Following TikTok Accusations Of Rape Investigation Underway At CT University Following TikTok Accusations Of Rape
Investigation Underway At CT University Following TikTok Accusations Of Rape A student rally was planned for Friday, Sept. 16, and school officials are investigating after allegations of a sexual assault surfaced on TikTok at a state university in Connecticut. Although no formal complaint against the accused student has been filed, Central Connecticut State University in New Britain is investigating allegations of sexual assault against a student, according to Janice Palmer, a CCSU spokesperson. CCSU president Zulma R. Toro issued a statement on Wednesday, Sept. 14, to the school’s social media about its investigation: "Late today, allegations came to lig…

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by Kathy Reakes
Hartford, CT
Lifestyle
CT Resident Wins $100K In State Lottery CT Resident Wins $100K In State Lottery
CT Resident Wins $100K In State Lottery A Connecticut resident won a $100,000 lottery prize. Hartford County resident Manick Colon, of New Britain, claimed the "$100,000 Cashword 11" prize, Connecticut Lottery announced on Monday, Sept. 12. The winning ticket was purchased at Key Food, located at 60 East Main St. in New Britain.

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by Nicole Valinote