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Saturday, dec 14
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Saturday, dec 14
Weather
New Update: Snow, Sleet, Rain To Hit These Areas As Storm System Nears
A quick-moving storm system will bring a mix of snow, sleet, and rain at the tail end of the weekend. A mix of cold air and moisture might cause light wintry precipitation overnight Sunday, Dec. 15 into Monday, Dec. 16 in these locations: Hudson Valley, New York Western Connecticut and Massachusetts Northwestern New Jersey Southeastern Pennsylvania North-central Maryland For projected precipitation types by location, click on the first image above from AccuWeather. Areas shown in the darker shade of blue in the second image above from AccuWeather could see up to 3 inches of snowfall and i…
Schools
Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm
Fewer high school graduates began college this fall, with enrollment in that age group dropping 5 percent from last year, according to an analysis by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Four-year institutions were hardest hit, with public colleges seeing an 8.5 percent drop in first-year enrollments and private nonprofit colleges reporting a 6.5 percent decline. This trend poses significant challenges for colleges and universities, particularly those reliant on tuition revenue. As the competition for students intensifies, institutions face mounting pressur…
Lifestyle
Winning Numbers For Friday, Dec. 13 'Mega Millions' Drawing With Estimated $695M Jackpot
The winning numbers have been announced for the Friday, Dec. 13 Mega Millions drawing. The estimated jackpot is $695 million with a $322 million cash option. The winning numbers were 36-43-52-58-65 with a Mega Ball of 16 and a Megaplier of 3X. MegaMillions If no winner wins the top prize, the jackpot will continue to roll until the next drawing at 10:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 17. Lottery players have a 1 in 302,575,350 chance of winning a Mega Millions jackpot by matching all five balls plus the gold Mega Ball, according to officials. Prizes then range…
Daily Voice Readers’ Choice
Accepting Votes Now Through Friday, December 20th
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News
Readers’ Choice: Cast Your Votes for Fairfield County’s Best!
Fairfield County, it’s time to show some love for your favorite local businesses! Daily Voice has officially launched the voting phase of its inaugural Readers’ Choice competition, and the power is in your hands to crown the best of the best. Our readers submitted nominations earlier this fall, and now the top contenders are ready for your votes. With over 80 categories spanning six major groups, this is your chance to celebrate the local gems that make Fairfield County a vibrant place to live, work, and play. From the tastiest eats to top-notch services, your vote can help highlight the bu…
Weather
Snow, Ice To Hit These Spots As Rounds Of Precipitation On Way: Here's Timing
An active weather pattern will bring multiple rounds of precipitation in the days ahead, with some parts of the region seeing a wintry mix and accumulating snow. The first round of precipitation will come on Sunday, Dec. 15. Most locations will see rain either during the day or at night, according to the National Weather Service. A mix of cold air and moisture might cause light wintry precipitation in these locations: North-central Maryland Southeastern Pennsylvania Northwestern New Jersey Hudson Valley, New York Western Connecticut and Massachusetts Areas shown in the darker shade of blu…
Police & Fire
Students Shelter In Place During 'Swatting' Incident At CT School, Police Say
Police in Connecticut rushed to an elementary school and students were ordered to stay in place after they learned of a threatening message sent through a Veterans Suicide Hotline on Friday, Dec. 13. Police rushed to Greens Farms Elementary School in Westport just before 1:15 p.m. after learning of the threat. It was soon suspected to be a case of "swatting," a tactic where false reports are made to prompt large-scale emergency responses. Several other schools across the state received the same text, Westport Police said. Officials did not disclose what the threat said.…
News
It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's A Problem: US, CT Senator Demand Answers On Mysterious Drones
US Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Connecticut leaders are demanding answers as more people report spotting strange lights in the night sky that appear to be drones. Some were seen over Fairfield earlier this week, following sightings across the Northeast in recent weeks. In a letter to the heads of the FBI, FAA, Homeland Security, and Department of Defense, Blumenthal demanded answers about the drones, stating that leaders need more information because he believes they pose serious safety and national security concerns. Related: Video of mysterious drones above CT shared on X “The proli…
Obituaries
CT High School Junior Dies Suddenly, 16: Remembering Tommy Lowell
A Connecticut community is reeling after the unexpected death of a 16-year-old boy remembered as a cherished son, friend, and classmate. Now, many in the community are stepping up to help his grieving family navigate the unthinkable. Thomas "Tommy" Edward Lowell IV, who lived in East Windsor and Bristol before moving to Avon, where he was a high school junior, died unexpectedly on Monday, Dec. 9. His family wrote in his obituary on the Vincent Funeral Home website that he was known for his quick wit, love of silly jokes, and devotion to his cats, Milo and Ollie. “Whether shar…
Sports
Who Is Hannah Hidalgo? Meet The Star Basketball Player Who Knocked No. 2 UConn Down
Thursday, Dec. 12 was a sad night for UConn women's basketball, but a great one for Notre Dame, and New Jersey. The Fighting Irish point guard, who played for Paul VI High School in Haddonfield, NJ, put up 29 points, handing No. 2 UConn its first loss of the season. It was a major upset as No. 8 Notre Dame brought the Huskies down, finishing off the game 79-68. Hidalgo helped the Irish get out to an 11-point halftime lead. Despite a third-quarter push by the Huskies and their star guard Paige Bueckers, the Irish dominated the fourth quarter and earned their third win over an …
News
Cops ID Pilot, Passenger Killed In I-684 Plane Crash At NY/CT Line
Authorities have released the identities of both the pilot who survived and the passenger who died in a small plane crash that shut down Interstate 684 at the border of Fairfield, CT and Westchester, CT counties for hours. Kalmen Goldberger, 26, of Linden, NJ, had reported engine trouble before the single-engine Tecnam P-2008 went down in the center median of I-684 near Exit 2 in Harrison Thursday, Dec. 12 around 7:15 p.m., officials said. Goldberger survived, however, his passenger, Jacob Yankele Friedman, 32, of the Rockland County hamlet of Monsey, was pronounced dead at the sc…
Police & Fire
Ex-Yale New Haven Hospital Nurse Pleads Guilty to Stealing Patients' Meds: Feds
A nurse in Connecticut has pleaded guilty to tampering with medications at a prominent hospital, putting patient safety at risk in a disturbing case of drug theft, authorities said. Sean Falzarano, 38, admitted in federal court to stealing and altering vials of Lorazepam while working at Yale New Haven Hospital, according to the US Attorney for Connecticut. Lorazepam is the generic version of Ativan, a sedative used to treat anxiety, Prosecutors said Falzarano used his access to an area where the drugs were stored on Jan. 31, 2022, stole one vial of the drug, and siphoned…
News
CEO Murder: UnitedHealthcare Parent Company Chief Calls For Change
The head of UnitedHealth Group is calling for change in the healthcare industry after the targeted killing of the CEO of one of its two subsidiaries. UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down outside the Midtown Hilton Hotel in Manhattan at around 6:45 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4. On Monday, Dec. 9, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the case. At the time of his arrest in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Mangione was found to be in possession of a three-page manifesto critical of healthcare companies. He condemned UnitedHealthcare's increasing ma…
Police & Fire
Stamford Head-On Crash Leaves 2 Seriously Injured; Road Closed For Hours
Police in Connecticut are investigating a serious crash that sent two people to the hospital late Thursday night. The crash happened on High Ridge Road in Stamford, seriously injuring both drivers and causing major traffic disruptions. According to authorities, the crash occurred around 10:30 p.m. near Cedarwood Drive when a 2008 Chevy Suburban, driven by a 55-year-old Stamford resident, drifted into the northbound lane. The Suburban collided with a 2019 Cadillac SUV driven by an 88-year-old New York resident. The impact was severe, leaving both vehicles heavily damaged. Both drivers had …
Lifestyle
Cold Moon Will Light Up Night Sky: Here's When
Skywatchers are in for a treat as the Cold Moon, December’s full moon, illuminates the night sky. Known as the Cold Moon for its association with the chilly winter season, this celestial event will be visible at its peak Sunday morning, Dec. 15, passing opposite the sun at 4:02 a.m. Eastern time, according to NASA. But that's not the only time to keep an eye on the sky. The moon will appear full for about three days from Friday evening, Dec. 13 through Monday morning, Dec. 16, NASA says, calling it "a full moon weekend." The Cold Moon rises just after sunset and will remain vis…
Business
Luxury French Department Store Set To Open First US Location in NY
A touch of Parisian luxury will soon be arriving in America. Printemps, the iconic French department store, is prepares to open its first US location in the spring of 2025. The new store, which will be located in Manhattan, will occupy 55,000 square feet within the historic One Wall Street building in the Financial District, blending classic architecture with modern elegance. Founded in 1865, Printemps is celebrated for its high-end fashion, beauty, and lifestyle offerings. The Manhattan location aims to capture the spirit of its flagship Paris store, showcasing a carefully cu…
Business
Shake Shack Offers Free Burgers With Purchase During Holiday Promotion
Shake Shack is launching a limited-time promotion offering free burgers with a qualifying purchase during the holiday season. The “Holiday Burger Blitz” will run from Monday, Dec. 16, to Tuesday, Dec. 24, providing customers with a free burger each day when they spend a minimum of $10 and use the code BURGERBLITZ at checkout. The promotion features a different burger each day, including popular items like the ShackBurger, SmokeShack, and Avocado Bacon Burger. The schedule for the free offerings is as follows: Monday, Dec. 16: ShackBurger Tuesday, Dec. 17: SmokeShack Wednesday, Dec. …
News
Drones Spotted In CT Skies, Resident Shares Video From Train Station
The mysterious drones that have puzzled New Jersey residents for weeks were spotted in Connecticut for the first time on Thursday night, Dec. 12. Lucy Biggers shared multiple videos on X (formerly Twitter), saying she saw five drones hovering over the Fairfield Train Station around 6:45 p.m. "No one else noticed them because unless you're looking for them, they just look like planes or drones!" she wrote. "But I swear these were something different!!" I saw 5 drones over the Fairfield Connecticut train station tonight at 6:45! pic.twitter.com/dl7xP99mZs — Lucy Biggers (@LLBiggers) Decem…
Business
Cyberattack Hits Krispy Kreme As Hackers Find Hole In Online Ordering System
Hackers have found a hole in Krispy Kreme's online ordering system, leaving some customers temporarily unable to place digital orders for their favorite donuts. The company has confirmed the incident and stated that its technical team is actively working to resolve the issue. Krispy Kreme reported that the breach influenced its web-based platforms but did not affect in-store operations or the safety of customers' personal data. The attack was first discovered at the end of November, the company said in a filing with Securities Exchange Commission (SEC). Krispy Kreme said it "i…
Police & Fire
I-684 Reopens After Fatal Plane Crash In Westchester, Pilot Had Reported Engine Issues: FAA
One person was killed and another survived a small plane crash along I-684 in Westchester, NY, on Thursday night, Dec. 12, New York State Police confirmed. UPDATE: Cops ID NJ Pilot, NY Passenger Killed In I-684 Plane Crash The FAA said that the pilot of the single-engine Tecnam P-2008 had reported engine issues before crashing around 7:15 p.m. The crash occurred near Exit 2 in Harrison, according to a statement from NYSP. Flight data shows that the plane departed from Linden, NJ. Multiple Jewish news outlets including the Monsey Scoop identified the person killed as 32-…
Police & Fire
'This Was An Execution': Bridgeport Killer Gets 90 Years In Prison, Prosecutors Say
A Connecticut man who gunned down a barber and wounded his assistant in 2020 will never spend a day outside of a prison, a judge ruled this week. Tavares Jefferson, 47, of Bridgeport, was sentenced to 90 years in prison two months after a jury convicted him of multiple charges, including murder, first-degree assault, and weapons violations, the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice said Thursday, Dec. 12. The violent incident, which shocked the community, took place on Oct. 2, 2020, when Jefferson walked into a Bridgeport barbershop and shot 40-year-old Jamain Allen six times, killing th…
Police & Fire
Body Of Missing Woman Pulled From Waterbury Lake Days After Disappearance, Police Say
Police recovered the body of a 63-year-old Connecticut woman who was reported missing earlier this month in Lakewood Lake, authorities said. Altragracia Gaton-Mateo's body was pulled from the water on Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 10, when Waterbury police, with assistance from the Connecticut State Police Dive Team, located her in the Great Brook Reservoir, also known locally as Lakewood Lake. Gaton-Mateo’s disappearance prompted a Silver Alert on Monday after family members reported her missing days earlier. She was last seen near Division Street and was believed to have been in the Garden Hil…
Police & Fire
Man Dies After Jumping From Ferry In Bridgeport Harbor
The 50-year-old man who jumped from the Grand Republic ferry in Bridgeport Harbor has died, officials confirmed. The incident unfolded Tuesday night, Dec. 10, when emergency responders were alerted at 9:08 p.m. that a person with possible mental health issues had jumped into the water, according to city spokesperson Tiadora Josef. Bridgeport police and fire marine units, the US Coast Guard, American Medical Response, and responders from surrounding towns rushed to the scene to assist. The man was pulled from the harbor and transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead…
Police & Fire
CT Teen Who Struck BF's Ex-GF, Friend In Hit-Run Crash Jailed: Report
A 19-year-old Connecticut woman was arrested and charged in a hit-and-run crash that sent two pedestrians to the hospital with serious injuries, authorities said. NBC Connecticut identified the victims as the woman's boyfriend's ex-girlfriend and her friend. Melany Camanero, of Waterbury, surrendered on Thursday, Dec. 12, after a warrant was issued for her arrest on charges of criminal attempt to commit murder, two counts of first-degree assault, and evading responsibility resulting in serious physical injury. Camanero is accused of striking two women with her car near 38 Walnut Ave. in Wat…
News
CT Lottery Player Hits Jackpot 5 Times in 1 Night For $125K In Winnings
A Connecticut lottery player struck gold five times during a Play4 night drawing earlier this week, winning $125,000 all with the exact same numbers. The Connecticut State Lottery announced that this historic feat marks the largest win ever recorded on the state’s new iLottery platform. The winner, who purchased the tickets through iLottery, chose the combination 0-8-1-5 in the Play4 drawing. It was his wife’s birthday. Each ticket brought in $25,000, making his unique approach to the lottery a lucrative decision. The winner was not named. Play4’s odds var…
Police & Fire
Danbury Neighborhood Tired Of Crime Fight Back, Lead Officer To Major Drug Raid, Police Said
Investigators in Connecticut said their latest arrest created a "notable disruption" in Fairfield County drug crime following a multi-agency investigation, and it's thanks to a group of neighbors fed up with drugs in their community. Travis Vanterpool-Gordon, 32, of Brookfield, and Lisa Flynn, 53, of Danbury, were arrested following a multi-agency drug investigation that targeted suspected narcotics activity in the Division Street area of Danbury, police said. Vanterpool-Gordon, 32, was taken into custody without incident after officers searched his 14 Division St. home and…
Business
GM Axes Robotaxis, Refocuses On Personal Cars
General Motors (GM) has announced a major shift in its autonomous vehicle strategy, discontinuing the development of robotaxis through its subsidiary Cruise LLC. The company will instead focus on integrating autonomous and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) into personal vehicles. The decision, announced this week, comes as GM evaluates the time, costs, and competitive challenges associated with scaling a robotaxi business. “GM is committed to delivering the best driving experiences to our customers in a disciplined and capital-efficient manner,” said Mary Barra, GM Chai…
Business
Shoplifting Costs Retailers Billions: These Are Most Frequently Stolen Items
Shoplifting in the US is a costly epidemic, with retailers losing over $120 billion last year. The trend focuses on easily concealed, high-demand products at major retailers like Walmart and Target, posing a nationwide challenge for store owners and law enforcement. Electronics, health and beauty products, and food items are among the most commonly stolen goods, Capital One Shopping reports. Small gadgets such as headphones and phone chargers, alongside over-the-counter medications and cosmetics, are frequent targets. Alcohol, baby formula, and packaged meats are also popular …
Lifestyle
Winning Numbers For Wednesday, Dec. 11 Powerball Drawing With Estimated $30M Jackpot
The winning numbers have been announced for the Wednesday, Dec. 11 Powerball drawing. The estimated jackpot is $30 million with a $14.7 million cash option. If no winner wins the top prize, the jackpot will continue to roll until the next drawing at 10:59 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14 with a $45 million jackpot. The winning numbers for Wednesday's drawing were 13-44-50-52-54 with a Powerball of 20 and the Power Play was 2X. Lottery players have a 1 in 292,201,338 chance of winning a Powerball jackpot by matching all five balls plus the Powerball, according to officials. Pri…
News
ChatGPT Goes Down, X Users Coming In Hot With Memes
Hours after a Meta outage left Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp users in the dark, ChatGPT seems to be following suit. Users of the AI website began experiencing technical difficulties sometime around 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11. A message on the website as of 9:20 p.m. reads: "ChatGPT is currently unavailable. Status: Identified - We have identified the issue and are working to roll out a fix." Naturally, X users had a field day. #ChatGPT is down. Looks like everyone will have to finish their assignments the old fashioned way. pic.twitter.com/68xVq9DNf8 — Xon Kurama (@XonKurama) Decemb…
Police & Fire
Child-Like Doll Found In CT Home Of 3X Sex Offender Facing Decade In Prison, Feds Say
A Derby man will spend more than 11 years in federal prison for a disturbing child exploitation case — his third conviction involving children — and violations of his supervised release, federal authorities said. Michael Szwarc, 36, was sentenced to 134 months of imprisonment, along with 25 years of supervised release, the U.S. Attorney for Connecticut said. Szwarc was previously convicted in 2013 in state court for possession of child sexual abuse material in the second degree, and again in 2022 in federal court for receiving such material, authorities said. ** WARNING: The following news…
Business
Just Released New iOS Update Brings AI, Custom Emoji Access To iPhones, iPads
Apple has unveiled new updates that bring advanced AI and emoji tools to its iPhone and iPad devices. Released on Wednesday, Dec. 11, iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 expand Apple Intelligence with features like ChatGPT integration, custom emoji creation, and visual design tools. Key Updates ChatGPT Integration: Siri and Writing Tools now support ChatGPT for generating content, solving problems, and enhancing productivity. Privacy settings ensure user control over data. Image Playground: This tool allows users to design custom visuals by inputting text descriptions, wit…
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